" Is it...can we...is it safe?" Tub checked the lot but he seemed unconcerned. " Coach Lawrence nabbed him for practice. We live to fight another day, soldier." " No...I mean, the thing...is it...?" Tub frowned. " The thing. Hmmm. Can you be more specific? I clutched at the bumper and raised myself to unsteady feet. I patted the truck bed, taking solace in the cake of dust. It was real; I was not caught in a nightmare. I smeared the dust with my fingers and smelled it. " If you lick that, we're no longer friends," Tub said. "