Hard to believe the racket geese make， squabbling，holding a confab in the dark——pitch dark to him padding back to check the lights； yes， the windows are dark.

    But that honking¹ down on the pond， like angry taxis， stops him： late geese on their way——he thinks——homeward. But geese are home， wherever. A continent. Are acting² without accomplices³； no past or future to know. That squawky banter⁴ is an irremediable thing.

    He makes for his car， the office shut down. Now someone passes him. They know each other——each speaks with mild surprise the other's name，no more. And heads his separate way across the dark.