Why？ If it wasn't an effort to get himself thrown out of the good job Al had
snagged for him； then what was it？
He deposited the rest of the money in the slots and hung up the phone。 It
really was the senseless kind of thing he might have done if he had been drunk。
But he had been sober； dead cold sober。
Walking out of the drugstore be crunched another Excedrin into his mouth；
grimacing yet relishing the bitter taste。
On the walk outside he met Wendy and Danny。
〃Hey； we were just ing after you；〃 Wendy said。 〃Snowing； don't you know。〃
Jack blinked up。 〃So it is。〃 It was snowing hard。 Sidewinder's main street was
already heavily powdered； the center line obscured。 Danny had his head tilted up
to the white sky； his mouth open and his tongue out to catch some of the fat
flakes drifting down。
〃Do you think this is it？〃 Wendy asked。
Jack shrugged。 〃I don't know。 I was hoping for another week or two of grace。
We still might get it。〃
Grace； that was it。
（I'm sorry； Al。 Grace； your mercy。 For your mercy。 One more chance。 I am
heartily sorry — ）
How many times； over how many years； had he — a grown man — asked for the mercy
of another chance？ He was suddenly so sick of himself； so revolted； that he
could have groaned aloud。
〃How's your headache？〃 she asked； studying him closely。
He put an arm around her and hugged her tight。 〃Better。 e on； you two；
let's go home while we still can。〃
They walked back to where the hotel truck was slantparked against the curb；
Jack in the middle； his left arm around Wendy's shoulders； his right hand
holding Danny's hand。 He had called it home for the first tim