a cactus at
first glance was really a brave with a knife clamped in his teeth； and there
were others hiding in the rocks； and you could even see one of their evil；
merciless faces peering through the spokes of a covered wagon wheel。 But you
could never see all of them； and that was what made you uneasy。 Because it was
the ones you couldn't see that would sneak up behind you； a tomahawk in one hand
and a scalping knife in the other 。。。
He shifted uneasily in his bed； his eyes searching out the forting glow of
the night light。 Things were worse here。 He knew that much for sure。 At first
they hadn't been so bad； but little by little 。。。 his daddy thought about
drinking a lot more。 Sometimes he was angry at Mommy and didn't know why。 He
went around wiping his lips with his handkerchief and his eyes were far away and
cloudy。 Mommy was worried about him and Danny； too。 He didn't have to shine into
her to know that； it had been in the anxious way she had questioned him on the
day the fire hose had seemed to turn into a snake。 Mr。 Hallorann said he thought
all mothers could shine a little bit； and she had known on that day that
something had happened。 But not what。
He had almost told her； but a couple of things had held him back。 He knew that
the doctor in Sidewinder had dismissed Tony and the things that Tony showed him
as perfectly
（well almost）
normal。 His mother might not believe him if he told her about the hose。 Worse；
she might believe him in the wrong way； might think he was LOSING HIS MARBLES。
He understood a little about LOSING YOUR MARBLES； not as much as he did about
GETTING A BABY； which his mommy ha