…out body； drunk and confused。
She pushed through the door and Jack was standing there； rubbing at his
temples with his fingers。 His face was ghostwhite。 The two…way CB radio lay at
his feet in a sprinkling of broken glass。
〃Wendy？〃 he asked uncertainly。 〃Wendy — ？〃
The bewilderment seemed to grow and for a moment she saw his true face； the
one he ordinarily kept so well hidden； and it was a face of desperate
unhappiness； the face of an animal caught in a snare beyond its ability to
decipher and render harmless。 Then the muscles began to work； began to writhe
under the skin； the mouth began to tremble infirmly； the Adam's apple began to
rise and fall。
Her own bewilderment and surprise were overlaid by shock： he was going to cry。
She had seen him cry before； but never since he stopped drinking 。。。 and never
in those days unless he was very drunk and pathetically remorseful。 He was a
tight man； drum…tight； and his loss of control frightened her all over again。
He came toward her； the tears brimming over his lower lids now； his head
shaking involuntarily as if in a fruitless effort to ward off this emotional
storm； and his chest drew in a convulsive gasp that was expelled in a huge；
racking sob。 His feet； clad in Hush Puppies； stumbled over the wreck of the
radio and he almost fell into her arms； making her stagger back with his weight。
His breath blew into her face and there was no smell of liquor on it。 Of course
not； there was no liquor up here。
〃What's wrong？〃 She held him as best she could。 〃Jack； what is it？〃
But he could do nothing at first but sob； clinging to her； almost crushing the
wind from her；