wiped his mouth with it。 Wendy had a moment of that sickening time…is…running…
backward feeling again。 It was a gesture she remembered well from his drinking
days。
〃Why did you lock the door； Danny？〃 she asked gently。 〃Why did you do that？〃
〃Tony；〃 he said。 〃Tony told me to。〃
They exchanged a glance over the top of his head。
〃Did Tony say why； son？〃 Jack asked quietly。
〃I was brushing my teeth and I was thinking about my reading；〃 Danny said。
〃Thinking real hard。 And 。。。 and I saw Tony way down in the mirror。 He said he
had to show me again。〃
〃You mean he was behind you？〃 Wendy asked。
〃No； he was in the mirror。〃 Danny was very emphatic on this point。 〃Way down
deep。 And then I went through the mirror。 The next thing I remember Daddy was
shaking me and I thought I was being bad again。〃
Jack winced as if struck。
〃No； doc；〃 he said quietly。
〃Tony told you to lock the door？〃 Wendy asked； brushing his hair。
〃Yes。〃
〃And what did he want to show you？〃
Danny tensed in her arms； it was as if the muscles in his body had turned into
something like piano wire。 〃I don't remember；〃 he said； distraught。 〃I don't
remember。 Don't ask me。 I 。。。 I don't remember nothing！〃
〃Shh；〃 Wendy said； alarmed。 She began to rock him again。 〃It's all right if
you don't remember； hon。 Sure it is。〃
At last Danny began to relax again。
〃Do you want me to stay a little while？ Read you a story？〃
〃No。 Just the night light。〃 He looked shyly at his father。 〃Would you stay；
Daddy？ For a minute？〃
〃Sure； doc。〃
Wendy sighed。 〃I'll be in the living room； Jack。〃
〃Okay。〃
She got up and watched as Dan