was alseep； breathing in long； slow strokes。 Jack sat looking down
at him for a moment； and a rush of love pushed through him like tidal water。 Why
had he yelled at the boy like that？ It was perfectly normal for him to stutter a
little。 He had been ing out of a daze or some weird kind of trance； and
stuttering was perfectly normal under those circumstances。 Perfectly。 And he
hadn't said timer at all。 It had been something else； nonsense； gibberish。
How had he known roque was played in innings？ Had someone told him？ Ullman？
Hallorann？
He looked down at his hands。 They were made into tight； clenched fists of
tension
（god how i need a drink）
and the nails were digging into his palms like tiny brands。 Slowly he forced
them to open。
〃I love you； Danny；〃 he whispered。 〃God knows I do。〃
He left the room。 He had lost his temper again； only a little； but enough to
make him feel sick and afraid。 A drink would blunt that feeling； oh yes。 It
would blunt that
（Something about the timer）
and everything else。 There was no mistake about those words at all。 None。 Each
had e out clear as a bell。 He paused in the hallway； looking back； and
automatically wiped his lips with his handkerchief。
* * *
Their shapes were only dark silhouettes in the glow of the night light。 Wendy；
wearing only panties； went to his bed and tucked him in again； he had kicked the
covers back。 Jack stood in the doorway； watching as she put her inner wrist
against his forehead。
〃Is he feverish？〃
〃No。〃 She kissed his cheek。
〃Thank God you made that appointment；〃 he said as she came back to the
doorway。 〃You think that