guy knows his stuff？〃
〃The checker said he was very good。 That's all I know。〃
〃If there's something wrong； I'm going to send you and him to your mother's；
Wendy。〃
〃No。〃
〃I know；〃 he said； putting an arm around her； 〃how you feel。〃
〃You don't know how I feel at all about her。〃
〃Wendy； there's no place else I can send you。 You know that。〃
〃If you came — 〃
〃Without this job we're done；〃 he said simply。 〃You know that。〃
Her silhouette nodded slowly。 She knew it。
〃When I had that interview with Ullman； I thought he was just blowing off his
bazoo。 Now I'm not so sure。 Maybe I really shouldn't have tried this with you
two along。 Forty miles from nowhere。〃
〃I love you；〃 she said。 〃And Danny loves you even more； if that's possible。 He
would have been heartbroken； Jack。 He will be； if you send us away。〃
〃Don't make it sound that way。〃
〃If the doctor says there's something wrong； I'll look for a job in
Sidewinder；〃 she said。 〃If I can't get one in Sidewinder； Danny and I will go to
Boulder。 I can't go to my mother； Jack。 Not on those terms。 Don't ask me。 I 。 。
。 I just can't。〃
〃I guess I know that。 Cheer up。 Maybe it's nothing。〃
〃Maybe。〃
〃The appointment's at two？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Let's leave the bedroom door open； Wendy。〃
〃I want to。 But I think he'll sleep through now。〃
But he didn't。
* * *
Boom。。。 boom。。 boomboomBOOMBOOM — —
He fled the heavy； crashing； echoing sounds through twisting； mazelike
corridors； his bare feet whispering over a deep…pile jungle of blue and black。
Each time he heard the roque mallet smash into the wall somewhere behind him he
wanted