s it crashed into the wall； sending the dust out in a puff you
could smell； dry and itchy。 Tiny red eyes glowed in the dark。 The monster was
upon him； it had discovered him； cowering here with a blank wall at his back。
And the trapdoor in the ceiling was locked。
Darkness。 Drifting。
〃Tony； please take me back； please； please — 〃
And he was back； sitting on the curb of Arapahoe Street； his shirt sticking
damply to his back； his body bathed in sweat。 In his ears he could still hear
that huge； contrapuntal booming sound and smell his own urine as he voided
himself in the extremity of his terror。 He could see that limp hand dangling
over the edge of the tub with blood running down one finger； the third； and that
inexplicable word so much more horrible than any of the others： REDRUM。
And now sunshine。 Real things。 Except for Tony； now six blocks up； only a
speck； standing on the corner； his voice faint and high and sweet。 〃Be careful；
doc。。。〃
Then； in the next instant； Tony was gone and Daddy's battered red bug was
turning the corner and chattering up the street； farting blue smoke behind it。
Danny was off the curb in a second； waving； jiving from one foot to the other；
yelling： 〃Daddy！ Hey； Dad！ Hi！ Hi！〃
His daddy swung the VW into the curb； killed the engine； and opened the door。
Danny ran toward him and then froze； his eyes widening。 His heart crawled up
into the middle of his throat and froze solid。 Beside his daddy； in the other
front seat； was a short…handled mallet； its head clotted with blood and hair。
Then it was just a bag of groceries。
〃Danny 。。。 you okay； doc？〃
〃Yeah。 I'm okay。〃 He went to hi