She stood away from him； her face turned up to his。 〃Thank you。〃
〃Right wele； ma'am。〃
She turned to Hal and walked back to him。 He put his arms around her。
〃Paul…〃 It was Harry。 He held his right wrist out to me and tapped the face of his watch。 It was pressing on to three o'clock。 Light would start showing by four…thirty。 If we wanted to get Coffey back to Cold Mountain before that happened； we would have to go soon。 And I wanted to get him back。 Partly because the longer this went on the worse our chances of getting away with it became； yes； of course。 But I also wanted John in a place where I could legitimately call a doctor for him； if the need arose。 Looking at him； I thought it might。
The Mooreses were sitting on the edge of the bed； arms around each other。 I thought of asking Hal out into the living room for a private word； then realized I could ask until the cows came home and he wouldn't budge from where he was right then。 He might be able to take his eyes off her … for a few seconds； at least … by the time the sun came up； but not now。
〃Hal；〃 I said。 〃We have to go now。〃
He nodded； not looking at me。 He was studying the color in his wife's cheeks； the natural unstrained curve of his wife's lips； the new black in his wife's hair。
I tapped him on the shoulder； hard enough to get his attention for a moment； at least。
〃Hal； we never came here。〃
〃What … ？〃
〃We never came here；〃 I said。 〃Later on we'll talk； but for now that's all you need to know。 We were never here。…〃
〃Yes； all right He forced himself to focus on me for a moment； with what was clearly an effort。 〃You got him out。 Can you get him back in？〃
〃I think so。 Maybe。 But we need to go。〃
〃How did you know he could