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She made the bed without looking at him. They could have yesterday, and they didn t. What s changed? We kept this room because it was most comfortable, and because two of us could defend it -- and you -- reasonably well. But if I m not awake and armed, sweetheart, I m outnumbered by even one of those things. When you re outnumbered, you have to keep moving. You have to clear out of a lair before the enemy finds it. You called me sweetheart. But that s just movie talk. I could put the chair under the doorknob. It won t fit. He paced to the door and yanked on the useless chain-lock. We need to move to another room. I think 614 was the room with good locks and a telephone, but just no heat. I ll tell the manager to move my ticket there. Maybe tomorrow I can find an electric heater that won t overload these rat-chewed wires. 108 Amber Green If the switchboard operator knows where we move to, anyone could know. And the switchboard has to know. We have to be available if Tommy calls. A hyde wouldn t inquire of the switchboard or the manager. I ll find some scrap and machine us a real deadbolt at work today. I should have set up a barricade for this door when we had time. We ll work all that out tonight. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then looked at her like a mourner at a funeral. I can t leave you every morning like this. I can t watch night ooze through the city before I can get home to you, and wonder every minute if I m too late. You can. What a person has to do, a person can do. He grinned, an ugly snarl of a grin that twisted her insides. That s my line. Then you know it s true. She took a breath. Men go off every day knowing something could happen at home -- Those are men, sweetheart. I am a huntsman. I have thumbed my nose at the enemy. He knows -- they know -- who I am and where I am. Or they will know very soon. How? What s different now? He paced, picked up the telephone handset, and put it down again. Damned contraption. Something is different, Jack, and it s not just the number of men in this room. Are you going to tell me or do I have to torture myself wondering? He clapped one hand to the back of his neck, and squeezed as if it hurt. They don t inquire at the switchboard, sweetheart, but they have ways of collecting basic information... He paced. Not all of them can talk, but if they have Tommy, they can make him answer any question they re capable of asking. It s only a matter of time. He picked up the telephone again. I m calling in drunk today. She put her finger on the hang-up button. Not unless you want to lose your essential- worker card and visit the draft board! Put on your coat, Jack, and go to work, and trust me to be okay for today. He jerked her close. She flinched, expecting one of those near-bite kisses, but he merely brushed his lips over her cheekbone. If the telephone rings, he whispered into her hair I don t care if you re on the throne -- get up and answer it. But if someone knocks... He closed his eyes. No one should knock. No one will knock today. He put on his coat with jerky movements, actually rustling the cloth. Normal people make noise. Jack had to be just beside himself. She tucked his lunch pail in his battered rucksack, since he wouldn t be coming back for lunch, and a thought struck her. Say, Jack? Do you know a doctor who would write you Lights Out! 109 a note saying you have a bum ticker, that working two full shifts a day, day in and day out, would kill you? He spun to face her, and his thick brows crunched together. I may. I ll send a telegram. You have a brain in there, Shy-my-girl. Takes more than one lick of sense to make a genius. Her eyes burned. He went, throwing her a final dark look at the door. She closed the door and noisily set the deadbolt. Leaning her forehead against the door, she listened for his footsteps. But he was silent. Silent come and silent go. She turned to face the room and squared her shoulders. If they were moving this evening, the packing had best be done in advance. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |