rd floor Ullman brought
them to a bumpy stop； retracted the gate； and opened the door。 The elevator car
was still six inches below floor level。 Danny gazed at the difference in height
between the third…floor hall and the elevator floor as if he had just sensed the
universe was not as sane as he had been told。 Ullman cleared his throat and
raised the car a little； brought it to a stop with a jerk （still two inches
low）； and they all climbed out。 With their weight gone the car rebounded almost
to floor level； something Wendy did not find reassuring at all。 Safe as houses
or not； she resolved to take the stairs when she had to go up or down in this
place。 And under no conditions would she allow the three of them to get into the
rickety thing together。
〃What are you looking at； doc？〃 Jack inquired humorously。 〃See any spots
there？〃
〃Of course not；〃 Ullman said； nettled。 〃All the rugs were shampooed just two
days ago。〃
Wendy glanced down at the hall runner herself。 Pretty； but definitely not
anything she would choose for her own home； if the day ever came when she had
one。 Deep blue pile； it was entwined with what seemed to be a surrealistic
jungle scene full of ropes and vines and trees filled with exotic birds。 It was
hard to tell just what sort of birds； because all the interweaving was done in
unshaded black； giving only silhouettes。
〃Do you like the rug？〃 Wendy asked Danny。
〃Yes； Mom；〃 he said colorlessly。
They walked down the hall； which was fortably wide。 The wallpaper was silk；
a lighter blue to go against the rug。 Electric flambeaux stood at ten…foot
intervals at a height of about seven feet。 F