rk
nest？ And what had been in there to sting him？
〃Danny！〃 he roared。 〃Danny！〃
Danny saw him。 He broke his mother's grip with a sudden； fierce strength that
gave her no chance to hold him。 She stumbled back against one of the booths and
nearly fell into it。
〃Daddy！〃 he screamed； running to Jack； his eyes huge and affrighted。 〃Oh Daddy
Daddy； it was her！ Her！ Her！ Oh Daaaaahdeee — 〃
He slammed into Jack's arms like a blunt arrow； making Jack rock on his feet。
Danny clutched at him furiously； at first seeming to pummel him like a fighter；
then clutching his belt and sobbing against his shirt。 Jack could feel his son's
face； hot and working； against his belly。
Daddy； it was her。
Jack looked slowly up into Wendy's face。 His eyes were like small silver
coins。
〃Wendy？〃 Voice soft； nearly purring。 〃Wendy； what did you do to him？〃
Wendy stared back at him in stunned disbelief； her face pallid。 She shook her
head。
〃Oh Jack； you must know — 〃
Outside it had begun to snow again。
》
KITCHEN TALK
Jack carried Danny into the kitchen。 The boy was still sobbing wildly；
refusing to look up from Jack's chest。 In the kitchen he gave Danny back to
Wendy； who still seemed stunned and disbelieving。
〃Jack； I don't know what he's talking about。 Please； you must believe that。〃
〃I do believe it；〃 he said； although he had to admit to himself that it gave
him a certain amount of pleasure to see the shoe switched to the other foot with
such dazzling； unexpected speed。 But his anger at Wendy had been only a passing
gut twitch。 In his heart he knew Wendy would pour a can of gasoline over herself