zing it
out； and bit down morosely on the patented Micronite filter。 He lit it with his
desktop Cricket。
〃So do I；〃 he said。 〃But what's on your mind？〃
〃I need three days；〃 Hallorann repeated。 〃It's my boy。〃
Queems's eyes dropped to Hallorann's left hand； which was ringless。
〃I been divorced since 1964；〃 Hallorann said patiently。
〃Dick； you know what the weekend situation is。 We're full。 To the gunnels。
Even the cheap seats。 We're even filled up in the Florida Room on Sunday night。
So take my watch； my wallet； my pension fund。 Hell； you can even take my wife if
you can stand the sharp edges。 But please don't ask me for time off。 What is he；
sick？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 Hallorann said； still trying to visualize himself twisting a cheap
cloth hat and rolling his eyeballs。 〃He shot。〃
〃Shot！〃 Queems said。 He put his Kent down in an ashtray which bore the emblem
of Ole Miss； of which he was a business admin graduate。
〃Yes； sir；〃 Hallorann said somberly。
〃Hunting accident？〃
〃No； sir；〃 Hallorann said； and let his voice drop to a lower； huskier note。
〃Jana； she's been livin with this truck driver。 A white man。 He shot my boy。
He's in a hospital in Denver； Colorado。 Critical condition。〃
〃How in hell did you find out？ I thought you were buying vegetables。〃
〃Yes； sir； I was。〃 He had stopped at the Western Union office just before
ing here to reserve an Avis car at Stapleton Airport。 Before leaving he had
swiped a Western Union flimsy。 Now he took the folded and crumpled blank form
from his pocket and flashed it before Queems's bloodshot eyes。 He put it back in
his pocket and； allowing his voice to drop another n