t a trifle uneasily。 〃And of a very
special nature。 Because he does seem able to read thoughts； and he really does
seem to have precognitive flashes from time to time。 I can't think of that as
mental illness no matter how hard I try。 We all have schizo deposits in us
anyway。 I think as Danny gets older； he'll get this under control。〃
〃If you're right； then it's imperative that we get him out。 Whatever he has；
this hotel is making it worse。〃
〃I wouldn't say that；〃 he objected。 〃If he'd done as he was told； he never
would have gone up to that room in the first place。 It never would have
happened。〃
〃My God； Jack！ Are you implying that being half…strangled was a 。。。 a
fitting punishment for being off limits？〃
〃No 。。。 no。 Of course not。 But — 〃
〃No buts；〃 she said； shaking her head violently。 〃The truth is； we're
guessing。 We don't have any idea when he might turn a corner and run into one of
those 。。。 air pockets； one…reel horror movies； whatever they are。 We have to
get him away。〃 She laughed a little in the darkness。 〃Next thing we'll be seeing
things。〃
〃Don't talk nonsense；〃 he said； and in the darkness of the room he saw the
hedge lions bunching around the path； no longer flanking it but guarding it；
hungry November lions。 Cold sweat sprang out on his brow。
〃You didn't really see anything； did you？〃 she was asking。 〃I mean； when you
went up to that room。 You didn't see anything？〃
The lions were gone。 Now he saw a pink pastel shower curtain with a dark shape
lounging behind it。 The closed door。 That muffled； hurried thump； and sounds
after it that might have been running footsteps。 The horrible； lur