tors in the night.

And the dull determination growing, strengthening.

The airport, baggage, the ancient taxi with the piston slap, and at last
the dark, familiar street.

"Jim, you're back! Oh, Jim, darling. Next time they send you west I'm
going too. I am!"

"Okay, Jean, sure. Why not?"

"What's the matter, dear? Oh, you're tired, of course. I should have
known. Sit down, Jim. Let me get you a drink."

"In a minute, Jean." Do it now _now_ NOW! "Where's Joanna?"

"She's in bed. Hours ago. Jim, has something--?"

"Nothing, dear. I just want to look in on her. And freshen up a bit, of
course."

"Jim--"

He smoothed away the worried frown with his forefinger.

"In a minute, dear."

She smiled uncertainly. "Hurry back, Jim."

* * * * *

The stairs unwind irrevocably, slow motion in a nightmare. The bedroom
door opens, the hall light dim on the bed and the child's face. Incubus
in the half dark.

For a moment Jim remembered wondering somewhere, sometime, what strange
powers of protection might be implicit in such a creature. As the
thought came into his mind, Joanna stirred. She opened her eyes and
looked at him.

He took one step toward the bed.

The little girl eyes over their dusting of freckles slitted. Then they
opened wide, became two glowing golden lakes that grew, and grew--

There was the feeling of a great soundless explosion in his mind. Waves
of cool burning in his brain, churning and bubbling in every unknown
corner, every cranny. Here and there a cell, or a group of cells,
blanked out, the complex molecules reverting, becoming new again. Ready
for fresh punch marks. Synapses shorted with soundless cold fire, and
waited in timeless stasis for rechannelling. The waves frothed, became
ripples, were gone. He stood unmoving.

What was it he was supposed to do? Let's see-- Tuck Joanna's blanket
around her. But she was covered up snugly. Sleeping soundly, too, and
for a few seconds he'd thought she was awake. And Jean was waiting
downstairs, Jean and a cool drink.

Oh, yes, stop in the bathroom.

The stairs wind up again. It is good to be with one's family, relaxed in
the well known chair. Not a worry in the world.

He sat there, his mind at ease, not caring much about anything. He
didn't even look up when the clock on the mantel whirred, and the
ridiculous bird popped out of its nest to herald a new day.

Transcriber's Note:

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