e was still some snow on the mountain top. Down below, it would be
warm yet, but up there it was cold. The big empty house was full of
dust and chill and I brought fear in with me. I wished I had known
where I was going when I left my room; I wanted my coat. I wanted
something to read while I waited. I remembered the library book and
almost went back. Instead, I went to the dark room in back that had
once been somebody's kitchen, and opened the cupboard and found the
projector and yelled for help.

I didn't know where they were, how far away, whether cruising or
landed somewhere, or how long it would take. All I could be sure of
was that they couldn't come till after dark, full dark, and that would
be, on the mountain top, at least another four hours.

There was a big round black stove in a front room, that looked as if
it could burn wood safely. I went out and gathered up everything I
could find nearby that looked to be combustible, and started a fire,
and began to feel better. I beat the dust off a big soft chair, and
pulled it over close to the stove, and curled up in it, warm and
drowsy and knowing that help was on the way.

I fell asleep, and I was in the car with Larry again, in front of that
hotel, every cell of my body tinglingly awake, and I woke up, and
moved the chair farther back away from the fire, and watched the sun
set through the window--till I fell asleep again, and dreamed again,
and when I woke, the sun was gone, but the mountain top was brightly
lit. I had forgotten about the moon.

I tried to remember what time it rose and when it set, but all I knew
was it had shone as bright last night in the Garden of the Gods.

I walked around, and went outside, and got more wood, and when it was
hot in the room again, I fell asleep, and Larry's hands were on my
shoulders, but he wasn't kissing me.

He was shouting at me. He sounded furious, but I couldn't feel any
anger. "You God-damn little idiot!" he shouted. "What in the name of
all that's holy...? ... put you over my knee and.... For God's sake,
baby," he stopped shouting, "what did you pull a dumb trick like this
for?"

"I was scared. I didn't even plan to do it. I just did."

"Scared? My God, I should think you would be! Now listen, babe. I
don't know yet what's going on, and I don't think I'm going to like it
when I find out. I don't like it already that you told me a pack of
lies last night. Just the same, God help me, I don't think it's what