The strangeness in his eyes seemed to break then。 〃I'm trying to help him find
the difference between something real and something that was only an
hallucination； that's all。〃 He squatted by Danny so they were on an eye…to…eye
level； and then hugged him tight。 〃Danny； it didn't really happen。 Okay？ It was
like one of those trances you have sometimes。 That's all。〃
〃Daddy？〃
〃What； Dan？〃
〃I didn't cut my leg on the crust。 There isn't any crust。 It's all powdery
snow。 It won't even stick together to make snowballs。 Remember we tried to have
a snowball fight and couldn't？〃
He felt his father stiffen against him。 〃The porch step； then。〃
Danny pulled away。 Suddenly he had it。 It had flashed into his mind all at
once； the way things sometimes did； the way it had about the woman wanting to be
in that gray man's pants。 He stared at his father with widening eyes。
〃You know I'm telling the truth；〃 he whispered； shocked。
〃Danny — 〃Jack's face； tightening。
〃You know because you saw — 〃
The sound of Jack's open palm striking Danny's face was flat； not dramatic at
all。 The boy's head rocked back； the palmprint reddening on his cheek like a
brand。
Wendy made a moaning noise。
For a moment they were still； the three of them； and then Jack grabbed for his
son and said； 〃Danny； I'm sorry； you okay； doc？〃
〃You hit him； you bastardl〃 Wendy cried。 〃You dirty bastard！〃
She grabbed his other arm and for a moment Danny was pulled between them。
〃Oh please stop pulling me！〃 he screamed at them； and there was such agony in
his voice that they both let go of him； and then the tears had to e and he
collapsed； weeping； between the sofa and the window； his parents staring at him
helplessly； the way children might stare at a toy broken in a furious tussle
over to whom it belonged。 In the fireplace another pine…knot exploded like a
hand grenade； making them all jump。
* * *
Wendy gave him baby aspirin and Jack slipped him； unprotesting； between the
sheets of his cot。 He was asleep in no time with his thumb in his mouth。
〃I don't like that；〃 she said。 〃It's a regression。〃
Jack didn't reply。
She looked at him softly； without anger； without a smile； either。 〃You want me
to apologize for calling you a bastard？ All right； I apologize。 I'm sorry。 You
still shouldn't have hit him。
〃I know；〃 he muttered。 〃I know that。 I don't know what the hell came over me。〃
〃You promised you'd never hit him again。〃
He looked at her furiously； and then the fury collapsed。 Suddenly； with pity
and horror； she saw what Jack would look like as an old man。 She had never seen
him look that way before。
（？what way？）
Defeated； she answered herself。 He looks beaten。
He said： 〃I always thought I could keep my promises。〃
She went to him and put her hands on his arm。 〃All right； it's over。 And when
the ranger es to check us； we'll tell him we all want to go down。 All right？〃
〃All right；〃 Jack said； and at that moment； at least； he meant it。 The same
way he had always meant it on those mornings after； looking at his pale and
haggard face in the bathroom mirror。 I'm going to stop； going to cut it off
flat。 But morning gave way to afternoon； and in the afternoons he felt a little
better。 And afternoon gave way to night。 As some great twentieth…century thinker
had said； night must fall。
He found himself wishing that Wendy would ask him about the hedges； would ask
him what Danny meant； when he said You know because you saw — If she did； he
would tell her everything。 Everything。 The hedges； the woman in the room； even
about the fire hose that seemed to have switched positions。 But where did
confession stop？ Could he tell her he'd thrown the magneto away； that they could
all be down in Sidewinder right now if he hadn't done that？
What she said was； 〃Do you want tea？〃
〃Yes。 A cup of tea would be good。〃
She went to the door and paused there； rubbing her forearms through her
sweater。 〃It's my fault as much as yours；〃 she said。 〃What were we doing while
he was going through that 。。。 dream； or whatever it was？〃
〃Wendy — 〃
〃We were sleeping；〃 she said。 〃Sleeping like a couple of teenage kids with
their itch nicely scratched。〃
〃Stop it；〃 he said。 〃It's over。〃
〃No；〃 Wendy answered； and gave him a strange； restless smile。 〃It's not over。〃
She went out to make tea； leaving him to keep watch over their son。
》
THE ELEVATOR
Jack awoke from a thin and uneasy sleep where huge and ill…defined shapes
chased him through endless snowfields to what he first thought was another
dream： darkness； and in it； a sudden mechanical jumble of noises — clicks and
clanks； hummings； rattlings； snaps and whooshes。
Then Wendy sat up beside him and he knew it was no dream。
〃What's that？〃 Her hand； cold marble； gripped his wrist。 He restrained an urge
to shake it off — how in the hell was he supposed to know what it was？ The
illuminated clock on his nightstand said it was five minutes to twelve。
The humming sound again。 Loud and steady； varying the slightest bit。 Followed
by a clank as the humming ceased。 A rattling bang。 A thump。 Then the humming
resumed。
It was the elevator。
Danny was sitting up。 〃Daddy？ Daddy？〃 His voice was sleepy and scared。
〃Right here； doc；〃 Jack said。 〃e on over and jump in。 Your mom's awake；
too。〃
The bedclothes rustled as Danny got on the bed between them。 〃It's the
elevator；〃 he whispered。
〃That's right；〃 Jack said。 〃Just the elevator。〃
〃What do you mean； just？〃 Wendy demanded。 There was an ice…skim of hysteria on
her voice。 〃It's the middle of the night。 Who's running it？〃
Hummmmmmm。 Click/clank。 Above them now。 The rattle of the gate accordioning
back； the bump of the doors opening and closing。 Then the hum of the motor and
the cables again。
Danny began to whimper。
Jack swung his feet out of bed and onto the floor。 〃It's probably a short。
I'll check。〃
〃Don't you dare go out of this room！〃
〃Don't be stupid；〃 he said； pulling on his robe。 〃It's my job。〃
She was out of bed herself a moment later； pulling Danny with her。
〃We'll go； too。〃
〃Wendy — 〃
〃What's wrong？〃 Danny asked somberly。 〃What's wrong； Daddy？〃
Instead of answering he turned away； his face angry and set。 He belted his
robe around him at the door； opened it； and stepped out into the dark hall。
Wendy hesitated for a moment； and it was actually Danny who began to move
first。 She caught up quickly； and they went out together。
Jack hadn't bothered with the lights。 She fumbled for the switch that lit the
four spaced overheads in the hallway that led to the main corridor。 Up ahead；
Jack was already turning the corner。 This time Danny found the switchplate and
flicked all three switches up。 The hallway leading down to the stairs and the
elevator shaft came alight。
Jack was standing at the elevator station； which was flanked by benches and
cigarette urns。 He was standing motionless in front of the close