to　e　today　。。。

or　tomorrow　。。。　maybe　not　for　weeks。　Are　you　going　to　spend　a　month

sneaking　down　to　get　meals　with　a　knife　in　your　pocket　and　jumping　at　every

shadow？　Do　you　really　think　you　can　avoid　Jack　for　a　month？　Do　you　think　you　can

keep　Jack　out　of　the　upstairs　quarters　if　he　wants　to　get　in？　He　has　the　passkey

and　one　hard　kick　would　snap　the　bolt。）

Leaving　the　tray　on　the　desk；　she　walked　slowly　down　to　the　dining　room　and

looked　in。　It　was　deserted。　There　was　one　table　with　the　chairs　set　up　around

it；　the　table　they　had　tried　eating　at　until　the　dining　room's　emptiness　began

to　freak　them　out。

〃Jack？〃　she　called　hesitantly。

At　that　moment　the　wind　rose　in　a　gust；　driving　snow　against　the　shutters；　but

it　seemed　to　her　that　there　had　been　something。　A　muffled　sort　of　groan。

〃Jack？〃

No　returning　sound　this　time；　but　her　eyes　fell　on　something　beneath　the

batwing　doors　of　the　Colorado　Lounge；　something　that　gleamed　faintly　in　the

subdued　light。　Jack's　cigarette　lighter。

Plucking　up　her　courage；　she　crossed　to　the　batwings　and　pushed　them　open。　The

smell　of　gin　was　so　strong　that　her　breath　snagged　in　her　throat。　It　wasn't　even

right　to　call　it　a　smell；　it　was　a　positive　reek。　But　the　shelves　were　empty。

Where　in　God's　name　had　he　found　it？　A　bottle　hidden　at　the　back　of　one　of　the

cupboards？　Where？

There　was　another　groan；　low　and　fuzzy；　but　perfectly　audible　this　time。　Wendy

walked　slowly　to　the　bar。

〃Jack？〃

No　answer。

She　looked　over　the　bar　and　there　he　was；　sprawled　out　on　the　floor　in　a

stupor。　Drunk　as　a　lord；　by　the　smell。　He　must　have　tried　to　go　right　over　the