he　didn't　like　it；　even　if　it　was　empty。　She

wondered　vaguely　if　it　might　have　germs；　thought　to　ask　Jack；　then　decided　he

would　laugh　at　her。　But　she　would　ask　the　doctor　tomorrow；　if　she　could　catch

him　with　Jack　out　of　the　room。　She　didn't　like　the　idea　of　that　thing；

constructed　from　the　chewings　and　saliva　of　so　many　alien　creatures；　lying

within　a　foot　of　her　sleeping　son's　head。

The　water　in　the　bathroom　was　still　running；　and　she　got　up　and　went　into　the

big　bedroom　to　make　sure　everything　was　okay。　Jack　didn't　look　up；　he　was　lost

in　the　world　he　was　making；　staring　at　the　typewriter；　a　filter　cigarette

clamped　in　his　teeth。

She　knocked　lightly　on　the　closed　bathroom　room。　〃You　okay；　doc？　You　awake？〃

No　answer。

〃Danny？〃

No　answer。　She　tried　the　door。　It　was　locked。

〃Danny？〃　She　was　worried　now。　The　lack　of　any　sound　beneath　the　steadily

running　water　made　her　uneasy。　〃Danny？　Open　the　door；　honey。〃

No　answer。

〃Danny！〃

〃Jesus　Christ；　Wendy；　I　can't　think　if　you're　going　to　pound　on　the　door　all

night。〃

〃Danny's　locked　himself　in　the　bathroom　and　he　doesn't　answer　me！〃

Jack　came　around　the　desk；　looking　put　out。　He　knocked　on　the　door　once；　hard。

〃Open　up；　Danny。　No　games。〃

No　answer。

Jack　knocked　harder。　〃Stop　fooling；　doc。　Bedtime's　bedtime。　Spanking　if　you

don't　open　up。〃

He's　losing　his　temper；　she　thought；　and　was　more　afraid。　He　had　not　touched

Danny　in　anger　since　that　evening　two　years　ago；　but　at　this　moment　he　sounded

angry　enough　to　do　it。

〃Danny；　honey　—　〃　she　began。

No　answer。　Only　running　water。

〃Danny；　if　you　make　me　break　this　lock　I　c