edge　of　his　desk；　swinging　his

legs　thoughtfully。

〃Hi；　Danny。〃

〃Hi。〃

〃How's　that　hand　now？〃　He　pointed　at　Danny's　left　hand；　which　was　lightly

bandaged。

〃Pretty　good。〃

〃Good。　I　looked　at　your　EEG　and　it　seems　fine。　But　I'm　going　to　send　it　to　a

friend　of　mine　in　Denver　who　makes　his　living　reading　those　things。　I　just　want

to　make　sure。〃

〃Yes；　Sir。〃

〃Tell　me　about　Tony；　Dan。〃

Danny　shuffled　his　feet。　〃He's　just　an　invisible　friend；〃　he　said。　〃I　made　him

up。　To　keep　me　pany。〃

Edmonds　laughed　and　put　his　hands　on　Danny's　shoulders。　〃Now　that's　what　your

Mom　and　Dad　say。　But　this　is　just　between　us；　guy。　I'm　your　doctor。　Tell　me　the

truth　and　I'll　promise　not　to　tell　them　unless　you　say　I　can。〃

Danny　thought　about　it。　He　looked　at　Edmonds　and　then；　with　a　small　effort　of

concentration；　he　tried　to　catch　Edmonds's　thoughts　or　at　least　the　color　of　his

mood。　And　suddenly　he　got　an　oddly　forting　image　in　his　head：　file　cabinets；

their　doors　sliding　shut　one　after　another；　locking　with　a　click。　Written　on　the

small　tabs　in　the　center　of　each　door　was：　A…C；　SECRET；　D…G；　SECRET；　and　so　on。

This　made　Danny　feel　a　little　easier。

Cautiously　he　said：　〃I　don't　know　who　Tony　is。〃

〃Is　he　your　age？〃

〃No。　He's　at　least　eleven。　I　think　he　might　be　even　older。　I've　never　seen　him

right　up　close。　He　might　be　old　enough　to　drive　a　car。〃

〃You　just　see　him　at　a　distance；　huh？〃

〃Yes；　Sir。〃

〃And　he　always　es　just　before　you　pass　out？〃

〃Well；　I　don't　pass　out。　It's　like　I　go　with　him。　And　he　shows　me　things。〃

〃What　kind　of　things？〃

〃Well　。。。〃　Danny　debated　for　a　moment　and　th