ease　save　me　If　you　can't　save　me　at　least　e　play　with　me。。。

Forever。　And　Forever。　And　Forever。）

〃No；〃　Danny　whispered　huskily。　The　word　fell　dry　and　bare　from　his　mouth；

which　was　stripped　of　moisture。　He　could　feel　his　mind　wavering　now；　trying　to

go　away　the　way　it　had　when　the　woman　in　the　room　had　。。。　no；　better　not　think

of　that。

He　grasped　at　the　strings　of　reality　and　held　them　tightly。　He　had　to　get　out

of　here。　Concentrate　on　that。　Be　cool。　Be　like　the　Secret　Agent　Man。　Would

Patrick　McGoohan　be　crying　and　peeing　in　his　pants　like　a　little　baby？

Would　his　daddy？

That　calmed　him　somewhat。

From　behind　him；　that　soft　Hump　sound　of　falling　snow　came　again。　He　turned

around　and　the　head　of　one　of　the　hedge　lions　was　sticking　out　of　the　snow　now；

snarling　at　him。　It　was　closer　than　it　should　have　been；　almost　up　to　the　gate

of　the　playground。

Terror　tried　to　rise　up　and　he　quelled　it。　He　was　the　Secret　Agent　Man；　and　he

would　escape。

He　began　to　walk　out　of　the　playground；　taking　the　same　roundabout　course　his

father　had　taken　on　the　day　that　the　snow　flew。　He　concentrated　on　operating　the

snowshoes。　Slow；　flat　strides。　Don't　lift　your　foot　too　high　or　you'll　lose　your

balance。　Twist　your　ankle　and　spill　the　snow　off　the　crisscrossed　lacings。　It

seemed　so　slow。　He　reached　the　corner　of　the　playground。　The　snow　was　drifted

high　here　and　he　was　able　to　step　over　the　fence。　He　got　halfway　over　and　then

almost　fell　flat　when　the　snowshoe　on　his　behind　foot　caught　on　one　of　the　fence

posts。　He　leaned　on　the　outside　edge　of　gravity；　pinwheeling　his　arms；

remembering　how　hard　it　was　to　get　up　once　you