@@@@@I'm
slipping her those maxi-shakes -
@@@@@I'm
slipping her those maxi-shakes - Ensure, they're
called - once a day, but she won't always take emWhat about you? Is it just too much work that's
got you looking that way?"
"What way?"
"Like the Hound of the Baskervilles recently bit
off your left asscheekIf it's overwork, maybe
you ought to knock off and stretch out a little"'That's our opinion, we welcome
yours,' as they say on Channel 6
531
I stood where I was, feeling the lift and drop of
the waves, and thinking about what I could tell
WiremanAbout how much I could tell WiremanThe
answer seemed self-evident: all or nothing"I think I better fill you in on what happened
last nightYou just have to promise not to call
for the men in the white coats
I told him about how I'd finished his portrait
mostly in the darkI told him about seeing my
right arm and handThen seeing the two dead girls
at the foot of the stairs and passing outBy the
time I finished, we'd waded back out of the water
and walked to where Elizabeth was snoringWireman
began to clean her tray, sweeping the refuse into
a bag he took from the pouch hanging on one arm of
her chair"Nothing else?" he asked"That isn't enough?"
"I'm just askingI slept like a baby until six
o'clockThen I put you - the painting of you - in
the back of the car and drove down hereWhen
you're ready to see it, by the way-"
532
"All in good timeThink of a number between one
and ten
"What?"
"Just humor me, muchacho
I thought of a number
He was silent for a moment, looking out at the
GulfThen he said, "Nine?"
"Nope He drummed his fingers against
his chest for a few moments, then dropped them
into his l
