“getsomesleep.i’lltakecareofhim.icancallyouifineedyou.”

hefacedme.“youbettertakecareofhimgood,”hesaidinaquietvoice.“verygood.”

hewentoutoftheroom.iwentintothebathroomandgotawetwashclothandaheavytowel.iturnedwadeoveralittleandspreadthetowelonthepillowandwashedthebloodoffhisheadgentlysoasnottostartthebleedingagain.thenicouldseeasharpshallowcutabouttwoincheslong.itwasnothing.dr.loringhadbeenrightthatmuch.itwouldn’thavehurttostitchitbutitprobablywasnotreallynecessary.ifoundapairofscissorsandcutthehairawayenoughsothaticouldputonastripofadhesive.theniturnedhimonhisbackandwashedhisface.iguessthatwasamistake.

heopenedhiseyes.theywerevagueandunfocusedatfirst,thentheyclearedandhesawmestandingbesidethebed.hishandmovedandwentuptohisheadandfelttheadhesive.hislipsmumbledsomething,thenhisvoiceclearedupalso.

“whohitme?you?”hishandfeltfortheadhesive.

“nobodyhityou.youtookafall.”

“tookafall?when?where?”

“whereveryoutelephonedfrom.youcalledme.iheardyoufall.overthewire.”

“icalledyou?”hegrinnedslowly.“alwaysavailable,aren’tyou,fella?whattimeisit?”

“afterone”

“where’seileen?”

“gonetobed.shehaditrough.”

hethoughtthatoversilently.hiseyeswerefullofpain.“didi—”hestoppedandwinced.

“youdidn’ttouchherasfarasiknow.ifthat’swhatyoumean.youjustwanderedoutdoorsandpassedoutnearthefence.quittalking.gotosleep.”

“sleep,”hesaidquietlyandslowly,likeachildrecitingitslesson.“whatwouldthatbe?”

“maybeapillwouldhelp.gotany?”

“inthedrawer.nighttable.”

iopeneditandfoundaplasticbottlewithredcapsulesinit.seconal,1.5grains.prescriptionbydr.loring.thatnicedr.loring.mrs.rogerwade’sprescription.

ishooktwoofthemlooseandputthebottlebackandpouredaglassofwaterfromathermosjugonthenighttable.hesaidonecapsulewouldbeenough.hetookitanddranksomewaterandlaybackandstaredattheceilingagain.timepassed.isatinachairandwatchedhim.hedidn’tseemtogetsleepy.thenhesaidslowly:

“iremembersomething.domeafavor,marlowe.iwrotesomecrazystuffidon’twanteileentosee.it’sontopofthetypewriterunderthecover.tearitupforme,

“sure.thatallyouremember?”

“eileenisallright?positiveaboutthat?”

“yes.she’sjusttired.letitride,wade.stopthinking.ishouldn’thaveaskedyou.”

“stopthinking,themansays.”hisvoicewasalittledrowsynow.hewastalkingasiftohimself.“stopthinking,stopdreaming,stoploving,stophating.goodnight,sweetprince.i’lltakethatotherpill.”

igaveittohimwithsomemorewater.helaybackagain,thistimewithhisheadturnedsothathecouldseeme.“look,marlowe,iwrotesomestuffidon’twanteileen—”

“youtoldmealready.i’llattendtoitwhenyougotosleep.”

“oh.thanks.nicetohaveyouaround.verynice.”

anotherlongishpause.hiseyelidsweregettingheavy.

“everkillaman,marlowe?”

“yes.”

“nastyfeeling,isn’tit?”

“somepeoplelikeit.”

hiseyeswentshutalltheway.thentheyopenedagain,buttheylookedvague.“howcouldthey?”

ididn’tanswer.theeyelidscamedownagain,verygradually,likeaslowcurtaininthetheater.hebegantosnore.iwaitedalittlelonger.thenidimmedthelightintheroomandwentout.