Page 44 (1/2)

He raises one eyebrow, just like Mr Spock--one of his favorite characters If the situation were any less dire, I’d have to laugh "You don’t have the necessary inforh , riding in a sub in the train station, listening toeach other in his dor the rise and fall of his breath beneath h," I say

Paul studies er, then breaks the connection between us as he turns away "You have the necessities And--like I said--let us know if you need another blanket"

Even now he’s trying to shelter me "Okay"

"The door overhead will be padlocked No one outside this building will be able to hear you, regardless of what you do I argued that you should be given a cot, even when the others pointed out that you could break it down and use the pieces as weapons against anyone who co that plan of action, don’t It will be futile, because others will be outside, ready to stop you through any means necessary Then you won’t be able to keep the cot any longer Have I made the conditions of your stay clear?"

My stay Like I’m at the Hilton "Crystal"

Paul hesitates a er--like he thinks I haven’t really understood, or that I’ it seriously I don’t kno he can think that; so about three feet froo

What he senses--what he knows, I think--is that I’ else, simply nods as he heads up the concrete steps

The door thudding shut ought to sound ominous; instead, when I hear it, I s the others don’t, so Paul hi why so happens It doesn’t matter whether that’s some freak behavior of subato at a joke he doesn’t get; it drives hi at it, determined to force the mysterious to --Paul wants people to behave logically, at least et him to accept that they just don’t But it’s also one of the reasons he’s such an a a ht now, he’s asking himself why I’m so sure he won’t hurt me Why I trust someone I in to guess the real answer

Paul ant to talk I can prove that I know him like nobody else ever has, or ever will If I can win hiether--then I’ve saved the next part of my Paul’s soul

As I lie on this cot, I have no way of knowing how et a phone or a clock--I don’t even have sunlight to go by, if the sun has come up yet, which I doubt So maybe an hour passes, or maybe three do; it doesn’tfor a chance to talk with Paul again

My surroundings don’t give me much to ith The room probably measures about ten by ten Walls: unpainted cinder blocks Ceiling: not sure, but whatever it is, it’s solid--forget any re air ducts Floor: concrete, no drain, which is a good sign I wouldn’t have known to look for yesterday I’ on a sky-blue co about the cozy fabric plus the hard use o Who takes a blanket fro someone? How can anybody be that schizo? I can’t understand it Add another entry to the extre list of reasons why I would make a bad mobster