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"Victor," Lorrie cries out "Over here"

I bring a hand to ht that’s blinding me "Yes? Hello?"

"Victor," they both cry out in unison, just yards away "Over here!"

I start li as if in pain "Jovially," I hold out a hand, but then I gasp, grie my ankle

"Victor, ondered where you were for dinner," Lorrie says "Are you all right?"

"Yes, you were sorely ?"

"Well, I fell asleep," I start "I was also, u a phone call, but I fell asleep"

Pause "Did you get your call?" Lorrie asks se’s fine"

"But what happened to your leg?"

"Well, when I was reaching over for the phone it, well, I accidentally fell off the chair I’d been sitting, er, sleeping in and then, well, while reaching for the phone it actually fell and struckpause No one says anything

"So then I tried to stand up-all this while speaking into the phone -and then I actually tripped over the chair by the TV" I stop to let them interrupt

Finally Stephen says, "Thathow ridiculous this scenario seems, I delicately reexplain: "Actually I handled it all quite suavely"

Lorrie and Stephen both nod, assuringis just basic exposition-these lines fall easily and rapidly into place-because I can see, in the distance, Marina, her back toout over the black ocean

"To

"Please, Victor," Stephen deht"

"Jeez, you guys are persistent Okay, okay, to at Marina "Oh wait-I’ht How about next week?"