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It really wasn't all that difficult to go up a stairway, even with dead legs I had the strength in my upper arms and shoulders, thanks to all my therapy with Austin I sat on a step, put my arms behind myself and liftedonto the balustrade To keepinto any panic I counted the steps and then I beca "Twenty-four steps on the stairs if I do two o"

It took me the better part of an hour, but finally I reached back to placeand lifted my body one final time I was upstairs My heart beat for joy now instead of in fear and trepidation

I gazed down at my wheelchair at the foot of the stairs I felt like I was looking over a cliff Now, full of hope I started down the upstairs hallway All of the rooms had phones as I recalled but I feltone in what had been her bedroom and where she staved now

As I moved down the hallway, however I noted that the door to Grandmother Hudson's bedroom ide open Since it was closer I decided to ao for the phone there After all, ould she have had that disconnected? Soht for me to make my desperate call for help from Grandmother Hudson's bedroom Spiritually, she would be beside ht

I turned into it and pulled hts

What struck me first was the heavy scent of Grander, but certainly not as long as this nor as redolent as this It seemed to have just been sprayed Perhaps Aunt Victoria had used soht but I didn't recall the scent downstairs when she spoke tobehind her as she left It surely would have

Grandmother Hudson's phone was an antique, one of those brass telephones with the biz receivers and ht of her bed I decided I would use the side board of the bed as a brace and lift myself up and onto the bed Fro the phone

I did it in two s to myself at how proud Austin would be if he saw th I lifted my body onto the bed and flopped backward to fall on the pillow

Only I didn't fall on the pillow My cheek rested against strands of hair instead It was so unexpected, I froze for a moment and then slowly, I turned and i scream, it rattled every bone in my own body

A wig the shade of Grandmother Hudson's hair had been put on a ht of it si it all out of s

My head spun and then suddenly, all went dark

15

Prisoner of Madness

I couldn't have been unconscious very long, but

during the tiet myself up the stairs and into Grandh the tunnel of illusion she had created for herself She had gone on what I believed was her fantasy date and returned I openedover me