trustledlikebuckwheathusksinanold-fashionedpillow.

    "Letsfetit,"Isaid."Therearentanybakeriesopenatthistimeofnight.Youvegottoplanforthiskindofthingorelse--"

    "Stopthecar!"

    Islammedonthebrakes.

    "Thisistheplace,"shesaid.

    Theshopsaloreethadtheirshuttersrolleddown,fdark,silentwallsoherside.Abarbershopsignhunginthedarklikeatwisted,chillingglasseye.TherewasabrightMaldshamburgersigwohundredyardsahead,butnothingelse.

    "Idontseeanybakery,"Isaid.

    Withoutaword,sheopeheglovepartmentandpulledoutarollofcloth-backedtape.Holdingthis,shesteppedoutofthecar.Igotoutonmyside.Kneelingatthefrontend,shetoreoffalengthoftapeandcoveredthenumbersontheliseplate.Thearoundtothebaddidthesame.Thereracticedeffiovements.Istoodonthecurbstaringather.

    "WeregoingtotakethatMalds,"shesaid,ascoollyasifshewereannoungouldhavefordinner.

    "Maldsisnotabakery,"Ipoitoher.

    "Itslikeabakery,"shesaid."Sometimesyouhavetopromise.Letsgo."

    IdrovetotheMaldsandparkedi.Shehahebla-edshotgun.

    "Iveneverfiredaguninmylife,"Iprotested.

    "Youdonthavetofireit.Justholdit.Okay?DoasIsay.Wewalkrightin,andassoonastheysay,WeletoMalds,wesliponourmasks.Gotthat?"

    "Sure,but--"

    "Thenyoushovethegunintheirfadmakealltheworkersandersgettogether.Fast.Illdotherest."

    "But--"

    "Howmanyhamburgersdoyouthinkwell