toletgoofthepast,son.Beopentolifetoe.Bathesixties,wheneverybodywaslost,Briaalkaboutgoingofftofindhimself.Heusedtosay,WillIeverknowtherealme?WillIeverknowposedtobe?Suchfoolishquestioraightanswers,dontyouthink,HenryDay?"

    Ifeltfaint,paralyzed,destroyed.Icrawledoffthesofa,outthefrontdoor,allthewayhomeandintobed.Ifwemadeood-byes,theyevaporatedquicklyintheresidualshockofherstory.

    Torousemefromdeepslumberthem,Tessfixedapotofhotcoffeeandalatebreakfastofeggsandbiscuits,whichIdevouredlikeafamishedchild.Iedofallstrengthandwill,fouhenewsofGustavasanidiotsavant.Toomanyghostsiic.Wesatontheverandainthe,siionsoftheSundayneer.Ipreteoread,butmymindwaselsewhere,desperatelytryingtosortthroughthepossibilities,whenaruckusaroseintheneighborhood.Dogsstartedhowlingonebyoneassomethingpassedinfrontoftheirhomes,areaaddeningiy.

    Tessstoodandpeereddowreetbothwaysbutsawnothing."Itstandit,"shesaid."Imgoingiiltheyknockitoff.Ifreshenyourcoffee?"

    "Always."Ismiledandhandedhermycup.Thesedshevanished,Isawwhathaddriventheanimalsmad.Thereoreet,inthebroadlightofSundaym,twoofthedevilszigzaggedacrosstheneighborhoodlawns.Ohemlimpedalongassheran,aher,amouselikemonster,beedhertohurry.Thepairstoppedwhentheysawmeontheporch,twohousesaway,andstareddirectlyatmeforaninstant.Wretchedcreatureswithhideousholesforeyes,bulbousheadsontheirruinedbodies.Cakedwithdirta.Fromdownwind,Icouldsmelltheferalodorofdedmusk.Theohthelimppointedabonyfingerrightatme,aherquicklyledheraway