deverhappened.Ispentthedayreadingabookaboutremarkablechildren,giftedsavantswhosemindsweredamagedinsuchawaythattheycouldseetheworldonlythroughasolewindowofsoundormathematicsoranotherabstractsystem.IwouldpressthehobgoblinforthestoryofwhathadreallyhappeoGustavUngerlandandtome.

    Butmorethananyexplanation,Isimplyanddesperatelywantedmysymphonyback,forIcouldnotwriteanoteknowingitwasgohingwouldstopmefrommakinghimreturnthescore.IwouldreasonifIcouldbegifImust,orstealitbaeedbe.Bynow,Iwasnolongersomethingwildanddangerous,butIwasittedtorestmylife.

    Unmistakableirredbehefloorallday.Hewasback.Asthelibraryemptied,Ihefroofmycar.SultryAugustheatpouredinthroughthewindows,andIdozedofflohanintehestarshadrisen,andthatshortnaphadenergizedme.Islungtheropearoundmelikeabandolier,tookoutthetools,andskulkedovertothesidewindow.Therewasnotellinghowfarbelowlaytheirunderworld.ingmyfistinatowel,Ipuhroughtheglass,unlockedthewindow,andcrawledthroughtheopening.ThestaedlikeamazeoftuhebookswatgmyeverymovementthroughthedarknessasIcrepttothechildreion.Anxious,Ispentthreewoodenmatchesattemptingtolightthekeroseern.Theoilywicksmokedandatlastcaughtflame.Myshirtgtomysweatybadtheheavyairmadebreathingdifficult.Withtheknife,Icutawaythecarpetsquareandsawthatithadbeeopasmalltrapdoor,easilypriedopenwiththecroerfectsquareseparatedourtwoworlds.

    Lightfilteredupfrombelowandrevealedacrampedroomstrewnwithblasandbooks,bottlesanddishes.Ibentdownforacloserlookandstuckmyheadthroughthehatchway.Asquickasastrikingsnake,