第89节

    herears,her

    hair.herbrokeilliinitscast,butherhands

    uldpaint.

    hel

    asthoughinansovedhereyes.

    chaptertytwo.

    jaloser.rachelhereyeballsovingbehindtheir

    lids.

    ”rachel”sheuldhavebeendreang.”rachel,eon,

    honey.iknoe.openthoseeyes.openthoseeyes.”the

    ventntinuedforahenstopped.heed.nothing.

    hegrabbedhershoulders,findihinandfrailthatheheld

    gently,butheheld.”dontgobacktosleep,rachel.pleasedont.

    itstitosheagain,usingtheround

    bristlebrushbecausesoooldhertousethebristlefilbert.

    ”okay.”herevedhishandsandstraightened.”youtosleep,

    sleep.itsyoure,idliketotalkhthepeoplewhove

    beensokindastoehere.idalsoliketoefora

    shots.

    itoobuildacareertothepoint

    ofbeinginvitedbyagallerylikethat,onlytosleepthroughthe

    nthing”hesandstoodback,frustrated

    enoughtobeangry.

    ”shesdoingthisdeliberately,”hetoldfaith.”itsantrol

    thing.

    shesgettingbackatforyearshoughtirolling

    her,butitsherfaultfootspeakingup.shealkedabout

    ntrol.didshesayidontlikesanfrancis.idont

    toliveinsanfrancis.idonttobealoneinsanfrancis.

    sodidshedo

    sheleftalaveatasteofoedie.well,i

    leaed.isntthatenough”faithsilysledhers,sad

    sle.

    raejackbroughtthe

    girls,herlidsuof

    ightopenhereyesand

    speofherlifestaringatnothihedoctors

    uldapupildilation,buttheycalledthisprogress.jack

    eience.

    ”thatlookstotallygross,”santhasaid.”youale

    todothingsatall.eyelidslikethatarentdoingit

    ryingtolookuhoselidsandsee

    sothingthatghtseeher.shehadbarelystraightenedwhenshesaw

    theojack.hehershe

    thoughthehadsearandwouldbeangry,whenshesaid,

    ”hisdidshesendittoyouialwayswondered

    was.”

    ”shekeptit,”jahopetosanthaand

    baighthelp.anyonehaveaproblethis”

    noonedid.thegirlslessashehehourspassed,

    andasreluttoleaverachel.benstoppedby.

    janstoppedby.steveandkaraandproddedaedand

    talked.nelliestoppedby.

    charliestoppedby.dytuedrachel,oaheledback

    intoplaceebarelyopeneyes.dunpickedupfaith.

    stevealdsfordihey

    helsnose.

    bynine,jadthegirlsheonlyo.hopealeand

    yaanthasod.

    still,theye

    thingsoverandain,badgeringher,beggingher,halfjl

    expe

    up.

    byten,theyeinsilence.halfway

    there,itstartedtorain.jacktuedoffthehighthebankof

    ilboxes,dobingintothe

    yon.

    hepulledinatthehouse.theycliedoutandstoodintherain.

    ”iakingaion.he

    rainatnightethingracheling”

    ”.

    ””.”theonlythingtheydidbeforeleavingokthe

    ansaanthafroydia,

    shelly,andbrendan.thereessagesforjackfroislawyerand

    thepotentialhillsbhdetroit,

    etoheartheneisinganothercall.therewasno

    ssagefrohehospital.

    takingrainats,jaellphone,andthelargeflashlightsthat

    rachelkeptonhandfortheoutagesthatfaithhadsaid

    ineadohe

    raireesgehedrops.their

    pitpatelledofda

    earthandwood.

    hopeledtheothespoterseveral

    here,theyvedonanthainthelead,butshetued

    badhaltedtheothersbeforetheyhadgonefar.

    ”illtakeyoutoplace,butitisne.youtehere

    again.

    .closeyoureyes.illleadyou.”

    ”nuhuh,”jacksaid.”iotyeyesclosed.ifyou

    toshare,youshare.

    eon,saitstoodarktoseeahellofalot.

    ireghingindaylight.”

    ”hopewould.”

    ”no,iised.”isofshiningalightin

    herfakuldhasexpression.butshetuedand

    beganier,overaurseso

    uitousthatjathaintehey

    arrivedatherplace.itherredhisonehwide

    trunksthatspreadandholloraddledunevenground.

    santhaescapedfroherainintoone.hopeslippedintoanother

    closeby.jacktookshelterinthelargest,thtofthe

    others,ineasyviedhislightateach,saallbitsof

    lorfroheirslickers,andtuedoffhislight.

    thenightoon,nofog,justadense

    forestunderahigh,denseverofclouds.thesteadypitpatofrain

    asy,as

    ,hecraved.

    hesettledback,prayingthatnothinglive,thennearly

    diedethinghithisside.

    hete,”hopewhispered.

    ”shhh.

    idonthere.

    shellthinkip.butyoursisbetterthanne.”jack

    laughed.”dait,hope,youjusttooktenyearsofflife.”buthe

    hadanarroundherandher

    se,theybothyelled.

    ”isantharowdingin.”i

    an,like,hinkisoutherejasonpuleeze.”jackwas

    laughinga

    ...