linda’seyesflueredopen；shesawhim，knewhim–“john！”–busiuaedherealface，herealandviolenhands，inanimaginaryworld–amongheinwardandprivaeequivalensofpachouliandhesuperwurlizer，amongheransfiguredmemoriesandhesrangelyransposedsensaionshaconsiuedheuniverseofherdreamsheknewhimforjohn，herson，bufanciedhimaninruderinohaparadisalmalpaiswhereshehadbeenspendinghersomaholidaywihpopéhewasangrybecauseshelikedpopé，hewasshakingherbecausepopéwashereinhebed–ashoughhereweresomehingwrong，ashoughallcivilizedpeopledidn’dohesame“everyonebelongsoevery…”hervoicesuddenlydiedinoanalmosinaudiblebreahlesscroakinghermouhfellopen：shemadeadesperaeefforofillherlungswihairbuiwasashoughshehadforgoenhowobreahesheriedocryou–bunosoundcame；onlyheerrorofhersaringeyesrevealedwhashewassufferingherhandswenoherhroa，hencwedaheair–heairshecoudnolongerbreahe，heairha，forher，hadceasedoexis

hesavagewasonhisfee，benoverher“whaisi，linda？whaisi？”hisvoicewasimploring；iwasashoughhewerebeggingobereassured

helookshegavehimwaschargedwihanunspeakableerror–wiherrorand，iseemedohim，reproach

sheriedoraiseherselfinbed，bufellbackonohepillowsherfacewashorriblydisored，herlipsblue

hesavageurnedandranupheward

“quick，quick！”heshoued“quick！”

sandinginhecenreofaringofzipperhuningwins，heheadnurselookedroundhefirsmomen’sasonishmengavepcealmosinsanlyodisapproval“don’shou！hinkofhelileones，”shesaid，frowning“youmighdecondiion…buwhaareyoudoing？”hehadbrokenhroughhering“becareful！”achildwasyelling

“quick，quick！”hecaughherbyhesleeve，draggedheraferhim“quick！somehing’shappenedi’vekilledher”

byheimeheywerebackaheendofhewardlindawasdead

hesavagesoodforamomeninfrozensilence，henfellonhiskneesbesidehebedand，coveringhisfacewihhishands，sobbedunconrolbly

henursesoodirresolue，lookingnowahekneelingfigurebyhebed（hescandalousexhibiion！）andnow（poorchildren！）ahewinswhohadsoppedheirhuningofhezipperandweresaringfromheoherendofheward，saringwihallheireyesandnosrilsaheshockingscehawasbeingenacedroundbed20shouldshespeakohim？ryobringhimbackoasenseofdecency？remindhimofwherehewas？ofwhafaalmischiefhemighdoohesepoori

ocens？undoingallheirwholesomedeahcondiioningwihhisdisgusingoucry–ashoughdeahweresomehingerrible，ashoughanyonemaeredasmuchasallha！imighgivehemhemosdisasrousideasabouhesubjec，mighupseheminoreacinginheenirelywrong，heuerlyanisocialway

sheseppedforward，sheouchedhimonheshoulder“can’youbehave？”shesaidinalow，angryvoicebu，lookingaround，shesawhahalfadozenwinswerealreadyonheirfeeandadvancingdownhewardhecirclewasdisinegrainginanohermomen…no，heriskwasoogrea；hewholegroupmighbepubacksixorsevenmonhsiniscondiioningshehurriedbackowardshermenacedcharges

“now，whowansachocoeécir？”sheaskedinaloud，cheerfulone

“me！”yelledheenirebokanovskygroupinchorusbed20wascompleelyforgoen

“oh，god，god，god…”hesavagekeprepeaingohimselfinhechaosofgriefandremorsehafilledhismindiwasheonearicueword“god！”hewhisperedialoud“god…”

“whaeverishesaying？”saidavoice，verynear，disincandshrillhroughhewarblingsofhesuperwurlizer

hesavageviolenlysaredand，uncoveringhisface，lookedroundfivekhakiwins，eachwihhesumpofalongécirinhisrighhand，andheiridenicalfacesvariouslysmearedwihliquidchocoe，weresandinginarow，puggilygogglingahim

heymehiseyesandsimulaneouslygri

edoneofhempoinedwihhisécirbu

“isshedead？”heasked

hesavagesaredahemforamomeninsilenceheninsilenceheroseohisfee，insilenceslowlywalkedowardshedoor

“isshedead？”repeaedheinquisiivewinroingahisside

hesavagelookeddownahimandsillwihouspeakingpushedhimawayhewinfellonhefloorandaoncebeganohowlhesavagedidnoevenlookround