第26部分(第1/7 頁)

〃What？〃

〃I　said　you're　right；　except　you　should　say　‘seizure'　instead　of　‘pitch　a

fit。'　That's　not　nice　。。。　okay；　lie　just　as　still　as　a　mouse　now。〃

〃Okay。〃

〃Danny；　when　you　have　these　。。。　whatever　they　ares；　do　you　ever　recall

seeing　bright　flashing　lights　before？〃

〃No。。。　〃

〃Funny　noises？　Ringing？　Or　chimes　like　a　doorbell？〃

〃Huh…uh。〃

〃How　about　a　funny　smell；　maybe　like　oranges　or　sawdust？　Or　a　smell　like

something　rotten？〃

〃No；　Sir。〃

〃Sometimes　do　you　feel　like　crying　before　you　pass　out？　Even　though　you　don't

feel　sad？〃

〃No　way。〃

〃That's　fine；　then。〃

〃Have　I　got　epilepsy；　Dr。　Bill？〃

〃I　don't　think　so；　Danny。　Just　lie　still。　Almost　done。〃

The　machine　hummed　and　scratched　for　another　five　minutes　and　then　Dr。　Edmonds

shut　it　off。

〃All　done；　guy；〃　Edmonds　said　briskly。　〃Let　Sally　get　those　electrodes　off　you

and　then　e　into　the　next　room。　I　want　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you。　Okay？〃

〃Sure。〃

〃Sally；　you　go　ahead　and　give　him　a　tine　test　before　he　es　in。〃

〃All　right。〃

Edmonds　ripped　off　the　long　curl　of　paper　the　machine　had　extruded　and　went

into　the　next　room；　looking　at　it。

〃I'm　going　to　prick　your　arm　just　a　little；〃　the　nurse　said　after　Danny　had

pulled　up　his　pants。　〃It's　to　make　sure　you　don't　have　TB。〃

〃They　gave　me　that　at　my　school　just　last　year；〃　Danny　said　without　much　hope。

〃But　that　was　a　long　time　ago　and　you're　a　big　boy　now；　right？〃

〃I　guess　so；〃　Danny　sighed；　and　offered　his　arm　up　for　sacrifice。

When　he　had　his　shirt　and　shoes　on；　he　went　through　the　sliding　door　and　into

Dr。　Edmonds's　office。　Edmonds　was　sitting　on　the