eren't；　you　know；　sick。〃

〃You're　all　heart　and　a　mile　wide；〃　I　said。　My　voice　sounded　all　right　…　so　far；　anyway　…　but　my　heart　was　pounding　hard。　I　was　afraid　of　him；　and　I　don't　think　that　realization　was　entirely　new。　He　reminded　me　of　Percy　Wetmore；　and　I'd　never　been　afraid　of　him　。。。　but　when　I　knew　Percy；　I　had　been　young。

Brad's　smile　widened；　but　became　no　less　pleasant。

〃Folks　tellin　me　you　been　in　here　all　night；　Paulie；　just　writing　your　little　report。　Now；　that's　just　no　good。　Old　farts　like　you　need　their　beauty　rest。〃

〃Percy　…　〃　I　began；　then　saw　a　frown　crease　his　grin　and　realized　my　mistake。　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　began　again。　〃Brad；　what　have　you　got　against　me？〃

He　looked　puzzled　for　a　moment；　maybe　a　bit　unsettled。　Then　the　grin　returned。　〃Old…timer；〃　he　said；　〃could　be　I　just　don't　like　your　face。　What　you　writin；　anyway？　Last　will　n　testicles？〃

He　came　forward；　craning。　I　slapped　my　hand　over　the　page　I'd　been　working　on。　The　rest　of　them　I　began　to　rake　together　with　my　free　hand；　crumpling　some　in　my　hurry　to　get　them　under　my　arm　and　under　cover。

〃Now；〃　he　said；　as　if　speaking　to　a　baby；　〃that　ain't　going　to　work；　you　old　sweetheart。　If　Brad　wants　to　look；　Brad　is　going　to　look。　And　you　can　take　that　to　the　everfucking　bank。〃

His　hand；　young　and　hideously　strong；　closed　over　my　wrist；　and　squeezed。　Pain　sank　into　my　hand　like　teeth；　and　I　groaned。

〃Let　go；〃　I　managed。

〃When　you　l