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ished through them。
Dolarhyde watched her from his van。 His feelings made him uneasy； they were dangerous in daylight。
For a moment under the lowering sun； windshields； puddles； high steel wires splintered the sunlight into the glint of scissors。
Her white cane forted him。 It swept the light of scissors； swept scissors away； and the memory of her harinlessness eased him。 He was starting the engine。
Reba McClane heard the van behind her。 It was beside her now。
〃Thank you for inviting me。〃
She nodded； smiled； tapped along。
〃Ride with me。〃
〃Thanks； but I take the bus all the time。〃
〃Dandridge is a fool。 Ride with me 。 。 。 〃 … what would someone say？ … 〃for my pleasure。〃
She stopped。 She heard him get out of the van。
People usually grasped her upper arm； not knowing what else to do。 Blind people do not like to have their balance disturbed by a firm hold on their triceps。 It is as unpleasant for them as standing on wiggly scales to weigh。 Like anyone else； they don't like to be propelled。
He didn't touch her。 In a moment she said； 〃It's better if I take your arm。〃
She had wide experience of forearms； but his surprised her fingers。 It was as hard as an oak banister。
She could not know the amount of nerve he summoned to let her touch him。
The van felt big and high。 Surrounded by resonances and echoes unlike those of a car； she held to the edges of the bucket seat until Dolarhyde fastened her safety belt。 The diagonal shoulder belt pressed one of her breasts。 She moved it until it lay between them。
They said little during the drive。 Waiting at the red lights； he could look at her。
She lived in the left side of a duplex on a quiet street near Washington University。
〃e in and I'll give you a drink。〃
In his life； Dolarhyde had been in fewer than a dozen private homes。 In the past ten years he had been in four； his own； Eileen's briefly； the Leedses'； and the Jacobis'。 Other people's houses were exotic to him。
She felt the van rock as he got out。 Her door opened。 It was a long step down from the van。 She bumped into him lightly。 It was like bumping into a tree。 He was much heavier； more solid than she would have judged from his voice and his footfalls。 Solid and light on his feet。 She had known a Bronco linebacker once in Denver who came out to film a United Way appeal with some blind kids。
Once inside her front door； Reba McClane stood her cane in the corner and was suddenly free。 She moved effortlessly； turning on music； hanging up her coat。
Dolarhyde had to reassure himself that she was blind。 Being in a home excited him。
〃How about a gin and tonic？〃
〃Tonic will be fine。〃
〃Would you rather have juice？〃
〃Tonic。〃
〃You're not a drinker； are you？〃
〃No。〃
〃e on in the kitchen。〃 She opened the refrigerator。 〃How about 。 。 。 〃 … she made a quick inventory with her hands … 〃a piece of pie； then？ Karo pecan； it's dynamite。〃
〃Fine。〃
She took a whole pie from the icebox and put it on the counter。
Hands pointing straight down； she spread her fingers along the edge of the pie tin until its circumference told her that her middle fingers were at nine and three o'clock。 Then she touched her thumb…tips together and brought them down to the surface of the pie to locate its exact center。 She marked the center with a toothpick。
Dolarhyde tried to make conversation to keep her from feeling his stare。 〃How long have you been at Baeder？〃 No S's in that one。
〃Three months。 Didn't you know？〃
〃They tell me the minimum。〃
She grinned。 〃You probably stepped on some toes when you laid out the darkrooms。 Listen； the techs love you for it。 The plumbing works and there are plenty of outlets。 Two…twenty wherever you need it。〃
She put the middle finger of her left hand on the toothpick； her thumb on the edge of the tin and cut him a slice of pie； guiding the knife with her left index finger。
He watched her handle the bright knife。 Strange to look at the front of a woman as much as he liked。 How often in pany can one look where he wants to look？
She made herself a stiff gin and tonic and they went into the living room。 She passed her hand over a floor lamp； felt no heat； switched it on。
Dolarhyde ate his pie in three bites and sat stiffly on the couch； his sleek hair shining under the lamp； his powerful hands on his knees。 She put her head back in her chair and propped her feet on an ottoman。
〃When will they film at the zoo？〃
〃Maybe next week。〃 He was glad he had called the zoo and offered the infrared film： Dandridge might check。
〃It's a great zoo。 I went with my sister and my niece when they came to help me move in。 They have the contact area； you know。 I hugged this llama。 It felt nice； but talk about aroma； boy 。 。 。 I thought I was being followed by a llama until I changed my shirt。〃
This was Having a Conversation。 He had to say something or leave。 〃How did you e to Baeder？〃
〃They advertised at the Reiker Institute in Denver where I was working。 I was checking the bulletin board one day and just happened to e across this job。 Actually； what happened； Baeder had to shape up their employment practices to keep this Defense contract。 They managed to pack six women； two blacks； two chicanos； an oriental； a paraplegic； and me into a total of eight hirings。 We all count in at least two categories； you see。〃
〃You worked out well for Baeder。〃
〃The others did too。 Baeder's not giving anything away。〃
〃Before that？〃 He was sweating a little。 Conversation was hard。 Looking was good； though。 She had good legs。 She had nicked an ankle shaving。 Along his arms a sense of the weight of her legs； limp。
〃I trained newly blind people at the Reiker Institute in Denver for ten years after I finished school。 This is my first job on the outside。〃
〃Outside of what？〃
〃Out in the big world。 It was really insular at Reiker。 I mean； we were training people to live in the sighted world and we didn't live in it ourselves。 We talked to each other too much。 I thought I'd get out and knock around a little。 Actually； I had intended to go into speech therapy； for speech…and…hearing…impaired children。 I expect I'll go back to that； one of these days。〃 She drained her glass。 〃Say； I've got some Mrs。 Paul's crab…ball miniatures in here。 They're pretty good。 I shouldn't have served dessert first。 Want some？〃
〃Um…hmmm。〃
〃Do you cook？〃
〃Um…hmmm。〃
A tiny crease appeared in her forehead。 She went into the kitchen。 〃How about coffee？〃 she called。
〃Uh…huh。〃
She made small talk about grocery prices and got no reply。 She came back into the living room and sat on the ottoman； her elbows on her knees。
〃Let's talk about something for a minute and get it out of the way； okay？〃
Silence。
〃You haven't said anything lately。 In fact； you haven't said anything since I mentioned speech therapy。〃 Her voice was kind； but firm。 It carried no taint of sympathy。 〃I understand you fine because you speak very well and because I listen。 People don't pay attention。 They ask me what？ what？ all the time。 If you don't want to talk； okay。 But I hope you will talk。 Because you can； and I'm interested in what you have to say。〃
〃Ummm。 That's good；〃 Dolarhyde said s