"They've been there since the
day the truck broke down," he
said. "Today's the first time any
have lit on the ground. I
watched the way they sailed
very carefully at first in case I
ever wanted to use them in a
story. That's funny now.""I
wish you wouldn't," she said.
"I'm only talking," he said. "It's
much easier if I talk. But I
don't want to bother you."
"You know it doesn't bother
me," she said. "It's that I've
gotten so very nervous not
being able to do anything. I
think we might make it as easy
as we can until the plane
comes."
"Or until the plane doesn't
come."
"Please tell me what I can do.
There must be something I can
do.
"You can take the leg off and
that might stop it, though I
doubt it. Or you can shoot me.
You're a good shot now. I
taught you to shoot, didn't I?"
"Please don't talk that way.
Couldn't I read to you?"
"Read what?"
"Anything in the book that we
haven't