roubled sleep； I heard Mickey … maybe not the best orderly in the place； but certainly the kindest … singing 〃Red River Valley〃 in his good tenor as he went around dispensing the evening meds： 〃From this valley they say you are going 。。。 We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile 。。。〃 The song made me think of Melinda again； and what she had said to John after the miracle had happened。 I dreamed of you。 I dreamed you were wandering in the dark； and so was I。 We found each other。
Georgia Pines gree and passed； and still I wrote。 I got to Harry reminding us that； even though we had gotten John back to the prison without being discovered； we still had Percy waiting for us。 〃The evening ain't over as long as we got him to contend with〃 is more or less what Harry said。
That's where my long day of driving my father's pen at last caught up with me。 I put it down … just for a few seconds； I thought； so I could flex some life back into the fingers … and then I put my forehead down on my arm and closed my eyes to rest them。 When I opened them again and raised my head； morning sun glared in at me through the windows。 I looked at my watch and saw it was past eight。 I had slept； head on arms like an old drunk； for what must have been six hours。 I got up； wincing； trying to stretch some life into my back。 I thought about going down to the kitchen； getting some toast； and going for my morning walk； then looked down at the sheafs of scribbled pages scattered across the desk。