He smoked another cigarette. By then the house was quiet.

He looked into the room across the hall. The boy had put out the lights and gone to bed. In the glow of the hall-light, Bob could see his head on the pillow. He asked softly, "Did you find everything you needed?"

There was no answer. The boy was asleep. Or pretending to be.

Bob went into the room and closed the door behind him. He slipped into the bed. He drew close to the boy, feeling his warmth. He put an arm about him. The boy started violently. He said, "What the hell are you doing?”

He jerked away. He was breathing heavily. When he spoke again, his voice was harsh and angry. "Is this what you wanted?"

He was out of bed.

Walter switched on the light. Then, as if suddenly embarrassed by his nakedness, he snatched his shirt from off the bedpost and held it in front of him.

"Wait," said Bob again.

“Wait, hell,” said Walter.

was supposed to trust you!"

"I'm getting out of here." Then he said, “And I

"I thought you knew why I was bringing you home," said Bob. "I'm sorry I made a mistake. What I said about trusting me-I meant it. I meant you could trust me not to do anything that would hurt you, or anything you didn't want me to do. You can go if you feel like it, but you're as welcome to stay as you were before, and you can be certain I won't bother you again." The boy looked at him uncertainly, his mouth open a little.

Without another word-with dignity, he hoped-Bob got up and left him. He sat in his room across the hall. There was a long stillness. Then he heard Walter switch the light off. He heard the bed creak.

And Bob huddled in the dark, his head throbbing, black misery in his soul. In the morning he made breakfast. Orange juice. Scrambled eggs and bacon. Coffee. It was on the table when Walter came down.

"Good morning. Did you sleep all right?" asked Bob.

"Yes, thanks." Walter stood there without quite looking at him. "I'll be pushing off now."

"Breakfast's ready," said Bob. "Sit down and eat."

Walter hesitated. He sat down.

"I phoned the bus station," Bob told him. "The next bus to Los Arboles leaves at ten-thirty. You can catch the car out here at five till ten and get to the station in plenty of time.'

They finished breakfast.

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"Want a shave before you go?" asked Bob. "You can use my things."

"No, I'll wait," Walter said. "Thanks for the breakfast. Thanks for giving

me a place to stay."

"It's all right," said Bob.

Walter seemed to be trying to say something more. He began, "I guess I was pretty stupid last night.”

"I guess I was," said Bob.

"What I mean is I was surprised and all, but I didn't have to make a thing of it."

"I know how you feel," said Bob.

He washed the dishes, and Walter dried them. They walked together to the car-stop.

The car came, and Bob put some money into Walter's hand. It was a tendollar bill, and Walter stared at it. As the car pulled away, he called out the

one

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