Summer came overnight.

The unseasonably cool spring had

extended into June, and then, next morning, Myra and Lee awoke to a blazing hot sun pouring through the open blinds.

Vapid and ill-fooling, Myra dragged mrself out of bed. Loo, on the other hand, sprang up and executed an ecstatic sun-dance in her pajamas.

"Ah, warm, warm, warm!" she crowed. "What is lovelier than the warm hot sun!"

"You're in a gay mood this morning," Myra said.

"You know me, baby," Leo chirped. "Toujours tres gay!"

Myra sat on the edge of her bod and watched Lee disappear

❤

into the bathroom. Heavily then, she put on her robe and wont into the kitchen to put the coffee on. So, she thought, whatever happened last night was good. For Lee, and, she supposed, for Alico. She had never seen Loe quite this exuberant and there must be a reason for it other than the summer sun.

All morning, bending over the desk at her office, Myra was overcome with utter melancholy. The sudden he at was oppressive and she was grateful when the lunch hour arrived. But instead of taking refuge in the air-conditioned cafeteria in her building, Myra went out and walked along the avenue. She had no appetite. She wanted only to think. Not until she had reached the little conter city park did she realize the direction she had taken. Botween the trees, through the park, she could see the facade of the public library. Inside the library was Alice Norman. She knew that because Lee had told her.

Myra stopped a moment before climbing the steps, patted her face with a tissue and smoothed her hair. Inside, sh was temporarily blinded until her eye 3 adjusted themselves to the quiet shadows of the large room.

Three librarians were wore seated at desks. ohistic thing inside her vanquisher.

12

standing behind the counter and two Which was Alico? Somo horrid masohor wanted to look upon hor enemy,