Tony

           (Danny…)

           (Dannneee…)

           Darknessandhallways.Hewaswanderingthroughdarknessandhallwaysthatwerelikethosewhichlaywithinthebodyofthehotelbutweresomehowdifferent.Thesilkpaperedwallsstretchedupandup,andevenwhenhecranedhisneck,Dannycouldnotseetheceiling.Itwaslostindimness.Allthedoorswerelocked,andtheyalsoroseuptodimness.Belowthepeepholes(inthesegiantdoorstheywerethesizeofgunsights),tinyskullsandcrossboneshadbeenboltedtoeachdoorinsteadofroomnumbers.

           Andsomewhere,Tonywascallinghim.

           (Dannneee…)

           Therewasapoundingnoise,onebeknewwell,andhoarseshouts,faintwithdistance.Hecouldnotmakeoutwordforword,butheknewthetextwellenoughbynow.Hehadhearditbefore,indreamsandawake.

           Hepaused,alittleboynotyetthreeyearsoutofdiapers,andtriedtodecidewherehewas,wherehemightbe.Therewasfear,butitwasafearhecouldlivewith.Hehadbeenafraideverydayfortwomonthsnow,toadegreethatrangedfromdulldisquiettooutright,mind-bendingterror.Thishecouldlivewith.ButhewantedtoknowwhyTonyhadcome,whyhewasmakingthesoundofhisnameinthishallthatwasneitherapartofrealthingsnorofthedreamlandwhereTonysometimesshowedhimthings.Why,where-

           "Danny."

           Fardownthegianthallway,almostastinyasDannyhimself,wasadarkfigure.Tony.