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Two
"I’minLondonAbove,"shesaid,inasmallvoice.
"Yes,you’reinLondon,"saidRichard.Abovewhat?hewondered."Ithinkmaybeyouwereinshockorsomethinglastnight.Thatisanastycutonyourarm."Hewaitedforhertosaysomething,toexplain.Sheglancedathim,andthenlookedbackdownatthebusesandtheshops.Richardcontinued:"I,um,foundyouonthepavement.Therewasalotofblood."
"Don’tworry,"shesaid,seriously."Mostofthebloodwassomeoneelse’s."
Sheletthecurtainfallback.Thenshebegantounwrapthescarf,nowbloodstainedandcrusted,fromherarm.Sheexaminedthecutandmadeaface."We’regoingtohavetodosomethingaboutthis,"shesaid."Doyouwanttogivemeahand?"
Richardwasbeginningtofeelalittleoutofhisdepth."Idon’treallyknowtoomuchaboutfirstaid,"hesaid.
"Well,"shesaid,"ifyou’rereallysqueamishyouonlyhavetoholdthebandagesandtietheendswhereIcan’treach.Youdohavebandages,don’tyou?"
Richardnodded."Ohyes,"hesaid."Inthefirstaidkit.Inthebathroom.Underthesink."Andthenhewentintohisbedroomandchangedhisclothes,wonderingwhetherthemessonhisshirt(hisbestshirt,boughtforhimby,ohGod,Jessica,shewouldhaveafit)wouldevercomeoff.
Thebloodywaterremindedhimofsomething,somekindofdreamhehadoncehad,perhaps,buthecouldnolonger,forthelifeofhim,rememberexactlywhat.
