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Two
"Mindyourhead,"saidthemarquis,andheopenedadoor.Richardbangedhisforeheadintosomethinghardandsaid"ow,"andthenhesteppedoutthroughalowdoor,shieldinghiseyesagainstthelight.
Richardrubbedhisforehead,thenherubbedhiseyes.Thedoortheyhadjustcomethroughwasthedoortothebroomclosetinthestairwellofhisapartmentbuilding.Itwasfilledwithbrooms,anelderlymop,andahugevarietyofcleaningfluids,powders,andwaxes.Ithadnostairsatthebackofitthathecouldsee,justawallonwhichastainedoldcalendarhung,quiteuselessly—unless1979evercamebackaround.
ThemarquiswasexaminingtheHAVEYOUSEENTHISGIRL?posterstuckbesideRichard’sfrontdoor."Notherbestside,"hesaid.
Richardshutthedoortothebroomcloset.Hetookhiskeysfromhisbackpocket,unlockedhisfrontdoor,andhewashome.Itwas,hewasratherrelievedtoseethroughthekitchenwindows,night-timeoncemore.
"Richard,"saidDoor."Youdidit."Shehadwashedherselfwhilehewasgone,andherlayersofclotheslookedlikeshehadatleastmadeanefforttogettheworstofthefilthandthebloodoffthem.Thegrimewasgonefromherfaceandhands.Herhair,whenwashed,wasadarkshadeofauburn,withcopperandbronzehighlights.Richardwonderedhowoldshewas:fifteen?Sixteen?Older?Hestillcouldn’ttell.
Shehadputonthebrownleatherjacketshehadbeenwearingwhenhehadfoundher,hugeandenveloping,likeanoldflyingjacket,whichsomehowmadeherlooksmallerthanshewas,andevenmorevulnerable.
"Well,yes,"saidRichard.