@@@@@“Let's go, kid,” he muttered, carrying the
@@@@@“Let's go,
kid,” he muttered, carrying the boy with no more effort than if he were an infantIan's quiet
footsteps faded into the distance until I couldn't hear them anymore
Doc yawned and went to sit behind the desk he'd constructed out of wooden crates and an
aluminum door, taking the dim lamp with himWalter's face was too dark to see, and that made
me nervousIt was like he was already goneI took comfort in his fingers, still curled stiffly
around mine
Doc began to shuffle through some papers, humming almost inaudibly to himselfI drifted off
to the sound of the gentle rustling
Walter recognized me in the morning
He didn't wake until Ian showed up to escort me back; the cornfield was due to be cleared of
the old stalksI promised Doc I would bring him breakfast before I got to workThe very last
thing I did was to carefully loosen my numb fingers, freeing them from Walter's grasp“Wanda,” he whispered
“Walter?” I wasn't sure how long he would know me, or if he would remember last nightHis
hand clutched at the empty air, so I gave him my left, the one that wasn't deadI know… with the others back… must be hard… for
you… Your face…”
He seemed to be having a difficult time making his lips form the words, and his eyes went in
and out of focusHow like him, that his first words to me would be full of concern
“Everything's fine, WalterHow are you feeling?”
“Ah –” He groaned quietly“Not so… Doc?”
“Right here,” Doc murmured, close behind me
“Got any more liquor?” he gasped
Doc was already preparedHe held the mouth of a thick glass bottle to Walter's slack lips and
carefully poured the dark brown liquid in slow drips into his mouthWalter winced as each sip
burned down his throatSome of it trickled out the side of his mouth and onto his pillow