Later that night, just to be sure, Todd took all the manuscripts out back and burned them on a small bonfire. After a moment’s thought, he went inside and brought out everything he could find that he’d written, and threw that on the fire too.

Todd watched the pile of paper and card set light and topple to one side, a burning tower of failure.

“We’re gonna need a bigger bonfire,” he said, and set about looking for more wood.

*  *  *

Janis’s lawyer called.

“This is Kevin Coughlan,” he said. “I need you to come into my office and sign some papers to begin the process.”

Todd thought “the process” sounded a little bit medical. He supposed it was in a way, the extraction of a person from a marriage, or the severing of two conjoined twins. He was about to say yes when he remembered his conversation with Behm.

“I need a little more time,” he said.

“Time for what?” said Coughlan. “Mrs. Milstead is very anxious to conclude matters.”

“I’ll get back to you,” said Todd and put the phone down.

*  *  *

Billy called. At least, it could have been Billy. It could have been anyone, really. Or anything. The sound coming from the telephone receiver was like something swallowing. Or, Todd thought, being swallowed.

“I saw Terry today,” said Sara.

“You okay?” Todd asked. “I guess,” she said. “He says he’s going to sign the house over to me, as well as make good with the alimony.”

“What did you say?” said Todd.

“I said, all right then,” said Sara.

“All right then,” said Todd.

*  *  *

Mike called.

“Hey, Todd!” he cried, almost delighted, when Todd picked up. “Long time, no speak.”

“I’ve been busy,” said Todd, not unpleasantly.

If Mike caught the unexpected tone of not-unpleasantness in Todd’s voice, he was careful not to mention it.

“I heard. Buddy, you have been through the mill,” he said. “Listen, Joe and I were talking. We understand that you might not want to revive the old literary soirees like we used to have, but it would be…”

Mike was clearly searching for the right word.

“Good to see you,” he concluded.

Todd thought for a minute.

“Okay,” he said.

“Okay what?” said Mike.

“Come over,” said Todd. “Saturday night.”

“Really?” said Mike.

“You and Joe,” said Todd and then, for the hell of it, “And Billy.”

“We haven’t seen Billy for quite a while,” said Mike.

I’ll bet, thought Todd.

“You sure about this, Todd?” said Mike.

“Saturday night, seven P.M.,” Todd said. “It’ll be just like old times.”

*  *  *

“Wow,” said Sara when he told her that night. “I guess you want me to rustle up a delicious selection of buffet foods.”

“No,” said Todd. “We can buy some chips and dips, and get some booze. Not too much though.”

Sara gave him a weird look, half approval, half appraisal.

“Are you quite yourself?” she asked.