But that wasn't all. She knew there was something else. Something he wouldn't tell her. There was a sense of desperation about him, as if he were frightened of something. What was he so afraid of? He acted as if it were all a matter of life and death.

They lay next to one another, bodies touching, basking in the warm afterglow of sex. Marcie turned on her side and kissed Jack softly on his cheek.

"Mmmm…" she sighed, "You are so fine."

She gave him another kiss and got out of bed. The candle on the nightstand was flickering.

"Yo, where're you going?" Jack said, sitting up.

"I gotta pee." She felt around in the darkness for her clothes. Jack put on his shirt. Marcie found her underpants and t-shirt, pulled them on, and then slipped onto her raincoat without bothering to look for the rest of her clothes. They were nearby on the floor, somewhere, and she would only be gone a minute.

"Hurry back, okay?" Jack grinned, "It's getting cold in here."

"You'll save my place for me?"

"Oh, yeah."

She bent down to kiss them, then picked up the flashlight and went out the door. It was pouring. She smiled at the thought of what would happen if she ran into any of the others and they saw her barefoot in the rain, without anything on beneath her slicker except her underwear. But the light was still on in the main cabin and she could see smoke curling up from the chimney. They're probably having their own party, she thought.

Alice rolled the dice.

"Five."

She moved her playing token.

"Baltic Avenue. I'll buy it."

"No one ever lands on Baltic Avenue," Bill pointed out.

"I think it's a pretty color," Alice said.

She passed Bill the play money and he handed her the deed card.

"Okay," he said, rattling the dice in his hand and blowing on them like a craps shooter.

"Come on," said Alice.

He rolled the dice.

"Ha! Eight."

Alice moved his token around the board.

"Baltic Avenue! You owe me one boot. Hand it over."

"Coming."

He reached under the table to pull off his boot.

"Alice draws first blood," said Brenda.

"What a terrible way to talk about my feet," said Bill. He passed her the boot.

"Thank you," said Alice, setting it down beside her chair. They were all starting to get a little silly.

The grass was helping, so was the beer.

"You know, I think I'm beginning to like this game. Just wait till you land on my old Kentucky home," Brenda threatened. She rolled the dice.

"More beer?" asked Bill. He quickly checked the bottles on the table.

"More beer."

He nodded and got up to go to the refrigerator.

"Let's see," said Brenda, "What railroad is that?"