“I don’t know,” Rose said slowly, trying to absorb the fact that Jerram made a habit of visiting Mackey. She’d thought it was just that once, years ago on Halloween. The idea that Jerram had kept it a secret was something new, to be considered later. “We used to think we had the same dreams, but that may be natural with twins.”

“ ‘Sleep hath its own world, and a wide realm of wild reality,’” Mackey said. “‘And dreams in their development have breath, and tears, and tortures and the touch of joy.’ ”

They were silent for a moment. Sleet slashed against Mackey’s windows.

“Will you help?” Rose asked timidly.

“I’ll think on it and do what I can. But for now, it’s time you were getting back home. Will your parents be picking you up?”

“No, I have my bike. I’ll be fine.”

Mackey looked disapproving and pursed his lips as he opened the door and looked out at the weather. “Perhaps it’s clearing a wee bit,” he said doubtfully. The cat peered out into the darkness and sneezed.

“Godspeed,” Mackey called from the doorway as Rose rode away.

But the road was too slick to keep riding, and the sleet cut her eyes and turned her nose to ice. The only good thing was that it was all downhill. She was nearly home when she noticed the headlights. She moved over to the shoulder of the road, but the car stayed behind her, moving almost at the same pace. She panicked, thinking it was Dad out searching, but for a time the car never came closer. She could see better in its headlights, but it made her nervous, afraid to move out into the road in case she got run down. Finally the car accelerated. When it was parallel with her, it slowed to a crawl and whoever was driving reached over to swipe at the steamy window, as if to get a good look at her. She could see now it wasn’t Dad or Mom, or even Barney. But it might be someone who’d recognize her, who might say something. Rose turned her head away. The car hovered, then passed, only to slow down again beyond the intersection. Luckily it was her cross street, and she turned and hurried up the block to the house.

She managed to sneak upstairs without being seen. Mom and Dad were watching television. Jerram was waiting in his room.

“You look like a drowned rat,” he said. “Take a hot shower, and I’ll bring you some tea with lemon.”

He sat next to her on the bed as she drank it and told him what had transpired at Mackey’s.

“Mackey will help, you’ll see,’’Jerram said when she’d finished.