When she passed two students talking, she shouted, “Did you see a guy go by here? Six feet tall. Tan trench coat. Dripping wet.”

One of them pointed ahead. “He went that away …”

She kept running along the circular corridor, checking exit doors to the outer walk from time to time, in case he’d gone back outside. Finally, through one exit, she saw him on the outside walkway.

“Steve!” she shouted. “Wait a minute! I’ve gotta talk to you!” “Ain’t nothin’ to talk about.”

She circled him, wedging herself between him and the concrete balustrade, to keep him from jumping. “Dr. Caul says to come back.”

“Fuck that fat-bellied sonofabitch!”

“He says things aren’t as bad as you think they are.”

“Shit they ain’t.”

He was pacing back and forth, chewing his gum furiously. “Dr. Caul says you’ll be able to go to Kentucky and Dr. Wilbur can help you.”

“I don’t trust any of them shrinks. They’re trying to tell me that bullshit about I got multiple personality. Tliat’s goddamn crazy. They’re the ones that’s nuts.”

He stripped off his wet trench coat, plastered it against a large windowpane and drew his fist back to smash it. She dove for him, caught his arm and hung on to keep him from swinging. She knew he wanted the glass to cut himself with, though it was too thick to smash. He’d probably just break his fist. But she clung to him and he fought to shake her off.

As they grappled, she tried to talk him into going back, but there was no reasoning with him. Drenching wet and freezing, she finally said, “I’m tired of it. I’m giving you a choice: Either you come back with me right now, or I’ll kick you in the fucking balls.”

“You wouldn’t,” he said.

“I will,” she said, still holding his arm. “I’m going to count to three. If you don’t quit and start walking with me back to the hospital, I’m going to kick you.”

“Well,” he said, “I don’t hit females.”

“One …two …” She drew her knee back.

He crossed his legs to protect himself. “You would, wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’m gonna do it,” he said. “I’m going to the top.” “No, you’re not. I’m not letting you.”

He struggled against her, then broke loose and ran to the concrete balustrade. It was three flights to the ground. When be reached the edge, she rushed him, got one arm around his neck and the other through his belt, and pulled him back igainst the concrete, tearing his shirt as they wrestled.

Then she saw something snap in him. He wilted and dropped to the floor, his eyes glazed, and she knew it was someone else. He began to cry, shivering and shaking. Scared, she thought. She knew who he was.

Wanda hugged him and told him there was nothing to worry ibout. “Everything’s going to be okay, Danny.”

“I’m gonna get a whipping,” he whined. “My shoes is untied md all muddy, my pants and my hair is wet. My clothes is nuddy and all messed up.”