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their blackened imprint on the asphalt。 Apparently aware that it had an unwanted witness； the mysterious luminescence rose up into the brightening air and was gone。
The following evening； Paul Booth； the man who'd had the courage to carry the burning body of Marco Caputo to the pool…went out into the back yard； alone。 He was in a melancholy state of mind。 The party he'd thrown the previous night had been in honour of his little sister's sixteenth birthday。 Some celebration！ Alice had barely stopped crying since。 He could hear her now； sobbing in the house。
He took out the half…smoked reefer he'd been saving for a happier occasion； and lit it up。 As he drew on the pungent smoke； he looked up and saw a patch of luminous air lingering at the edge of the pool。 It had no discernible shape。 It was simply a gentle brightness； which would have been invisible half an hour before； when the sun had still been up。 He watched the brightness as it hung there for ten； perhaps fifteen seconds； then he nipped out his reefer； pocketed it； and went back inside to find someone to tell。 He found his father； and together they emerged into the backyard。
The light had already gone from beside the pool。
〃There！〃 Paul said； pointing up at something that could have been the light he'd seen； now up on Mulholland Drive。 But it could just as easily have been the light of a car ing round the treacherous corner of the road。 And anyway； it had gone in a heartbeat； leaving both father and son doubting what they'd seen。
SIX
In the depths of the Canyon； no more than half a mile from the pool and the lawn and the tree where Ava hung； Tammy lay in the dirt； and waited for the end。 She'd done all she could do to survive： she had eaten berries and licked the dew off leaves； she'd fought off the fever…dreams which threatened to claim her consciousness； she'd forced herself to walk when she had no strength left in her limbs。
It had tricks； this canyon： ways to lead you round and round in circles； so that you burned up all your energies ing back to the place you'd started from。 It put colors before your eyes that were so bewitching that you ended up turning round and round on the spot to catch them； like a dog chasing its own tail。 And sometimes （this was its cleverest trick） it went into your head and found the voices there that were most forting； then made them call to you。 Arnie （of all people to find forting； Mr。 Zero Sperm Count）； and the man who used to do her dry…cleaning in Sacramento； Mr。 O'Brien； who'd always had a smile and a wink for her； and Todd； of course； her beautiful hero Todd； calling out to her just to make her stumble a few more steps。 She hadn't quite believed any of these voices were real； but that hadn't stopped her following them； back and forth； around and about…voices and colors…until at last she had no strength left in her body； and she fell down。
So now she was down； and she was too weak to get up again； too damn heavy ever to get her fat ass up and moving。 At the back of her head was the fear that the freaks would e and find her。 But they didn't e； at least by daylight。 Perhaps； she thought； they were waiting for darkness。 Meanwhile； there were plenty of things that did e： flies； dragonflies； humming…birds； all flitting around。
As for the summonings from Arnie and Mr。 O' Brien and Todd； once she was down on the ground none of these came either。 The Canyon knew it had her beaten。 All it had to do was wait； and she'd perish where she lay。
The day crept on。 In the middle of the afternoon she fell into a stupefied daze； and when she woke experienced a short and surprising burst of renewed ambition to save herself。 After much effort she managed to get to her feet； and started to walk in what she thought was the direction of the house （sometimes she seemed to see the roof through the trees； sometimes not）； but after ten minutes the Canyon seemed to realize she was up and walking； and it began its little tricks afresh。 The colors came back。 So did the voices。
She fell to her knees； crying； begging it to leave her alone。 But it was merciless； the voices were louder than ever； yelling incoherently in her head； the sky was every color but blue。
〃Okay；〃 she said。 〃Okay； okay。 Just leave me alone to die。 I won't get up again。 I promise。 I swear。 Just leave me be。〃
It seemed to get the message； because by degrees the yelling receded； and the colors dimmed。
She lay back in the foliage； and watched the sky darken； the stars emerge。 Birds flew overhead； returning to their nests before the onset of night。 She envied them； just a little； but then what did she have to go home to； in truth？ A house in the suburbs she'd never really loved； a husband； the same。 What a mess she'd made of her life！ What a ridiculous； empty mess！ All that time wasted doting on a man she'd seen on a screen； hours spent flicking through her treasures； fantasizing。 Never really living。 That was the horror of it。 She was going to die and she'd never really lived。
The sky was almost lightless now。 She could barely see her hand in front of her face。 She let her eyes slide closed； draping the stars。 In the grass around her； the cicadas sang a rhythmical lullaby。
Suddenly； somewhere not very far off； there rose an unholy din； part howl； part yelp； part laughter。 Her eyes sprang open。 The hairs at her nape stood on end。 Was this a farewell performance by the Canyon？ One last attempt to squeeze her wits dry？
No； no。 This wasn't for her benefit。 It was too far away。 Up at the house。 Yes； that was it； somebody up at the house was having one hell of a party。
Curiosity got the better of her fatigue。 Tammy pushed herself up onto her knees； and attempted to figure out where the cacophony was ing from。 There was light visible between the trees； flickering； but not flames。 This was too cold a light to be fire。
Perhaps this wasn't a party after all。 The din was as nasty as it was raucous。 Who the hell could be making such a noise？ The freaks perhaps？ It seemed the likeliest source。 She pictured them laying siege to the house。 Oh God in Heaven； suppose they'd gone after Todd？ Sniffed him out in his weakened state； and attacked him？
The thought of harm ing to him was unbearable； even now。 It forced her to get up off the ground； something she couldn't have done on her own behalf。 For a few seconds she stood with legs wide planted； uncertain whether she was going to fall down again。 Then； she told herself to move； and much to her surprise her body obeyed the instruction。 Her legs felt like lead and her head as light as a helium balloon； but she managed to stagger five or six steps without falling down。
The noise from the house had subsided somewhat； but the lights were still visible between the trees。 She paused for a moment to catch her breath； and while she did so she studied the lights； trying to make sense of them。 Was it possible what she was seeing were people？ Yes it was。 Several of the figures had slipped away from the immediate vicinity of the house； and were ing closer to her。 Some were zigzagging through the trees； as though they were engaged in a game of some kind。 What sort of creatures were these； she wondered； that capered like children playing； but had such luminescence about them？
She stumbled on another two or three steps； but her body wasn't going to carry her much further； she knew。 It was only a matter of time before she fell down again； and next time she knew she wouldn't have the strength to pick herself up。
Then； very close by； she heard the sound of something moving through the thicket。 She looked in the direction of the sound。 An animal perhaps？ A coyote； or…
〃Tammy？〃
She held her breath； not quite daring to believe that she recognized the voice。
〃It's Willem；〃 he said。
Her legs almost gave out from sheer gratitude。 He came out of the bushes and caught hold of her before she fell。
〃I'm heavy；〃 she warned him。
〃I'm strong；〃 he said。
So she let him take her weight； sinking against his chest。 As she relinquished herself to him she heard a little girl somewhere nearby； sobbing pitifully。 She was about to ask who the hell it was making such a noise when she realized it was her own voice。
〃It's all right；〃 Zeffer said。 〃I'm here now。 Everything's going to be fine。〃
She wasn't sure that she believed him； it sounded like a bad piece of dialogue to her。 But this was no time to be judgmental。 He'd e to look for her； and she was grateful。 She put her head on his chest； like a B…movie heroine snatched from the jaws of death； and laughing； then sobbing； then laughing again； let him put his arms around her； and rock her awhile。
SEVEN
Finally； it had not been Todd who'd lost control； but her other lover。
〃I can't。。。hold back。。。much longer；〃 he said。
The girl was beyond giving even the most rudimentary instructions： she lay in a daze of pleasure； her legs hoisted up by Todd so that he could see the wonderful machinery of their interconnected anatomies。
〃Are you ready？〃 the other man said to him。 His face was liquid shadow； his eyes wild。
〃You say the word。〃
〃Lift her legs higher。〃
Todd did as he was instructed； noticing as