other island. I just saw them leave.”
“This thing’s slowly driving me crazy,” said Jim.
“Just think it all through. It’s no big deal,” said Andy.
“
No big deal?
It all started with this crazy saw idea. Your preaching how important it is to have a saw and all,” said Jim. “Beth and the kids are starting to ask questions. They feel that something is wrong with me. How can I act as if everything is all right if it isn’t?”
“Just tell them you’re a little nervous because you’re having trouble with your new book again,” said Andy.
“But it looks good, I told you—for the first time it looks good. Yesterday I really got an agent excited about this new idea. It doesn’t necessarily mean a lot, but she got really excited about the idea. I just have to pull it through without getting sidetracked again this time, that’s all.”
“They don’t need to know that. Just think it through. Just tell them you’re going through a difficult time because you’re having trouble with your book.”
“But I already told them it looks good.”
“So tell Beth and the kids that the agent changed her mind—nowadays everything is unpredictable.”
“I’ll think about it, but we have to do something.”
“Yes, we have to wait and see. They may have just left for the other island and everything is all right.”
“Maybe. Maybe you’re right. Maybe you’re not. I need to think. I guess it’s best if you keep observing them. Just let me know if something happens. I mean, what else can we do?”
34.
Afternoon. Pete walks along a street with two other
kids.
“And then, when it starts to lower the thing, it almost kills you,” said one kid.
“Man, if I had a favorite commercial, this would be it,” said the third kid.
“I can’t believe your uncle made it.”
“He didn’t make it,” said Pete. “He just gave them the idea.”
35.
On the phone. Evening.
“They’re on the other island now?” said Jim into the phone. Sitting at home in an easy chair. “At least that’s good news. What are they doing on the island?”
“It’s hard to tell. They basically just arrived.”
Jim looked around the living room to the open doors. No one seemed to be around, but he kept his voice down and the receiver close. “The one thing we have to be concerned about is that they don’t spot you.”
“That’s no problem,” said Andy. “I know what I’m doing.”
“What makes me a little uneasy is the shark that killed that boy. It wasn’t too far from where they are,” said Jim, switching the channels on the TV set. “Did you hear the news?”
“
Did I hear the news!
You have to be dead or some crazy bastard living in the woods not to hear it,” said Andy. “But there’s nothing to worry about. I mean, they make a big deal over nothing. It’s just a shark frenzy, straight out of
Jaws.
”
“Obviously it killed a boy, though,” said Jim, again looking attentively around.
“Do you know how many boys get killed,
daily,
on their bicycles? They don’t make the news. But a single shark attack—they even broadcast it on CNN.”
“It’s the fascination of beast against mankind. It’s not the same as someone dying on a bicycle.”
“Maybe it isn’t. But maybe it is. Let’s discuss this another time. I really have to get out of here,” said Andy. “Take it easy now—everything will be fine.”
36.
The next morning at the Fraziers’, just before Pete
has to leave for school.
Pete sat on the sofa watching TV. He had a glass of milk in his hand. On the small table in front of him was a bowl of cereal.
Next to him sat Sarah, eating a piece of bread. This time Pete was the one interested in watching TV.
“Hey, Pete, Mom and I are going to the beach today,” said Sarah.
“So what?”
“And my friend Salina is coming along.”
“I see.”
“We’re going to learn to swim.”
“Okay, can I watch TV now?”
Sarah had finished her bread and stood on the sofa now. She
“This thing’s slowly driving me crazy,” said Jim.
“Just think it all through. It’s no big deal,” said Andy.
“
No big deal?
It all started with this crazy saw idea. Your preaching how important it is to have a saw and all,” said Jim. “Beth and the kids are starting to ask questions. They feel that something is wrong with me. How can I act as if everything is all right if it isn’t?”
“Just tell them you’re a little nervous because you’re having trouble with your new book again,” said Andy.
“But it looks good, I told you—for the first time it looks good. Yesterday I really got an agent excited about this new idea. It doesn’t necessarily mean a lot, but she got really excited about the idea. I just have to pull it through without getting sidetracked again this time, that’s all.”
“They don’t need to know that. Just think it through. Just tell them you’re going through a difficult time because you’re having trouble with your book.”
“But I already told them it looks good.”
“So tell Beth and the kids that the agent changed her mind—nowadays everything is unpredictable.”
“I’ll think about it, but we have to do something.”
“Yes, we have to wait and see. They may have just left for the other island and everything is all right.”
“Maybe. Maybe you’re right. Maybe you’re not. I need to think. I guess it’s best if you keep observing them. Just let me know if something happens. I mean, what else can we do?”
34.
Afternoon. Pete walks along a street with two other
kids.
“And then, when it starts to lower the thing, it almost kills you,” said one kid.
“Man, if I had a favorite commercial, this would be it,” said the third kid.
“I can’t believe your uncle made it.”
“He didn’t make it,” said Pete. “He just gave them the idea.”
35.
On the phone. Evening.
“They’re on the other island now?” said Jim into the phone. Sitting at home in an easy chair. “At least that’s good news. What are they doing on the island?”
“It’s hard to tell. They basically just arrived.”
Jim looked around the living room to the open doors. No one seemed to be around, but he kept his voice down and the receiver close. “The one thing we have to be concerned about is that they don’t spot you.”
“That’s no problem,” said Andy. “I know what I’m doing.”
“What makes me a little uneasy is the shark that killed that boy. It wasn’t too far from where they are,” said Jim, switching the channels on the TV set. “Did you hear the news?”
“
Did I hear the news!
You have to be dead or some crazy bastard living in the woods not to hear it,” said Andy. “But there’s nothing to worry about. I mean, they make a big deal over nothing. It’s just a shark frenzy, straight out of
Jaws.
”
“Obviously it killed a boy, though,” said Jim, again looking attentively around.
“Do you know how many boys get killed,
daily,
on their bicycles? They don’t make the news. But a single shark attack—they even broadcast it on CNN.”
“It’s the fascination of beast against mankind. It’s not the same as someone dying on a bicycle.”
“Maybe it isn’t. But maybe it is. Let’s discuss this another time. I really have to get out of here,” said Andy. “Take it easy now—everything will be fine.”
36.
The next morning at the Fraziers’, just before Pete
has to leave for school.
Pete sat on the sofa watching TV. He had a glass of milk in his hand. On the small table in front of him was a bowl of cereal.
Next to him sat Sarah, eating a piece of bread. This time Pete was the one interested in watching TV.
“Hey, Pete, Mom and I are going to the beach today,” said Sarah.
“So what?”
“And my friend Salina is coming along.”
“I see.”
“We’re going to learn to swim.”
“Okay, can I watch TV now?”
Sarah had finished her bread and stood on the sofa now. She
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