CHAPTER 3 Having worked at the same job, for not a whole lot more an hour than when he was hired fifteen years ago, Howard Kirkwood knew the twelve minute drive home in his sleep, and right now he was four minutes from home. Good thing tomorrow was pay day. Every Friday he bought a carton of Schlitz in bottles plus one. The ancient air conditioning unit in the area of the plant he'd worked in today had conked out, and like everyone else in there, he had sighed with relief when he was able to punch out at four thirty and step outside into the more tolerable eighty degree August afternoon. Now, turning the gray, ten year old pickup truck onto Liberty Street, Howard was looking forward to the last cold bottle of Schlitz he'd seen in the refrigerator that morning. At least until he looked ahead and saw a familiar red Chevy in the narrow driveway by his house. Feeling the muscles of his face tighten, the weary man's thoughts of a cold beer vanished as he pulled up in front of 261 Liberty Street. Al stood to one side, watching Perry's father hurry to the car where Margie and her mother were helping Sam out of the back seat. "Let me," he said, and reached past them to put an arm around Sam's waist, then took Sam's other arm and put it over his shoulders, and helped him stand. "Come on, son," he said tersely, "let's get you in the house and into bed." Though it made the roar in his head louder, Sam jerked his head around, looking for Al. "It's okay, Sam, you can go with him" Al reassured him. "He's your father, Howard Kirkwood." "Thanks," Sam whispered, glancing at Al who stood with Margie and her mother to one side, out of the way. All three nodded. "See you tomorrow," Margie smiled at Perry as he and his father passed. "Hope you get to feeling better, Perry," Margie's mother said gently. They watched the Kirkwood men climb the front steps and go inside before leaving. Punching in a code on the handlink, Al ordered, "What? Tell Verbena I'll be there as soon as I can. I want to make sure Sam's okay, first." The next instant, the hologram disappeared from the postage stamp- sized front yard, next finding himself in a small bedroom. The room was sparsely furnished with a bed, chest of drawers and a small desk and chair. The main light source was a single covered light bulb on the ceiling which, at the moment, was off. The heavy, dark brown floor-length drapes at the window were drawn, severely darkening the room. In the dim light coming from the hall, Al stood quietly on the opposite side of the single bed. He watched Perry's father turn down the bedspread and sheet, then carefully undressed Sam down to his underwear. He noted the gentleness with which the big man helped his son to stretch out on the bed, removing the pillow so that Sam lay completely flat. He stayed, watching as Howard brought a basin of ice and water, tirelessly wringing out washcloths in the water and placing the cold compresses on Sam's face and head. He had even put a towel under Sam's shoulders then folded two washcloths together and put the cold thickness under the back of his neck. Al kept his thoughts quiet as he watched Howard take Sam's head between his hands to keep him from thrashing it from side to side and aggravate the pain. Howard's voice was low and soothing as he helped his son and only child through his agony. It was obvious to the Observer that Perry's father had been through this many times. After more than two hours, it seemed that the headache's grip had loosened, and Sam was finally able to fall into a fitful sleep. Still Al remained, keeping watch over his friend. Howard stood by his son's bed, looking down at him, a deep sadness growing in his heart at what he knew had to be done. He wanted to brush the hair back off Perry's forehead, but knew from experience that even the softest touch would wake him from the light, fitful sleep into which he fallen. Quietly he stepped out of the room, drawing the door closed with excruciating care. Al moved closer to the bed. For several more minutes he watched the gentle rise and fall of Sam's chest as he slept. Then he punched in a code and the Imaging Chamber door opened silently and he stepped inside.