"Right. Just like Scarlett O'Hara during the siege of Atlanta. Listen, Amy, don't let it shake you up. They'll all be fine. We couldn't have done anything much. We just would have been in the way."
Amy turned on him. "You just don't care is all, Kirk. You just close it all out of your safe little world and say, 'No sweat.' I don't care what you say, we should have stayed. Sometimes I wonder whether you'd help anybody, you're so wrapped up in yourself."
"Listen, Amy..." Brent began. He didn't like to hear them fighting. It gave him a weird feeling.
"No, it's all right," Kirk said. "Let her think what she wants. Amy, those kids down there are probably a hell of a lot better off right now than any of us up here, and that's no crap. So don't come on righteous and Florence Nightingale with me. We have enough problems of our own without getting tied in with a lot of cuts and bruises downstairs. The whole thing gave me the crawls."
"Yeah, okay, Kirk. I'm sorry I blew up at you. But I still think we should have stayed."
"No way. You don't need that kind of hassle and neither do I. The screwed-up world out there can go to hell in a bucket for all I care. There's no way we're going to stop it single-handed."
Amy turned to Brent. "Tell me, Brent. Is the world always like that out there? It seems so far away sometimes, I forget, I guess."
"No, Amy," Brent said. "It's not all bad."
"Sometimes it seems safer here with you and Kirk. Sometimes I almost don't want to think about leaving."
"I know what you mean, Amy," Brent said, and he did know what she meant. He almost felt like crying when he thought of leaving Amy and Kirk behind when he went back outside to the other world.
Kirk climbed into bed. The room was silent.
"Well, we missed the end of the movie, I guess," Kirk said. "Tell us, Brent. What happened?"
"People died," Brent said. He picked up his book again and began to read. He didn't look up when Amy said good night.
Chapter Seven
Kirk rolled up another Kleenex and heaved it at the bedpan on the other side of the room. He missed. Brent laughed quietly.
"If you hang around here long enough, you'll have the singular honor of watching me go out of my tree. I tell you, one more day of this crap and I'll go looney. They'll have to tie me up in my sheet and cart me off to the bananas ward," Kirk said.
Amy sat in the easy chair curling and uncurling her toes.
Brent was staring at the ceiling, making designs in his head from the cracks that ran through the plaster.
"I believe you," Brent said. "You aren't the most stable person I've ever met in my life to begin with."
"Very funny. More jokes like that and I'll never be bored again."
"It would be fun to do something exciting," Amy said. "I'm a little rammy myself. It's tough to be cooped up in one place for so long."
"Look, Brent, you haven't been here as long as Amy and I have, so maybe you don't feel it so bad. Besides, it looks like you'll be going in a few days. Listen, would you mind if Amy and I pulled something off on our own even though we usually do everything together, the three of us?"
"What do you have in mind?" Amy asked.
"No, it doesn't bother me," Brent said.
"I don't mean to cut you out or anything, but you've got to admit, you're not the most mobile person I've ever met."
"No, seriously. I mean it. If you and Amy can think of something fun to do, don't let me stop you. Really, I don't want you to worry about me holding you back."
"Amy, what's the last time that you take your medicines each day?"
"Before dinner."
"Yeah, that's what I thought. No, forget it. It's a lousy idea."
"No, tell us," Amy said. "I'm excited already."
"That's what I mean. It's no good. You look like you've been feeling pretty bad the last few days. It's a poor idea. Just forget it."
"Listen, Kirk, you don't think you can get away with mentioning an idea and then not telling us about it. I'm all right. You let me decide. It's like saying you know this really great dirty joke and then saying that you won't tell it."
"We can just skip it, is all. It was a stupid idea anyway. I thought you and I might sneak out of here for an evening, you know, go to a movie or something. It was stupid. Forget it."
"Forget it, nothing. I think it's a great idea," Amy said.
"So do I," Brent said. "You can tell me all about the movie when you get back."
"Amy, the doc says you're supposed to take it easy. I don't think it's such a good idea anymore."
"What, sitting in a movie? That's a strain? After dinner the nurse never checks on me unless I ring for her. And Brent could cover for you here if anyone noticed that you were gone. I think it's a great idea. I just wish Brent could go along too. It doesn't seem right to be doing something without you, Brent."
"Really, I don't mind at all. I'd be mad if you let me stop you. Besides, I've got some painting I want to do. Why don't you do it tonight? No one will ever know that you're gone," Brent said.
"I don't know," Kirk said. "You haven't been feeling so hot, Amy."
"Well, I need to get out of here just as much as you do, Kirkus Hughes. If you don't ask me for a date for this very evening, I just may be forced to go out with that orderly who's been looking me over lately."
"All right. If you think you're up to it. Miss Amy, would you be so kind as to accompany me to a flick tonight? I understand one of considerable merit is playing at the local cinema."
"Why, Mr.Hughes, I thought you'd never ask. I would be delighted to accompany you. Would you call for me at eight thirty?"
"Of course. Eight thirty it is. Seriously, we should be able to sneak out pretty easily then. Visiting hours are over just then, and we can wander out with the crowd."
"That's great," Brent said. "I wish I were going with you." Brent hoped he didn't sound too disappointed. He couldn't help envying them their time together. After being used to being so self-sufficient before the accident, Brent didn't know why he dreaded those few hours alone so much.
"It would look a little suspicious rolling you around town in a bed. Besides, I'm not sure they'd sell you a ticket for the movie. Beds always block the aisles," Kirk said. "Besides, three's a crowd, you know. Forget it, I didn't mean that. I was just trying to be funny."
"I know," Brent said. "You should have a great time."
At eight-thirty Kirk climbed into his wheelchair.
"It'll be easier than using my crutches and trying to clomp all over town," he said to Brent.
"Never take a girl out without a set of wheels," Brent said. "Too bad you don't have a sidecar."
"Or at least a motor. You'd think that with modern technology, every one of these things would have four on the floor."
"Be back before midnight, Kirk," Brent said.
"Don't wait up, Mother," Kirk replied. He wheeled himself out of the room. Brent put his book down and stared at the ceiling.
Amy was ready. She looked very pretty. It was the first time they had seen each other out of pajamas and bathrobe. Her brown hair was tied back and hung down behind her.
"Do you think I need a sweater?" she asked.
"Nah, the news said it was warm out. It's over seventy, still."
"Okay. Here's the way I figure we can work it. I'll push your wheelchair out of here. Once we're off this hall everyone will just think we're outpatients or visitors or something."
"Are you sure that you feel up to it?" Kirk asked.