Part 14 (1/2)
”Some kind of box with glowing rods or antennae sticking out of it.”
”Are you trying to tell me that those nutty . . . whatever could make you feel hate . . . or . . .”
”That's how it felt.”
”That's the craziest thing I ever heard!” She backed away from him.
”I know it's crazy, but that's how it felt.” He reached for her arm. ”Let's get back to the car.”
Ruth pulled away. ”I'm not going a step with you until you explain what happened out there.”
”I can't explain it.”
”How could you see it when I couldn't?”
”Maybe the accident . . . my eyes, the polarizing gla.s.ses.”
”Are you sure that accident at the radlab didn't injure more than your eyes?”
He suppressed a surge of anger. It was so easy to feel angry. With some difficulty, he held his voice level. ”They had me on the artificial kidney for a week and with every test known to G.o.d and man. The burst altered the ion exchange system in the cones of my retinas. That's all. And it isn't permanent. But I think whatever happened to my eyes, that's why I can see these things. I'm not supposed to see them, but I can.”
Again, he reached for her, captured her arm. Half dragging her, he set off down the path. She fell into step beside him.
”But what could they be?” she asked.
”I don't know, but they're real. Trust me, Ruth. Trust that much. They're real.” He knew he was begging and hated himself for it, but Ruth moved closer, tucked her arm under his.
”All right, darling, I trust you. You saw what you saw. What're you going to do about it?”
They came off the trail and into the eucalyptus grove. The car was a darker shape among shadows. Thurlow drew her to a stop beside it.
”How hard is it to believe me?” he asked.
She was silent for a moment, then: ”It's . . . difficult.”
”Okay,” he said. ”Kiss me.”
”What?”
”Kiss me. Let's see if you really hate me.”
”Andy, you're being . . .”
”Are you afraid to kiss me?”
”Of course not!”
”Okay then.” He pulled her to him. Their lips met. For an instant, he sensed resistance, then she melted into his embrace, her arms creeping behind his neck.
Presently, he drew away.