high enough."

Frank came out with a handful of keys. "Odd numbers," he said. "Four in
a row."

"Well I'll be damned," Jim Wilson muttered. But he said no more and they
climbed the stairs in silence. They passed the quiet dining rooms and
banquet halls, and by the time they reached the fourth floor the doors
giving off the corridors had assumed a uniformity.

"Here they are." He handed a key to Wilson. "That's the end one." He
said nothing as he gave Minna her key, but Wilson grunted, "For
crissake!" in a disgusted voice, took Minna's key and threw it on the
floor.

Frank and Nora watched as Wilson unlocked his door. Wilson turned.
"Well, goodnight all. If you get goosed by any spooks, just yell."

Minna followed him without a word and the door closed.

Frank handed Nora her key. "Lock your door and you'll be safe. I'll
check the room first." He unlocked the door and flashed his light
inside. Nora was close behind him as he entered. He checked the
bathroom. "Everything clear. Lock your door and you'll be safe."

"Frank."

"Yes?"

"I'm afraid to stay alone."

"You mean you want me to--"

"There are two beds here."

His reply was slow in coming. Nora didn't wait for it. Her voice rose to
the edge of hysteria. "Quit being so damned righteous. Things have
changed! Can't you realize that? What does it matter how or where we
sleep? Does the world care? Will it make a damn bit of difference to the
world whether I strip stark naked in front of you?" A sob choked in her
throat. "Or would that outrage your morality."

He moved toward her, stopped six inches away. "It isn't that. For God's
sake! I'm no saint. It's just that I thought you--"

"I'm plain scared, and I don't want to be alone. To me that's all that's
important."

Her face was against his chest and his arms went around her. But her own
hands were fists held together against him until he could feel her
knuckles, hard, against his chest. She was crying.

"Sure," Frank said. "I'll stay with you. Now take it easy. Everything's
going to be all right."

Nora sniffled without bothering to reach for her handkerchief. "Stop
lying. You know it isn't going to be all right."

Frank was at somewhat of a loss. This flareup of Nora's was entirely
unexpected. He eased toward the place the flashlight had shown the bed
to be. Her legs hit its edge and she sat down.

"You--you want me to sleep in the other one?" he asked.

"Of course," Nora replied with marked