Free Quake by Richard Laymon Page B

straight line.
        'I'm sure he's just fine,' Stanley said. 'Your girl, too.'
        'I just wish they were here.'
        'Yeah.'
        'That's the worst part. Not knowing if they're okay. don't mind the rest so much. You know? The house… As long as they're okay.' Her smile came back. 'Not that I'd mind getting out of this tub.'
        'We'll get you out.'
        'Maybe you could go and find some help,' Sheila suggested.
        'Let's see if can't move one of these beams out of the way for you.'
        'It's no use. couldn't budge them. They don't seem to have any give at all. think they're wedged in, somehow.'
        'Well, could give it a try.'
        'No.' She shook her head. 'Don't. You might hurt yourself. Or fall or something. Really, there's no point.'
        'We might both try one together,' Stanley suggested.
        'I doubt… Do you know what would work? A saw. don't think even two or three people could manage to budge either of these beams, but…, you could saw right through one. It'd be easy.'
        'That sounds like a really good idea.'
        'We've got saws in the garage.'
        'Your garage went down. I'm sure can find a saw somewhere, though. Might take a few minutes, but…'
        'Before you go, can you take a look around? I'd like to have something, you know…, to cover myself with.'
        'I'm afraid already checked,' he lied. 'While was clearing the stuff away. All the clothes must be buried under…'
        She shook her head. 'What about curtains? Or a towel? A bedsheet. Maybe a pillowcase?'
        'Unless you want a plank of wood…'
        She let out a small, quiet laugh. 'No, that's all right. When you go for the saw, though, maybe you can find me something?'
        'Sure,' he said.
        When Hell freezes over, he thought. He was glad he'd taken off his pajama shirt earlier. If Sheila had known about it, he would've had to toss it down to her as soon as she'd come into view. Either that, or risk making her suspicious. But nobody could be expected to give up his pajama pants. She hadn't asked for them, and she would think he was weird if he even offered to let her have them.
        'Anything'll be fine,' she added. 'Just so can…, make myself decent. Even an old sack or a rug.'
        'I'll find something.' He frowned. 'I just hate to leave you alone down there.'
        'I'll be okay.'
        'Yeah. It's just…' He stopped his voice.
        'What?'
        'Never mind. It's all right. The chances of someone coming along while I'm gone are pretty remote. And if anybody does find you, it probably won't be… anyone to worry about. It's just that you're so vulnerable down there. If the wrong sort of person…
        She smiled. A game smile, only a trifle nervous. 'Trying to cheer me up, are you?'
        'Sorry. The thing is, noticed a couple of strange characters over near where that house is on fire. They looked…unsavory, you know?'
        'Terrific.'
        'I didn't mean to worry you.'
        'It's all right. How's that fire doing, anyway?'
        Stanley glanced over his shoulder, but couldn't see much. In the way, near his back and about five feet high, was the remnant of an interior wall. 'Just a second,' he said. He crawled backward so Sheila couldn't watch him stand. On his feet, he turned around. Off in the distance, beyond the low, ragged corner of Sheila's house, a column of smoke still surged into the sky.
        'It doesn't look like it's spreading,' he said.
        'Is the fire department there yet?'
        'No,' he answered. 'No police, either.' He was guessing. The ruins of Sheila's house blocked his view of the street, and he wasn't about to climb a pile of rubble just to inspect the situation. 'There's hardly any breeze. don't think we need to worry about the fire getting here.'
        'So, as long as we don't have one of our own… don't smell any gas. Can you smell gas?' she