i wish he 'd talk to me , but ever since last fall , he 's kept me at arm 's length . '' if they see me we can just say were there on vacation . we have a new student , today , she said . five seconds after i had decided to push him into the river , that river had carried him away into the darkness . another man met the same fate a second later . i jerked open the door and started out , barefooted . he was unaware of the passing hours . 