The Substitute Wife

ly, Etan w

er pushed him, but

n her mind. He only had the intelligence of

to this, and a pang of sa

obably the only one she could rely on. She

in a soft voice, "There there

igns of letting go and thus gently stroked

go, steered the wheelchair away ins

ike anyone

marks on her fair arm. It was bl

ndition, Winter felt her

find some medicine!" Enduring th

essionless as if he

ghtly heav

t-

knocking o

and reached in. There came a timid v

the medical kit, the

ed door and shook his head

rious anti-inflammatories, including disin

ich indicated the retarded man o

human bite. If it's a dog bite, I'm afraid I would have to get vaccinated. But, do yo

ression was blank. Winter felt sorry for him, shook h

eating the wound, someone

time. Along with the meal, he brought over

way for Ches

t Winter with a solemn face, and asked, "Mada

ead, "My arm got b

r has no other disease! This is his latest medical report. Mister hasn't

itting there like a perfect statue and then nodded

Chester took a solemn gla

t and flipped through it casually.

ked to Etan, slightly squatted, and looked up at him. From thi

ce became cold to the extreme. At an