-3
'J
10
-
Thursday,
February
18,
1987
The
Killing
Room
(Continued
from
page
9)
he
went
to
a
show
with
Melinda
and
Kathy
on
Friday.
Kathy
has
this
strawberry
blonde
who
sounded
like
she
didn't
know
which
end
was
up.
Handelman
liked
her.
though.
He
thought
a
lot
of
it
was
an
act.
Saturday
he
went
job
hunting
and
found
a
few
prospects
and
Sunday
he
drove
out
of
town
and
arrived
back
late
Sunday
night.
He
was
still
yawning
Monday
morning
when
he
went
to
the
college
for
his
appointment
with
the
admissions
office.
He
had
decided
to
at
least
look
into
signing
up
for
the
next
semester.
"What
the
hell."
Worth
a
try.
He
was
getting
a
drink
at
the
fountain
by
he
washrooms
where
he
had
seen
Kori
and
Lilah
when
Milinda
came
running
up
to
him
again.
"Guess
what?"
she
said.
"We're
having
a
meeting
about
the
trip
OidftV
"
'In
the
cafeteria.
At
least
that's
where
it
was
supposed
to
be,
but
Geena's
typing
in
the
library
so
we're
gong
up
there.
She's
got
to
type
an
essay
before
3:00
today."
"Gee,
what
a
coincidence.
I
have
to
go
to
the
library
too."
"That
is
a
coincidence.
Sometimes
I
think
you
get
off
on
.
.
.
'
r
.
W-.--1-
-
-.
.
;.-
i
a
if.
yP
watching
uncomfortable
situations.
Handelman."
"No.
Melinda.
Just
causing
them."
So
they
went
to
the
library
together.
The
typing
room
was
a
small
little
room
that
had
been
partitioned
off
into
three
cubicles.
The
last
partition
was
stacked
with
boxes
of
computer
equipment
and
files.
It
almost
reached
the
roof.
In
the
room
Geena
was
at
the
second
to
last
partition
picking
away
at
the
keys
in
a
clumsy
two-fingered
manner.
She
didn't
look
well.
Her
face
was
blotchy,
like
she
had
just
thrown
up
or
something.
"Rough
weekend?"
Melinda
asked
as
they
entered.
Geena
only
nodded.
Handelman
had
the
impression
that
if
she
opended
her
mouth
she
would
have
vomited.
Looking
around
he
noticed
Kurt
at
another
typewriter
by
the
wall,
picking
away
in
a
clumsy
fttte-ftttSjered
manner.
That
was
when
Lilah
entered
and
took
her
place
against
the
emergency
exit
by
the
far
wail.
Away
from
Kurt,
Handelman
observed.
Soon
Kathy
arrived
and
that
was
all.
Kurt
turned
to
Kathy.
"Oh.
yeah.
I
need
my
money."
"What
money?"
Kathy
asked.
"From
last
weekend
when
I
bought
a
case
of
'
.'
-
a;
-
mT
laHHHHBBBHHHHHBSlaHSHBaBBHHHHt
"
'
""
"
.
v-r"-
.
beer
for
you,
remember?
Hello?
Think,
dork."
"Oh.
screw
you."
she
replied.
"Just
give
it
to
me,"
he
threatened.
"I
need
all
the
cash
I
can
get."
"Buy
a
muzzle."
Handelman
muttered.
"What?"
Kurt
asked.
"Nothing."
"Could
someone
get
me
a
drink
of
water
please?
I
don't
feel
so
good.
Lilah,
could
you?"
Geena
asked.
Lilah
nodded
and
silently
said
something
and
went
to
get
it
for
her.
They
all
mostly
remained
silent,
as
Geena
remained
sick
and
Kurt
remained
dumb.
Handelman
decided
to
pass
the
time
counting
tiles
on
the
ceiling.
He
was
looking
over
the
stacks
of
boxes
at
the
back
of
the
room
when
Lilah
entered
with
a
small
dixie
cup
of
water.
She
handed
it
to
Geena,
and
took
her
place
at
the
far
wall
again.
As
she
leaned
against
he
wall
her
back
hit
the
light
switch
and
the
room
went
dark.
Handelman
froze
and
listened
for
a
moment.
There
was
a
small
gasp
which
he
recognized
as
Melinda's,
then
a
scraping
sound.
Lilah
screamed,
loudly.
She's
scared
of
the
dark
too,
he
thought.
This
continued
for
some
minutes
until
Handelman
decided
that
enough
was
enough
and
he
stumbled
his
way
through
the
dark
til
he
found
the
small
section
of
wall
jutting
out
that
held
the
light
switch.
He
ran
his
hand
up
till
he
he
hit
the
switch.
Instantly
the
lights
turned
on.
Geena
was
still
and
sick,
thought
this
time
a
scared
look
was
in
her
eyes.
Lilah
was
on
the
floor
next
to
the
switch
breathing
hard,
like
a
scared
animal.
Melinda
was
still
in
her
place,
as
was
Kurt,
who
had
a
vacant
look
on
his
face
"Christ,
Lilah.
don't
do
that!"
Kathy
said.
Lilah
murmured
an
apology.
They
were
all
silent
for
a
minute
till
Kathy
spoke
up
again.
"Look,
this
place
is
too
small,
why
don't
we.
go
to
a
table
out
there
and
talk?"
The
all
agreed
and
did
so,
except
for
Geena,
who
said
she
had
to
finish
her
typing.
Kurt
was
the
last
one
out
of
the
room.
They
sat
on
the
carpeted
rectangular
block
by
the
pamphlet
files.
Kathy
took
out
some
travel
brochures
on
some
places
in
Ottawa
when
they
heard
a
dim
cry
It
sounded
very
far
away,
so
they
ail
paused
for
a
second
as
they
tried
to
figure
out
what
it
was.
Handelman
stood
up
straight
and
stared
directly
at
the
only
closed
door
in
the
library
he
could
see.
the
one
to
the
typing
room.
It
was
a
thick
The
Free
Fress
soundproof
door,
but
the
noise
had
been
very
loud.
Without
a
work
Handelman
got
up
and
ran
to
the
door.
The
others
followed.
Melinda
slipped
into
the
typing
room
behind
him.
but
he
quickly
shut
the
door
before
the
others
could
see.
There
on
the
floor
was
Geena.
here
eyes
wide
and
bulging,
looking
like
they
were
going
to
pop
out.
Her
tongue
was
far
back
in
her
mouth.
Which
was
fozen
open,
Her
face
looked
twisted
by
fear,
her
hands
wrapped
around
her
throat.
And
she
was
starting
to
turn
blue
in
the
face.
Handelman
grabbed
her
hand,
which
was
still
warm,
and
felt
for
her
pulse.
But
he
already
knew
he
wouldn't
find
one.e
He
sat
down
on
the
floor,
leaning
back
against
the
wall.
He
put
a
hand
to
his
forehead
and
sighed.
Melinda
was
leaning
up
against
the
door,
ignoring
the
knockings
that
came
from
outside.
Kef
face
was
white.
Handelman
walked
over
to
the
packing
boxes.
Absently,
he
heard
an
electronic
hum.
He
walked
over
to
the
typewriter
Geena
had
been
working
on
and
flicked
the
OFF
switch.
And
he
thought.
Conclusion
in
next
issue
The
New
Academy
II
Photos
by
Erica
Schlueter
1