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sunshine smiles. “Please.”
    “Darling, you’ve been here long enough.”
    Reluctantly Selena rose, smoothing down her skirt. As she did so, there was a scuffling sound from the open door and a small black spaniel dashed into the room, bounded onto the bed and pranced towards my face, waving fat, feathery paws.
    “Peter,” called my mother sharply. “Peter, get down.”
    The dog was licking my face and batting at me enthusiastically. Suddenly, as my mother called out, I felt a tingle on the surface of my skin. A sensation, like the one that had come with the word ‘Iris’, stirred in me, only this time it was stronger. It was half excitement, half dread of something ominous just beyond my comprehension.
    “Peter?” I asked. “He’s called Peter?”
    “Why, yes, darling,” said Selena. “He’s your dog. He remembers you. Don’t you remember him?”
    “Peter. Yes, yes. I think I do. For the first time I think I really remember.”
    The spaniel had rolled over on its back and was kicking flirtatious feet in the air.
    Peter...
    The crawling of my skin made me shiver. The propellers came, whirring with a deafening roar. I felt dizzy. I hardly knew what I was saying but I blurted:
    “The dog’s not called Peter. I’m called Peter. I’m not Gordy Friend. I’m Peter.”
    A change started to spread like a shadow over that lovely, sunny room. It was one of those indefinable nightmare changes where the very blandness and security of a scene seems to cloak some lurking horror.
    The change infected the two women. They were both standing by the bed, looking down at me. Both, in their way, were as beautiful as women could be—Selena golden as summer, my mother splendid as autumn. But their faces seemed suddenly marred with an expression that was hostile, ruthless.
    A quick glance passed between them. I was sure of that.
    Then, slowly, they both moved forward and sat down on the bed. I could feel the warmth from their bodies. Their soft, feminine nearness was almost suffocating.
    My mother took my hand. Selena’s smooth fingers rested on my arm. My mother was smiling a smile so serene and gentle that it was almost impossible to believe in the expression I had caught a moment before.
    “Darling boy.” Her voice was rich, cooing. “Of course you’re Gordy Friend. What foolish ideas you have! We tell you you’re Gordy Friend, dear. And who could know better who you are than—your mother and your wife?”

Chapter 5
    Selena left, taking the dog with her. My mother continued to sit on my bed. Her friendly bosom, framed by the neck of her austere widow dress, was very close to me. Her thick, hot-house perfume overpowered the scent of the roses. She was still holding my hand and smiling that “everything’s-going-to-be-all-right” smile.
    “My poor baby,” she said. “So miserable it must be—not remembering.”
    My outburst of a moment before was becoming confused in my mind. I couldn’t remember what I had said. It had been something to do with the dog. Something had flashed in and out of my mind, leaving a residue of uneasiness. Somehow, far back in my consciousness, I was still suspicious of this woman sitting at my side. But I could no longer track down the source of my suspicion.
    She was stroking my head now, letting her cool hand move softly over the bandages.
    “Head ache, darling?”
    The white bosom, the tranquil face on the stately neck, the very untidiness of the piled auburn hair all conspired to soothe me. It seemed silly to be suspicious unless I could remember a reason.
    “Yes.” I said. “My head does ache a bit. What happened just now with the dog? What did I say?”
    My mother laughed. “Nothing, dear. Nothing at all.”
    “But it was something—something about the dog’s name.”
    “Don’t worry yourself, sweet. Please don’t worry.” She leaned forward, kissing me on the forehead just under the bandages. Ever since my return to consciousness, I seemed