Janet and Doug were in bed with the curtains tightly closed. Details of the room could be picked out in the light of a reading lamp that stood on a cluttered desk in a corner. It was a simple bachelor pad with a gas fire, two easy chairs, a cupboard and a wardrobe. Discarded clothes were flung over the backs of the easy chairs. Doors led off to a bathroom and small kitchen. The three-quarter bed was against the wall opposite the window. A dusty unused telephone stood on a shelf.
Doug rested on his back staring at the ceiling. Janet lay on her side reading a copy of his magazine with the circle-A on the front in black. He turned to her suddenly.
"It"s Wednesday already and you haven"t been home. What happened to work?"
"I rang in sick. I told you."
"You"ll need a sick note. You could lo
