The hour passed slowly. He could hear her watching television. She reappeared as soon as it was eight o'clock, with two tablets and a glass of water. Paul eagerly lifted himself up on to his elbows when she sat down on his bed. 'At last I got your new book, two days ago,' she told him. 'Misery's Child. I love it. It's as good as all the others. Better, in fact. It's the best.' 'Thank you,' Paul said. He could feel the sweat on his forehead. 'Please . . . my legs . . . very painful . . .' 'I knew she would marry Ian,' she said, smiling dreamily, 'and I believe Ian and Geoffrey will become friends again. Do they? No, no, don't tell me. I want to find out for myself.' 'Please, Miss Wilkes. The pain . . .' 'Call me Annie. All my friends do.' She gave him the glass, but kept the tablets in her hand. Then she brought them towards his mouth, which he immediately opened . . . and then she took her hand away again. 'I hope you don't mind,' she said, 'but I looked in your bag.' 'No, of course I don't mind. The medicine -' The sweat on his forehead felt first cold and then hot. Was he going to scream? He thought perhaps he was. 'I see there's a typescript in the bag,' she went on. She idly rolled the tablets from one hand to the other. Paul followed them with his eyes. 'It's called Fast Cars. It's not a Misery novel.' She looked at Kim with faint disapproval - but it was mixed with love. It was the kind of look a mother gives a child. 'Would you let me read it?' 7 'Yes, of course.' He tried to smile through the pain. 'I wouldn't do anything like that without your permission, Paul, you know,' she said. 'I respect you too much for that. In fact, Paul, I love you.' She blushed again, suddenly. One of the tablets dropped on to the blankets. Paul grabbed at it, but she was quicker. Then she went vacant and dreamy again, 'Your mind, I mean. It's your mind I love, Paul.' 'No, please read it,' Paul said in desperation. 'But. . .' 'You see,' Annie said, 'you're good. 1 knew you must be good. No one bad could create Misery Chastain and breathe life into her.' Now she suddenly put her fingers in his mouth and he greedily sucked the tablets out of her hand, without waiting for the water. 'Just like a baby,' she said, laughing. 'Oh, Paul. We're going to be so happy here.' And Paul thought: I am in so much trouble here.