Finally, "No thanks," Kanis said. "They'd probably kill me, since I'm a scientist."
"I don't think so. They wouldn't in L.A.…But I thought you wanted to die?"
"Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. Have you got anything to eat? Anything you could spare? I'm terribly hungry?"
Tanner thought about it. He reviewed the contents of the refrigerator and the lockers.
"Okay," he said. "Walk ahead of me, and don't make any quick moves. I'll even leave you some rations."
Kanis preceded him, all the way to the car.
"Turn your back, and remember, there's a gun on it."
Kanis did an about-face.
Tanner crawled into the car, its door flung wide, and keeping his eye and his gun on the smaller man, he removed rations from their compartments and bore them back outside.
"Here. Have yourself a ball," he said, and he set the containers down on the floor of the barn and backed away.
He watched Kanis eat, until he couldn't believe that a man could be so hungry.
Then, "How do you feel?" he asked.
"A lot better, thanks."
"I'm sure they won't kill you in Boston," he said. "If you want to come along, I'll take you with me. What do you say?"
"No. Thanks. I feel better now."
"Why, for God's sake?"
"Because I've eaten."
"I mean, why won't you come along?"
"They'll hate me."
"No they won't."
"I helped, you know, when they burned the universities."
"So don't tell them about it."
He shook his head. "They'll know."
"How, you dumb bastard? Tell me _how?_"
"They'll know. _I_ know."
"Man, you've got a guilt hang-up. I've heard of them, but I never believed it till now. Forget it! I'll take you there, you can do whatever you want to your butterflies from now till hell freezes over, and nobody'll give a damn."
"No, thanks."
Tanner shrugged.
"Any way you want it."
There came a flash of blue lightning. The force of the downpour increased, until it sounded as if a thousand hammers fell upon the rooftop. An unnatural glow illuminated the barn for a time.
"What's _your_ name?" Kanis asked.
"Hell."
"I knew it," he said. "Do you believe in God, Hell?"
"No."
"I didn't, but I do now. 'Forgive me my trespasses..."
"Don't give me that lineup," said Tanner.
"I'm sorry. I..."
There came a rumble of thunder, which drowned out his following words.
Then, "... Kill me," said the man.
Tanner stepped on his cigarette butt.
"Will you?"
"What?"
"Kill me?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Why should I?"
"I'd like it."
"Go to hell."
"I have."