glass."
Kerry moved to Robin's side and took her limp hand. Robin's head lay bowed like a puppet's whose strings had been cut. "She's out cold," Kerry said, worried.
Park knelt by his girlfriend's side, brushed aside a soft brown curl from her face, and glanced back at Angie. "That's weird," he whispered.
Angie spoke quickly. "Carry her into my parents' bedroom. Let her sleep it off."
"Good idea," Park said, slipping his arms under Robin's body, lifting her easily. She only weighed 110.
"Maybe we should wake her," Kerry said, "have her drink coffee."
"Sleep's the best thing," Angie said.
Shani held her peace. So Robin was out. They would be fools to try anything with Lena around. She hoped they did and got caught. She was suddenly angry at Angie and Park, especially at him. What a hypocrite, the care he showed carrying his girlfriend to the bedroom.
Sol finished in the bathroom. Shani took his place, washing her face and brushing her teeth. When she returned to the living room, Sol and Lena were leaving out of the front door, Kerry was fixing the bed in the guest room, and Bert was asleep on the floor. Shani turned out the nearest lamp and lay back on the couch, swearing that if the roof caved in, she wasn't getting up.
An indeterminate time went by. Behind closed eyelids, Shani noted the rest of the lights going out.
Someone with alcoholic breath covered her with a blanket. Doors opened and closed. Far away, she thought she heard splashes and laughter, but she wasn't sure.
Someone was shaking her. She opened her eyes. It was dark, and a shadow loomed over her.
"What is it?" Shani mumbled. She had a headache.
"I'm sick," Kerry said anxiously.
Shani remembered Bert's advice. "Stick your finger down your throat, throw up." She rolled over.
"You'll feel better."
Kerry had the bad manners to yank her into a sitting position. A yellow glow from the porch light strained through the kitchen's curtains. It was sufficient to show Kerry's tears. "I've thrown up," she coughed. "I've got cramps. I can hardly breathe."
Shani was not alarmed. Kerry often panicked. "You're going to be fine. You've just had too much beer.
A hot bath will help." She took her trembling hands. "I'll run the water for you."
Suddenly Kerry doubled up in dry heaves, gasping for air.
"No! I never get sick from beer! It was bad! There was something in it! I have a strange taste in my mouth!"
Shani reversed her diagnosis. "Try to relax. Who else is still here?"
"Park's asleep in - hall - Angie - seeh! I can't take this! Help me, Shani!"
"I will." She turned on the lamp. Bert was where she had last seen him, snoring peacefully. She jumped to her feet and kicked his butt. "Wake up! Get up!" He groaned, began to stretch. Running down the hall, she stumbled over Park, who was crashed outside Angie's partially cracked door.
"Huh?" he muttered, sitting up. She turned on the hall light.
"Kerry's sick! I think there was something in the beer!"
Park was barely awake, scratching his head. "There's alcohol in beer. God, my head hurts. It makes everyone sick."
"How do you feel?"
"Terrible, how else? Why did you wake me?"
"You don't have cramps?"
He grimaced, rubbed his bloodshot eyes. "Girls get cramps, Shani, not boys. What time is it?"
"Where did you put Robin?" she demanded.
His eyes focused. He was suddenly alert. He pointed to the door at the end of the hall on the left. "In the master bedroom. Why do you say there was something in the beer?"
Shani did not answer him. She raced to the door, threw it open, snapped on the light. Robin was huddled in the fetal position in the centre of the king-sized bed. Shani jumped on the mattress and rolled her friend on her back.
"Robin! Robin!" she shook her. "Robin!!!"
Park came up at her back. "Get out of the way," he ordered. He put a finger under Robin's nose, checked her pulse. "Robin!" he shouted. She did not respond. He slapped her across the face, her head rolling like a mannequin's. He moved to her feet, pinching her Achilles tendon. Nothing.
"Is she dead?" Shani moaned, a weight beyond comprehension crushing her chest.
Park pulled the pillow from beneath Robin's head and pried open her mouth, checking for obstructions with his fingers. Taking a breath and forcing his lips against hers, he exhaled. Robin's diaphragm rose sharply, once. He listened at her chest, muttered, "Clear."
"Is she dead? Answer me, damn you!"
Park stood, pale as a winter moon, but sober, in