she was making herself an enormous hot toddy . i start at the sound of my name . just the rush of air from the cooling vents in the diner 's ceiling . i ask that you accept this offer and i will pay you for their keeping . i watched people coming and going , finally they led me to back of the building to a room . tawny was wearing one earring and i was wearing the other . have most of the people go to the basement of any house that has one . 