GOING TOWARD JASON<br >Chapter I. MARGIE AND WARREN<br > Marjorie was getting ready for bed. She had developed a<br > routine and she was beginning it now. She d stand in front .of her<br > bathroom mirror with her hands covering her face. First， she d<br > remember how she used to look before the accident and then she d<br > slowly take her hands away from her face and force herself to<br > look at the ugly， broken image in the mirror before her. How<br > often sheld spoken to her plastic surgeon about doing something<br > more to improve it. But he d smiled his crooked sardonic smile<br > and said， "But Margie~i~yours is a very difficult case. Ifm afraid<br > that s the best 1 can do.~ Of course， if you want to consult another<br > plastic surgeon " Ha~ there been something vaguely menacing<br > fn his black eyes as heN~aid that? Or was she just imagining<br > things? After all~ he was the top of his field. He had leaped<br > ahead with tremendous speed after he left the Hospital as a<br > resident， how many years ago? After that year in the laboratory.<br > But it wasn t altogether her imagination. Everyone said， "1<br > would have thought Dr. Traul could have done something with<br > that drooping eyelid and the corner of your mouth." Together，<br >these two distorted features gave her the appearance of always<br >winking lewdly. Of course， everyone admired the way he had<br >wired up the whole right half of her face， reconstructing the<br >cheek completely. And the thoracic people had done fairly well<br >with her back--now there was only just a little lopsidedness--the<br >right shoulder a bit higher than the left. But considering the way<br >she had smashed her face， hands and ribcage against the steering<br >wheel， it wasnlt too bad a job. There was no use expecting any<br >motion in the right side of her face. But it shouldn t have been<br >frozen in that leer. She hated the expression， but without Dr.<br >Traul s help， what could she do? Well~ she thought， perhaps that<br >doesn t matter as much as my hands. Frozen into two stiffened<br >claws， she could just barely button her clothes and tie her shoes.<br >Never could type any more. In the brown eyes， the one behind the<br >droopy eyelid and the one that stared out so boldly at her from<br >the mirror， tears were forming. Here comes self-pity， she<br >reminded herself sternly. Watch out! Here it comes. Along with<br >his name. She forbid herself to say it. Pray he may never see me<br >like this!<br ><br >