"I didn't think it'd rotted plumb through!" His voice was an indignant squawk as he shoved against the railings. He was pretty well stuck. When Heather offered one of her monstrous paws, Maurice reached up automatically--

but paused.

He hadn't touched her before, had he? He couldn't remember. He'd been so injured and dazed there in the alley that it felt like a dream. All the beer that night helped. But here she was again towering over him and offering him her hand.

Maurice shook himself and slapped his cold hand into hers, feeling strange that his was smaller. He'd been both a bat and a dog in her presence but this was just surreal.

"Might as well just sit on the ground now."