Laura began to feel dizzy. _This is too much, this is too easy_, she thought, and pangs of conscience came up in her. _All I have to do is pull her close, caress her, kiss her, all I have to do—oh, my God! But I can’t! It’d be like corrupting her, like leading her astray. Damn! Why have I got a conscience? Beth didn’t have one. Neither does Beebo. Why me? Why can’t I just take her?_ But she was too afraid. “Laura, talk to me. You’re off in another world again.” Laura looked down at her, balanced between desire and fear, between desire and conscience, between desire and ... desire, desire.... “Marcie,” she whispered. “Remember the night you wanted to touch tongues?” Marcie laughed a little, embarrassed. “Yes,” she said. “I told Burr about it. He says I’m cracked.” Laura was shocked. “You told Burr?” she said, hurt by the betrayal. “Well, don’t look so horrified.” Marcie giggled. “Don’t tell me you didn’t tell Jack?” And Laura, by her sudden confusion, admitted that she had. With the admission, and the shock, came a clear head. She stood up. Marcie watched her. “I’m going to bed,” Laura said. “I’m too beat to talk. I’m just worn out.” Marcie let her go without a word. Her eyes followed Laura around the room. Laura ignored her studiously. She was asleep within minutes after she lay down, too tired even to worry. * * * * * Laura knew she would have to lie to Sarah in the morning about where she spent the day before. She made up her mind to do it fast and simply. She organized a little story about a sick headache and she delivered it quickly, even before Sarah had a chance to ask. Sarah took it at face value. At the end of the day, she called Marcie and told her she’d be late. “I’ve got to stay here and catch up,” she explained. “I’ve done nothing but get behind the whole time Jean’s been away. I just can’t seem to get the work done. I’m not going to lose this job.” “You’re wearing yourself out, Laur. I think you’re crazy. You can get a much softer job and earn a lot more money. In fact I talked to Mr. Marquardt about you.” “You _what_?” “Yes.” She laughed. “Today. I thought it would be fun if we could be in the same office. Besides, I never saw anybody work like you do. It’s insane, when all you have to do is sit around.” “Marcie, I don’t _want_ to sit around! I don’t need help! I can do this myself. I know you did it out of friendship but damn it, I _want_ to work. I don’t want to sit around on my behind all day, counting the minutes till the next coffee break.” Marcie was taken aback by the forcefulness of it. “Laura, I didn’t mean—” she began, and her voice was hurt. “I know, I know. I’m grateful, Marcie, forgive me. But I have something to prove, staying here. It’s only hard at first, when you’re learning. It’ll get easier. And in another two weeks there’ll be three of us at the office.”