He switched off the light. He curled up against the wall. He lay with a washcloth pressed against his cheek and at regular intervals he went to the bathroom to rinse it in cold water and wring it out. This relieved the pain for a few minutes. He moved the cloth around his face, across his cheeks and forehead, while he emitted faint groans. The pain filled his head. It made him tense his muscles, and the tension increased the pain. It was a vicious circle. When the doorbell rang, he stayed in bed. But whoever it was refused to go away and eventually he staggered out into the hall. "Damn, you look a sight," Reilly said. "It's spreading," Axel groaned. "It's spreading across my jaw." "Shouldn't you go to the hospital, then?" "I don't know. I feel nauseous. I'm clammy with sweat." Axel slumped toward the wall. He stared at a point on the floor which started to move as he watched. It was a spider. He squashed it with his heel. "They've found a body," Reilly said. "In Glitter Lake." Axel's jaw dropped.
