Page 113 of The Hitchhikers

“That’s not true,” Simon said. “Just come back and we’ll talk.”

Jenny was saying something to him, pulling on his arm, her expression pleading.

“Why do you care about her so damn much?” Simon shouted at Jenny. The gun was still aimed at Alice. She pressed herself as flat as possible, which wasn’t flat enough. She wondered if shecould climb down the side of the trestle, using the wood beams. Stupid plan. She’d fall.

“She clubbed me across my face, and you’re worried about her?” Simon was still shouting. “If we let her go, we’re going to get caught.”

“That’s not true,” Alice shouted back. “You can get away.”

“Shut up, Alice!”

“Why don’t you ever listen to me?!” Jenny said.

“Because you’re so obsessed with making Alice like you, you’re not using your head.”

“I’mobsessed?” Jenny was clearly enraged, her voice reaching a decibel that Alice had never heard before. “What aboutyou? I heard everything the night you got drunk and forced Alice to make you sandwiches. You’re the one who wishes she was your mother!”

“Don’t say that shit to me.”

“I wanted to leave her at the farm. We could have left her at the hotel.”

“Fine. I’ll shoot her right now.”

He raised his arm again.

“I give up!” Alice got to her knees and lifted her hands into the air. “I’ll drive the car.”

“No, stay there,” Jenny shouted.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Simon said.

“We don’t need her!”

“Okay, then.” He pointed the gun again at Alice and let off a bullet that splintered the wood a foot away from her. She gasped and dropped back onto her stomach.

“Stop!” Jenny was crying.

“You’re either with me or you’re not, Jenny. Make your choice. Because if we let her go, then I’m as good as dead.”

“If you shoot her, I’ll never forgive you.”

Alice knew instantly that it was the wrong thing for Jenny to say.

“You won’tforgiveme? After everything I’ve done for you?”

“You can’t hurt her. Not Alice.”

“Do you even love me? Maybe you’ve just been using me all along.”

“Stop saying these things.”

“Then what’s it going to be? We leave her dead or we take her.”

“We’ll take her! I’m sorry. You’re right. We need her.” Jenny was talking fast, begging.

“See, I don’t trust you now.” Simon was lifting his arm, sharpening his stance. His face was grim. Alice opened her mouth to beg Jenny to stop him, but Jenny was already reaching out.

To grab him? To knock away the gun?