tapped loosely at took off  and pressed sleeve against   back on again.

    Come in, a voice called.

    epped into the cool darkness. Ellis?

    Im back here. Come on back.

    o tcting beside table in his chair.

    tale ove and over it  all lay a faint tang of urine. Like ts but it  just cats. Bell stood in took  off. t om,   know w was.

    ?

    Youre lookin at it. You by yourself?

    Yessir.

    Set do some coffee?

    Bell looked at tter on ttles of medicine. Breadcrumbs.

    Quartere it.

    I ter from your wife.

    You can call ta.

    I know I can. Did you know ses me?

    I guess I kneime or two.

    Its more time or tty regular. tells me the family news.

    I didnt knohere was any.

    You might be surprised.

    So  tter then.

    S told me you tin, ts all. Set down.

    t co see if . o rolling te from a sack of tobacco at ed turned it around and lit it er o t  smoking, te pencilwise in his fingers.

    Are you all right? Bell said.

    Im all right.

    ly sidec to  say you look older, he said.

    I am older.

    t a c and   on table.

    Let me ask you somethin, he said.

    All right.

    s your biggest regret in life.

    t ion. I dont kno all t  many regrets. I could imagine lots of t you migo imes, but in t  as  just never did get  t.

    I know w you mean.

    I know you do.

    t youre askin me is  t.

    Yessir.

    And it aint t aint tton eye.