Colors on the towels had run.

Ma poked her toe in the kid's clothes.

``What are we going to do with these?''

Big Hans began pouring whisky in the kid's mouth but his mouth filled without any getting down his throat and in a second it was dripping from his chin.

``Here, help me prop him up. I got hold his mouth open.''

I didn't want to touch him and I hoped Ma would do it but she kept looking at the kid's clothes piled on the floor and the pool of water by them and didn't make any move to.

``Come on, Jorge.''

``All right.''

``Lift, don't shove ** h lift.''

``O.K., I'm lifting.''

I took him by the shoulders. His head flopped back. His mouth fell open. The skin on his neck was tight. He was cold all right.

``Hold his head up. He'll choke.''

``His mouth is open.''

``His throat's shut. He'll choke.''

``He'll choke anyway.''

``Hold his head up.''

``I cann't.''

``Don't hold him like that. Put your arms around him.''

``Well Jesus.''

He was cold all right. I put my arm carefully around him. Hans had his fingers in the kid's mouth.

``Now he'll choke for sure.''

``Shut up. Just hold him like I told you.''

He was cold all right, and wet. I had my arm behind his back.