At lunch, John arrived with sandwiches and salads for each of them, and they ate at the kitchen table. Susan winced as she sat down and was ready for ice again and bed rest. "My back's hurt before, but I've never had this much pain in an all-encompassing area. It feels like my back is on fire."

"Before when your back went 'out, you took it easy and, slowly, the muscles relaxed, and your back was fine. But I think you've strained them, and they are mad." He tangled his fingers all ...