no signs directing traffic to

"You're clueless, aren't you?" "I guess." "A lot of cokeheads need a year. Even more for heroin addicts." And which is your current poison? Ray wanted to ask. But then he didn't want to. "A year?" he said. "Yep, total lockdown. And then the addict has to do it himself. I know guys who've been to prison for three years with no coke, no crack, no drugs at all, and when they were released they called a dealer before they called their wives or girlfriends." "What happens to them?" "It's not pretty." He threw the last of the peanuts into his mouth, slapped his hands together, and sent salt flying. THERE WERE no signs directing traffic to Alcorn Village. They followed Oscar's directions until they were certain they were lost deep in the hills, then saw a gate in the distance. Down a tree-lined drive, a complex spread before them. It was peaceful and secluded, and Forrest gave it good marks for first impressions. Oscar Meave arrived in the lobby of the administration building and guided them to an intake office, where he handled the initial paperwork himself. He was a counselor, an administrator, a psychologist, an ex-addict who'd cleaned himself up years ago and received two Ph.D.'s. He wore jeans, a sweatshirt, sneakers, a goatee, and two earrings, and had the wrinkles and chipped tooth of a rough prior life. But his voice was soft and friendly. He exuded the tough compassion of one who'd been where Forrest was now. The cost was $325 a day and Oscar was recommending a minimum of four weeks. "After that, we'll see where he is. I'll need to ask some pretty rough questions about what Forrest has been doing." "I don't want to hear that conversation," Ray said. "You won't," Forrest said. He was resigned to the flogging that was coming. "And we require half the money up front," Oscar said. "The other half before his treatment is complete." Ray flinched and tried to remember the balance in his checking account back in Virginia. He had plenty of cash, but this was not the time to use it. "The money is coming out of my father's estate," Forrest said. "It might take a few days." Oscar was shaking his head. "No exceptions. Our policy is half now." "No problem," said Ray. "I'll write a check for it."