Dean Koontz (Deanna Dwyer) Children of the storm [Version 2.

.0 by BuddyDk august 3 2003] [Easy read, easy print] [Completely new scan] [Some spelling errors has been left as is (This is an old book)]

NO HAVEN . . .
As she and the children stood by the windows, watching the sea which glittered madly with reflected moonlight, Sonya felt more at peace than she had for a long time. The solidity of Seawatch made her feel as if she were in a fortress, sealed away from harm . . . Alex destroyed that mood in a moment. Are you worried? he asked. Sonya did not look away from the sea. hy should ! be worried? "e won#t hurt you. She looked at Alex. "is eyes were $ery dark, almost too dark to see in the meager light. ho won#t? "e scuffed his small feet on the carpet and looked back at the rolling sea. The man. hat man? %ou know, said Tina. The man who says he is going to kill me and Alex . . .

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Copyright 1972 by Deanna Dwyer ll rights reser!ed 4rinted in /anada. LAN,ER 3OO4S* IN,. 5 )%-( 3ROAD1AY NE1 YOR4* N.Y. )((/-

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&a!ing li!ed nearly all of her twenty'three years in the brief s(mmers and the bitter winters of )aine and )assa*h(setts+ ,onya Carter was espe*ially intrig(ed by the Caribbean-by the almost too'bright s.ies+ the warm breezes that smelled of salty o*ean air+ the palm trees that *o(ld be seen nearly e!erywhere+ the deli*io(s mangoes+ the spe*ta*(lar s(nsets and the s(dden twilights that deepened rapidly into p(rple dar.ness / / / 0oo+ the warmth of the Caribbean seemed to represent life+ b(stle+ e1*itement+ anti*ipation-while $ew %ngland+ in her mind+ was asso*iated with death and loneliness/ ,he had lost her parents in )aine+ thirteen years ago+ when their *ar o!ert(rned on a stret*h of i*y highway/ nd this past winter+ her grandmother+ who had raised her e!er sin*e she was orphaned at the age of ten+ had at last s(**(mbed to the deep and awf(l *o(ghing that had plag(ed her for years+ the taint of the l(ngs that had long been her b(rden/ 2n the last wee.s of her life+ lying in the *risp white sheets of the hospital bed+ she had been thin and dar.+ her fa*e drawn+ too wea. e!en to smile/ Certainly+ people died all the time in the Caribbean+ 3(st as they did in the rest of the world4 this was no pla*e of respite from tragedy+ no sa*red shelter from the ra!ages of time/ "(t here+ at least+ ,onya had ne!er lost anyone whom she desperately lo!ed/ 0his newness+ this freshness of the pla*e and its la*. of asso*iations+ was what made it spe*ial+ an (ns(llied ha!en where she *o(ld more easily be happy/ 5ynda ,pa(lding+ a girl with whom ,onya had roomed d(ring her senior year at the (ni!ersity+ tho(ght this 3o(rney was a distin*tly bad idea+ and she went to great lengths to pers(ade ,onya to *all it off/ 67oing way down there+ among strange people+ to wor. for someone yo(8!e ne!er met fa*e'to'fa*e9 0hat8s going to be tro(ble+ right from the start+ yo( mar. my words/: ,onya had .nown that 5ynda was more 3ealo(s of her s(**ess in se*(ring s(*h a position than she was *on*erned abo(t ,onya8s well'being/ 62 thin. it8ll be 3(st fine+: ,onya had said+ repeatedly+ ref(sing to be disill(sioned/ 65ots of s(n+ the o*ean-: 6&(rri*anes+: her roommate said+ determined to throw *lo(ds o!er the sit(ation/ 6#nly for part of the year+ and then only rarely/: 62 (nderstand the sea *an sweep right o!er one of those small islands when a real bad wind *omes (p+ d(ring a storm-: 6#h+ for hea!en8s sa.e+ 5ynda;: ,onya snapped+ 628m in more danger on the freeways than 2 am in the middle of a h(rri*ane;: 5ater+ 5ynda had said+ 60hey pra*ti*e !oodoo down there/: 62n &aiti/: 60hat8s the *enter of it+ yes/ "(t they pra*ti*e it all o!er those islands/: ,onya had now been in the islands three days and had yet to see any sign of dar. religio(s rites/ ,he was glad that she had *ome+ and she was loo.ing forward to the 3ob/ ,he had flown from "oston to )iami on a 7<7 =(mbo =et+ (n*omfortable in s(*h an enormo(s *raft+ *ertain that it *o(ld not be e1pe*ted to .eep its h(ndreds of tons aloft for !ery long+ s(rely not long eno(gh to *o!er the length of the %ast Coast/ 2n )iami+ she boarded a *r(ise ship of the >ren*h 5ine for her first sea 3o(rney and+ less frightened of drowning than of falling twenty tho(sand feet in a steel air*raft+ she immensely en3oyed the trip/ 0he boat stopped at ,an =(an+ ?(erto @i*o+ then leis(rely wended its way so(thward (ntil it stopped at the e1A(isitely bea(tif(l island of ,t/ 0homas

where the bea*hes were both white and bla*.+ the sand hot and the or*hids wild/ 0he ne1t stop was ,t/ =ohn8s port+ then on to the >ren*h'owned island of 7(adelo(pe where they do*.ed at the *ity of Pointe-a-Pitre late in the afternoon of a brilliantly *lear first 0(esday in ,eptember/ 0he ship wo(ld sail on to )artiniA(e+ "arbados+ 0rinidad+ C(ra*ao and then+ e!ent(ally+ ba*. to >ran*e/ ,onya disembar.ed at 7(adelo(pe+ missing those other e1oti* ports+ b(t not parti*(larly (pset by this/ ,he was eager to begin her new 3ob+ her new life+ to form new hopes and dreams and set abo(t ma.ing them reality/ &er fo(r large s(it*ases and one metal'bo(nd steamer tr(n. were (nloaded onto the do*. at Pointe-a-Pitre, where a fier*ely dar. terminal wor.er p(t them onto a fo(r'wheeled *art and led her into the air *onditioned passenger8s lo(nge/ 62t be an o(trageo(s wahm day+: he said+ smiling with many bright teeth+ his !oi*e syr(py and yet a m(si*al delight that she tho(ght she wo(ld ne!er tire of no matter how long her 3ob .ept her in these *limes/ Bhen she tipped him+ he said+ 6De lady be o(trageo(s .ind+: half'bowed and wal.ed away/ 0he lo(nge was b(sy-tho(gh most of the h(stling and b(stling was done by the to(rists+ *hiefly meri*ans who appeared (nable to ad3(st to the lazy ambien*e of this new land/ 0he dar.' s.inned wor.ers all seemed loose'3ointed and half'dreaming+ their pa*e ad3(sted to what the tropi*s reA(ired of a man if he were to li!e his allotted span and remain healthy/ 6)iss Carter9: ,omeone said from behind her/ ,tartled+ she t(rned+ her heart th(mping+ and loo.ed into the eyes of an e1tremely handsome man perhaps fo(r years her senior/ &e said+ 6)y name8s "ill ?eterson/ 28m the Do(gherty8s *ha(ffe(r+ messenger and boat *aptain all rolled into one/: &e was tanned so deeply that he *o(ld ha!e passed for a nati!e at a A(i*. glan*e+ teeth white against his brown s.in+ only his bl(e eyes stood o(t startlingly from his d(s.y *o(ntenan*e/ &e made ,onya feel o(t of pla*e+ a foreigner with her pale s.in and bright yellow hair/ t least+ they had the bl(e eyes in *ommon/ 628m glad to meet yo(+: she said/ 6Can 2 *all yo( "ill9: &e smiled/ &e had a !ery winning smile+ almost boyish/ &e said+ 6Co(8d better/: 6,onya+ then+ for me/: ,he had to loo. (p in order to spea. to him+ for he towered o!er her fi!e' feet+ fo(r'in*hes/ 67ood;: he said+ *learly pleased with her/ 62 *an see that yo(8re going to get along well with e!' eryone/ 2 was afraid yo( might be hard to get to .now+ a snob or a *omplainer-or something worse/ #n an island as small as )r/ Do(gherty8s Distingue, it wo(ld be intolerable to ha!e a staff member who was anything less than f(lly ami*able/: 6&ow small an island is it9: she as.ed/ ,he was remembering 5ynda ,pa(lding8s warnings abo(t high water and h(rri*anes/ 6#ne and a half miles long+ slightly less than three'A(arters of a mile wide/: 60hat doesn8t so(nd so tiny+: she said/ 62n a !ast o*ean+ it is infinitesimal/: 62 s(ppose/: &e seemed to sense the so(r*e of her (neasiness+ for he said+ 62 wo(ldn8t worry abo(t it sin.ing o(t of sight/ 2ts been there for tho(sands of years and loo.s to last e!en longer/: ,he let the m(si*al name roll aro(nd on her tong(e for the tho(sandth time sin*e she had first heard the word a month ago+ fo(nd it as pleasant as she always had before/ 6 Distingue, she said dreamily/ 62t almost so(nds li.e paradise/: 60he name is >ren*h+: "ill ?eterson said/ 62t means 8elegant of appearan*e8+ and the island is 3(st what the name implies-palms+ or*hids+ bo(gain!illea and white'white sand/: ,he smiled at him+ at his ob!io(s enth(siasm for the island/ &e was a big man+ a *o(ple of

in*hes past si1 feet+ slim and well'm(s*led/ &e was wearing white 3eans and a maroon+ short' slee!ed+ .nitted shirt4 his arms were brown as n(ts and .notted with m(s*le+ his hands broad and strong/ Cet+ tal.ing abo(t the island+ he so(nded li.e a *hild+ a little boy who was breathlessly an1io(s for her to share his enth(siasm+ his sense of wonder/ 62 *an8t wait to see it+: she said/ 6Bell+: he said+ loo.ing at her l(ggage+ 6we8d best get yo(r things along to the pri!ate do*.s where 2 ha!e the Lady Jane tied (p/: 60hat8s )r/ Do(gherty8s boat9: ,onya as.ed/ ,he *o(ld still not get a**(stomed to the idea that she was wor.ing for a bona fide millionaire+ someone who *o(ld own an island and the boat to get to and from it/ 2t was all li.e a s*ene from some fairy tale+ a dream from whi*h she wo(ld wa.e sooner or later-or+ if her old *ollege roomie were to be belie!ed+ it was not a dream b(t a nightmare/ 2n any *ase+ it did not seem real. 6Ces+: "ill ?eterson said+ 6b(t it8s not the most interesting of boats/ 28m an e1perien*ed trimaran *aptain+ and 2 always prefer sailing to the (se of engines/ >or one thing+ its e*ologi*ally more so(nd a method/ "(t more important than that+ sails gi!e a man a sense of a**omplishment+ a real *omm(nion with the sea that the (se of engines inhibits/ "(t )r/ Do(gherty is not really m(*h of a sea lo!er/ &e belie!es that gasoline is far more reliable than the wind-tho(gh 28!e seen more small boats with engine tro(ble than those *a(ght (ne1pe*tedly in the eye of a *alm/ 0he Lady Jane's not really a bad little *abin *r(iser+ tho(gh/ Co(8ll probably li.e her/: &e whistled for and lo*ated another porter+ s(per!ised the loading of ,onya8s baggage onto an' other wheeled *art and then led the way o(t of the *hrome and glass str(*t(re into the s(ddenly oppressi!e-by *omparison-heat of the late afternoon s(n/ 0he to(rists o(t on the promenade easily o(tn(mbered the lo*als+ dressed in the most awf(l berm(das and lo(d shirts+ the women in sla*.s too tight for them+ many almost *omi*al in their floppy straw hats and e1aggerated s(nglasses/ "(t ,onya had had eno(gh of *olorf(l *ost(mes+ na' ti!e a**ents and mannerisms4 now+ all that she wanted was to settle down on Distingue as a go!' erness for )r/ and )rs/ Do(gherty8s two small *hildren+ and begin a *areer that wo(ld ma.e (se of her ed(*ation and training/ 0he pri!ate do*.s at the bay port of Pointe-a-Pitre were not shabby+ by any means+ more well' appointed than the p(bli* landing de*.s/ 0hey seemed newly b(ilt of sea'blea*hed stone+ *on*rete and tightly'fitted+ well'oiled dar. wooden plan.s/ 0he Lady Jane nestled in a berth barely large eno(gh to a**ommodate her+ floated lazily on the swell+ beyond a sign that readD ?@2E 0%/ =#' ,%?& 5/ D#F7&%@0C/ 5 DC = $%/ ,he was perhaps twenty'fi!e feet long+ slim and dazzlingly white+ trimmed A(ite s(btly in a dar. bl(e and *ontrasting gold stripe+ spotlessly *lean and with an air of wel*ome abo(t her/ 6&ow lo!ely;: ,onya said+ meaning it/ 6Co(8!e been on a boat before9: "ill as.ed/ 6$e!er+ e1*ept for the ship *oming down+ of *o(rse/ "(t that was so terribly h(ge that 2 didn8t feel as if 2 was on a boat at all/: 62 .now what yo( mean/: 62t was more li.e a floating town/: 6Co(8ll know yo(8re on a boat when yo(8re on the Lady Jane! he said/ 60he sea bo(n*es her a bit+ (nless we p(t her (p toward top speed-and then she bo(n*es the sea 0he porter p(t the bags on the main de*.+ near the pilot8s *abin+ a**epted a tip from ?eterson+ doffed a tiny porter8s hat as he smiled+ and wheeled away the l(ggage *art/ Bith a gentleness she wo(ld not ha!e tho(ght ?eterson *apable of-sin*e he was s(*h a big man -he too. her arm and helped her down the steps and onto the de*./ &e es*orted her on a *omplete to(r of the pilot8s *abin+ the galley and the two staterooms below de*./

62t8s (tterly gorgeo(s+: ,onya said+ en*hanted by the spar.ling little ma*hine/ 6Co(8ll ha!e plenty of opport(nity to go o(t in her+: ?eterson said/ 60he .ids both li.e to be ta.en on trips into the smaller islands+ the *ays and the ba*.water pla*es/ nd on yo(r off time+ yo( might want me to ta.e yo( o(t as well/: 6Co( mean 2 *an (se the boat for my own en3oyment+: she as.ed/ 6#f *o(rse; 0he Do(ghertys lo!e the bea*h and shore fishing/ "(t as 2 said+ neither of them is really a sea lo!er+ e1*ept at a proper distan*e/ 2f yo( don8t ma.e (se of the Lady Jane, she8ll 3(st sit there at the do*.+ r(sting/: 62 wo(ldn8t let her r(st;: &e la(ghed/ 6,po.en li.e a real sailor/: ,he stood in the pilot8s *abin with him while he mane(!ered the small *raft o(t of its slot along the wharf+ amazed that he did not slam it r(dely against the slee. h(lls of its neighbor ships and that when he had ta.en it into the harbor+ he was able to g(ide it aro(nd the plentit(de of other boatsperhaps a h(ndred of them-that bobbled on the bright water/ &e seemed to ha!e been born on a ship+ raised with his hands aro(nd a wheel and his eyes trained to na(ti*al instr(ments/ ,he as.ed no A(estions+ and he started no *on!ersations (ntil they were o(t of the b(siest sea lanes and in the open water+ the hea!y o*ean swell rolling rhythmi*ally toward+ (nder and beyond them/ 6&ow far to Distingue9 60wenty'fi!e min(tes+ half an ho(r+: he said/ 62t8s not a*t(ally !ery far from *i!ilization+ b(t the ill(sion of isolation is pretty good/: &e handled the wheel non*halantly+ setting *o(rse by some method whi*h she *o(ld not di!ine/ 628m s(re the *hildren li.e li!ing in a pla*e where there8s no one to *ompel them to go to s*hool+: she said+ holding fast to a *hrome hand railing as the boat slapped thro(gh the *rests of the foam'tipped wa!es/ 60hey8!e been pretty ramb(n*tio(s sin*e the family *ame down here from $ew =ersey+: ?eterson agreed/ 6"(t yo(8re a s*hool tea*her as well as a n(rse+ aren8t yo(9: 6Ces/: 6,o their days of freedom are limited/: &e grinned+ !ery warmly+ !ery reass(ringly+ a man al' most any yo(ng woman wo(ld be attra*ted to/ 62 hope they don8t see me as an old dragon+: ,onya said/ 62 don8t intend to ma.e their st(dies b(rdensome+ if 2 *an help it/: 6$o one *o(ld see yo( as an old dragon+: he said/ 6 bsol(tely no one at all/: ,he was not a**(stomed to flattery+ and she was (nable to respond with more than a bl(sh/ &e said+ 6Co( seem to ha!e pi*.ed (p A(ite a bit of ed(*ation for a girl so yo(ng/: &e loo.ed sideways at her+ then ba*. at the s(n'dappled sea/ ,he said+ 6#ne of the few things that bills and ta1es *o(ldn8t to(*h in my father8s small estate was a tr(st f(nd he had established for my ed(*ation/ 2t *o(ldn8t be (sed for anything else4 and 2 too. f(ll ad!antage of it/ fter n(rse8s s*hool+ 2 wasn8t really *ertain that 2 wanted to spend my life in hospitals wat*hing people die little'by'little/ ,o 2 enrolled in the elementary ed(*ation *(rri*(l(m at a small *ollege near my grandmother8s pla*e/ 2 don8t .now whether 2 wo(ld e!er ha!e en3oyed tea*hing in a normal grade s*hool atmosphere/ 0his 3ob-go!ernness and t(tor+ is 3(st abo(t perfe*t+ tho(gh/: 60he .ids are bo(nd to li.e yo(+: he said+ smiling at her/ 62 hope so/ 2 also hope 2 *an tea*h them well eno(gh to .eep (p with the island go!ernment8s reA(irements/: 6Bhate!er yo( tea*h them+: he said+ the tone of his !oi*e ha!ing s(ddenly hardened a bit+ 6they8ll be safer on Distingue than in a town somewhere+ in any reg(lar s*hool/ ,afer than they8d be in pri!ate s*hools+ too+ for that matter/:

Lady Jane rose+ fell+ groaned as the water slapped her h(ll+ whined on thro(gh the *hoppy seas/ ,onya felt a shi!er *o(rse the length of her spine+ tho(gh she was not s(re of the *a(se/ 0he day was not *hilly+ nor the *ompany-th(s far- f(ll of gloom/ Cet there was something behind what ?eterson had 3(st said+ something in the way he had said it that was distin*tly (nsettling / / / ,he said+ 6,afe9: 6Ces/ 0he island p(ts them o(t of the rea*h of anyone who might ta.e it in mind to h(rt them/: &e was *ompletely serio(s now+ with no more white'toothed+ bright'eyed smiles for her+ his big hands gripped hard abo(t the wheel as if he were ta.ing his anger o(t on that hard+ plasti* *ir*le/ 6Bhy sho(ld anyone want to h(rt them9: she as.ed+ gen(inely perple1ed b(t (n*omfortably *ertain that he had an answer/ "ill ?eterson seemed a le!el'headed man+ not the sort to generate wild stories or (nbased fears/ 6Co( don8t .now abo(t what8s happened9: he as.ed/ 6$o/: &e t(rned away from the water and loo.ed at her+ ob!io(sly *on*erned/ &e said+ 6$othing abo(t the threats9: 60hreats9: she as.ed/ 0he *hill along her spine had grown worse/ 0ho(gh she had by now gotten a**(stomed to the rolli*.ing progress of the speeding *raft+ she still held tightly to the shining hand railing+ her .n(*.' les white/ 6"a*. in $ew =ersey+ someone threatened to .ill both of the .ids- le1 and 0ina/: 0he Lady Jane rose/ 0he Lady Jane fell/ "(t the ship and the sea both seemed to ha!e re*eded now as the thing that "ill ?eterson was telling her swelled in importan*e (ntil it filled her mind/ ,he said+ 62 s(ppose wealthy people are often the targets of *ran.s who-: 60his was no *ran.+: he said/ 0here was no do(bt in his !oi*e+ not a shred of it/ 6#h9: 62 wasn8t (p in $ew =ersey with them+ of *o(rse/ 0his ho(se on Distingue is their winter home for fo(r months of the year+ and 28m here the year'aro(nd+ .eeping it (p/ )r/ Do(gherty+ =oe+ told me what happened (p there+ tho(gh/ 2t s*ared him eno(gh to finally mo!e his family and ser!ants down here ahead of s*hed(le/ Bhat he told me happened (p there wo(ld ha!e frightened me too+ no A(estion/: ,he waited+ .nowing that he wo(ld tell her abo(t it and angry with him for ha!ing bro(ght it (p/ Cet+ at the same time+ she wanted to .now+ had to .now+ all abo(t it/ ,he remembered her roomie8s warnings abo(t *oming to an (n.nown pla*e+ to wor. for (n.nown people / / / 62t was telephone *alls at first/ )rs/ Do(gherty too. the first one/ ,ome man+ ob!io(sly trying to disg(ise his !oi*e+ told her what he wo(ld do to both the *hildren when he fo(nd an opport(nity to *orner one or both of them when they were alone/: 6Bhat did he threaten9: ?eterson hesitated for a moment+ then sighed wearily+ as if it reA(ired too m(*h energy to .eep s(*h awf(l things se*ret/ 6&e was a damned (gly man/ &e promised to ta.e a .nife to them/: 6,tab them9: 6Ces/: ,he sh(ddered/ &e said+ 6 nd *(t their throats/: 0he *hill had be*ome a positi!ely ar*ti* line along her slender ba*.+ had frozen her to her pla*e by the safety railing+ sent *old fingers thro(gho(t her body/ 60here was worse than that+: ?eterson said/ 6"(t yo( wo(ldn8t want to hear what he said he8d

do+ not in detail/ "asi*ally+ he made it *lear he wanted to m(tilate them before he .illed them/: 6)y 7od;: ,onya said+ A(a.ing openly now+ A(easy inside/ 60he man so(nds mad/: 6Eery ob!io(sly+ he was+: ?eterson agreed/ 6)rs/ Do(gherty listened to all of this+ p(t (p with the filthy things he was saying9: 6,he says she was frozen by that !oi*e+ that she *o(ldn8t ha!e h(ng (p e!en if she8d wanted to/ nd belie!e me+ she wanted to;: &e *on*entrated on the instr(ments for a moment+ seemed to ma.e a *o(rse ad3(stment with the wheel+ then said+ 6&e *alled twel!e times in one wee.+ always with the same .ind of patter+ tho(gh it got e!en worse+ e!en more br(tal than what 28!e told yo(/: 6 nd they listened9: 6)r/ Do(gherty began ta.ing all the *alls+ and he h(ng (p/ t first he did+ anyway/: 6Bhy8d he *hange his ta*ti*s9: 6Bell+ they began to wonder if they had a real psy*hoti* on their hands-instead of 3(st a *ran./ 0hey went to the poli*e and+ finally+ had a tap p(t on their phone/ 0he g(y *alled si1 more times while the *ops were trying to tra*e him/: 6Trying to tra*e him9: 6Bell-: 67ood 7od+ yo(8d thin. they8d want to find o(t what .ind of a depra!ed-: 2t was ?eterson8s t(rn to interr(pt/ 6#h+ the poli*e wanted to find him+ s(re eno(gh/ "(t tra*ing a telephone *all+ in these days of dire*t dial systems+ isn8t all that easy/ Co( ha!e to .eep the man on the line for fo(r or fi!e min(tes+ (ntil they get it pinned down/ nd this *hara*ter was getting *le!er/ &e was ma.ing his *alls shorter and shorter+ pa*.ing more and more !iolent rhetori* into them/ 0he poli*e wanted him+ be*a(se that8s part of their 3ob+ b(t also be*a(se the press(re was on them/ 28m not gi!ing away any se*rets when 2 say that =oe Do(gherty wields infl(en*e and *an for*e an iss(e when he wants to/ 2n this *ase+ he wanted to/ "(t it too. them si1 more *alls from this *ra*.pot to lo*ate the phone/: 6 nd9: 62t was 3(st a payphone/: 6,till-G,onya said/ 6 fter that+ he didn8t *all again for a while+ for more than two wee.s+ =oe said/: 60he poli*e .ept a tap going9: ?eterson said+ 6$o/ fter a wee.+ they pa*.ed it (p and *on!in*ed =oe that their man was only a hoa1er+ per!erted+ to be s(re+ b(t not serio(s/ 0hey didn8t e1plain how he got hold of the Do(gh' ertys8 (nlisted n(mber+ b(t they were ready to ignore that/ ,o were the Do(ghertys/ 0hings were m(*h easier if they belie!ed it+ yo( see/: 62 see+: she said/ ,he wanted to sit down in one of the *ommand *hairs by the *ontrols+ b(t she was afraid she wo(ld lose her balan*e if she let go of the railing/ 60hen+ after two wee.s witho(t any *alls+ they fo(nd a note in 0ina8s room+ pinned to her pillow/: 6$ote9: 62t had been written+ so far as they *o(ld tell+ by the same man who had made the telephone *alls/: ,onya *losed her eyes+ tried to ride with the ro*.ing !essel and with the story ?eterson was tell' ing her+ b(t she did not thin. she was going to ha!e m(*h l(*./ 60he note made the same threats as before+ only elaborated on them-blood'*(rdling things+ really obs*ene/: &e shoo. his head and loo.ed as if he wo(ld spit o(t the taste of the memory/ 2f it were this (npleasant to re*all+ for ?eterson+ what m(st it ha!e been li.e for the Do(ghertys+ who had e1perien*ed it all first hand9

6Bait a min(te+: ,onya said+ *onf(sed and not a little frightened by what he had told her/ 6 re yo( saying that they fo(nd the note in their own ho(se-that this madman had been in the little girl8s room9: 6Ces/: 6"(t how? "ill loo.ed at his instr(ments+ held the wheel steady in his powerf(l hands as he spo.e/ 6$o one saw or heard him-e!en tho(gh the b(tler+ maid+ *oo. and handyman m(st ha!e all been aro(nd when he entered the ho(se/ ?erhaps e!en )rs/ Do(gherty was there+ depending on the time the note was pla*ed/: 60hey *alled the poli*e/: 6Ces+: ?eterson said/ 6 nd the ho(se was wat*hed by plain*lothesmen in (nmar.ed *ars/ ,till+ he managed to get into the ho(se+ three nights later+ lea!ing notes on the doors of both the .ids8 rooms/: 60he poli*e didn8t see him9: 6$o/ 0hey started trying to *on!in*e the Do(ghertys that one of the ser!ants was in!ol!ed-: 6,o(nds reasonable to ass(me+: ,onya said/ 6%1*ept that =oe has had these people with him for years-some of them ser!ed his mother and father when they were ali!e and maintaining a big ho(se/ =oe 3(st *o(ldn8t see what any of them wo(ld ha!e against him or the .ids/ &e treats his employees well+ as yo(8ll soon dis*o!er/ "esides+ none of that *rew wo(ld be *apable of s(*h a thingD a gentler lot+ yo(8ll not find anywhere/ Bhen yo( meet them+ yo(8ll see what 2 mean/: &e loo.ed at the sea+ loo.ed ba*. at her and said+ 6"esides+ neither )rs/ Do(gherty nor =oe re*ognized the *ra*.pot8s !oi*e/: 6Co( said+ before+ that he tried to disg(ise his !oi*e/: 6Ces+ b(t e!en disg(ised+ they wo(ld ha!e re*ognized the !oi*e of someone they tal. to e!ery day and ha!e .nown for years/: 62 s(ppose+: ,onya said+ rel(*tantly/ >or the first time+ ?eterson seemed to realize what the story had done to her *ompos(re+ and he for*ed a smile for her+ an imitation of his gen(ine grin/ 6&ey+ don8t let it (pset yo( li.e that; $o one got h(rt/ nd+ ob!io(sly+ the .ids are safe down here on Distingue. 0hey8!e been here sin*e the middle of =(ne+ going on three months+ with no more in*idents/: 6,till+: ,onya said hollowly+ 6the man who made the threats is on the loose/: 6#h+ brother+: ?eterson said+ slapping his forehead+ 62 m(st ha!e *ome on li.e a real doomsayer first *lass; 2 really didn8t mean to worry yo(+ ,onya/ 2 was 3(st s(rprised that =oe hadn8t e1plained the sit(ation to yo(/ 5oo.+ he and )rs/ Do(gherty are s(re the *risis is passed/ 0hey8re so s(re that they want to ta.e a few wee.s off for a trip to California/ #n*e yo(8re settled in+ they8ll pa*. and be off/ $ow+ wo(ld they lea!e their .ids if they tho(ght there was still the slightest breath of danger9: 6$o+: she said+ 62 g(ess they wo(ldn8t/: &owe!er+ all of this s(dden attempt to reass(re her had a*t(ally done !ery little to erase the image of a deranged and m(rdero(s *hild molester whi*h he had first painted for her/ 0o distra*t her+ he grinned e!en more broadly+ and a bit more gen(inely+ and wa!ed his arm dra' mati*ally ahead of them/ 6Bhat do yo( thin. of o(r island+ o(r lo!ely Distingue9 2sn8t she abo(t the most mar!elo(s pie*e of real estate yo(8!e e!er seen9: ,onya loo.ed (p+ s(rprised to see the island looming before them thro(gh the *(r!e of the s(n' tinted+ ple1iglass winds*reen+ li.e the opening s*ene in some motion pi*t(re+ too bea(tif(l for anything b(t fantasy/ ,he had not noti*ed it growing on the horizon+ b(t that might ha!e been be' *a(se+ e1*ept for the *entral spine of low hills+ the island was nearly as flat as the sea whi*h lapped at all sides of it/ thi*. stand of la*y palm trees ba*.ed the startlingly white bea*hes and shaded+ on the nearest of the hills+ a mammoth ho(se that m(st s(rely *ontain two dozen rooms or e!en

more/ 2t was of white board+ with bal*onies and por*hes+ se!eral gables and many *lean+ sA(are windows that refle*ted the golden'red brillian*e of the s(n and ga!e the pla*e a loo. of warmth and wel*ome/ 2f she had not 3(st heard the story whi*h "ill ?eterson had told her on the way o!er from Pointea-Pitre, she wo(ld ha!e tho(ght that the Do(gherty ho(se was absol(tely *harming+ a bea(tif(l mass of angles+ lines and shapes+ the prod(*t of a good ar*hite*t and of e1pert *raftsmen sp(rred to do their best by a *(stomer who *o(ld afford any e1pense whatsoe!er+ any l(1(ry that str(*. his fan*y/ $ow+ howe!er+ with the real'life nightmare ho!ering always in the ba*. of her mind+ li.e a dar. bird of prey+ the ho(se seemed *(rio(sly mena*ing+ swathed in p(rple shadows+ f(ll of dar.ened ni*hes+ harsh+ sharp+ a mysterio(s monolith against the sweet Caribbean horizon+ almost a sentient *reat(re lying in wait on the brow of that tropi* hill/ ,he began to wonder+ more serio(sly than before+ if her old *ollege roommate had been right abo(t the dangers in *oming to this pla*e / / / 6Co(8ll li.e it+: ?eterson said/ ,he said nothing/ 60his is 7od8s *o(ntry+ in the tr(e sense+: ?eterson said+ still an1io(s to repair her mood+ whi*h he felt responsible for damaging/ 6$othing bad *an happen here/: ,he wished she *o(ld be s(re of that/

0B#
&enry Dalton+ the ho(se b(tler+ *ame down to the small boat do*. to meet them+ p(shing an al(' min(m l(ggage *art o!er the (ne!en boards of the little pier/ &e was si1ty'fi!e+ b(t loo.ed ten years older+ a slight man with snow white hair+ a grizzled fa*e+ hard bla*. eyes that loo.ed far too yo(ng for the b(shy white eyebrows that ar*hed abo!e them li.e senior *itizen *aterpillers/ 0ho(gh he m(st ha!e been nearly si1 feet tall+ he seemed smaller than ,onya8s fi!e'feet+ fo(r'in*hes+ be*a(se he drew in on himself+ shran. himself+ li.e a dried fr(it+ as if he *o(ld prote*t himself from any f(r' ther aging merely by rolling (p and letting the world pass o!er him/ Bhen he spo.e+ his !oi*e was tight and dry too+ almost A(arrelsome/ 6&enry Dalton+: he said+ not offering her his hand/ ,he smiled and said+ 6,onya Carter/: nd she did offer him her hand/ &e loo.ed at it as if it were a sna.e+ wrin.led his fa*e e!en more+ (ntil he was in danger of losing his eyes and mo(th altogether in some sharp *rease of flesh/ "(t at last he rea*hed o(t and too. her hand+ held it briefly in his long+ bony fingers+ then merely dropped it as a man might drop a *(rio(s seashell he had lifted from the bea*h and st(died and grown bored with/ &e said+ 62 *ame to get yo(r l(ggage/: "ill ?eterson had already *arried her bags from the Lady Jane, and now he *aref(lly sta*.ed them on the metal *art+ his brown arms b(n*hed with m(s*le+ his thi*. hair falling slightly forward+ into his eyes+ as he bent to the tas./ 60his way+ then+: &enry said when the *art was loaded/ &e t(rned+ gripping the wheeled *art+ and led them ba*. toward the mansion+ wal.ing ramrod stiff/ &e was wearing dar. sla*.s and a white+ short'slee!ed shirt made to be worn o(tside his tro(sers/ 0ho(gh a gentle breeze m(ssed ,onya8s hair+ it did not stir the hem of &enry8s white shirt -almost as if $at(re herself were wary abo(t dist(rbing the old man8s dignity/ ,onya and ?eterson fell ba*. a few steps+ o(t of the b(tler8s hearing+ and she said+ 6Co( didn8t warn me abo(t him;: ?eterson smiled and shoo. his head/ 6)ost of the time+ &enry8s as pleasant an old *oot as yo( *o(ld meet/ #**asionally+ tho(gh+ he seems to !ent all his stored'(p antagonisms+ and he has a bad day/ %!eryone a!oids him on a bad day+ and it8s li.e it ne!er happened/ Fnfort(nately+ he8s *hosen yo(r first day here as his first bad day in wee.s/: 0hey rea*hed the front por*h steps+ where ?eterson and &enry wor.ed together to mane(!er the *art onto the por*h floor+ and then they went into the foyer of the Do(gherty ho(se+ thro(gh a hea!y s*reen door and a hea!ier mahogany door+ into air *onditioned *oolness that was sweeter than the false relief of the passenger terminal at the do*.s of Pointe-a-Pitre. 6&ow lo!ely;: ,onya said+ witho(t reser!ation/ nd the foyer did seem to promise a mar!elo(s ho(se beyond/ 2t was paneled in the dar.est tea. wood imaginable+ almost bla*.+ *arpeted in a ri*h red shag that made her feel as if she were in the dar. *hamber of a f(rna*e with hot *oals beneath her feet and+ parado1i*ally+ *ool air all aro(nd her/ #riginal oil paintings+ of many different s*hools+ were tastef(lly arranged on the walls of the small room+ the pie*es of nat(ralism and s(rrealism somehow blending when they sho(ld not ha!e+ *omplementing one another when they sho(ld ha!e *lashed/ 0he foyer *eiling+ and the *eiling of the *orridor whi*h led from it+ were high and open'beamed+ also of that same !ery dar. tea.+ A(ite in *ontrast with what one e1pe*ted in a ho(se in the tropi*s+ b(t nonetheless effe*ti!e for their stri.ing ana*hronism/

&enry lifted her l(ggage from the *art and pla*ed it on the flat bed of an open es*alator platform at the bottom of the steps/ &e p(n*hed a b(tton in the wall+ whi*h ,onya had pre!io(sly mista.en for a light swit*h+ and sent the ma*hine slowly along the steps/ 2t was atta*hed to the wall on an inset tra*.+ mo!ed slowly+ and wo(ld sa!e &enry all the effort of l(gging those bags to the se*ond floor/ 0he old man said+ 628ll p(t them in yo(r room+ later/ >irst+ 2 imagine yo(8d li.e to meet the rest of the staff/: 6#f *o(rse+: ,onya said/ 60his way+ then/: 628ll tag along+: "ill ?eterson whispered to her/ 628d appre*iate it+: she said+ smiling than.f(lly at him/ ,he hoped the rest of the staff was more li.e "ill than li.e &enry/ 0hey followed the red'*arpeted *orridor to the rear of the ho(se+ went thro(gh a white+ swinging door and into the .it*hen+ whi*h was f(lly twenty'fi!e'feet on a side and eA(ipped with all the latest gadgets and *on!enien*es/ ll the applian*es were new+ white and *hrome+ the pots and pans all *opper'plated/ 2n the middle of the room+ at a hea!y+ b(ilt'in table that *ontained a do(ble sin.+ a woman &enry8s age was grating a blo*. of swiss *heese into a large por*elain bowl/ ,he loo.ed (p+ her *h(bby fa*e slightly red+ her dar. eyes ali!e and yo(ng+ p(t down the blo*. of *heese and said+ 6Bho ha!e we here9: 6,onya Carter+: &enry said/ 60he woman who8ll be ta.ing *are of the *hildren/: &e loo.ed at ,onya and said+ 60his is &elga+ the *oo./: 67lad to meet yo(+: ,onya said/ 6,ame here+ same here+: &elga said/ ,he had stood (p+ from her tall stool+ as if this were a for' mal meeting+ and ,onya *o(ld see that the *h(bbiness e1tended beyond her fa*e/ ,he appeared to be the sort of *oo. who *onstantly sampled her own preparations/ 60here8s not a *oo. in the islands *ompares to &elga+: "ill ?eterson said/ 60han. 7od for the sea and the boat and all the other things to do aro(nd here/ 2f there weren8t a lot of ways to e1er*ise+ we8d all be as sto(t as &elga herself/: 0he *oo. bl(shed pro(dly and sat down again+ pi*.ed (p the *heese and loo.ed at ,onya (nder her eyebrows/ 6$othing really that spe*ial+: she said+ shyly/ 6&elga8s also too modest for her own good+: ?eterson said/ ,he bl(shed e!en more and ret(rned to grating her *heese/ t that moment+ the ba*. door opened+ and a small+ tidy woman in her mid'fifties *ame in from o(tside+ br(shing her small hands together more as if to satisfy herself that some *hore was *ompleted than to a*t(ally *lean them/ ,he appeared to be the sort of woman who wo(ld ne!er ha!e to wash her hands+ simply be*a(se she was also the type of woman who wo(ld ne!er get them dirty in the first pla*e/ &er hair was nearly all white+ drawn ba*. from aro(nd her sharp fa*e and tied in a b(n at the ba*. of her head/ ,he wore no lipsti*. or ma.e(p+ b(t had a flawless *omple1ion for a woman her age/ ,he wore a simple+ light bl(e dress that !ag(ely resembled a (niform+ and she mo!ed with a sprightliness that ,onya had often seen in *areer n(rses who en3oyed their 3obs and were li.e new girls in the hospital after e!en thirty years of ser!i*e/ 6)y wife+: &enry e1plained to ,onya/ nd the girl tho(ght that+ for a moment+ some of the old man8s !inegar seeped away+ as if this woman *o(ld sweeten him merely by her presen*e/ 0o his wife+ he said+ 6"ess+ this is ,onya Carter+ the .ids8 tea*her/: "ess *rossed the .it*hen and too. ,onya8s hands+ loo.ed (p at her li.e some *on*erned mother assessing her son8s fian*e/ ,he grinned+ glan*ed past ,onya at "ill ?eterson+ then ba*. at the girl+ and she said+ 6Bell+ 28m s(re "ill *o(ldn8t be more pleased/: 0here was a tone of mis*hief in her !oi*e/ 6 fter all+ (ntil now+ he8s had to ta.e the boat to 7(adelo(pe and e!en farther to loo. at

pretty girls/ &e8ll be sa!ing himself the trip+ now/: ,onya felt herself bl(shing+ as &elga had bl(shed earlier+ and she wished she had a blo*. of *heese to grate+ something to hide herself in/ "(t if "ess were mis*hie!o(s+ she was also *onsiderate+ and she relie!ed ,onya8s embarrassment as easily as she had *a(sed it+ by as.ing A(estions abo(t the trip down from the ,tates/ >or se!eral min(tes+ they stood there in the .it*hen+ tal.ing+ as if they had .nown ea*h other for years and were only *at*hing (p on things after a short separation/ &enry *ontin(ed to soften noti*eably aro(nd his wife+ and ,onya felt *ertain that the *enter of the Do(gherty ho(sehold was probably not )r/ Do(gherty or )rs/ Do(gherty or either of their *hildren-b(t was "ess/ 6Bell+: &enry said after a few min(tes+ 6she o(ght to meet the others/ nd then 28d g(ess she wants to freshen (p and rest after that trip/: 65eroy8s o(tside+ pat*hing the *on*rete at the pa!ilion+: "ess said/ 62 was 3(st tal.ing to him/: &enry lead ,onya and ?eterson o(tside+ onto the mat of to(gh tropi*al grass that *o!ered the lawn li.e a flawless *arpet+ too. them down a winding flagstone wal.way toward an open'air pa' !ilion down near the easterly bea*h/ 0he b(ilding was perhaps forty feet long and twenty wide+ with pi*ni* tables and ben*hes arranged aro(nd its waist'high rail walls/ 0he roof was shingled tightly b(t la*ed o!er with palm fronds to gi!e the ill(sion of primiti!e *onstr(*tion+ and the final effe*t was e1*eedingly pleasant/ 6)rs/ Do(gherty li.es to sit here in the morning+ when its *ool and when the inse*ts are not o(t/ ,he reads a lot+: &enry informed them/ 5eroy )ills+ the handyman who was wor.ing on the pa!ilion floor+ stood o!er his most re*ent pie*e of pat*hwor.+ wat*hing their approa*h+ smiling (n*ertainly/ &e appeared to be in his middle thirties+ small and dar.+ with an oli!e *omple1ion that indi*ated 2talian or ?(erto @i*an blood/ &e was thin+ b(t with a stringy to(ghness that made it *lear he was not a wea. man at all/ &enry made the introd(*tions in a *lipped fashion and finished with+ 65eroy li!ed in "oston for a time/: 6@eally9: ,onya as.ed/ 62 went to s*hool there/: 5eroy nodded/ 60oo *old in "oston+ for me/: 6)e+ too+: she said/ 6Bhat part of "oston are yo( from9: 6 part 2 don8t li.e to remember+: 5eroy said+ still smiling (neasily/ 62 ha!en8t li!ed there for A(ite a while now/ 2 was )r/ Do(gherty8s handyman in $ew =ersey+ before we mo!ed here/: 6Co( were a handyman8 in "oston+ too9: she as.ed+ trying to ma.e some pleasant *on!ersation/ 0ho(gh he seemed ni*e eno(gh+ 5eroy )ills was not parti*(larly easy to engage in *on!ersation/ 6Ces+ there too/: 628m a f(mble fingers myself+: she said/ 62 admire someone who *an fi1 things/: 62f yo( need something repaired+ almost anything+ 3(st *all for me+: he said/ &e loo.ed at the wet *on*rete at his feet/ 6$ow+ if yo(8ll e1*(se me+ 28!e got to get ba*. to wor./: 0heir *on!ersation had been a most m(ndane one+ yet it st(*. with ,onya all the way ba*. to the ho(se/ )ills had been so (n*omm(ni*ati!e+ e!en tho(gh &enry+ by mentioning "oston+ had pro!ided them with a simple ta.e'off point for an e1*hange of greetings/ #f *o(rse+ )ills might only be shy+ as &elga so ob!io(sly was/ nd+ when all was said and done+ did she really .now anything more abo(t the others than she did abo(t the handyman9 &elga was too shy to say m(*h/ "ill ?eterson was tal.ati!e and open b(t had not said m(*h abo(t himself4 li.ewise+ "ess/ nd &enry+ of *o(rse+ had said little be*a(se+ as ?eterson had e1plained+ he was ha!ing a bad day/ Cet / / / )ills8 (n*omm(ni*ati!e nat(re seemed different-as if he were being p(rposef(lly se*reti!e/ ,he had as.ed where he li!ed in "oston4 he had a!oided saying/ ,he had as.ed what he did there4 he had s.ipped that s(b3e*t too/ ,he realized+ now+ that he had been *ompletely *ir*(ito(s in his responses+ as if she had been A(estioning him rather than ma.ing polite *on!ersation/

t the ho(se again+ she shr(gged off the in*ident/ ,he was b(ilding pro!erbial mo(ntains o(t of molehills-all be*a(se of the story ?eterson had told her on the way o!er from Pointe-a-Pitre. Child mobsters+ threatening telephone *alls+ poison pen letters+ madmen'on'the'loose-none of these things made for pea*e of mind+ and all of them ser!ed to set the imagination wor.ing o!er' time/ 2n the front foyer again+ "ill ?eterson said+ 6Bell+ 28ll lea!e yo( to yo(r rest for now and see yo( at dinner/ Co(8ll meet the Do(ghertys then+ too/: 60hey eat meals with (s9: she as.ed+ s(rprised/ ?eterson la(ghed/ 62t8s a demo*rati* ho(sehold+ all the way/ =oe Do(gherty is in no way a snob+ and he r(ns a li!ely dinner table/ 5eroy+ yo( and 2 will eat e!ening meals with the family4 the .it*hen staff+ whi*h has to be *oo.ing and ser!ing+ will eat separately+ of *o(rse/: 6,ee yo( at dinner+ then/: ,he followed &enry (p the wide *entral stair*ase to the se*ond floor+ along that main *orridor to the far end where her room lay at the so(theast *orner of the great ho(se/ 0he *hamber was painted a restf(l shade of beige+ with an inlaid tea. *eiling/ Dar. bl(e *arpet+ the *olor of *lean seawater+ ga!e deli*io(sly beneath her feet/ 0he f(rnit(re was all hand'*ar!ed red *edar+ as &enry e1plained/ 2t was in a ?olynesian mode+ with god fa*es hewn into most of the open s(rfa*es and with holy symbols-fish+ s(ns+ moons+ stars+ lea!es-*(t in between the fa*es/ 2t was all hea!y and ri*h+ not in the least bit feminine b(t ,onya li.ed it/ ,he had ne!er really been one for frills+ la*es and satins+ b(t preferred things that were different, (niA(e/ nd this was *ertainly as different as she *o(ld ha!e as.ed for/ f(ll bath+ in dar. bl(es and greens+ lay off her main room and in*l(ded shower and s(n.en t(b/ &er *loset was nearly as large as a whole bedroom itself/ 6)ay 2 help yo( (npa*.9: &enry as.ed+ after bringing the last of her bags/ 6$o than.s+: she said/ 628ll feel more at home if 2 set things (p myself/: 6Dinner at eight o8*lo*.+ then+: &enry said/ 6Co(8ll find the family in the front dining room/: 6>ine+: she said/ 60han. yo(+ &enry/: &e nodded+ and he left witho(t ma.ing a so(nd+ *losing the hea!y wooden door as softly as a professional b(rglar stealing away from the s*ene of his *rime/ ,onya went first to the single window in her room+ a large+ many'paned sheet of glass that ga!e !iew of the ba*. lawn+ the flagstone path+ most of the pa!ilion at the foot of the hill and+ beyond that+ the white bea*h and the endless bl(e'green sea/ 2t was a bea(tif(l !iew+ and she .new she wo(ld ma.e it her first stop e!ery morning when she got o(t of bed+ a A(i*. glan*e at those mar!el ' o(s s.ies+ at the palms and sand and the brea.ers rolling relentlessly in toward shore/ 2t was all so *lean+ so ali!e+ so free of death/ #r it seemed to be/ ,he remembered the man who had threatened to .ill the Do(gherty *hildren+ and she wondered / // $e1t+ she went to her dresser and e1amined her refle*tion in the o!ersized o!al mirror/ &er long+ yellow hair had already been blea*hed a shade or two lighter by the tropi* s(n+ and it wo(ld be nearly p(re white in a few wee.s/ &er fa*e was pale+ b(t that *o(ld be *hanged in a few days/ >or the most part she loo.ed fine+ e1*ept for the weariness of all her re*ent tra!els+ whi*h showed in an (ndefinable film+ a thin mas. of e1ha(stion/ br(ptly+ she realized that she had been loo.ing at herself only to dis*o!er what .ind of a pi*t(re she had presented to "ill ?eterson+ and she bl(shed anew+ tho(gh there was no one to see her this time/ ,he felt li.e a silly yo(ng girl str(*. by a 3(!enile infat(ation+ rather than li.e a mat(re yo(ng woman+ and she loo.ed away from her refle*tion+ afraid that she wo(ld a**identally *at*h her own eyes+ meet her own gaze and end (p la(ghing at herself/ 2nstead+ she st(died the frame of the large mirror+ whi*h was also of red *edar+ *ar!ed to form two long slim alligators/ 0heir s*aly tails to(*hed at the base of the mirror+ hiding the st(rdy bra*es

that atta*hed the pie*e to the top of the dresser+ while their wide and toothy mo(ths met sno(t'to' sno(t at the top of the mirror/ 2t was a bea(tif(l pie*e+ of e1*ellent *raftsmanship-b(t it was also somewhat sinister/ ,he t(rned away from the mirror altogether and opened her first s(it*ase+ p(lled o(t the *aref(lly folded *lothes and began to fill (p the hangers in the enormo(s wal.'in *loset/ ,he was nearly half finished with her (npa*.ing when the .no*. *ame at her door+ lo(d and rapid and insistent/ ,he finished slipping a dress onto another hanger and p(t that away in the *loset before she went to see who .no*.ed/ Bhen she opened the door+ she stepped ba*. slightly+ s(*.ing in her breath+ wondering whether she o(ght to slam the door sh(t again/ 0he man on the other side was positi!ely mena*ingD better than si1 feet tall+ so broad at the sho(lders that- had he been wearing a 3a*.et instead of a light' weight white shirt-she might ha!e tho(ght he was wearing padding/ &is *hest was h(ge+ stoma*h flat+ arms li.e those of a serio(s'minded weight'lifter-all *orded with m(s*le+ thi*. and sinewy/ &is fa*e was broad+ his feat(res *r(de eno(gh to be the preliminary wor. of a s*(lptor ha*.ing at a new pie*e of granite/ &is eyes were intensely bl(e and wat*hf(l+ his nose twisted and gristly from ha!ing on*e been bro.en and badly repaired/ &is lips were thin+ almost *r(el+ and were not now *(rled into either a smile or a frown+ b(t held tight and bloodless and straight+ as if he were 3(st barely able to hold down his f(ry/ ,he *o(ld not imagine what he *o(ld be f(rio(s with her for/ 6)iss Carter9: &is !oi*e was hard+ raspy+ and-if a !oi*e *o(ld be des*ribed by more than so(nd-*old eno(gh to *hill her/ 6Ces9: &er own !oi*e so(nded small+ wea. and miserable by *omparison+ and she wondered if he *o(ld sense her (n*ertainty and her fear/ 6)y name8s @(dolph ,aine/: 6?leased to meet yo(+: she said+ tho(gh she was not parti*(larly pleased at all/ &e said+ 628m the *hildrens8 bodyg(ard/: 62 hadn8t heard they had one+: she said/ &e nodded/ 60hat8s (nderstandable/ 0he other members of the staff don8t .now me that well yet+ and sin*e they8!e all been together for years+ 2 sort of fade o(t of their minds/ 2 only *ame on with )r/ Do(gherty when he had to mo!e down here/ nd most of my time is spent with the .ids+ away from the others/: 6Bell+ )r/ ,aine+: she said+ 62 imagine yo( and 2 will be seeing A(ite a lot of ea*h other/: 0he prospe*t didn8t please her+ b(t she tried to smile for him/ 6Ces+: he said/ &e loo.ed at her *aref(lly+ as if s*r(tinizing a possibly dangero(s inse*t+ appar' ently de*ided she had no sting/ 628d li.e to tal. with yo( abo(t the *hidrens8 safety-some Do8s and Don8ts+ if yo( want to *all them that/: &e had mo!ed his lips+ b(t he had still a!oided smiling or frowning+ almost as if those e1pressions were *ompletely beyond him/ ,onya fo(nd him too sober and serio(s to be at ease with/ 628m 3(st (npa*.ing-: she began/ 62 won8t ta.e long/: 6Bell-: 62 want to get some things straight+ between (s+ right from the !ery start/: ,he hesitated a moment more+ then stepped ba*.+ holding the door+ and said+ 6Come in/: @(dolph ,aine sat in the largest of the two easy *hairs in the room and nearly filled it to o!erflowing/ &e gripped the *edar arms in his hands+ as if he were afraid the thing might start to fly at any moment-or as if he tho(ght he might ha!e to get (p in a great r(sh and la(n*h himself at some enemy or other/

,onya *hose the edge of the mammoth ?olynesian bed and said+ 6$ow+ )r/ ,aine+ what sho(ld 2 .now9: &e said+ 6Co( m(st ne!er ta.e the .ids anywhere witho(t *alling me first/ %!ery time yo( !ent(re away from the ho(se+ yo( m(st be *ertain that 2 am with yo(/: 6,o(nds simple eno(gh/: 6%!en if yo(8re only ta.ing them o(t to the pa!ilion+: he elaborated+ 62 want to go along/: 628ll remember that/: 62 feel they8re safe within the ho(se itself+ d(ring the daylight ho(rs anyway+ b(t 2 ne!er feel *omfortable when they8re o(tside/: 62 *an (nderstand that/: 6%!en when they8re in the ho(se+: ,aine went on+ 628m right there with them abo(t half the time -or 28m within sight of them+ or within earshot if they sho(ld *all for me/: ,onya s(pposed ,aine8s diligen*e was admirable+ b(t she wished that he wo(ldn8t go on abo(t it so+ for it only ser!ed to remind her what "ill ?eterson had told her on the boat+ earlier/ ,he was trying to thin. abo(t the !itality of the Caribbean+ the bright f(t(re she had+ the good times that awaited her/ ,he did not want to fa*e the fa*t that death might ha!e followed her from the north into this s(nny land/ ,he said+ 6@est ass(red+ 28ll not ta.e them anywhere witho(t yo(/: &is thin lips seemed to grow e!en thinner/ &e said+ 62 sleep ne1t to their room+ and 2 (s(ally re' main awa.e (ntil fo(r in the morning+ for it8s between two and fo(r that most people *hoose to brea. into a ho(se/ 2 sleep from fo(r (ntil ele!en+ and 28m (p and ready for d(ty by noon/ 28d appre' *iate it if yo( *o(ld limit yo(r e1*(rsions+ away from the ho(se+ to the afternoons or e!enings/: 6$o tro(ble+: ,onya said/ 60han. yo(/: 6 nything else9: she as.ed+ getting (p+ trying to imply by her mo!ement that she wasn8t an1io(s to hear anything else+ e!en if he were not finished/ 6#ne thing/: 60hat is9: &e hesitated+ loo.ed away from her for the first time and+ then+ gaming resol(tion from some so(r*e she *o(ld not g(ess+ loo.ed ba*. again and said+ 6#**asionally+ )iss Carter+ yo( might thin. that it isn8t ne*essary to *all for me-so long as another member of the staff is with yo( and the *hildren/ 2 want yo( to (nderstand that no one else *an ta.e my pla*e in this respe*t/ Co( m(st always *all for me+ no matter who on the staff offers to a**ompany yo( in my pla*e/ nd if+ for some reason+ 2 am not a!ailable-sho(ld it be my day off+ or sho(ld 2 be on the mainland for some other reason+ yo( m(st *an*el yo(r plans and remain with the *hildren in the ho(se/: ,he felt that *hill along her ba*.bone again+ li.e a fingernail of i*e sli*ing her flesh/ 6Do yo( (nderstand9: he as.ed/ 6Ces/: 62 wo(ld appre*iate it if yo( didn8t tell the rest of the staff what 2 ha!e 3(st told yo(/: H(ietly+ her !oi*e nearly a whisper+ tho(gh she had not meant for it to be so low+ ,onya said+ 60hen yo( don8t tr(st them9: 6$o/: 6$one of them9: 6$one/: 60hen yo( thin. that those threats might ha!e been made by someone within the ho(sehold9: ,aine stood (p with fl(id gra*e+ li.e an (n*(rling *at despite all his m(s*les/ &e towered o!er her+ and he loo.ed *apable of handling anyone who might try to harm the *hildren/ &e said+ 6?erhaps/:

,he said+ 62s there anyone yo( s(spe*t espe*ially9: 6%!eryone/: 6%!en me9: 6Co( too/: ,he said+ 6"(t 2 didn8t e!en .now the Do(ghertys when they were ha!ing all this tro(ble/: &e said nothing/ ,he was determined to press the iss(e/ 6Bell9 &ow *an yo( thin. 2 might be the g(ilty one9: 62 did not say 2 *o(ld show how all the s(spe*ts *ame to be s(spe*ts in my mind/ )y personal form of 3(dgment does not operate a**ording to the normal standards of law+ )iss Carter/ 2n my personal+ pri!ate+ mental *o(rt+ e!eryone is g(ilty (ntil pro!en inno*ent/: 62 see/: &e went to the door+ opened it+ t(rned and loo.ed at her with those pier*ingly bl(e+ bl(e eyes/ 6,in*e yo( will be nearly as responsible for the *hildren as me+ )iss Carter+ 2 s(ggest that yo( adopt my own pessimism/ 0r(st no one b(t yo(rself/: 6$ot e!en yo(9: 6$ot e!en me+: he said/ &e stepped into the *orridor+ *losed the door and wal.ed A(ietly away+ the deep'pile *arpet soa.ing (p his footsteps/ ,onya had lost her enth(siasm for (npa*.ing/

0&@%%
0he front dining room was f(lly forty feet long and twenty wide+ *ontaining an enormo(s *hina *loset+ the longest dining table that ,onya e!er had seen+ and a liberal sprin.ling of ob ets d'artpaintings+ metal s*(lpt(res+ glass and marble fig(rines in both e1A(isite miniat(res and larger sizes+ elaborately hand'*ar!ed *andlesti*. holders in !ario(s dar. woods-whi*h somehow made the pla*e seem *ozier and less formal than its heroi* dimensions might otherwise ha!e made it/ 0he table was set with e1pensi!e wedgewood *hina and de*orated with fresh floral *enterpie*es-min' iat(re pompoms+ blood roses+ *hrysanthem(ms- all against a royal bl(e linen table*loth that ga!e the pla*e settings a *ool+ rela1ed feeling/ %ight diners+ well'spa*ed from one another+ sat aro(nd the large table+ fo(r members of the staff and fo(r of the family/ "ill ?eterson+ @(dolph ,aine+ 5eroy )ills and ,onya sat along both sides of the table+ in *ompany with le1 and 0ina Do(gherty+ the two *hildren/ =oe Do(gherty and his wife+ &elen+ sat at opposite ends of the table+ for an effe*t+ ,onya tho(ght+ that was almost baronial+ despite the friendly atmosphere and all that was done to ma.e her feel at ease/ =oe Do(gherty was a tall+ lan.y+ easy'going man+ with a deep !oi*e that wo(ld ha!e made him a nat(ral for the !oi*e'o!er in almost any tele!ision *ommer*ial/ &e had sandy'red hair that was f(ll o!er his ears and *(rling at his *ollar+ a splash of fre*.les a*ross his nose and *hee.s/ &is smile had made her feel wel*ome immediately/ 0he fa*t that ,onya had ne!er e!en met her new employer before a**epting the position and ma.ing arrangements for the 3o(rney to the Do(ghertys8 pri!ate island was the single thing that 5ynda ,pa(lding+ her roommate+ had fo(nd the most ir.some/ 6&ow *an yo( go that far to wor. for people yo(8!e ne!er e!en seen+ ne!er e!en talked to on the telephone+ ne!er written to9 &ow in the world do yo( .now if yo(8re going to li.e them9 Co( probably won't li.e them/ nd e!en if yo( find that yo( *an end(re them+ how do yo( .now they won8t ta.e an immediate disli.e to yo(9 ,(ppose+ after a *o(ple of days+ they de*ide that yo(8re 3(st not right for them or for their .ids+ or something+ and they let yo( go9 ll that time yo(8ll ha!e wasted+ all that money for airplane fares+ ship fares;: ?atiently+ trying not to show her anger+ ,onya had said+ 6)r/ Do(gherty8s paying all my tra!el e1penses/: 6Ces+ b(t that wasted time if they-: 628m s(re+ if for some strange reason+ we don8t hit it off well+ )r/ Do(gherty won8t A(ibble abo(t paying my ret(rn fares and gi!ing me a handsome *he*. for se!eren*e pay/ Co( .eep forgetting+ 5ynda+ that he8s a millionaire/: 62 still thin. this is a mista.e/: 2f ,onya had wanted to be tr(thf(l with the ,pa(lding girl+ she wo(ld ha!e had to agree that the whole sit(ation was 3(st a bit (n(s(al/ &owe!er+ she .new that a single agreement+ on e!en a matter that was basi*ally in*onseA(ential+ wo(ld only gi!e 5ynda more *onfiden*e+ more f(el to *arry on her pessimisti* tirades+ her heated role as a do(bting 0homas/ nd ,onya had had A(ite eno(gh of these one'sided *on!ersations+ for they showed her more abo(t 5ynda ,pa(lding than she really wanted to .now/ ,o she worried in pri!ate/ =oseph Do(gherty was an al(mn(s+ one of the most disting(ished al(mni+ of ,onya8s own (ni!ersity/ @eg(larly+ he donated rather large s(ms of money to the s*hool to help in the *onstr(*tion of this s*ien*e lab+ or that st(dents8 lo(nge+ or this s*(lpt(re garden/ / / / $at(rally+ when he reA(ired a t(tor for his two *hildren+ he preferred to hire someone who was also a grad(ate

of his alma mater+ and he t(rned the sele*tion of that someone o!er to Dr/ Balter 0oomey+ the Dean of ,t(dent ?ersonnel and a personal )end of the Do(gherty family/ Bhen she had been *alled to Dean 0oomey8s offi*e+ at the end of (g(st-she had been a f(ll' year st(dent+ finishing fo(r years of wor. in only three years+ and she had th(s been *ompleting her ed(*ation in (g(st-she had not .nown what to e1pe*t-b(t she had *ertainly ne!er anti*ipated that the *onferen*e in!ol!ed an offer of employment from a millionaire; 628!e ta.en the liberty+: Dr/ 0oomey e1plained+ on*e he had gi!en her the general o(tline of the 3ob and her potential employers+ 6of sending )r/ Do(gherty yo(r re*ords from the (ni!ersity/ &e has seen them+ gi!en his final appro!al/ 2f yo( want the 3ob+ it8s yo(rs/: 6"(t he8s ne!er e!en met me;: she8d said+ in*red(lo(s/ 6)r/ Do(gherty8s a !ery b(sy man+: 0oomey had e1plained/ 6&e doesn8t ha!e time to inter!iew potential employees/ nd he tr(sts my 3(dgment+ for we8!e been friends for a good many years now/: 6"(t with all the people yo( *o(ld ha!e *hosen+ why *hoose me9: ,onya as.ed+ beginning to be e1*ited+ b(t still wary/ 6Come+ )iss Carter+: Dean 0oomey said+ smiling gently+ 6yo(8re being far too modest/: 6$o+ really+ 2-: 6>or one thing+ yo(8!e got the highest grade a!erage in yo(r field+ in yo(r grad(ating *lass/ >or another+ d(ring yo(r three years here+ yo(8!e been *onstantly in!ol!ed in e1tra'*(rri*(lar a*ti!itiesD drama *l(b+ the *amp(s pea*e mo!ement+ the yearboo. staff+ the newspaper / / / Co(8re .nown as a doer+ someone who a**omplishes things+ and yo(8re also .nown as an optimisti*+ immensely pleasant yo(ng woman/: ,onya was fl(shed bright red+ and she did not ma.e any *omments/ 6>(rthermore+: 0oomey said+ 6Co(8!e got a degree in n(rsing+ an e1*ellent spare talent for a go!ernness and t(tor who will be spending m(*h time with a*ti!e yo(ng *hildren/: ,he had seen the logi* of that+ b(t still she worried abo(t meeting her employers/ ,he needn8t ha!e worried+ for they were A(ite personable people+ the Do(ghertys/ $ow+ on Distingue, the roast had been ser!ed+ *omplete with si1 different !egetables+ all rather e1oti*+ and =oe Do(gherty was A(estioning her abo(t her trip from "oston+ p(n*t(ating her remar.s with am(sing ane*dotes abo(t his own e1perien*es with airlines-lost baggage+ a martini that was a**identally made *ompletely with !ermo(th and no gin/ &elen Do(gherty was more A(iet than her h(sband+ tho(gh she was in no way aloof or snobbish/ ,he was an e1*eptionally lo!ely woman+ with high+ aristo*rati* *hee.bones+ a pert nose+ thin b(t somehow friendly lips+ a ri*h fall of a(b(rn hair framing her deli*ate fa*e/ ,he was a slim woman+ one *learly born to position4 she mo!ed with a fl(id gra*e+ whether wal.ing to the table or merely salting her potatoes+ that m(st ha!e *ome+ in part at least+ from ha!ing been raised in the !ery best pri!ate s*hools where a third of the *lassroom ho(rs were spent in the establishment of good manners and habits of gra*io(s elegan*e/ 0he *hildren-nine'year'old le1 and se!en'year'old 0ina-sat side'by'side near their mother8s end of the table+ on *(shion'raised *hairs+ both dar.'haired+ dar.'eyed and bea(tif(l/ 0hey were dressed pretty m(*h ali.e in simple+ ser!i*eable 3eans and lightweight tee'shirts+ *lean b(t *ertainly not formal/ #**asionally giggling+ offering their own obser!ations+ b(t mostly A(iet+ they *omple' mented the air of *as(al formality-if there *o(ld be s(*h a thing+ a mi1t(re of easiness and dis' tan*e/ ?erhaps the distan*e+ the lingering note of formality was all in ,onya8s own mind4 after all+ she had ne!er been this *lose to a millionaire and his family+ and she *o(ld not bring herself to thin. of them as 3(st a!erage fol.s/ 62 hope "ill didn8t s*are yo( too badly on the way o!er from Pointe-a-Pitre, =oe Do(gherty said/ 6,ometimes+ he thin.s the Lady Jane is a ra*ing boat+ and he p(ts her thro(gh her pa*es/:

62t .eeps the engines in good *ondition to open her (p now and again+: "ill said/ 6Co(8re 3(st too land'bo(nd to appre*iate a good fast *abin *r(iser/: =oe Do(gherty grinned+ win.ed at ,onya/ 62 don8t thin. it8s my landl(bber leanings that t(rn me against speed boating/ $o+ instead+ 2 thin. it8s 3(st a *ombination of good *ommon sense and-: 6"ad digestion9: "ill ?eterson s(ggested+ good'nat(redly/ 6$o+: Do(gherty *h(*.led/ 67ood *ommon sense and-a good strong fear;: &elen la(ghed/ 60hat s(ms it (p for me+ too/: Cat*hing the spirit of (nderlying h(mor that e1isted between the Do(ghertys and their help+ ,onya said+ 6Bell+ he *ame o(t here at top speed from 7(adelo(pe+ b(t 2 didn8t mind at all/: 6Co( see;: ?eterson *ried+ tri(mphant/ 62 3(st stood there by the wheel+ at the safety railing+ and 2 didn8t faint on*e/ 2f yo( don8t belie!e me+ yo( *an go loo. at the railing-and yo(8ll see where my fingers bent it/: 6"etrayed+: ?eterson said gloomily/ 6Did "ill ta.e yo( on a to(r aro(nd the island+ before do*.ing9: &elen as.ed/ 6$o+: ,onya said/ 62 was an1io(s to get here+ get to wor./: 60omorrow+ then+: &elen said/ 6)y pleas(re+: "ill said/ 62 still *an8t get (sed to the fa*t yo( own a whole island+: ,onya said+ sha.ing her head/ >or the first time+ =oe Do(gherty8s fa*e *lo(ded+ and he loo.ed less than perfe*tly happy/ 6Be don8t+ e1a*tly+: he said/ 6"(t 2 tho(ght-: she began/ 6Be own most of it+: &elen e1plained/ 6"(t the "lenwell family has the *o!e at the far end of Distingue, and they own the &aw. &o(se whi*h o!erloo.s the *o!e/: 62 offered them an e1*ellent pri*e+: Do(gherty e1plained/ 6>ar too e1*ellent for people their age to t(rn down/: &e laid down his for.+ wiped his mo(th with a bl(e linen nap.in/ 65ydia and Bal ter "lenwell are in their se!enties+ far too old to li!e half an ho(r from the nearest amb(lan*e ser!i*e and an ho(r or more from the nearest hospital/ 0heir *hildren li!e in =amai*a+ and (p aro(nd )iami+ b(t they steadfastly ref(se to lea!e &aw. &o(se/: 6 nd that8s the fa(lt of Ken "lenwell+: "ill ?eterson said/ &e so(nded as if he did not m(*h li.e Ken "lenwell/ 6Co(8re right+ of *o(rse+: Do(gherty said/ &e e1plainedD 65ydia and Balter ha!e raised one of their grand*hildren sin*e he was two years old/ 0he boy8s father was .illed at the o(tbrea. of the Korean war+ and his mother+ not a "lenwell girl+ ne!er was !ery stable/ ,he had to be instit(tional' ized when the *hild was two+ and she died at her own hand while in the-the home/: !adhouse, ,onya tho(ght/ ,he didn8t .now why Do(gherty8s e(phemism+ when spea.ing abo(t a neighbor+ was so frightening/ 6 nd her son+ he8s in his mid'twenties by now+ Balter and 5ydia8s grand*hild+ has ta.en it in his head to own &aw. &o(se when they8re gone/ &e pers(ades them to hold o(t/ &ell+ he e!en per' s(aded old Balter to *ome to me and try to b(y o(t o(r three'A(arters of Distingue. ,eems Kenneth wants to own the whole shebang some day/: 6Be don8t intend to sell+ of *o(rse+: &elen Do(gherty said/ 6#f *o(rse+: her h(sband agreed/ ,he said+ 6Be lo!e this ho(se-its old name was ,eawat*h+ whi*h is rather fitting when yo( *onsider it *ommands a !iew of the sea from three of its fo(r sides-and we lo!e the island too/ 2t8s s(*h a A(iet pla*e+ so bea(tif(l and *lean and fresh/ 2t8s li.e a mon.8s retreat+ in a way+ a pla*e to es' *ape from-from the e!eryday *ares that plag(e the rest of the world/: "(t ,onya saw+ as the woman hesitated in the middle of her last senten*e+ that &elen Do(gherty did not *onsider ,eawat*h an es*ape from ordinary day'to'day *ares / / / $o+ more li.ely+ this

lo!ely+ wealthy woman saw it as an es*ape from the madman who had threatened the li!es of her *hildren/ %!en as she spo.e+ she t(rned her head e!er'so'slightly to loo. (pon her two *hildren+ as if she wished to be *ertain that they were still beside her+ still *lose at hand+ still safe and not snat*hed (p and *arted away while her attention had been elsewhere/ ,onya loo.ed at "ill ?eterson to see if he had noti*ed &elen8s in!ol(ntary moment of fear/ &e had/ &e win.ed at ,onya+ smiled+ as if he were trying to restore the mood of good'h(mored ribbing whi*h had dominated at the table (ntil only a few moments ago/ ,he did not win. ba*./ ,he loo.ed at 5eroy )ills+ his eyes on his plate+ A(iet and withdrawn+ shy-or g(iltily a!oiding &elen Do(gherty/ Bhi*h was it9 ,onya loo.ed away from 5eroy )ills+ feeling *hilled and m(*h too helpless in the fa*e of s(*h brooding e!il that she sensed all abo(t her+ and she loo.ed a*ross the table at the bodyg(ard+ @(' dolph ,aine+ whom she was startled to see staring ba*. at her/ ,he blin.ed in *onf(sion+ b(t he did not/ &e stared (nwa!eringly+ (nblin.ingly+ his broad forehead slightly f(rrowed as if he were *on*entrating on some p(zzle or other+ his intensely bl(e eyes+ li.e *hips of wet+ bright glass floating in water+ lo*.ed on her own eyes+ held/ ,he smiled at him+ e!en tho(gh her smile did not *ome nat(rally or e!en easily/ &e did not smile ba*./ ,he loo.ed away from him+ fl(stered+ b(t fo(nd herself snea.ing another glan*e in his dire*tion to as*ertain whether or not he was still so terribly interested in her/ &e was/ &e had not loo.ed away/ ,he t(rned A(i*.ly toward &elen Do(gherty+ then loo.ed at the woman8s h(sband+ hoping someone wo(ld say something+ anything+ to brea. this s(dden+ ine1pli*able+ male!olent spell whi*h had des*ended on the entire *ompany li.e the tension in the air 3(st before a ma3or s(mmer th(n' derstorm/ 60hen+: =oe Do(gherty said+ li.e a hea!en'sent breath of fresh air+ 6tomorrow yo(8ll rela1+ to(r the island+ get a little s(n+ refresh yo(rself/ Bednesday8s soon eno(gh to begin the .ids8 lessons/: ,onya loo.ed at the *hildren+ and fo(nd them loo.ing shyly at her+ loo.ing (p (nder the eye' brows+ heads tilted+ tentati!e smiles on their small+ *her(bi* fa*es/ s all *hildren did when fa*ed with a new tea*her+ they wo(ld be wondering what she was li.e+ whether she wo(ld be stern or friendly+ whether she wo(ld li.e them or be indifferent/ 6Bell+: she said to Do(gherty/ 62 really had wanted to get started as soon as possible+ sir/: 6)y name8s =oe+: he *orre*ted her+ ami*ably eno(gh/ 6Be go by first names aro(nd here/ )y father and mother were st(ffy+ position'*ons*io(s nou"eau ri#he, and 2 won8t r(n a ho(se where e!' eryone goes aro(nd in star*hed *ollars/: 6=oe+ then+: she said+ smiling/ 628!e st(died the reA(isites listed by the island go!ernment/ 28!e seen the tests-or samples of them-the *hildren will ha!e to pass ne1t spring in order to be offi*ially raised in grade le!el/ 28m really !ery an1io(s to begin/: &e wa!ed her into silen*e+ not imperio(sly+ b(t good'h(moredly/ 60hese s*amps ha!e had an e1tended !a*ation+ and it8s time they were made to wor./: 6 hhh+: both .ids said+ in (nison/ 6H(iet in the pean(t gallery+: Do(gherty said/ 0o ,onya+ he said+ 6&owe!er+ one e1tra day of freedom will not set them ba*. any f(rther than they already are+ and 28m absol(tely insistent that yo( settle into the ro(tine here on Distingue in a manner befitting the traditional leis(rely ways of the tropi*s/: &appily+ ,onya said+ 6Bhate!er yo( say+ =oe/:

0he *hildren *heered her/ 6$at(ral'born goldbri*.ers+: Do(gherty said+ affe*tionately/ ,onya loo.ed (p at ,aine again+ fo(nd that he was still s*r(tinizing her+ wat*hing her rea*tions to e!erything that went on at the dinner table+ and+ in some mysterio(s way+ forming an opinion of her+ ma.ing 3(dgments+ de*iding 3(st how far she *o(ld be tr(sted/ ,he felt as if she were on trial+ and she realized that+ in ,aine8s mind+ she was/ ,he remembered what he8d said abo(t not tr(sting anyone at all+ and she ret(rned his stare this time+ e!al(ating him in the same way that he was s(mming her (p/ 2n a moment+ he realized that the tables had t(rned and that she was 3(dging him/ &e smiled at her and ret(rned to his e1*ellent food/

>#F@
fter s(pper+ le1 and 0ina+ at their father8s s(ggestion+ too. ,onya on a to(r of ,eawat*h+ be' ginning with the rest of the gro(nd floor/ ,he learned that+ be*a(se the sea lay so near beneath the s(rfa*e of the island+ the ho(se had no basement4 s(*h a s(bterranean *hamber wo(ld ha!e always been filled with bra*.ish salt water/ Fnwillingly+ ,onya tho(ght of 5ynda ,pa(lding8s many warnings abo(t the power of the sea d(ring a h(rri*ane / / / ,he had already seen the front dining room where they had 3(st eaten+ and the (ltra'modern .it*hen where+ earlier+ &elga had been so determinedly grating that blo*. of *heese/ "(t there was more+ m(*h more+ still to see/ *ross from the front dining room was a *ombination lo(nge and drawing room+ with hea!y oa. f(rnit(re in a ,panish motif+ the (biA(ito(s red *arpet+ bla*. !el!et drapes+ a *ool and *alming gloom that warm+ indire*t lighting only partially dispelled/ 6Bhen we ha!e g(ests+: le1 said+ ta.ing his role as g(ide A(ite serio(sly+ 6they (s(ally *ome in here/: 0ina+ his sister+ who was on the far side of le1+ peered aro(nd him and loo.ed shyly at ,onya/ 6Co(8re not 3(st a g(est+ are yo(9: 6$o+: ,onya said/ 6,he8s o(r new tea*her+: le1 e1plained+ patiently/ 67ood+: 0ina said/ ,he shoo. her head positi!ely+ her dar. hair bo(n*ing/ 62 thin. 28ll li.e yo(/: ,onya *h(*.led/ 6Bell+ 0ina+ 28ll do my best to ma.e yo( absol(tely s(re of that/: 0hey went from the drawing room into the hobby room+ where there were wor.ben*hes littered with all manner of *ameras+ *amera parts+ pro3e*tors+ tools+ s*raps of film and of white leader tape+ editing eA(ipment and sta*.s of film *ans/ 6Dad8s hobby is mo!ies+: le1 e1plained/ 0ina giggled/ 6&e ma.es some f(nny ones/: 6 nd mom8s a-still-photographer+: he said+ prono(n*ing ea*h syllable of the last word with the (tmost *are+ as if he were reading it from a prepared inde1 *ard/ &e pointed to a door at the far end of the room and said+ 60hat8s the dar.room+ where they de!elop the film/ 2t really is awf(l dar. -e1*ept for these p(rple lights they ha!e/: 6Be8re not allowed in there+: 0ina said+ solemnly/ 6Co( sho(ld .now+: her brother said/ ,he sighed/ 0o ,onya+ she said+ 62 went in on*e/ 2 got span.ed/: 6Dad had a reel of film on the drying ra*.s/ 2t was spoiled+: the boy e1plained/ 60hat8s the first and last span.ing we e!er got/: 6"(t we8re allowed o(t here+: 0ina said+ pointing to a table flan.ed by two high stools/ 6 le1 ma.es his airplane models there+ and 2 p(t my p(zzles together/: $e1t+ they *ame into a small dining room+ less than half the size of the one in whi*h they had earlier ta.en their s(pper4 here fo(r or fi!e people *o(ld dine *omfortably+ a !ery *ozy noo. not meant to hold large dinner parties/ )ost li.ely+ this was the brea.fast and l(n*h room+ for meals that might be eaten by two or three members of the ho(sehold+ at all different ho(rs/ 0he gro(nd floor also *ontained a game room+ with a reg(lation size pool table+ a ping pong table+ *olor tele!ision set+ shel!es of games and a lot of *omfortable+ beaten (p old bla*. !inyl arm *hairs/ Conne*ting with the game room was a library f(lly as large as the drawing room or the front dining room+ all fo(r walls b(ilt (p with shel!es from floor to *eiling and at least ten or fifteen

tho(sand !ol(mes shel!ed neatly aro(nd s*attered pie*es of s*(lpt(re/ 0he room also *ontained a large+ dar. pine des. and a mat*hing *aptain8s *hair+ se!eral hea!ily'padded easy *hairs arranged beside tall+ hea!y'loo.ing (ltra'modern steel floor lamps/ #n the se*ond floor+ the stairwell di!ided the li!ing spa*e into two distin*t *l(sters of rooms+ in two long hallways/ 0he family8s bedrooms were to the left+ the staff8s to the right (e1*ept for ,aine8s bedroom+ whi*h was in the family se*tion)/ 0hey went (p to the third floor+ whi*h was only half'sized+ dire*tly abo!e the family8s portion of the se*ond le!el/ 60his is father8s st(dy+: le1 said/ 6Be *an *ome (p here+: 0ina e1plained/ 6"(t only when it8s absol(tely ne*essary/: s le1 had st(mbled o!er the word 6photographer+: the little girl spo.e her pie*e as if A(oting her father/ =oe Do(gherty8s st(dy was *ertainly an impressi!e roomD as large as the drawing room down' stairs+ airy and yet homey+ well'f(rnished+ *ontaining yet another two tho(sand boo.s of all types+ with a beamed *eiling and two long windows toward the front of the ho(se+ whi*h loo.ed o(t on palm trees+ white bea*h+ and the sea that *(rled toward the land with *o(ntless+ white'edged tong(es of water/ #ne had the feeling that great de*isions had been made within the walls of this room+ that enormo(s finan*ial iss(es were *onsidered and *aref(lly dealt with/ t the gadget'st(dded des.+ Do(gherty had added and s(btra*ted fig(res that ,onya .new she wo(ld find meaningless be*a(se of their enormity/ t these windows+ perhaps+ he had stared at )other #*ean+ gaining serenity and perspe*ti!e with whi*h to o!er*ome his .nottier problems/ nd now as she and the *hildren stood by those same windows+ wat*hing the sea whi*h glittered madly with refle*ted moonlight+ ,onya felt more at pea*e than she had for A(ite a long time/ &er parents had been dead for many years/ nd+ already+ it seemed that her grandmother had been dead for as long+ for years instead of months/ nd what "ill ?eterson and @(dolph ,aine had told her abo(t the madman who8d threatened the Do(gherty *hildren-all of that was li.e something she had on*e read in a story+ not li.e something she had e1perien*ed+ something that *o(ld be real/ 0he solidity of ,eawat*h made her feel as if she were in a fortress+ sealed away from harm+ in a great b(bble of safety passing thro(gh the rioto(s flow of time witho(t s(ffering any damage/ le1 destroyed that mood in a moment/ 6 re yo( worried9: he as.ed/ ,onya did not loo. away from the sea/ ,he said+ 6Bhy sho(ld 2 be worried9: 6&e won8t h(rt yo(/: ,he loo.ed at le1/ &is eyes were !ery dar.+ almost too dar. to see in the meager light of the des. lamp that was *lear a*ross the room/ ,he said+ 6Bho won8t9: &e s*(ffed his small feet on the *arpet+ and he loo.ed away from her as if he were embarrassed/ &e loo.ed ba*. at the rolling sea+ and he said+ 60he man/: 6)an9: 6Ces/: 6Bhat man9: 0ina said+ 6Co( .now/ 0he man he says is going to .ill (s+ me and le1/: 6Bho says that9: 0ina said+ 60he man/ &e says it himself/: 6$o one is going to .ill yo(+: ,onya said+ firmly+ softly/ "(t she didn8t really .now how she *o(ld be so s(re of that/ 0he pea*ef(lness of the night+ the sea and the palms had swiftly disappeared+ to be repla*ed by a

brooding male!olen*e+ li.e a large 3(ngle *at waiting to spring on its prey/ 6&e promised that he wo(ld+: le1 said/ 6Bell-: 6&e promised+ se!eral times+ that he8d get the both of (s+ me and 0ina/: C(rio(sly eno(gh+ the boy did not so(nd frightened so m(*h as intrig(ed by the possibility of death/ ,he .new that yo(ng *hildren were not as frightened by s(*h things as ad(lts+ and that they e!en en3oyed !i*ario(s !io' len*e in a way ad(lts had lost the taste for (witness their lo!e of gory fairy tales+ of %dgar llan ?oe and similar ma*abre literat(re)/ "(t this seemed *ooly sinister+ this *as(al a**eptan*e of their own mortality/ 6Bho told yo( abo(t this9: ,onya as.ed/ ,he had imagined that the worst of the sit(ation had+ !ery properly+ been hidden from the *hildren/ 6$o one parti*(lar+: le1 said/ 6Be 3(st listened aro(nd+: 0ina piped (p/ 6Be heard things+: le1 said/ 6Bhen no one .new we were listening+: 0ina added/ ,he so(nded A(ite pleased with their stealth+ 6Co( sho(ld both be pri!ate dete*ti!es-or spies+: ,onya told them+ trying to lighten the mood again/ 6 nyway+: le1 said+ 6don8t worry abo(t him/ &e8s not interested in yo(+ 3(st in (s/: 6Bell+ yo(8re 3(st as safe as 2 am+: ,onya said/ 6)r/ ,aine sees to that/: 6&e goes with (s e!erywhere+: 0ina said/ 6%1a*tly/: le1 shr(gged/ 6@(dolph *an8t do m(*h if the man is really after (s/ 2f he really wants (s+ bad+ what *an @(dolph do9: 62 belie!e )r/ ,aine *o(ld handle anyone+: ,onya said/ 6 nyone at all/: ,he smiled at them and hoped her smile did not appear as phony as it really was/

>2E%
0he man stood (nder the la*y palm trees+ down near the that*h'roofed pa!ilion where &elen Do(gherty li.ed to go e!ery morning to sit and read while the sea m(rm(red gently behind her/ &e was dressed in dar. *lothes+ and he was all b(t in!isible in the deep p(rple shadows of the trees+ li.e a spirit+ a spe*ter/ 0he moonlight to(*hed the lawn+ to(*hed the top of the palm fronds abo!e him+ b(t did not to(*h him+ as if it were afraid of him+ as if it were p(rposef(lly a!oiding *onta*t with him/ &e wat*hed the ho(se/ %spe*ially the *hildren8s windows/ 5ight shone there/ &e hoped to get a glimpse of them *rossing the room+ a A(i*. flash of a small shadow / / / &e felt powerf(l+ good and deadly when he wat*hed them witho(t their .nowledge/ ,(*h *landestine obser!ation made him feel that he really was in!isible+ that he *o(ld mo!e against them whene!er he felt li.e it/ ,ome night+ not now b(t soon+ when the room was dar. and the .ids were asleep+ when ,aine was espe*ially la1+ when e!eryone had all b(t forgotten abo(t the threats / / / / / / then he wo(ld stri.e; &e wo(ld be A(i*./ &e wo(ld be *alm/ nd silent/ H(i*.+ *alm+ silent+ deadly/ &e wo(ld ha!e to forget abo(t tort(ring them+ of *o(rse+ tho(gh that had been s(*h an important part of his original plan+ before this+ before the family had mo!ed here to the island/ $ow+ in s(*h *lose A(arters+ the *hildren wo(ld be able to s(mmon help rather A(i*.ly/ 2f he tort(red them+ they8d s*ream and s*ream and s*ream / / / nd they8d be heard+ and he8d be apprehended before he *o(ld es*ape/ ,aine was not that la1+ e!er/ #ne swift+ *lean *(t+ from ear to ear+ opening their tender yo(ng throats li.e ripe fr(its/ &e wo(ld .ill the boy first+ witho(t wa.ing the little girl/ 0hen he wo(ld *reep+ silently as wind+ to her bed+ where he wo(ld open her throat as he had her brother8s+ swiftly+ *almly+ A(ietly/ 0hen+ when there was absol(tely no danger of their *rying o(t for help+ he wo(ld leis(rely wor. on them with the .nife / / / $ow+ wat*hing their lighted room+ standing by the palms near the pa!ilion+ the man too. the .nife from his po*.et and opened it/ &e held it in front of him+ so that moonlight str(*. his hand and glinted wi*.edly on the se!en' in*h blade/ 2t was A(ite sharp/ &e spent a good deal of time honing it/ &e ran a finger along the blade/ 5o!ely/ 2t wo(ld do the 3ob/ Bhen the time *ame/ ,oon/

,2I
60here it is-&aw. &o(se;: "ill ?eterson sho(ted o!er the roar of the Lady Jane's engines+ pointing with one hand while+ with the other+ he bro(ght them rapidly aro(nd the point of Distingue, o(t of the *almer waters in the lee of the land and into the *hoppy wa!elets that po(nded in toward the sheltered *o!e and were bro.en (p on the hoo.ing arms of bea*h/ ,onya shielded her eyes from the glaring afternoon s(n and stared at the old+ dar. ho(se that loomed+ almost mena*ingly+ on the hill abo!e the *o!e/ 2ts windows were li.e bla*.+ blinded eyes+ its por*hes and bal*onies li.e (nhealthy growths spro(ting from its weathered walls/ 2t was m(*h li.e ,eawat*h+ really4 b(t where ,eawat*h loo.ed wel*oming and warm+ &aw. &o(se seemed fore' boding and *old/ ?eterson *(t the engines ba*.+ bringing a *omparati!e A(iet(de to the open waters/ &e said+ 6)r/ Do(gherty wo(ld li.e to own it/ &e8d remodel it and (se it as a g(est ho(semaybe as a retreat for friends and b(siness asso*iates/: 6 re we going in to shore9: ,onya as.ed/ 6Bhat for9: &e seemed s(rprised that she had as.ed/ ,he said+ 62 tho(ght we *o(ld meet the neighbors/: &is e1pression *hanged+ in the instant+ *lo(ded+ his eyes narrowing to slits+ and he said+ 6Co( wo(ldn8t want to meet them/: 6 re they really so bad as all that9: 60hey8d gi!e yo( a re*eption abo(t as *old and r(de as yo(8d be able to s(r!i!e/ *on!ersation with the "lenwells always lea!es me with i*i*les hanging from my earlobes and the end of my nose/: ,onya la(ghed/ 6@eally+: he said+ still somewhat serio(s/ 60he Do(ghertys and their people are not parti*(larly wel*ome at &aw. &o(se/: s they rea*hed the entran*e to the narrow *o!e and mo!ed a*ross its mo(th+ ,onya spotted a tall+ !ery deeply tanned+ dar.'haired yo(ng man+ perhaps ?eterson8s age+ standing on a small pier at the throat of the *o!e+ wearing white sla*.s and a white tee'shirt/ &e appeared to be there for no other p(rpose than to wat*h them as they ro(nded the tip of the island/ 6Bho8s that9: she as.ed/ 6Bhere9: ,he pointed/ ,he tho(ght ?eterson stiffened when he *a(ght sight of the dar. fig(re who stood so motionless+ b(t she *o(ld not be s(re/ 62t8s Kenneth "lenwell+: he said/ 60he grandson9: 6Ces/: t that moment+ almost as if he had been listening to their *on!ersation despite the two h(ndred yards of open water that separated them+ and despite the persistent growl of Lady Jane's engines+ Kenneth "lenwell *as(ally raised a pair of dar.+ hea!y bino*(lars+ to get a better loo. at them/ 0he s(n glinted off the bino*(lar lenses/ ,onya+ embarrassed+ loo.ed swiftly away/

6"astard+: ?eterson snapped+ with feeling+ as if he tho(ght "lenwell #ould hear/ 6 *t(ally+: ,onya said+ 6we8re the ones who8re snooping/ 2 s(ppose he has a perfe*tly legal right to *ome o(t on the pier and *he*. (s o(t/: 6&e already .nows who we are+: ?eterson said/ 6&e doesn8t .now me/: 60hen he does now/: ?eterson a**elerated+ bro(ght the small *abin *r(iser (p toward its top speed+ ar*hing slightly o(t toward the more open water+ b(t hemmed in by sandbars+ he was (nable to p(ll *ompletely away as he might ha!e li.ed to/ s they rea*hed the far arm of white'white bea*h that formed half the little *o!e+ as land rose (p+ and palm trees+ to *on*eal them from "lenwell+ ,onya stole one A(i*.+ last loo. ba*.ward at their mysterio(s neighbor/ &e appeared+ from a distan*e+ to ha!e the glasses trained dire*tly on ,onya8s eyes/ s a res(lt+ she felt as if they were only in*hes apart+ as if they were on the pier together/ 0heir eyes had lo*.ed in some ine1pli*able+ hypnoti* gaze+ and they *o(ld not brea. free of ea*h other/ rising hillo*.+ and the thi*.ening stand of pines+ *(t ,onya off from Kenneth "lenwell8s steady gaze+ and she snapped awa.e li.e a girl *oming o(t of a nap+ startled and ill'at'ease+ won' dering what had *ome o!er her/ 6Basn8t it his mother+: she as.ed ?eterson+ 6who was sent away to the-madho(se9: 6Ces/ nd if yo( as. me+ 2 thin. the madness was passed on from the mother to the son/: 6Bhy do yo( say that9: ?eterson frowned+ loo.ing at the *hoppy bl(e sea on the windward side of Distingue, b(t it was not the slightly angry waters whi*h had generated the frown/ &e said+ 62t8s hard to pin down/ "(t if yo( e!er meet him+ yo(8ll (nderstand why 2 said that/ &e8s-*old+ withdrawn+ !ery sober/ &e gi!es yo( the feeling-2 don8t .now how-that he8s only the form of a man+ that inside he8s *ompletely hollow/: 62 see/: ,he t(rned to the lo!ely s*enery and didn8t as. any more A(estions/ ,he didn8t want to ha!e to listen to any more answers/ 5ater that afternoon+ when they went swimming off the point from ,eawat*h+ se!eral h(ndred yards o(t in the Caribbean+ (sing the Lady Jane as their base+ ,onya e1perien*ed the e1tremes of rea*tion to her new *ir*(mstan*eD optimisti* en3oyment-and fearf(l anti*ipation of disaster/ 0he 3oy *ame from the simple a*t of floating and frolli*.ing on the brilliantly bl(e'green waters of the Caribbean+ the s(n beating down hot and steady+ the s.y high and wide and (nbelie!ably bl(e+ g(lls *ir*ling high o!erhead li.e monitors of their pleas(re/ ?eterson had bro(ght the Lady Jane thro(gh the wide mo(th of a s(bmerged *oral reef shaped li.e a semi*ir*le with its open fa*e towards shore/ 0his nat(ral *res*ent formed a brea.water that *(t the roiling wa!es and left only a gentle in and o(t swell that ,onya ga!e herself o!er to/ ,he lay on her ba*.+ gently mo!ing her hands to .eep herself afloat+ sin.ing and rising+ bobbing at the di*tates of the gentle sea/ "ill floated beside her+ bronze already b(t growing e!en more tan+ an e1tremely handsome man+ !ery gay and !ery !ital+ the perfe*t sort of man to be with on a day li.e this in a pla*e s(*h as this/ 0hen *ame the fear/ ,omething br(shed ,onya8s feet+ startling her into a s(dden+ lo(d yelp+ so that she san.+ thrashed+ gained the s(rfa*e again/ 6Bhat8s the matter9: ?eterson as.ed/ 6 fish+ 2 g(ess+: she said/ 62t to(*hed me+ and 2 wasn8t e1pe*ting anything li.e that/: ,he la(ghed+ b(t stopped la(ghing when she saw that the in*ident did not am(se him at all/

&e was staring intently at the water aro(nd them+ as if he *o(ld see down thro(gh the glaring s(rfa*e/ 6,har.s;: he snapped/ 6Bhat9: "(t she had heard/ ,he had heard too *learly/ 6,wim for the boat+: he ad!ised/ 6)a.e as m(*h noise as yo( *an/ >orget abo(t being a good swimmer4 3(st thrash the water to a boil/ $oise s*ares them off/: 2n a min(te or so+ they were both standing on the de*. of the Lady Jane, dripping saltwater on the polished boards+ safe/ 62 always tho(ght the reef formed a barrier against them+: ?eterson said4 wiping his fa*e with a towel/ 6"(t they m(st ha!e *ome in from the landward side+ thro(gh the open end/: ,onya was shi!ering so badly that her teeth *hattered together li.e *lamshells/ 6Bo(ld they ha!e h(rt (s9: 60hey might ha!e/: 6 re they still there9: &e pointed/ 62 don8t see-: nd then she did seeD the hard+ bla*. fin+ thr(sting o(t of the water li.e a .nife+ *ir*ling+ mo!ing rapidly+ now lost in the glare+ now !isible again/ 6&ow many9: she as.ed/ 62 saw two+: he said/ s she wat*hed the shar. *ir*le and *ir*le+ as if waiting for them to *ome ba*. into the water+ her 3oy e!aporated altogether/ 2t seemed+ to her+ that the shar. was a portent of things to *ome+ a sign to beware-to be *a(tio(s/ 0he sea no longer appeared to be as bea(tif(l as it was only min(tes ago / / / 0he s.y was far too bright/ 0he s(n+ instead of warming and tanning her+ seemed fier*ely+ (nmer*if(lly hot and she realized+ belatedly+ that she might as easily b(rn as tan/ 65et8s go in+: she said/ &e started the engines/ Dinner was e!en better Bednesday e!ening than it had been the e!ening beforeD lobster tails with sweet b(tter+ s*alloped potatoes+ pepper slaw+ se!eral !egetables+ fresh strawberries and *ream for dessert/ Con!ersation at the table remained li!ely-a*t(ally+ now that e!eryone had grown a*' *(stomed to the new addition to the table+ it was li!elier than it had been the night before/ Fnfort(nately none of it *o(ld erase ,onya8s feeling of impending disaster/ ,he retired to her room at nine'thirty+ *losed and lo*.ed her door+ and made ready for bed/ 2t was too early for sleep+ and her ner!es were too m(*h on edge to permit her to t(rn o(t the lights 3(st yet/ ,he had bro(ght se!eral paperba*. no!els with her+ and she propped herself (p on pillows+ in the *enter of the ?olynesian bed+ and she began the best of the lot+ trying to get *a(ght (p in the story/ 0wo ho(rs later+ when she had read slightly more than half of the boo.+ she felt sleep steal in behind her eyes and begin to t(g insistently at her hea!y lids m(*h li.e a *hild might t(g at his mother8s s.irts/ ,he got o(t of bed and t(rned off the lights+ stood for a moment in the *ool dar.ness+ listening for something b(t not .nowing what/ "efore getting (nder the *o!ers+ she went to the window and loo.ed o(t at the night sea and the swaying palms / / / s before+ she was ta.en by the bea(ty of the s*ene+ and she might ha!e stood

there admiring it for a long while+ might ha!e seen nothing at all o(t of the ordinary if the man standing beneath the palms+ some distan*e from the ho(se+ had not *hosen that moment to stret*h his legs/ &e leaned away from the bole of one of the largest palms and stepped ba*. and forth a few times+ on a short path+ before ta.ing (p his !igil again/ @(dolph ,aine9 &e did not seem big eno(gh to be the bodyg(ard+ tho(gh he was not a small man/ #r she didn8t thin. he was/ 2n the deeps of the shadows+ howe!er+ little abo(t him was re*ognizable/ ,he stood there+ for long min(tes+ waiting for him to re!eal himself on*e more/ ,he was *onfi' dent that he wo(ld not see her+ for the room was dar. behind her/ 0hen+ with a start+ he stepped from the tree and seemed to gaze (p at her+ tho(gh his fa*e was in shadows+ and she *o(ld only s(p' pose it was she who had attra*ted his s(dden interest/ ,he realized that+ in the light of the large moon+ her white pa3amas m(st ha!e shown (p li.e a signal flag/ 0he stranger-if he was a stranger-t(rned away from her and abr(ptly wal.ed off into the sentinel pines/ 2n an instant+ he was lost to sight/ ,he stepped ba*. from her window+ as if what she had seen was part of an ill(sion and that+ if she t(rned away from the s*reen on whi*h it had been played-her window-it wo(ld *ease to be tr(e and real/ ,he wondered+ briefly+ if she sho(ld report this to @(dolph ,aine+ b(t she de*ided that she really had nothing to report+ nothing that meant anything/ ,he had seen a man standing in the shadows of the palms+ near the ho(se+ wat*hing the ho(se at night/ nd he had gone away/ Bhat good wo(ld that information do anyone9 $here had he gone? Bho .new9 $ho was he? ,he *o(ldn8t say/ $hat did she think he was doing there? ,he didn8t want to thin. what he might ha!e been doing there/ ,he had *ome here to get away from (gly tho(ghts+ old fears+ tension+ an1iety/ ,he didn8t want to ha!e to fa*e anything li.e that/ nd sin*e she *o(ld not answer any of the A(estions @(dolph ,aine was most li.ely to as.+ she *o(ld see no sense in dredging (p the mess/ ,he wo(ld appear to be nothing more than a slightly hysteri*al yo(ng woman+ still (pset o!er her en*o(nter with two shar.s d(ring the afternoon+ sleepy+ seeing things in the night+ ill(sions+ de*eptions of shadows/ ,he *o(ld do no good what' soe!er by *rying wolf at e!ery little in*ident that dist(rbed her+ for then+ if the real tro(ble *ame+ she wo(ld find them slow to rea*t to her *ries for help/ 0hat was logi*al+ wise/ @ef(sing to *onsider the import of her obser!ation+ ref(sing to dwell on the memory any longer at all+ ha!ing *on!in*ed herself that she was right to .eep her silen*e+ she went to the large bed and got beneath the sheets+ sn(ggled down and b(ried her bright+ blonde head in the fl(ffy pillows/ ,he wo(ld sleep / / / sleep / / / 0hen e!erything wo(ld be fine/ 2n the morning+ all of this sense of onr(shing tro(ble+ this fearf(l anti*ipation wo(ld be gone/ 2n the morning/ 2t wo(ld all be fine+ then/ =(st fine/ ,he slept / / / 2n the morning+ of *o(rse+ nothing had impro!ed/ t the (ni!ersity+ a year earlier+ a boy named Daryl ?attersen+ whom she had dated for a while b(t abo(t whom she had ne!er been serio(s+ told her that he li.ed her so m(*h *hiefly be*a(se of her ability to ignore all of the (npleasant things in life/ 62 mean+: he told her+ 6yo( don8t 3(st grin and bear it when tro(ble stri.es/ Co( a*t(ally ignore it; Co( seem to forget abo(t the disaster two min(tes after it8s happened/ Bhen yo( get a bad test grade+ 28!e seen yo( toss the paper away and go

abo(t yo(r b(siness as if yo(8d 3(st gotten an /: $at(rally+ 5ynda ,pa(lding+ ,onya8s roommate+ a pessimist from the word 6go+: did not loo. (pon this personality A(ir. as an attrib(te+ as Daryl did+ b(t she saw it as a fa(lt+ a wea.ness+ a dangero(s inadeA(a*y that had to be wat*hed *aref(lly/ 65ife isn8t all roses+ ,onya+ as yo( sho(ld .now by now/ Co( try too hard to be happy+ and yo( wor. too hard to forget the things that8!e made yo( (nhappy/: 6)y own pri!ate psy*hiatrist+: ,onya had said+ slapping her forehead with an open palm/ 6,ee+ yo( .now 28m telling yo( the tr(th/ Co(8re trying to t(rn what 2 say into a 3o.e+ so yo( won8t ha!e to thin. abo(t it/: 5ater+ she said+ 6Co( s(rro(nd yo(rself with friends who8re always 3o!ial and in a good mood4 sometimes+ yo( ma.e friends with the biggest phonies on *amp(s+ 3(st be*a(se they8re always smiling/: 62 li.e people that smile+: ,onya had said/ 6"(t no one sho(ld be smiling all the time;: 0his morning+ on Distingue, ,onya had forgotten all of those e1*hanges with 5ynda ,pa(lding/ 2f she remembered anything+ it was Daryl8s sweet and *harming remar.s/ ,till+ the air was filled with e1pe*tan*y+ tense+ waiting/ 2n the ne1t few days+ there was no lessening of that tension/ ,he began ea*h wor.day at ten+ with the *hildren+ going o!er their reading s.ills and seeing what she might do to impro!e them/ >ort(nately+ both le1 and 0ina were e1*eptionally bright st(dents+ and they needed no en' *o(ragement to do their wor.+ for they were as *(rio(s as they were intelligent/ "y noon+ when they too. a l(n*h brea.+ the .ids were (s(ally a good many pages ahead of the lesson whi*h she had planned for them+ li.e two intelle*t(al sponges soa.ing (p all that she *o(ld po(r before them/ fter l(n*h+ aro(nd two o8*lo*.+ they began wor. on arithmeti* and spelling+ some geography and history for le1 and some s.ill'games for 0ina/ >riday afternoon+ when they were st(dying the map of the Fnited ,tates d(ring the geography lesson+ le1 pointed to the eastern seaboard+ tra*ed the o(tlines of one state in parti*(lar/ 60hat8s $ew =ersey+: he said/ 6Ces+ it is/: 6Bhere we (sed to li!e/: ,onya frowned/ 6Ces/ Co( see how far away yo( are from there9: 6@eal far+: he said/ ,he fo(nd 7(adelo(pe for him and+ tho(gh Distingue was not on the map+ indi*ated their gen' eral position in relationship to the larger island/ 628m glad they s*ared (s o(t of $ew =ersey+: le1 said/ 6#h9: 6Ceah/ 2t8s prettier down here/: 65ots prettier+: 0ina added/ 628d hate to be .illed in $ew =ersey+: le1 said/ 6Down here+ it wo(ld be better/: ,onya *hose not to A(estion this rather ma*abre statement+ b(t went A(i*.ly on with the lesson+ drawing the boy8s attention to the Best Coast+ as far away from $ew =ersey as she *o(ld lead him/ "y fo(r'thirty ea*h afternoon+ finished with lessons+ they were ready for a swim+ a game of tag+ a wal. abo(t the island-always with @(dolph ,aine in tow+ his b(rly arms+ li.e the arms of a go' rilla+ swinging loosely at his sides+ his s*owl permanently in pla*e+ his broad fa*e *reased li.e p(tty that had been s*ored with a s*(lptor8s blade/ &e *arried a holstered re!ol!er (nder his left armpit/ ,onya pretended not to noti*e/ nd still+ nothing (ntoward happened/

)onday afternoon+ when she had been on Distingue for nearly a wee.+ ,onya was gi!en the last half of the day off+ for =oe Do(gherty wanted to ta.e his .ids to 7(adelo(pe for a *o(ple of mo!ies and-he told her+ sh(ddering as if the prospe*t (tterly repelled him-s(pper at their fa!orite greasy hamb(rger empori(m/ 62 thin. we set the best possible table here at ,eawat*h+: he told ,onya/ ,he agreed/ 6"(t+: he said+ 6the .ids tell me that o(r food 8stin.s8 in *omparison to the hamb(rgers and >ren*h fries on 7(adelo(pe/: 6"etter not let &elga hear them say that/: 6$e!er;: he !owed/ 628d rather lose my fort(ne than lose &elga and her *oo.ing;: "e*a(se "ill ?eterson was to ta.e the Do(ghertys to the main island+ and be*a(se he wo(ld wait there for them+ ,onya was left to entertain herself for the remainder of the day/ "ill as.ed her to *ome along and promised her a thoro(gh to(r of Pointe-a-Pitre, b(t she said she preferred this *han*e to get familiar with Distingue. t two o8*lo*. in the afternoon+ when she wo(ld ordinarily ha!e been *oa1ing the *hildren into getting settled for their se*ond st(dy period+ ,onya set o(t from ,eawat*h to wal. the length of the island and then home again/ ,he wore white shorts and a lightweight yellow blo(se+ sandals that *onsisted of little more than a sole and a strap to hold them to her feet/ Despite the giant+ orange s(n and the *lo(dless hea!ens+ she felt *ool and happy+ loo.ing forward to the e1pedition/ ,he lifted her long+ yellow hair and t(*.ed it behind her ears+ to .eep it from blowing aro(nd her fa*e in the gentle breeze that *ame in from the open sea/ ,he felt fresh+ *lean and !ery ali!e/ ,e!eral h(ndred yards from the ho(se+ she stopped at a t(rn in the bea*h to wat*h a be!y of sand *rabs at play/ Bhen they saw her+ or sensed her+ they bolted (p onto their tall+ m(lti'fle1ed r(nning legs and+ loo.ing !ery silly+ s.ittered for *o!er+ dropping onto the sand and+ in an instant+ disappearing from sight/ ,he st(died se!eral parrots that flitted from palm to palm+ birds =oe Do(gherty had imported and no(rished to gi!e the island a sense of *olor and life/ ,he also st(died the arrangement of *o*on(ts at the *rown of a n(mber of fr(it'bearing trees+ wondering if there was any *han*e of her *limbing the bowed bole and retrie!ing one of them/ ,he de*ided against s(*h a re*.less foray+ so long as she was on her own/ ,he had gone almost two thirds of the island8s length when+ so s(ddenly that she let o(t a ter' rified sA(eal+ someone stepped o(t of the palms along the bea*h and said+ 6&ello+ there;: 6Bho-: &e was tall+ abo(t "ill ?eterson8s age and size+ tho(gh his hair was dar.+ as were his eyes+ and he was more thoro(ghly+ ri*hly tanned than "ill+ as if he had been born and raised in the open air+ (nder *lear s.ies/ &e was not so handsome as "ill+ b(t more r(gged+ earthier in a way that made him loo. somewhat older than he really was/ 6Ken "lenwell+: he said+ stepping in front of her and grinning broadly/ ,he remembered the man whom she had seen when they too. a boat to(r aro(nd the island+ the man standing on the "lenwell pier and wat*hing the Lady Jane with field glasses/ ,o this was what he loo.ed li.e *lose (p/ 6Do yo( ha!e a name9: he as.ed+ still grinning/ 6#h+ of *o(rse;: she said+ embarrassed by her lapse/ 6Co( startled me so+ that 2 sort of lost tra*./: 6,orry abo(t that/: 628m ,onya Carter/: 6Bhat a lo!ely name;: he said/ 60han. yo(/: 6Bere yo( *oming to see (s9:

&is teeth were e1*eptionally white+ strong and broad+ li.e the teeth of a healthy animal/ 6Fs9: 6)y grandparents and me+: he said/ 60he "lenwells9 Down at &aw. &o(se9: 6#h+: she said+ 6no/ $o+ 2 was 3(st o(t for a wal. , getting to .now the island/ m 2 *lose to &aw. &o(se+ then9: 6H(ite *lose+ yes/: 62 was en3oying myself so m(*h+: she said+ 6that 2 didn8t realize how far 28d *ome/: &e stood before her+ his bare feet planted wide apart in the warm sand+ almost as if he were there to stop her from pro*eeding any farther/ &e said+ 6Bell+ this ma.es two disappointments in less than a wee./: 6#h9: 6Bhen yo( *ame aro(nd the point in Lady Jane, with ?eterson+ 2 tho(ght yo( were *oming to pay (s a !isit then/ "(t yo( went right on by+ lea!ing me disappointed/: &is grin no longer seemed as pleasant as it first had4 it seemed positi!ely threatening/ #r was that her imagination9 Ces+ it m(st be thatD imagination+ e1aggeration/ &e was still smiling4 he seemed personable and *harming/ 60hat was yo( on the pier+ with the bino*(lars9: she as.ed/ 6Co( .now it was/: 62 s(ppose 2 do+ yes/: 6Bill yo( a**ept my in!itation to !isit (s9: he as.ed+ loo.ing down on her/ &e was A(ite tall/ 628d li.e that/: 6$ow9: ,he hesitated+ then said+ 62 don8t see why not/: 6Bonderf(l;: &e stepped o(t of her way+ wal.ed (p beside her and too. her arm+ as if he tho(ght she might t(rn and r(n (nless he had a good hold on her/ &is grip was firm4 he appeared inordinately strong/ 0hey wal.ed along the bea*h together/ >rom a distan*e+ they might ha!e loo.ed li.e any happy' go'l(*.y *o(ple/ Fp *lose+ the obser!er wo(ld ha!e seen the lines of tension aro(nd the girl8s eyes+ wo(ld ha!e seen something-something not A(ite identifiable+ b(t (nsettling+ in the big man8s dar. fa*e/ 6Co( li.e the island9: he as.ed/ 62t8s bea(tif(l+: she said/ 62t is that/ ,omeday+ 2 hope to own it/: 6#h9: 6Fnless+ of *o(rse+ yo(r employer+ Do(gherty+ ref(ses to sell his portion/ "(t 28m *onfident that+ gi!en time+ he8ll *ome aro(nd to my offer/ 2t8s more than adeA(ate/ &e *o(ld t(rn a neat profit with what 28m willing to go for it/: 6"(t 2 do(bt he needs the money+: she said/ ,he didn8t .now why she felt li.e needling the man+ b(t she *o(ldn8t resist the *han*e/ 6%!eryone needs the money-or thin.s he does/ )illionaires are no different4 Do(gherty is no different/: s the bea*h t(rned and &aw. &o(se *ame into !iew+ he let go her arm/ 6Bhat stri.es yo( most abo(t Distingue? 60oo many things to *hoose one+: she said/ 60he bea*hes are so p(re white/: 60hat8s be*a(se they8re white "ol#ani# bea*hes/ 0he sand was formed at the most terrifi* heatoh+ ten or twenty tho(sand years ago+ and maybe longer/ ,(rely+ longer/: 6 nd the palm trees+: she said+ motioning to the lo!ely green giants to their left where they *losed in on &aw. &o(se/ 62 wanted to *limb one of the *o*on(t palms for some fr(it+ b(t 2 was afraid that 28d fall and *o(ldn8t *all for help/: 6Be8ll get some *o*on(ts later+ together+: he said/

62 li.e the parrots+ too+: ,onya said/ Bhen she tal.ed+ she felt more at ease/ 60hey8re so pretty and bright/ nd when they ma.e that *awing+ trilling noise+ they ma.e me thin. 28m in some old mo!ie abo(t fri*a or ,o(th meri*a/: &e said+ 62 hate the parrots/: 6>or hea!en8s sa.e+ why9: she as.ed/ 60he noise they ma.e is ra(*o(s+ bothersome+: he said/ ,he loo.ed at him+ saw that he was serio(s/ &is 3aw was set tight+ almost as if he were gritting his teeth/ 6"(t-: &e interr(pted herD 628d e1terminate them if 2 owned the island myself/: 60hey8re so pretty+: she insisted/ 6"(t they don8t belong+: he said/ 60hey8re not a nat(ral lifeform to Distingue. Do(ghtery imported them for his own am(sement/: 6,o9: 60hey simply don8t belong+: he repeated+ gi!ing ea*h word the same+ harsh for*e/ 6"y that reasoning+: ,onya said+ 6yo( *o(ld arg(e for the e1termination of the %eo%le on Disingue. Be aren8t indigeno(s to the island either/ Be don8t belong+ nat(rally spea.ing/ Bhy not e1terminate (s too9: 6)aybe yo( ha!e something there+: he said/ &e grinned at her+ b(t she *o(ld not be *ertain if the grin were gen(ine/ 6&ere we are+: he said+ ta.ing her arm again/ 6Bat*h yo(r step/: &e lead her onto the front por*h of &aw. &o(se+ opened the door+ and lead her into a gloomy entran*e hall that smelled of f(rnit(re polish and old la*e *(rtains/

,%E%$
Kenneth "lenwell es*orted ,onya along the dimly lighted main hall to a set of sliding doors+ p(lled these open in one smooth mo!ement and (shered her into a drawing room where the only light was that whi*h somehow managed to brea. thro(gh the drawn hal!es of the hea!y+ bl(e !el!et drapes-and that eerie bl(e light whi*h a bla*.'and'white tele!ision set p(ts forth/ 0he only signs of life in that room+ at first+ were those glimpsed from the non'life on the tele!ision s*reenD the mo!ement of the a*tors+ *amera *hanges+ the tinny !oi*es and the melodramati* ba*.gro(nd m(si* that rose and fell li.e the sea/ 67randmother+ 7randfather+ 28!e bro(ght *ompany/: 0he !ol(me on the tele!ision went down+ tho(gh not off altogether+ as someone with a remote *ontrol de!i*e rea*ted to Kenneth8s statement/ 60his is ,onya Carter+: Kenneth said/ 6 lo!ely name/: 0he !oi*e had been that of a woman+ b(t thin and wea.+ almost a whisper/ 60han. yo(+: ,onya replied/ "y now+ she had lo*ated the old *o(ple/ 0hey sat in two ridi*(lo(sly o!erst(ffed *hairs+ abo(t ten feet from the tele!ision set+ their feet propped (p on ottomans+ (tility tables beside them+ *o*.' tails set o(t on the tables/ 7rotesA(ely+ it seemed as if they were rooted to the spot+ that they had not mo!ed in years/ 0hey wo(ld remain there+ e!en as *orpses+ (ntil they had rotted and t(rned to d(st/ 6"ring her *loser;: Balter "lenwell snapped/ 0he old man8s !oi*e was as brittle as his wife8s was soft/ 65et8s see what manner of yo(ng lady yo(8!e got here;: 0ho(gh it seemed bo be meant .indly+ ea*h thing he said so(nded li.e an imperio(s *ommand made by a h(morless potentate/ 6&ello+ )r/ "lenwell+: ,onya said+ stepping into the light thrown by the tele!ision set/ 6Bell+ a pretty lady+: Balter said/ 60han. yo(/: "oth the old man and the old woman were in their se!enties+ somewhat ema*iated+ their fa*es lined so hea!ily that they reminded her of pie*es of tablet paper *r(mpled in the fist and then *l(m' sily straightened o(t again/ 0he bl(e light from the tele!ision did nothing at all to ma.e them loo. yo(nger4 the (nnat(ral *olor ga!e them the appearan*e of frozen bodies+ to(*hed by a *oat of frost+ eyes glittering i*ily/ Kenneth had bro(ght two *hairs+ one of whi*h ,onya too.+ gratef(lly/ Bith the tele!ision light framing her+ almost silho(etting her+ she felt as if she were on display/ 60ell Binnie that we8d li.e new refreshments+: 5ydia "lenwell said/ 6Bill do+: Kenneth said/ &e departed+ lea!ing ,onya alone with the old people/ 6@efreshments will be simple+: 5ydia said/ 6$either of (s is (p to real entertaining any more/: 6,pea. for yo(rself+: Balter snapped/ 62 belie!e 2 *o(ld still en3oy a good dan*e or two+ a real formal ball/: 6Ces+ yo( might go to the ball in a *arriage+: 5ydia told him+ leaning forward in her *hair+ smil ' ing+ 6b(t yo(8d ha!e to *ome home in an amb(lan*e/: Balter snorted/ ,onya tho(ght the old *o(ple were merely am(sing ea*h other+ and that the 3ibes were not meant serio(sly+ b(t she *o(ld not be *ertain+ and she felt o(t of pla*e/ 6&ow do yo( happen to .now Kenneth9: 5ydia as.ed/ ,he had on*e been a !ery pretty lady+ ,onya *o(ld see+ b(t now her eyes loo.ed gray+ flat and

d(ll+ her hair wiry and (n.empt/ &er fa*e was *riss'*rossed with wrin.les+ and these were espe' *ially *on*entrated aro(nd the eyes and mo(th+ an (nfort(nate *ondition whi*h ga!e her the loo. of a *(nning weasel and the p(rsed lips of an habit(al gossiper/ t one time+ her A(estion wo(ld ha!e seemed li.e only a polite *on!ersational initiati!e+ b(t now it so(nded half'A(arrelsome+ nosey/ 62 met him on the bea*h+: ,onya said/ 67(adelo(pe9: 6Bell+ not e1a*tly+: ,onya said/ Kenneth had *ome into the room again and ta.en his seat ne1t to ,onya/ &e said+ 6Be met o(tside+ a *o(ple of h(ndred yards from the ho(se+ 3(st a half an ho(r ago/: 6Bhat do yo( mean9: 5ydia as.ed+ not *omprehending+ her p(rsed mo(th in a tight little bow/ 6,he8s wor.ing for the Do(ghertys+: Kenneth e1plained/ 60hose people;: Balter snapped/ 628m t(toring their *hildren+: ,onya said/ 6&ow do yo( stand to wor. for him9: 5ydia as.ed/ 6)r/ Do(gherty+ yo( mean9: 6#f *o(rse+ him/: 6&e treats his people well/: Balter snorted derisi!ely/ 6Be ha!en8t m(*h in *ommon with the Do(gherty family/: 6Co( might e!en say that we8re-at odds with them+: 5ydia added/ 60he yo(ng lady *an8t help abo(t that+: Kenneth said/ 6Be *an hardly blame her for what the Do(ghertys ha!e done/: $either of the old people said anything to that/ ,onya felt distin*tly (n*omfortable in that dar.ened room+ as if the walls were drawing *loser and the air+ despite its *oolness+ was pressing down on her li.e a sentient being4 she imagined that she *o(ld feel walls and air hard against her ba*.+ on her sho(lders+ weighting down on her s*alp+ *r(shing/ Bhy on earth had Kenneth "lenwell insisted on her *oming to the ho(se when he m(st ha!e .nown she wo(ld not be m(*h appre*iated by his grandparents9 t that moment+ a woman in her si1ties+ dressed in a wrin.led maid8s (niform+ p(shed a ser!ing *art into the drawing room/ C(ps and sa(*ers rattled on it/ 0he maid-a rather d(mpy woman with a wo(nded loo.+ wheeled the *art into the *enter of the gathering+ tr(ndling it a*ross one of ,onya8s feet and nearly *at*hing the other as well+ offering no apology and gi!ing no sign that the in*ident had e!en transpired/ ,he said+ 6)rs/ "lenwell+ 2 ain8t (sed to ha!in8 g(ests at this ho(r of the day+ people to ma.e ready for and what all/: 6Be8re not (sed to ha!ing g(ests at any ho(r of the day+ are we+ &attie9: Balter "lenwell *a*.led/ 6=(st the same-: the maid began/ 6&ere we go+ &attie+: Kenneth said+ rising and ta.ing hold of the *art/ 628ll *arry on from this point/: Bitho(t a word+ b(t with a A(i*. and (nfriendly glan*e at ,onya+ the woman t(rned away from the *art+ d(sted her hands on her (n*lean dress+ and waddled o(t of the room/ Kenneth po(red the brandy in the fo(r snifters+ then the steaming *offee+ ser!ed e!eryone in relati!ely short order/ 0ho(gh the rit(al had not ta.en more than three or fo(r min(tes+ ,onya felt as if the maid had left the room ho(rs ago/ 6 ny more threats o!er there9: Balter as.ed+ after a terribly protra*ted silen*e while e!eryone sipped alternately at their brandy and *offee/ 6 ny what9: ,onya as.ed/ ,he had not been e1pe*ting him to spea. to her again+ and she hadn8t been listening/

6Come on+ girl+ yo( .now what 2 mean; 0hreats; &a!e there been more threats against the *hildren9: ,he *leared her throat and said+ 6$o+ not any more/: 6Co( do .now abo(t the threats9: 6#h+ yes+: she ass(red the old man/ 62 .now abo(t them/: 60errible thing+: 5ydia said/ 6Ces/: 6 nd it8s most terrible+: Kenneth said+ 6be*a(se it bro(ght them here to Distingue months ahead of s*hed(le-and it8s .eeping them here for a lot longer than they (s(ally stay/: &e did not seem to realize or *are that his tho(ghtlessly antagonisti* *omments abo(t the Do(ghertys p(t ,onya on the spot/ ,he *o(ld hardly+ after all+ 3oin in a *on!ersation deno(n*ing her employer/ 60hreatened to *(t their throats+ didn8t he9: 62 s(ppose+: ,onya said/ 6&e did+: Balter said/ 6&e threatened to *(t their throats from ear to ear/ "(t there was more than that/: 628ll say there was;: 5ydia wheezed/ ,he was leaning forward+ as if the tal. of blood had gi!en her more energy than she8d .nown at one time in years/ 60ort(re and m(tilate+: Balter said+ sha.ing his grisly old head+ his white hair bl(ed by the tele' !ision/ 60hreatened to tort(re and m(tilate them as well as .ill them/: ,onya swallowed all of her brandy+ trying to still her ner!es+ whi*h were as 3ittery as a *ongre' gation of frogs/ 6Bhat .ind of a man+ do yo( s(ppose+ wo(ld e!en #onsider doing something as (nspea.able as that9: 5ydia as.ed ,onya/ >rom the old woman8s p(rsed lips and an1io(s e1pression+ ,onya *o(ld only s(rmise that she was eager as a s*hoolgirl to meet this mar!elo(sly daring so(l+ whoe!er-or whate!er-he was/ 62 don8t .now+: ,onya said/ 6 monster of some sort+ a-madman/: ,he too. a sip of her *offee/ 6)ore brandy+ ,onya9: Kenneth inA(ired/ 6$o/ $o+ than. yo(/: 62 belie!e the man also threatened to disembowel them+: Balter said/ 6Didn8t he+ Kenneth9: 0he old man held his *offee *(p in both sha.y hands/ 6&e was not so *i!ilized as to word it that ni*ely+: Kenneth said/ 6&e promised+ instead+ 8to open the .ids8 g(ts+8 A(ite a more for*ef(l way of p(tting it/: 0he walls drew nearer/ Despite the air'*onditioning+ ,onya was perspiring/ ,he p(t her *(p down/ 6Borse than that+ tho(gh+: Balter said/ 60he man promised worse than that/: 60he eyes+: 5ydia added/ 6&e promised to do something with their eyes/ 2 don8t remember 3(st what/: "efore any of them *o(ld tell her 3(st what the man had threatened to do with the Do(gherty *hildren8s eyes+ ,onya said+ 6&ow did yo( learn all of this9: 6Ken told (s+: 5ydia said/ 6 nd how did yo( hear all this9: ,onya as.ed the grandson/ &e smiled/ 6@(dolph told me/: 6)r/ ,aine9: 6&e8s the only @(dolph 2 .now aro(nd here/: ,onya was sho*.ed+ for ,aine did not stri.e her as the sort of man who wo(ld go r(nning to the

neighbors+ blabbing the latest gossip-espe*ially to neighbors li.e the "lenwells+ when he .new they did not li.e or asso*iate with the Do(ghertys+ his employers/ nd that meant that she had badly mis3(dged the b(rly bodyg(ard-or it meant that Kenneth "lenwell was lying+ and that he .new abo(t the nat(re of the threats thro(gh some other so(r*e / / / 6Co( .now @(dolph+ then9: she as.ed/ 6Be8re friends/: 6>riends9: 6Bhy so(nd so in*red(lo(s9: Ken as.ed her/ 62s there a law against it9 2 thin. he8s a !ery *apa' ble+ admirable man/: 5ydia leaned far forward in her seat and said+ 62 .now what it was now;: 6Bhat are yo( tal.ing abo(t9: Balter snapped/ 6Bhat that terrible man promised to do with their *hildren-he was going to *(t o(t their eyes+ he said/ 0a.e them right o(t of their heads/ Basn8t that it+ Kenneth9: 6Ces+ 2 thin. so+: he agreed/ ,onya stood so abr(ptly that she *a(ght the ser!ing *art with her hip and 3arred all the (tensils on it+ almost .no*.ing o!er the *(t glass brandy de*anter whi*h the yo(ngest "lenwell barely man' aged to *at*h before it tipped to the floor/ 628m sorry+: she said+ somewhat breathlessly/ ,he wished that she *o(ld *ontrol the tone of her !oi*e+ for she .new that it *ontained a note of ob!io(s pani*/ 6"(t 2 really m(st go now/ 28!e things to do ba*. at ,eawat*h and-: 628m sorry if we8!e frightened yo(+: Kenneth said/ 6$o+ no+ yo( ha!en8t-: ,he t(rned+ aware that she was being r(de+ b(t really not *aring m(*h after ha!ing end(red the past half ho(r with them+ and she made for the open door and the hallway where there was at least a bit more light/ Bhen she opened the front door of &aw. &o(se+ Kenneth was right behind her/ &e said+ 6Co(8re being silly+ yo( .now/: ,he t(rned+ loo.ed (p at him+ sA(inting in the strong s(nlight/ 6#h9 &ow so9: 6%!en if someone does intend to .ill the Do(gherty .ids+ yo(8re safe/ $o one has threatened yo( yet/: ,he nodded and went down the steps/ 628ll wal. yo( ba*.+: he said/ 60hat8s not ne*essary/: 6$o tro(ble/: ,he s(mmoned (p all of her wits+ thin.ing fast+ and she said+ in as le!el and for*ef(l a !oi*e as she *o(ld manage 3(st then+ 6$o+ )r/ "lenwell+ really now/ ?lease don8t bother/ 2 wo(ld m(*h prefer to wal. home alone/ 2 set o(t+ alone+ to e1plore Distingue. 2 want to see it at my own speed+ in my own fashion+ in order to get some emotional feel abo(t the pla*e/ 28m s(re yo(8ll agree that that sort of thing is best done by oneself/: &e grinned/ gain+ loo.ing (p at him+ *a(ght by his dar. eyes+ she *o(ld not be *ertain whether that grin was prod(*ed by high spirits+ or whether he was mo*.ing her/ 6,(it yo(rself+: he said/ 60han. yo( for the *offee and brandy+: she said/ 62t was nothing/: 628m sorry if 2 (pset &attie8s s*hed(le/: &e *ontin(ed to grin/ 6$ot at all/: ,he t(rned away from him and felt relie!ed when she *o(ld no longer see his grin or his eyes/

,he set off toward the bea*h+ went down the stone steps in the ban. at the end of the lawn+ too. off her sandals and let the sand *reep between her toes/ Bhen she rea*hed the edge of the lapping sea+ she t(rned toward ,eawat*h and wal.ed away from &aw. &o(se at a A(i*. b(t not abnormal pa*e/ 6Come again;: he *alled/ ,he pretended not to hear/ 0hin.ing of the grisly details whi*h the "lenwells had insisted on painting for her+ she ro(nded the point and+ as soon as she .new she was o(t of Kenneth "lenwell8s sight+ she began to r(n/ &er breath *ame into her l(ngs in *(rio(s+ short sobs/

%27&0
0he remainder of that wee. passed witho(t signifi*ant e!ent+ as ,onya *ontin(ed to instr(*t le1 and 0ina+ played games with them+ and+ on her off ho(rs+ en3oyed the sea+ sand and s(n+ slowly forgetting abo(t all the portents of dangerD the shar.+ the man standing beneath the palms that night+ the *on!ersation with the "lenwells / / / &er friendship with "ill ?eterson *ontin(ed to flower and seemed+ at times+ to border on more than mere friendship/ 0ho(gh she was *learly attra*ted to him+ and he to her+ ,onya !owed to let the relationship de!elop slowly+ *a(tio(sly+ so that neither *o(ld be h(rt by any e!ent(al re3e*tion/ ,he admired him+ li.ed him+ st(died him from a distan*e when he was (naware of her-b(t she was not yet s(re if she was in lo!e with him/ ,he rather tho(ght she wasn8t/ "(t that might !ery well *ome+ gi!en time+ gi!en leis(re to .now him better/ ,he had also beg(n to grow *lose to "ess Dalton+ &enry8s wife/ 0hat woman was always f(ll of smiles+ teasing+ la(ghing4 she *o(ld e!en *heer &enry when he was in one of his so(r moods+ whi*h was more freA(ently-on*e or twi*e a wee. -than "ill ?eterson had at first let on/ &elga+ the *oo.+ remained A(iet+ shy+ !i!a*io(s only when the s(b3e*t was food in general or her *oo.ing in parti*(lar/ 5eroy )ills+ the handyman+ also remained standoffish+ saying little+ ma.ing himself s*ar*e when she was aro(nd/ %a*h time she saw him+ she tried to fit him to the shadow she had seen beneath the palms / / / #n her se*ond ,at(rday at ,eawat*h+ ,onya was s(mmoned to =oe Do(gherty8s airy st(dy at the top of the ho(se+ where she was gi!en her first bi'wee.ly pay*he*.+ the first+ she hoped+ of many/ 0ho(gh she had wor.ed at a n(mber of part'time 3obs d(ring high s*hool and *ollege+ this was the first f(ll'time position she had e!er held4 the re*eipt of the *he*.+ therefore+ was a spe*ial o**asion+ li.e a milestone in the 3o(rney toward *omplete mat(rity and responsibility/ nd sin*e most of the *he*.+ e1*ept for some mad money+ wo(ld be ban.ed in a sa!ings a**o(nt-re*ei!ing room and board in addition to her salary+ she had few o(tside e1penses-she was espe*ially pleased and e1*ited by the sight of that first salary *he*.+ almost li.e a teenager on her first 3ob/ 6Co(8!e done !ery well+: =oe told her/ 6&elen and 2 thin. that Dr/ 0oomey *o(ldn8t ha!e *ome (p with anyone better for the 3ob/: ,he smiled and loo.ed at her hands/ 60han. yo(-=oe/: 60he *hildren feel the same way+: he said/ 60hey8re absol(tely *razy abo(t yo(+ and therefore they8re learning/: 62 li.e them too+: she said/ 60hey ma.e it easy to tea*h them+ to ha!e f(n with them/ 0hey8re both awf(lly bright+ as inA(isiti!e as any .ids 28!e e!er *ome a*ross/: &e nodded+ aware of his *hildren8s talents/ &e said+ 6>or some time now+ &elen and 2 ha!e wanted to get away+ by o(rsel!es+ for a short !a*ation+ a wee. or two/ Be ha!e friends in California we8!e been promising to !isit for months now/: ,he .new what was *oming+ didn8t li.e it+ b(t said nothing/ 6Be8ll be going o!er to 7(adelo(pe tomorrow morning+ in the Lady Jane, and we8ll *at*h a pri' !ate plane o(t of the islands+ aro(nd ele!en o8*lo*./ 0hat ta.es (s straight into )iami+ where we ha!e an ho(r lay'o!er before the *ommer*ial flight to 5os ngeles/: ,onya nodded/ &e said+ 62 typed o(t o(r intended s*hed(le and left it with @(dolph+ and 28!e got another *opy of it+ here+ for yo(/:

&e handed her a gray+ Iero1 sheet of paper/ ,he tried to *on*eal the trembling in her hands when she too. the paper from him/ ,he stret*hed it tight+ holding it with both hands+ and she tho(ght she managed to appear relati!ely (nr(ffled+ tho(gh+ all the while+ she was thin.ing of the threats that had been made against le1 and 0ina/ =oe Do(gherty leaned ba*. in his des. *hair and said+ 6Be8ll be staying with friends4 the ad' dresses are there at the bottom of the page+ along with telephone n(mbers/: ,onya loo.ed+ saw them+ *leared her throat and said+ 6>ine/: &er !oi*e+ e!en in that single word+ did not so(nd so strong and *alm as she wo(ld ha!e li.ed/ &e hesitated+ as if he did not .now how to phrase what he m(st say ne1t+ swi!eled to loo. at the bl(e s.y that shone behind one of his large windows and+ gaining strength from that !iew+ t(rned to her on*e more/ 62f+ for any reason+ yo( sho(ld need to *onta*t (s+ feel free to *all at any ho(r of the day or night/: 6Bill 2 need to+ do yo( thin.9: she as.ed/ &er !oi*e so(nded small and sha.y+ b(t she did not *are/ 62t8s highly (nli.ely+: he said/ ,he wondered / / / &e said+ 6"(t those .ids are awf(lly a*ti!e+ li.e a *o(ple of yo(ng p(ps always s*ampering abo(t/ 2f one of them sho(ld fall o(t of a *o*on(t tree or try to swim too far o(t toward the sandbars -or get h(rt in some other way+ we wo(ld+ of *o(rse+ want to .now abo(t that immediately/: &e smiled/ 6Be8re not the o!erly prote*ti!e sort of parents+ b(t we do li.e to .eep tabs on those s*amps/: 6$at(rally+: she said/ 6#n the other hand+: he said+ 6they are *ertainly not fragile+ not by any means/ 0hey8re as fle1ible as two r(bber bands4 they8ll snap ba*. from 3(st abo(t anything+ li.e most .ids their ages+ 2 s(ppose/ ,o+ if 2 were yo(+ ,onya+ 2 wo(ldn8t lay awa.e nights worrying abo(t them/ %!ery .id gets his A(ota of s*rapes and br(ises4 that8s a part of growing (p/: ,he had de*ided to say nothing abo(t the *ir*(mstan*es whi*h had sent the Do(gherty family to Distingue ahead of their yearly s*hed(le+ and she was s(rprised to find herself saying it nonetheless+ as if the words were being formed against her !olition+ as if the !oi*e she was (sing was not hers at all/ 6Bhat abo(t the man who-threatened them9: she as.ed/ &is fa*e *lo(ded+ b(t only for a moment/ &e was the sort of man who was rarely depressed or frightened-one of the reasons ,onya li.ed wor.ing for him so m(*h-and was also the .ind of man who+ when he was *on*erned+ wo(ld be *aref(l not to let his an1iety spread to those aro(nd him/ &is frown+ therefore+ was short'li!ed+ repla*ed almost at on*e by his *ontagio(s smile/ &e leaned ba*. in his *hair again+ and he said+ 62 s(spe*t that we8!e long sin*e o(tdistan*ed that man and his threats/: 6&e still frightens me+: she said/ 6Don8t thin. abo(t it+: he said/ 60hat entire episode is o!er and done with/: 62 *an8t help it+: she said+ feeling somewhat li.e a ninny+ b(t determined to ma.e her own feelings (nderstood/ Do(gherty leaned forward again+ h(n*hing *onspiratorily o!er his big des.+ his arms resting on it+ his hands folded together in the *enter of the big blotter/ 60he man was neuroti#, ,onya+ mentally dist(rbed/ "(t 2 don8t belie!e that he was *ompletely mentally (nbalan*ed/ 2f he had been (tterly mad+ a psy*hoti* instead of a ne(roti*+ he wo(ld ha!e done less threatening+ less post(ring+ and he wo(ld ha!e a*ted/ &e wo(ld long ago ha!e h(rt the *hildren/: 62 g(ess so/: 62 know so/:

6"(t-: Do(gherty interr(pted/ 6>(rthermore+ e!en if the man was *apable of doing the hideo(s things he said he wo(ld+ he has been left behind in $ew =ersey/: 62f 2 *o(ld be s(re of that-: 628m s(re+: Do(gherty said/ 6?ositi!e/ Be8!e been here for months+ now/ 2f he were *oming after (s+ he wo(ld ha!e arri!ed long ago/ &e8s most li.ely t(rned his attention elsewhere+ harassing some other (ns(spe*ting family/ psy*hoti* wo(ld ha!e *ome after (s at on*e+ for we wo(ld be the only satisfa*tory targets for his twisted hatred+ and he wo(ld feel at a great loss if he *o(ldn8t *on tin(e to torment (s/ ne(roti*+ howe!er+ a less ill man+ wo(ld easily t(rn his hatred elsewhere/ nd tho(gh 2 pity the family he bothers ne1t+ 28m 3(st as glad that we8re o(t of it and that he8s fo(nd someone else for his games/: ,onya tho(ght that she dete*ted an eagerness to see an end to the affair+ e!en at the *ost of the madman8s original intent+ b(t she did not thin. it was her pla*e to say so/ 6Co(8re right+ 2 s(ppose+: she said/ &e smiled+ nodded/ 62 wanted yo( to ha!e o(r s*hed(le in the e!ent of some a**ident/ 2 didn8t mean to (pset yo(+ ,onya/: 628m o.ay now+: she said/ 67ood/ Be8ll see yo( again in a *o(ple of wee.s+ then/: 6&a!e a good trip+: she said/ 6Be will+ than. yo(/: 0he steps down from the third floor seemed endless+ shifting and trea*hero(s+ for ,onya was the slightest bit dizzy/ ,he went to her own room and lay down on the bed+ the Do(ghertys8 !a*ation s*hed(le still *l(t*hed in her hand/ 2t wo(ld be all right/ ,he tho(ght of Kenneth "lenwell+ of the dar.ened rooms of &aw. &o(se+ tho(ght of the old *o(ple !egetating before the tele!ision set+ tho(ght of the strength in Kenneth8s hands when he had gripped her arm / / / 0he two alligators+ framing the loo.ing'glass+ seemed almost ali!e+ snapping at ea*h other/ ,onya *almly for*ed herself to thin. abo(t "ill ?eterson who+ if "lenwell represented danger+ represented safety and se*(rityD he was light where Kenneth "lenwell was dar.4 he was gay where "lenwell was s(llen4 he was open where "lenwell was *losed and foreboding4 he was simple and dire*t+ where "lenwell was (nne*essarily *omple1 and d(pli*ito(s/ &e was easily as strong as "len' well+ as tall+ as !igoro(s+ and s(rely more dependable/ s long as "ill was aro(nd+ she tho(ght+ nothing too terrible *o(ld happen to anyone/ nd+ of *o(rse+ @(dolph ,aine wo(ld be near at all times+ ho!ering 3(st at the edge of her sight+ his pistol holstered (nder his arm+ his eyes wat*hf(l/ 0hat sho(ld ma.e her feel e!en safer/ "etween ?eterson and @(dolph ,aine+ nothing bad *o(ld happen+ absol(tely nothing/

"##K 0B#

$2$%
,hortly past nine o8*lo*. on ,(nday e!ening+ ha!ing eaten a simple meal with the rest of the staff and (nable to be*ome interested in the no!el she was reading+ ,onya went for a wal.+ alone+ in the gardens to the north of ,eawat*h/ &ere+ small *a*t(s of many !arieties+ miniat(re palm trees+ or' ange trees+ tropi*al roses+ arbors f(ll of bo(gain!illea+ and wild or*hids of *o(ntless strains were .ept in neat and yet *olorf(l order by 5eroy )ills/ ,he was assailed by one heady s*ent *lose after the otherD se*ond *rop orange blossoms+ the warm sweetness of bo(gain!illea+ the m(stiness of the *a*t(s+ the indes*ribable fragran*e of h(ndreds of blooming or*hids/ 2n this wonderf(l olfa*tory fantasyland+ where e!en the semi'dar.ness ga!e !iew of *olors that were bright and stri.ing+ she was able to forget the last tra*es of her lingering fear+ at least temporarily+ and gi!e herself o!er to the pleas(res of *omm(ning with $at(re8s lo!eliest *reations/ ,tone wal.ways meandered thro(gh the garden+ *arrying her from one type of flower to another+ from palms to orange trees+ to or*hids and to roses+ thro(gh the sheltering arbors and o(t again+ ,eawat*h+ hea!ily lighted+ threw a pale yellow glow e!en this far and+ tho(gh lea!ing her shro(ded in p(rple shadows+ made her feel sale and rela1ed/ ,he *o(ld+ if she pa(sed in her stroll a moment+ hear the soft s(ss(ration of the roiling sea as it slid into the bea*h A(ite *lose at hand/ 2t was a *alming so(nd+ rhythmi*+ as soothing as a mother8s .iss/ ,he sat (pon a stone ben*h whi*h was sit(ated twenty feet from the garden path+ between two dense arms of sho(lder'high tropi*al rose b(shes+ listening to the sea and en3oying the e1oti* fra' gran*es that h(ng li.e hea!y *lothing on the moist night air/ 0he ben*h was swathed in shadows+ whi*h m(st ha!e been the reason why the man who s(ddenly appeared on the wal.way+ mo!ing toward ,eawat*h with a swift and p(rposef(l stride+ didn8t see her immediately / / / #!er the hypnoti* boom of the s(rf and the after'e*hoes of ea*h r(shing wa!e+ she tho(ght that she heard someone *o(ghD on*e+ sharply+ as if to *lear the throat/ moment later+ leaning forward on the ben*h in order to hear better+ she fan*ied that she de' te*ted the so(nd of approa*hing footsteps on the garden path/ br(ptly+ as the man wal.ed o(t of the arbor of bo(gain!illea on his way toward the ho(se+ her fan*y was pro!en real/ ,he rose+ to go meet him+ whoe!er he was/ >or an instant+ in the ba*. of her mind+ there rose the notion that he might not be someone she .new-and e!en if he were+ he might not be a friend at all/ "(t she br(shed away the pessimisti* tho(ght and went toward the path/ ,he *o(ld not see who he was+ for the dar.ness was a mas. a*ross his fa*e+ and it played de*epti!e tri*.s with his size and b(ild/ s yet+ he was obli!io(s of her/ ,he saw that his loping stride wo(ld *arry him past her before she *o(ld rea*h the path+ and she said+ 6Bho8s there9: &e stopped *old/

6"ill9: &e said nothing/ 6"ill9: she repeated+ be*a(se that was who she hoped he was+ not be*a(se she re*ognized him/ &e seemed frozen to the spot/ &ypnotized / / / ,he stopped+ too+ half a dozen A(i*. steps away from him+ alerted by some s(bliminal danger signal+ still (nable to see 3(st who he was/ &e was only a silho(ette/ mass of shadows shaped somewhat li.e a man+ nothing more/ 6@(dolph9: ,he *o(ld hear him breathing/ &e said nothing/ 0hen+ as if the words had been spo.en by someone else who had magi*ally possessed her body+ her ba*. *old with s(dden perspiration+ she said+ 6Ken9: &e t(rned and ran/ 6Bait;: she sho(ted/ &e disappeared into the arbor from whi*h he had originally *ome+ his dar.ness blending in perfe*tly with the deeper dar.ness of that leafy t(nnel+ gone li.e a genie !anishing ba*. into the lamp/ ,he went after him/ ,onya .new+ now+ .new more s(rely than she *o(ld e!er ha!e p(t into words+ that she had a**i' dentally en*o(ntered the same man who had made the threats against le1 and 0ina / / / the man who had dri!en the Do(gherty family from its home in $ew =ersey to ,eawat*h and Distingue / / / the man with all the tales abo(t .ni!es and m(tilation / / / tort(re and death/ ,he *o(ld not ha!e prod(*ed any real or *ir*(mstantial e!iden*e to pro!e her *on*l(sion/ 2nstead+ her *ertainty was based (pon some si1th or se!enth sense+ on some (ne1plained b(t (ndeniable flash of *lair!oyan*eD this is the man; nd if she were *orre*t4 if this were the madman who had *a(sed so m(*h ang(ish+ she *o(ld not let him get away s*ott free witho(t first *at*hing a glimpse of his fa*e or of some other distin' g(ishing feat(re that wo(ld later ser!e to identify himD his e1a*t size+ his b(ild+ his manner of dress/ ,he ran after him/ 0he sea was forgotten+ tho(gh it still th(mped the bea*h and e*hoed on the flat sands/ 0he flowers were forgotten too/ ll she *o(ld thin. abo(t was *at*hing (p to the stranger/ ,he ran into the open mo(th of the waiting arbor/ ,he br(shed the lea!es aside+ at the opening+ felt them slither o!er her bare arms li.e the deli*ate wings of inse*ts+ and she stepped into (nrelie!ed bla*.ness/ ,he had tho(ght that he wo(ld r(n the entire length of the arbor+ into the open air again+ from there a*ross the remainder of the gardens and into the thi*.+ sheltering pine forests of the *entral part of the island+ m(*h too A(i*. for her to *at*h/ "(t she had been wrong abo(t that+ !ery wrong/ &e remained in the arbor/ &e stood A(ite still against the lefthand wall+ holding his breath+ listening for p(rs(it/ &e was waiting for her/ ,he did not disappoint him/ ,he *ried o(t when she br(shed against him+ re*oiled li.e a .itten from a sna.e/ ,he t(rned/ &e grabbed her+ whirled her aro(nd to fa*e him on*e more+ tho(gh in that pit*h+ she *o(ld only s(ppose they were fa*e'to'fa*e/ &is hands let go of her arms and+ in an instant+ had a tight hold on her ne*./ ,he s*reamed/

2t was a terribly wea. s*ream+ too shallow to ha!e *arried *lear o!er to ,eawat*h+ m(*h too shallow to be heard and draw any help/ (seless+ whispered s*ream / / / &e pressed her ba*. against the wall of the arbor/ &ard ropy !ines go(ged at her ba*.+ li.e horns or li.e talons+ h(rting her/ %!en now+ e!en as she gagged and twisted (nder the press(re of his large+ dry+ determined hands+ ,onya tried to see something of him/ &is fa*e *o(ld be no more than in*hes away from her own+ for she *o(ld feel the wash of his rapidly e1haled breaths against her forehead / / / "(t the dar.ness+ in the final analysis+ was too deep+ too intense for her to dis*o!er anything at all abo(t him/ %1*ept+ of *o(rse+ that he was frightened of being dis*o!ered and that his hands+ his sA(eezing hands+ were awf(lly large and strong/ ,trangely+ tho(gh his grip on her throat was de*idedly (n*omfortable+ it was not deadly/ &e held her against the wall of the arbor+ and he *(t off most of her breath+ b(t he delayed ma.ing that last little bit of effort that wo(ld finish her off-almost as if he had to ha!e time to b(ild (p his *o(rage for the .ill / / / ,he sA(irmed+ tried to p(ll free of him+ fo(nd that she was only ma.ing the pain at her throat worse+ li.e a hot file s*raping away at half her esophag(s/ ,he tried to s*ream again/ $o so(ndD 3(st pain/ #.ay+ no s*reaming/ ,he wo(ld tal. to him+ reason with him+ as. him to please let her go so they *o(ld tal. this o!er li.e reasonable h(man beings/ "(t when she tried to spea. softly and per' s(asi!ely+ she fo(nd that she had no more l(*. than she had had with her s*reamD the words re ' mained (nspo.en+ *ho.ed down/ Bitho(t warning+ witho(t apparent reason+ he tightened his hands+ mo!ing *loser+ ha!ing gotten the ne*essary *o(rage / / / n e!en deeper dar.ness+ a tho(sand times bla*.er than the pit*h beneath the arbor+ whirled and dan*ed tantalizingly at the ba*. of her mind+ growing e!er larger+ *loser+ beginning to en!elope her li.e soft ra!en wings-or li.e a shro(d/ >or the first time in this nightmarish en*o(nter+ ,onya was gen(inely+ (nreser!edly terrified and not merely afraid/ &er terror swelled+ bloomed+ blossomed into the (ltimate horrorD the e1pe*tation of *ertain death / / / ,omehow+ (ntil this !ery min(te+ she had not been able to en!ision herself as a *orpse+ lifeless and *old and finished fore!er/ ?erhaps it was an abs(rd appli*ation of her o!erly'optimisti* approa*h to e!erything in life+ b(t she honestly had not serio(sly *onsidered the possibility that she might die here+ in the gardens+ between the madman8s hard+ dry and deadly hands/ $ow+ of ne*essity+ she (nderstood/ ,he grabbed his wrists/ 0hey were thi*.+ *orded with m(s*le/ ,he *o(ld not b(dge them/ H(i*.ly+ she slid her hands along his arms+ to his bi*eps+ trying to for*e him away/ "la*.nessD *loser+ *loser / / / ,he ra.ed her nails at his fa*e/ nd again/ ,he missed both times+ stri.ing only air/ ,he twisted and fo(ght+ growled deep in her throat as she felt herself wea.ening and .new that she m(st not gi!e in to that sweet+ be*.oning (n*ons*io(sness that+ right now+ seemed so wel*ome+ so !ery desirable/ &e was gasping for air+ too+ as if he were the one who was being methodi*ally strangled to death+ and he whimpered eerily+ li.e some wo(nded animal+ with ea*h indrawn breath/ ,onya *o(ld sense+ rather than feel+ the great+ ner!o(s tremors whi*h shoo. the man8s entire body li.e re!erberations passing thro(gh a gong/

,he .new that she had only moments left/ lmost (n*ons*io(sly+ with the mindless desperation of a *ornered animal+ she raised her right foot and bro(ght the hard+ plasti* heel of her loafer down solidly on the toes of his left foot+ gro(nd hard/ &e was wearing only *an!as'topped snea.ers+ whi*h afforded him no prote*tion at all/ &e *ried o(t+ let go of her with one hand as he rea*hed for his in3(red foot/ ,he twisted+ p(shed hard against him+ tore free/ 6&ey;: ,he ran+ sobbing hysteri*ally+ *ollided with the far wall of the arbor+ re'oriented herself+ and made for the open end of the arbor+ the way she had *ome/ &e grabbed her sho(lder and sent her st(mbling into the wall again/ ,omehow+ e!en h(rt as he was+ he was right behind her/ ,he p(shed off the wall+ o(t of his grip+ and ran again/ C(rio(sly+ altho(gh he was no longer throttling her+ ,onya felt still on the edge of (n*ons*io(s' ness4 that formless+ bla*. *lo(d grew nearer+ nearer still+ soft and warm/ ,he only managed to .eep going be*a(se the tho(ght of *ollapsing so *lose to es*ape (tterly inf(riated her-and from her f(ry+ she fo(nd a few last dregs of energy/ 0he end of the arbor was only thirty feet away+ tho(gh she wo(ld not ha!e A(estioned anyone who told her that it was really a mile instead4 it felt li.e a mile+ ea*h step a ma3or 3o(rney/ 0hen the air was *ooler+ the dar.ness less dar. / / / t the end of the arbor+ he *a(ght her again+ one hand on her sho(lder+ sp(n her aro(nd with a s(ddenness that 3er.ed her off balan*e/ ,he gasped+ staggered+ almost fell/ &e wo(ld ha!e gone for her throat in another se*ond+ and then she wo(ld ha!e been finished for s(re/ "(t she did not gi!e him that se*ond4 she stamped o(t+ twi*e+ *a(ght his in3(red foot on the se*ond try/ ,he did not stri.e it hard+ b(t 3(st hard eno(gh/ &e yelped+ hopped to one foot+ fell with a *rash/ ,he t(rned and ran again/ 0he night air was *ooler than she remembered it+ really *ool+ almost *hilly/ &er throat b(rned as if a fire had been set inside of it+ and it was too raw to permit+ yet+ a *ry for help/ ,he passed the ben*h where she had been sitting when the man had first appeared from the arbor+ .ept on going/ dozen pa*es from the edge of the garden+ on the !erge of the open lawn where the light of ,eawat*h spilled more prof(sely+ ,onya tripped on a loose stone in the wal.+ fell/ ,he tried to get (p/ ,he *o(ld not/ &er heart ra*ing+ so winded that she *o(ld only barely get her breath+ she passed o(t/

0%$
Bhen she wo.e+ she did not .now where she was-tho(gh she definitely .new where she wasn't. ,he was not in her h(ge ?olynesian bed on the se*ond floor of ,eawat*h+ not in the *enter of that soft+ A(een'sized mattress where she had spent the past ele!en nights/ 0he s(rfa*e beneath her was hard and somewhat *hilly/ ,he lay still for a long while+ trying to remember what had happened and where she was/ ,he hated+ more than anything else+ to wa.e (p in a strange pla*e and not .now+ for a few moments+ how she had gotten there/ Bhen her parents were .illed in the a(tomobile a**ident+ she had gone thro(gh a n(mber of s*enes li.e that/ >irst+ in the middle of the night+ she had been mo!ed to the neighbors8 ho(se while she slept+ her parents already an ho(r or so dead+ her babysitter sent home4 in the morning+ when she had opened her eyes+ her heart had risen instantly into her throat+ for she re*ognized nothing aro(nd her/ 0hat day+ she was ta.en in by an a(nt and wo.e in that ho(se the following morning+ *onf(sed+ somewhat frightened+ longing for the familiarity of her own bedroom with the dolls she .new so well+ the s*atter of .ni*.na*.s and so(!enirs that instantly reass(red her when she wo.e there among them/ 0he day before the f(neral+ she was mo!ed in with her grandmother+ where she was to stay+ and was fa*ed with a third strange setting to grow a**(stomed to/ ,he remembered the fear in the morning+ when she opened her eyes on the (nfamiliar *eiling+ lying in a bed whi*h she did not remember and was s(re she8d ne!er (sed before+ a sense of impermanen*e sweeping o!er her li.e a bla*. tide / / / ,(ddenly+ she re*alled the *orresponding bla*.ness in the t(nnel of the bo(gain!illea arbor+ the bla*.ness that had *losed in on her and made her faint+ and she opened her eyes li.e sh(tters flying (p on two small+ twin *ameras/ 0he starry s.y lay o!erhead/ ?art of a moon/ ,he seemed to be ali!e+ something she was s(rprised to find/ ,he was stret*hed o(t at the edge of the gardens+ lying half a*ross the stone wal. and half in the grass+ where she had fallen/ #ne arm was fl(ng o(t to her side+ the other abo!e her head so that+ had she been standing+ she wo(ld ha!e loo.ed as if she were preparing to do a flamen*o dan*e/ Despite her sit(ation+ she was am(sed at that tho(ght/ ,he mo!ed+ seemed to be all right+ sat (p/ 0hat was a mista.e/ &er head began to throb as if there were a tiny man inside beating at her s.(ll with a sledgehammer/ fier*e pain ar*ed o!er both eyebrows+ and it seemed the lasting sort/ lso+ her throat felt swollen and raw+ and she wondered if she wo(ld be able to swallow a long+ *old glass of water/ 0hat drin. was what she desired more than anything else on earth/ ,he to(*hed the sides of her ne*.+ *aref(lly+ gently/ 2t was swollen+ b(t the pain was not so terrible+ more of a tenderness+ li.e a sprained an.le or p(lled m(s*le/ ,he got slowly to her feet+ li.e an in!alid do(bting the effe*t of some new mira*le dr(g+ rea*hed o(t and stopped the world from spinning aro(nd and aro(nd li.e a top/ Bhen it settled down+ and she managed to .eep her balan*e abo(t as easily as a girl on a tightrope might+ she t(rned toward ,eawat*h+ blin.ed at the pale light in its windows and+ with a small sigh+ began the long wal. a*ross the north lawn/ 2t was good to be ali!e/ ,he didn8t .now how she has es*aped the man in the arbor+ why he hadn8t gi!en *hase and fo(nd her+ b(t she did .now it was perfe*tly wonderf(l to be ali!e/ ,he hoped she *o(ld stay that way a while longer/

%5%E%$
6Co( didn8t see anything9: 6$othing at all+ @(dolph/: 6$ot e!en a glimpse of his fa*e9: 6$o/: 60hin./: 62 ha!e tho(ght/: 6Bhen yo( grappled with him+ what *o(ld yo( tell abo(t his hair9 "ald9 ,hort9 5ong9: 62 didn8t noti*e/: 6)ight he ha!e had a m(sta*he9: 62 don8t thin. so/: 6&ow do yo( .now+ ,onya9 2n yo(r str(ggles+ did yo( to(*h this man8s fa*e9 Did yo( feel that he was *lean sha!en9: 6$o/: 60hen yo( *an8t really be s(re abo(t the m(sta*he/ nd he might e!en ha!e had a beard/: 6&e might ha!e/: 6&ow large a man was he9: 6&e seemed h(ge/: ,he sh(ddered at the memory/ @(dolph sA(inted at her+ as if he were ready to stri.e her with one of his hammy fists/ 2nstead+ he str(*. the top of the .it*hen table+ and he said+ 62 didn8t as. yo( how the man see&ed. 2 as.ed yo( how he was. Bas he a large man-or was he small9 Bas he fat9 0hin9 #r merely a!erage9: 6&e wasn8t fat or thin+: she said/ 6$either e1treme/ "(t he was A(ite strong+ m(s*(lar/: &er !oi*e was a thin+ strained hissing+ li.e air es*aping from a press(rized spray*an/ %a*h word pained her+ made her mo(th r(n dry and her tight throat *onstri*t e!en f(rther/ 6&ow tall9: 62 don8t .now/: &e grima*ed/ 6Bell+ 2 don8t+: she said/ &e said+ 6$o taller than yo(9: 60aller than me+ yes/: 6,ee+ yo( do .now;: ,he said nothing/ &e said+ 60aller than me9: ,he loo.ed at him as he stood-si1 feet fo(r in*hes or better/ 6$ot so tall as yo(+: she said/ 6 ro(nd si1 feet9: 6)aybe/: 60hin./ Co( *an8t be s(re9: 6$o/: 6>or 7od8s sa.e+ @(dolph;: "ill ?eterson snapped/ 0he bodyg(ard loo.ed at him+ waiting patiently for the rest of his o(tb(rst/ ?eterson said+ 60he girl has had an absol(tely horrible e1perien*e/ Co( *an see that she8s in pain+ and she8s still frightened/ #n top of all that+ she8s tired/ Cet yo( *ontin(e to a*t as if what she has to tell yo( is !ital to-:

6't is "ital, ,aine said/ &is !oi*e was firm+ *old+ final+ and he nodded his b(rly head in the manner of a wise man who+ ha!ing spo.en+ e1pe*ts no e1pressions of do(bt or *ontradi*tion/ 628m o.ay+: ,onya told ?eterson/ ,he tried to smile at him+ tho(gh that e1pression *a(sed her a twinge of pain beneath the *hin+ and she rea*hed o(t to sA(eeze his hand/ 6,i1 feet tall+ then+: ,aine said+ m(sing o!er what little data they had managed to p(zzle o(t/ 60hat8s something+ anyway/: 6Damn little+: "ill said/ 628m aro(nd si1 feet tall+ as are &enry and Kenneth "lenwell/ nd if ,onya mis3(dged by a *o(ple of in*hes either way -A(ite an easy+ (nderstandable error to ma.e *onsidering the sit(ation that she was in-we *o(ld in*l(de both yo( and 5eroy )ills/: 6 h+ yes+: ,aine said/ 6"(t we ha"e eliminated the women/: &e had a r(ef(l smile on his fa*e/ 6Fnless+ of *o(rse+ one of them is in leag(e with the man who atta*.ed ,onya/: 6 nd yo( forget+: ?eterson said+ 6that whoe!er this man is+ he8s most li.ely an o(tsider+ a stranger+ perhaps someone we8!e ne!er seen/ 2n whi*h *ase+ yo(r g(ess at his height is e!en more worthless/: ,aine ga!e ?eterson one last+ *lose s*r(tiny+ then t(rned ba*. to ,onya to res(me the A(estion' ing/ 6Did this man in the garden say anything to yo(9: 6$othing/: 6$ot a single word in all that time9: ,he hesitated/ &e saw the hesitation+ leaned a*ross the table and said+ 6Bell9: ,onya said+ 62 belie!e he sho(ted at me+ when 2 first stamped on his foot and bro.e away from him/: 6Bhat did he sho(t9: 6 single word-something li.e 8,top8 or 8&ey/8: 6Co( didn8t re*ognize his !oi*e9: 62 wasn8t thin.ing abo(t that+ 3(st then/ &e might ha!e been someone 2 .now+ and he might not ha!e been/ 2t8s hard to say-from a single word/: 6&is *lothes9: 62 didn8t see them/: 6Co( said he was wearing tennis shoes/: 62 thin. he was+ *an!as tops of some .ind/: 6$ot m(*h help+: ?eterson said/ 6$early e!eryone in the tropi*s owns at least one pair of snea.' ers/: &e loo.ed at @(dolph ,aine and said+ 628m wearing so*.s and loafers right now+ if yo( want to *he*./: 62 .now yo( are+: ,aine said/ 62 already *he*.ed/: 6Co(8re a to(gh *ase+: ?eterson told him/ 62 ha!e to be/: 62f yo( s(spe*t e!eryone in ,eawat*h+ "ill said+ 6why don8t yo( line (s all (p against the wall+ li.e they do in the mo!ies-then ma.e (s ta.e o(r shoes off9 2f one of (s has a bloody set of toes+ then / / /: &e snapped his fingers/ 6Eoila; 0he *ase is sol!ed;: ,aine shr(gged his massi!e sho(lders+ (nmo!ed by the s(ggestion+ whi*h ?eterson had made half in sar*asm/ 62f the man was wearing so*.s and snea.ers+: ,aine said+ 6it is (nli.ely that )iss Carter drew blood/ &is toes may be br(ised-and they may be (ns*arred/ %!en if 2 were to find e!i' den*e of s(*h an in3(ry on one of yo(+ what good wo(ld that e!iden*e do me9 Co( may ha!e h(rt yo(rself in some other manner / / / ,(*h flimsy 8e!iden*e8 wo(ld ne!er be admissable in *o(rt/: 6,till+: ?eterson said+ 6at least yo(8d ha!e some idea who-: 6Ces+: ,aine agreed/ 6 nd the man 2 s(spe*ted wo(ld .now he was s(spe*ted/ &e wo(ld lay low/ &e wo(ld be*ome e!en more *aref(l than he has been to date/ 2f he finally did .ill the *hildren+

he wo(ld ha!e himself prote*ted with a *ast iron alibi+ be*a(se he wo(ld .now that nothing else b(t *ast iron wo(ld stop me from mo!ing against him/: 62n other words+ yo( want to gi!e him eno(gh rope to hang himself+: ?eterson said/ ,aine said nothing/ 62sn8t that-sort of playing with the *hildren8s li!es9: ,aine said+ 6)r/ Do(gherty tr(sts my 3(dgment/ 0his is my 3ob+ not yo(rs/ Co( m(st rest easy and not let it worry yo( so/: &e smiled a non'smile/ ,onya sA(eezed "ill8s hand all the harder+ to let him .now that+ if he were arg(ing with ,aine for her sa.e or be*a(se he was angry with the bodyg(ard8s treatment of her+ none of this was ne*essary/ ,he was tired of anger+ raised !oi*es+ so m(*h s(spi*ion/ ,he wo(ld 3(st as soon get the A(estions and answers done with+ no matter how pointless they might seem+ so that she *o(ld go (pstairs and get into bed-perhaps with an i*ebag at her throat/ "ill seemed to ta.e the hint+ for he did not respond to ,aine this time/ &e 3(st sat there at the table+ beside her+ staring a*ross at the big man+ loo.ing angry b(t powerless/ ,aine said+ 6Bas this man wearing a wat*h+ ,onya9: 6$o/: 6 ny rings9: 62 don8t .now/: 6&is hands were aro(nd yo(r throat for a long time+ as yo( tell the story/ $ow+ s(rely+ yo(8d .now whether or not he was wearing any rings/ ring wo(ld go(ge at yo(r s.in+ more than li.ely/ t the !ery least+ it wo(ld ma.e an espe*ially painf(l point/: 62t all h(rt so m(*h+ 2 didn8t noti*e if one pla*e h(rt more than another+: she said/ ,he r(bbed her throat lightly/ 0he swelling had gone down a bit+ b(t the br(ises had beg(n to appear+ brown' p(rple and (gly/ ,he hated for e!eryone to see her li.e this/ ,he *a(ght a glan*e from 5eroy )ills who was sitting on a *hair by the refrigerator4 he bl(shed+ loo.ed down at his hands/ &e seemed as embarrassed by her br(ises as she was/ 6Bas he left' or right'handed+ ,onya9: @(dolph ,aine as.ed/ ,he blin.ed in s(rprise and+ for a moment+ tho(ght that he was .idding her/ Bhen she saw that he was not being f(nny+ that he was perfe*tly serio(s+ she said+ 6&ow on earth sho(ld 2 .now9: 6Bhen he grabbed hold of yo(-yo(8ll remember that yo( said he grabbed yo( se!eral times d(ring yo(r t(ssel (nder the arbor-did he always (se the same hand9: 628m not s(re/: 6Can yo( remember a single in*ident9 0he first time he grabbed yo(+ was it with his left or right hand9 Bhi*h sho(lder did he ta.e hold of+ ,onya9: ,he shoo. her head/ 62 *an8t say/: 60ry/: 62t was so dar.+ and the whole thing was s(*h a nightmare of grabbing+ hitting and *l(t*hing that 2 *an8t remember anything abo(t it-e1*ept the *haos and terror/: ,aine nodded and loo.ed away from her/ &e fa*ed ?eterson+ seemed to gather his tho(ghts for a moment+ folded his big hands together on top of the table+ and said+ 6"ill+ where were yo( between eight'thirty this e!ening and-say+ ten o8*lo*.9: 6#n the Lady Jane ?eterson said+ witho(t hesitation/ 6Bhat were yo( doing there9: 6"edding down for the night/: 6Co( ha!e a room in ,eawat*h+: ,aine said/ 6 nd+ as yo( .now perfe*tly well+ 2 almost ne!er (se it+ e1*ept to store my things/ 2f the weather isn8t bad+ 2 always sleep in the forward stateroom on the Lady Jane. 6Bhy9: ,aine as.ed/

62 li.e it there/: 6Bhy+ tho(gh+ when yo( ha!e s(*h e1*ellent A(arters here in the main ho(se+ do yo( *hoose to sleep in the *ramped stateroom of a small boat9: 62t8s not so *ramped+: ?eterson said/ 6 nd it8s air'*onditioned/ "esides+ 28m a man of the sea+ not of the land/ 2 was raised on boats by parents who were sea lo!ers+ and 28!e wor.ed most of my ad(lt life on one .ind of !essel or another/ #n the other hand+ yo(8re a man of the land4 yo(8re perfe*tly *omfortable in a big ho(se+ in yo(r own room/ Be are different types+ yo( see/ @ather than fo(r plaster walls+ 2 prefer the slap of wa!es against a h(ll and the smell of open water/: 6Co( ma.e it so(nd A(ite attra*ti!e/: 62t is+: ?eterson said/ ,aine said+ 6%ight'thirty is an early ho(r to t(rn in/ Do yo( always go to sleep so early9: 62 didn8t say 2 was asleep/: 60o bed+ then/: 6#ften+ yes/: ?eterson leaned ba*.+ as if he were no longer angry with ,aine+ as if he were only bored/ 62 t(rn on the radio to a good >) *hannel+ (s(ally something from ?(erto @i*o+ maybe =amai*a/ 2 li.e to read/ )(si*+ a boo.+ a few drin.s/: 60his was yo(r ro(tine tonight9: ?eterson nodded/ 62t was/: ,aine (nlo*.ed his fingers and loo.ed dire*tly at the yo(nger man/ 6Bhat boo. were yo( reading9: ?eterson told him+ title and a(thor/ 6Co( want me to re*o(nt the plot for yo(9: 60hat won8t be ne*essary+: ,aine said/ 6Bhat abo(r yo(r drin.s9 Bhat were yo( ha!ing9: 67in and toni*/: 6&ow many9: 60wo/: ,aine got (p and began to pa*e+ his big body li.e a *aged animal in the *onfines of the bright+ sanitary .it*hen/ &e said+ 6Co(ld anyone !o(*h for yo(9: 6$ot that 2 .now of/ 2 was there alone+ and 2 didn8t see anyone after s(pper/: ,aine nodded and t(rned away from ?eterson+ as if the man were no longer important/ &e loo.ed+ instead+ at 5eroy )ills+ p(rsed his lips and said+ 6Bhat abo(t yo(9: 62 was in my room+: )ills said/ &e did not loo. (p from his hands+ whi*h held ea*h other ner!o(sly+ and his !oi*e was s(bd(ed/ ,onya tho(ght his manner might spring from some (nderlying g(ilt or merely from a shy nat(re/ 2t was impossible to tell whi*h/ 6Bere yo( in bed early+ too9: ,aine as.ed+ an (ndeniable note of sar*asm in his !oi*e/ )ills loo.ed (p A(i*.ly+ shoo. his head A(ite !igoro(sly+ as if not only to deny the alibi ,aine had 3(st gi!en him+ b(t as if+ also+ to indi*ate that he wo(ldn8t be satisfied with telling anything b(t the tr(th/ 62 was writing letters+ )r/ ,aine/ 2 wrote two letters and was on the third-when )iss Carter *ame home and all the e1*itement began/ 0hen 2 had to *ome down here+ to tal. with yo(/: 65etters9 0o whom9: ,aine as.ed/ &e stopped pa*ing and stood before the small man+ loo.ing down on him/ 60o my family+: )ills e1plained/ 62 wrote to my sister+ @ose+ in #regon+ abo(t her new baby/ 2t8s her first/ nd 2 wrote to my brother in $ew Cor./ 0he third letter was to my mother/ ,he li!es with my brother+ b(t 2 always li.e to ma.e her letter separate+ to let her .now she8s important to me/: &e loo.ed down at his hands again/ 6Co(r mother8s still ali!e then9: 6Ces+ )r/ ,aine/ ,he8s A(ite old+ b(t she gets aro(nd pretty good/: 6Co(8re l(*.y to ha!e her with yo(+ yet+: ,aine said+ ignoring the two tho(sand miles that sepa'

rated mother and son/ 6)ost men o(r age are witho(t m(*h family+ (nless they8!e married and started one of their own/ )y own mother8s been dead three years/: 628m sorry+: )ills said+ loo.ing (p/ &e appeared to be really h(rt at ,aine8s loss/ 0he bodyg(ard *a(ght himself+ shoo. himself from his re!erie and began to pa*e again/ ,onya was amazed by the little s*ene whi*h had 3(st transpired+ for it re!ealed to her a side of @(dolph ,aine8s personality whi*h she had not tho(ght e1isted/ &e had always seemed hard+ to(gh+ br(tal+ formidable+ reliable+ *apable-any of a h(ndred similar ad3e*ti!es/ "(t ne!er before had he appeared to be at all emotional or sentimental+ not (ntil this brief e1*hange with 5eroy )ills/ ,he saw now that ,aine was a man of *ontradi*tions+ of many parts+ with an o(tloo. that was far larger in s*ope than she wo(ld ha!e g(essed/ 6$o one to !erify yo(r letter'writing story+ 2 s(ppose+: ,aine said at last/ 6$o one saw me+: )ills said/ 6#f *o(rse/: 6"(t if yo( want+ )r/ ,aine+ 2 *an go (pstairs and get the letters to show yo(/: ,aine shoo. his head+ wiped a hand o!er a fa*e s(ddenly weary/ 6$o/ 0hey pro!e nothing/ Co( *o(ld ha!e written them earlier in the day+ or e!en yesterday/: 62 didn8t+ )r/ ,aine+: )ills said/ ,aine shr(gged/ &e t(rned to &enry Dalton who stood rigid and apparently disinterested+ by the .it*hen door+ al' most as if he were a sentry/ 6 nd what abo(t yo(9: ,aine as.ed/ 62 was right here+ in the .it*hen+ with "ess+: &enry said/ 2f he had not been in a bad mood today+ this entire affair had *ertainly helped to p(t him in one/ &is !oi*e was sharp and waspish+ his whole attit(de indefinably antagonisti*/ 6Doing what9: ,aine as.ed/ 6Bashing dishes/: 62sn8t that part of &elga8s 3ob9: 6Ces+: &enry said/ 6"(t she wasn8t feeling so well tonight+ and she went (pstairs to lie down/ ,he was probably asleep thro(gh all of this/ ,he wasn8t o(t in the gardens+ that8s for s(re/: &e *ast a glan*e at ,onya that made the girl feel as if he held her responsible for the entire mess/ 62 didn8t belie!e she was+: ,aine said/ 6Co(8!e forgotten that+ tonight at least+ 28m only interested in the men here/: 6Bhat has that interest gotten yo( so far9: &enry snapped/ 62 see no *l(es/: 6$or do 2+: ,aine admitted/ 62t isn8t anyone in this ho(se+: ?eterson said/ 62t8s someone else+ an o(tsider/: 6&ow has he gotten to Distingue9: ,aine inA(ired/ 60he same way all of (s did+: "ill said/ 6"y boat+ of *o(rse/ &e *o(ld ha!e *ome in after dar.+ in any sort of sailboat+ bea*hed it in any of a h(ndred pla*es along the shoreline/: 6?erhaps+: ,aine said/ 0ho(gh her throat h(rt *onsiderably whene!er she spo.e+ and her heada*he flared (p with ea*h word as if words were marbles that rattled aro(nd inside her head+ ,onya said+ 6&a!e yo( gi!en *aref(l *onsideration to the "lenwells+ @(dolph9: ,aine loo.ed s(rprised/ &e said+ 6Co( told me this was a strong man/ "oth Balter and 5ydia "lenwell are old-: 628m referring to Kenneth "lenwell+: she said/ ,aine frowned/ &e said+ 62 do(bt !ery m(*h that he8s o(r man/: 6&ow *an yo( be s(re9: ,he was remembering+ all too *learly+ her first and th(s far only en*o(nter with that tall+ dar.+ brooding yo(ng man/ ,he remembered the way he smiled at her+ his

!ehement disli.e of the parrots and his threats to .ill them one day-and she was also remembering how strong his hand had been on her arm when he was g(iding her a*ross the lawn and (p the steps of &aw. &o(se/ 6Bhy wo(ld Ken "lenwell tra!el all the way to $ew =ersey to harass le1 and 0ina9: ,aine as.ed/ 6Be8!e already de*ided the man we8re after is mentally ill/ Be8!e already said he doesn8t need reasons+: ,onya obser!ed/ 6,till-: ,aine began/ "ill ?eterson interr(pted him/ 6"esides+ "lenwell has good reason+ in his own mind+ to go to $ew =ersey+ after the Do(ghertys/ &e wants to own Distingue, all of it+ both ho(ses/: 6Bhat wo(ld m(rdering the .ids gain him+ toward that end9: ,aine wanted to .now/ 6&e hasn8t .illed them yet+: "ill ?eterson pointed o(t/ 6"(t his threats to .ill them bro(ght the whole Do(gherty family r(nning for the 8safety8 of ,eawat*h+ whi*h might ha!e been e1a*tly what he had in mind/ Bith them so *lose+ his threats *o(ld be *arried o(t A(ite easily/ nd if le1 and 0ina were .illed on Distingue, =oe Do(gherty wo(ld (nload this ho(se and his share of the island so fast yo(r head wo(ld swim to wat*h/ nd be*a(se he8s offered the best pri*e and wo(ld be a fast b(yer+ Ken "lenwell and his grandparents wo(ld be*ome sole owners/: 62 thin. "ill8s right+: ,onya said/ ,aine shoo. his head/ 6)aybe/ 2 still don8t thin. so/ "lenwell is too le!el'headed+ too-: 6Bhat are yo( prote*ting him for9: "ill s(ddenly as.ed/ &e let go of ,onya8s hand+ p(shed his *hair away from the table and got to his feet+ his anger gi!ing him a ner!o(s energy that bristled al' most !isibly all o!er him/ 6Co( p(t members of the Do(gherty staff to the most gr(eling .ind of A(estioning+ intimidating them+ letting them .now yo( s(spe*t ea*h and e!ery one of them+ b(t when it *omes to another !ery li.ely s(spe*t o(tside the family+ yo( grow lenient and do(btf(l/: 6Call it int(ition+: ,aine said/ 6"(ll/ 28!e ne!er seen yo( operate on int(ition yet+: ?eterson said/ 6Co(8!e got reasons for dis' missing Kenneth "lenwell from the list of s(spe*ts/ 2 3(st wish 2 .new what those reasons were/: 6Bhat are yo( implying9: ,aine as.ed+ reddening/ "ill hesitated a moment too long before he said+ *almly+ 6$othing/ 2 wasn8t implying anything at all/: 0he s*arlet *olor drained slowly o(t of the bodyg(ard8s fa*e+ li.e water from a .eg tap+ and the tension in his broad sho(lders sla*.ened and disappeared altogether/ 628m 3(st doing my 3ob+: he said/ &e was not offering any e1*(ses+ b(t e1plaining the sit(ation to a b(n*h of inattenti!e *hildren/ 6#f *o(rse yo( are+: "ill said/ 628m sorry+ @(dolph/ 2t8s 3(st that 2 .eep thin.ing what someone wants to do with those two .idsG-he motioned with his hand toward the small dining room off the .it*hen where+ o(t of sight+ "ess and &elga were playing with the *hildren-Gand 2 want to start hitting someone+ anyone/ nd now+ when he almost .ills ,onya-: 62 .now+ 2 .now+: ,aine said/ 6Be8re all on edge+ and we all ha!e a right to be/ "(t 28m the one best A(alified to in!estigate things li.e this+ no matter what any of yo( may thin. of my methods/: "ill nodded/ 6 nd now+: he said+ 6sho(ldn8t we get ,onya to bed9 ,he8s going to be stiff as a board in the morning4 she8ll need all the sleep she *an get/: 6"y all means+: ,aine said/ 62 *an get there on my own+: ,onya said/ ?eterson said+ 6$onsense/: &e helped her from her *hair and made her lean on him as they wal.ed o(t of the .it*hen+ down the *orridor and (p the main stair*ase/ t the door to her room+ "ill said+ 6,onya+ are yo( *ertain that yo(8re all right9 Co( loo. awf(lly pale/ 2f yo( want me to+ 2 *an get the Lady Jane going and r(n yo( o!er to the family do*tor

on 7(adelo(pe+ ha!e yo( there and ba*. in a 3iffy/: 628m a n(rse+ remember9 2 .now what 28m doing/: ,he smiled at him affe*tionately+ pleased by his ob!io(s *on*ern/ 628!e got a br(ised throat+ whi*h will ta.e a *o(ple of wee.s to go away *om' pletely/ nd 28!e got a splitting heada*he/ "(t a few aspirins and a good night8s sleep are 3(st the medi*ations 2 need for both *omplaints/: 6,(re9: 62 am+ yes/: &e loo.ed dire*tly into her eyes+ so e!idently *on*erned abo(t her that she was+ for a moment+ dis*on*erted/ 62 didn8t want to see yo( get h(rt+ ,onya/ 2 ne!er tho(ght yo(8d be*ome so awf(lly in!ol!ed with this thing/: 62t8s hardly yo(r fa(lt+: she said/ &is fa*e grew tight and angry/ 60hat madman said it was the *hildren he wanted/ Bhy *ome after yo(9: 6&e didn8t *ome after me+: she reminded him/ 62 st(mbled a*ross him in the garden/ &e was probably loo.ing for a good obser!ation point4 yo( *an see the *hildren8s bedroom windows from that part of the garden/ Bhen he realized he8d been seen+ he pani*.ed/ 0hat8s all/: &e leaned forward+ p(tting one arm prote*ti!ely aro(nd her+ and he .issed her+ tenderly+ on the lips+ dizzying her for a moment before he p(lled away again/ 62 don8t want to see yo( h(rt+: he repeated/ 6Don8t worry+ 2 won8t be+: she ass(red him/ 62 don8t intend to go for any more wal.s+ alone+ at night/ $ot (ntil this thing is o!er and done with+ anyway/: 67ood/: 0o *hange the s(b3e*t+ partly be*a(se she was (nsettled by his .iss and partly be*a(se she was not (p to any tender intima*y 3(st now+ she said+ 6Do yo( thin. =oe and &elen will be in California by now9: 6>or ho(rs+: he said/ 6Bill @(dolph *all them9: 6Ces+ on the radio'phone+ relayed from 7(adelo(pe/ 2t8s really a shame that we ha!e to dist(rb them now+ when their !a*ation8s 3(st beg(n/ 0hey8ll want to *ome right home/: 60hat8s best+ isn8t it9: 62 g(ess+: he said/ 60ho(gh there isn8t anything that either of them *an do/: &e bent+ .issed her again+ more A(i*.ly this time/ 6&a!e a good night+: he said/ 62 will/: ,he wat*hed him wal. away toward the stairs+ then stepped into her room+ *losed and lo*.ed her door/ 0he dar.ness was empty and still/ ,he did not t(rn on the lights+ b(t wal.ed a*ross the room to the largest window/ >or a long while+ she stood there+ !ery still+ staring at the palm trees and the lawn and the night s.y and then distant sea beyond+ fingering her throat+ swallowing with diffi*(lty+ trying to penetrate the shadows for a glimpse of some wat*her/ %!ent(ally+ she realized that there was no one there/ #nly then did she draw her drapes and t(rn on the lights/

0B%5E%
&alf an ho(r later+ refreshed and rela1ed by a hot shower and a *o(ple of glasses of *old tap water that A(en*hed some of the fire in her throat+ she had p(lled ba*. the *o!ers and was getting into bed when someone .no*.ed at her door/ >rom the solid+ for*ef(l+ rapid po(nding+ she .new that it was @(dolph ,aine+ tho(gh she *o(ld not imagine what he might want to as. her now/ ,(rely+ he had *o!ered e!erything+ earlier+ in the .it*hen/ Bearily+ resigned to the fa*t that she8d ha!e to wait a bit longer before ending the night+ she t(rned her ba*. on the bed and went to see what ,aine wanted/ 6Ces9: she as.ed+ when she opened the door/ ,he was wearing a high'ne*.ed+ oriental pa'3ama whi*h *o!ered her br(ised throat+ and she felt less self'*ons*io(s than she had earlier/ 628m sorry to bother yo(+: ,aine said/ "(t he was *learly not sorry+ for he was only doing his 3ob+ still+ and he was not the sort of man to apologize for what d(ty ne*essitated/ 62 wasn8t asleep yet+: she said/ &e nodded/ 60here ha!e been new de!elopments within the last half ho(r+ things 2 tho(ght yo( sho(ld .now abo(t/: ,he felt that she probably didn8t want to .now+ no matter what these new de!elopments were+ b(t she also .new he was going to tell her anyway+ e!en if she wo(ld prefer to remain ignorant/ &e said+ 6#f *o(rse+ we ha!e no *on!entional telephones+ as yo( .now them+ here on Distingue. Bhen we wish to pla*e a *all+ we *onta*t the marine operator on 7(adelo(pe+ by means of o(r radio'telephone whi*h is .ept (pstairs+ in )r/ Do(gherty8s st(dy/ 0he 7(adelo(pe marine operator then dials the n(mber we want+ in a *on!entional manner+ and ma.es a pat*h between the mainland line telephones and o(r radio'phone/ 2t so(nds !ery *ompli*ated+ b(t it is really A(ite simple and effi*ient+ as it wo(ld ha!e to be for all the b(siness )r/ Do(gherty has to do by telephone/ 2t8s more e1pensi!e than normal telephone ser!i*e+ b(t )r/ Do(gherty hardly worries abo(t e1pense/: @ela1ed a moment ago+ ,onya felt a minim(m of tension slowly *reeping ba*. into her+ li.e dirty water/ @(dolph ,aine was (s(ally a man of few words+ dire*t and to the point/ 2n offering this long e1planation of the radio'phone+ he seemed to be a!oiding+ for as long as possible+ some (gly bit of news/ 60ho(gh the radio'telephone is simple and effi*ient+ it is also-!(lnerable+: he said/ 62t does not f(n*tion well d(ring bad weather+ and not at all d(ring a ma3or seasonal storm/ nd with a single hammer blow+ anyone *o(ld mangle eno(gh of its insides to ma.e it (seless/: &e *leared his throat and deli!ered the bad newsD 6,omeone has done 3(st that/ 0hey smashed a n(mber of t(beswhi*h 2 might ha!e been able to repla*e from o(r stores/ "(t they also wre*.ed m(*h of the printed *ir*(itry+ whi*h 2 *an8t repair witho(t e1pert help/: 6Bho9: she as.ed/ 60he same man who atta*.ed yo(+ 2 pres(me/ #r someone who8s wor.ing with him/: 6&ow *o(ld he get into ,eawat*h+ *lear (p to the third floor where the radio'telephone is9: ,aine smiled so(rly/ 62f he li!ed here+ that wo(ld be no problem at allD a flight of stairs+ an (nlo*.ed door / / /: &e shr(gged/ 60hen yo(8re still *on!in*ed that it8s a member of the ho(sehold staff9: she as.ed/ 6Ces/ "(t 28m not o!erloo.ing other possibilities/ 2f there is a stranger on Distingue, he *o(ld ha!e entered the ho(se in a n(mber of ways+ lo*ated the radio'telephone and demolished it while 2 was A(estioning e!eryone in the .it*hen/:

6&ow wo(ld he e!en .now abo(t its e1isten*e9: she as.ed/ 6&e wo(ld .now that no telephone lines are r(n to small islands li.e Distingue, and he wo(ld also .now that a man li.e )r/ Do(gherty wo(ld reA(ire *onstant *omm(ni*ations with the o(tside world/ %!en a psy*hoti* *an reason o(t something li.e that/: &e seemed+ by his tone+ to be *astigat' ing himself for allowing anyone to get at the radio'phone+ as if he sho(ld ha!e been at two pla*es at on*e+ in order to pre!ent s(*h a disaster/ 60hen yo(8!e not been able to *all the Do(ghertys9: 6$o+: he said/ 6"(t 28m sending "ill ?eterson to 7(adelo(pe to ma.e the *all and to bring ba*. some island poli*e offi*ials/ #(r man has gotten s(ddenly bold+ and 2 don8t want to ta.e any more *han*es4 2 don8t want to gi!e him e!en the slightest opening at the *hildren/: 6#f *o(rse+: ,onya said/ nd tho(gh she longed for the big+ *omfortable bed and a lengthy+ deep sleep+ she said+ 6Bhat *an 2 do to help+ (ntil the poli*e get here9: 6$othing+: ,aine said/ 628m really feeling all right+: she protested/ 62 probably loo. worse than 2 a*t(ally am/: 628ll be with le1 and 0ina+: he said/ 62n their room+ with the door lo*.ed and my re!ol!er (n' holstered/ $o one8s going to get to them before we get some help here/ 2 3(st wanted e!eryone in the ho(se to .now what8s happened/ nd 2 wanted to re*ommend that yo( .eep yo(r door lat*hed+ as 2 see yo( already had done/: ,he nodded+ feeling slightly n(mb/ ,he re*alled+ against her will+ 5ynda ,pa(lding8s warnings+ and she wondered when+ on top of e!erything else that had gone wrong+ they *o(ld e1pe*t the h(rri*ane / / / 6 nd one other thing+: ,aine said/ 6Ces9: &e smiled thinly/ 62 wanted yo( to .now that 2 no longer *onsider yo( m(*h of a s(spe*t+ ,onya/: 6Fnless 2 *ho.ed myself to throw yo( off the tra*.+: she said/ &e smiled more warmly/ 62 hope+ howe!er+ that this admission on my part will not lead to a *orresponding la1ity in yo(r attit(de toward me/: 62t won8t+: she said/ 62 still s(spe*t yo(/: 67ood/: 628m serio(s+: she said/ 62 .now yo( are/ 2 (rge yo( to *ontin(e to s(spe*t me+ to s(spe*t e!eryone here/ 2f we are all somewhat paranoid+ we may s(r!i!e this affair/ #therwise+ we8re s(re to lose/: &e stepped ba*. from the door/ 62 m(st go now/ @emember to slide yo(r lat*h in pla*e/: 62 will/: ,he *losed the door and bolted it/ #nly when the bolt sni*.ed into pla*e did @(dolph ,aine t(rn and wal. hea!ily away+ down the hall/ 2n the spa*e of a few ho(rs+ they had gone from a state of (neasy anti*ipation to a stage of seige/

"##K 0&@%%
0&2@0%%$
0he man was (pset by the need to impro!ise/ fter all+ he had spent a great deal of time+ long nights lying awa.e+ planning it all o(t in detail+ s(*h perfe*t detail+ not a single fa*tor o!erloo.edD how long he wo(ld wait+ biding his time (ntil the family had been l(lled into a false sense of se*(' rity4 when to stri.e4 how to gain entran*e to the *hildren8s lo*.ed room witho(t alerting them or anyone else4 how to .ill both of them witho(t letting them *ry o(t for help4 what sort of alibi wo(ld be iron *lad+ satisfa*tory to both the island poli*e and the family / / / &is plan+ indeed+ was li.e a gleaming+ well'oiled ma*hine whi*h he tended to with profo(nd dedi*ation4 all that it wanted was the flip of a single swit*h+ and it wo(ld r(n so smoothly+ li.e a ,wiss wat*h+ so(ndlessly+ effi*iently+ a plan to end all plans+ a plan to end two small li!es / / / "(t now he was impro!ising+ be*a(se he felt that his plan had be*ome s(ddenly inadeA(ate+ that e!ents on Distingue had ta.en away the (sef(lness of his mar!elo(s plan and demanded+ instead of *aref(lly tho(ght'o(t strategy+ fle1ibility+ freshness of mind+ A(i*. and a**(rate insight into all new de!elopments+ and e!en A(i*.er a*tion/ Bith the Do(ghertys gone+ the time seemed most ripe/ 0here were two less wat*hf(l antagonists to deal with now/ nd if he *o(ld .ill the *hildren while they were away+ froli*.ing in Cali fornia+ he wo(ld not only r(in their li!es+ b(t laden them with an (nbearable pa*. of g(iltD they wo(ld ne!er be able to forget that+ while they were in California ha!ing f(n+ their *hildren were destroyed in a most (nmer*if(l manner / / / 2mpro!ise / / / &e was now for*ed to impro!ise+ be*a(se he had been *areless in the gardens and had st(mbled right into the girl/ ,he had thrown him off his time table+ she s(re had/ $ow e!eryone knew that he was on the island+ and he *o(ld not afford to hesitate any longer/ >ort(nately+ he had smashed the radio earlier in the day+ b(t now there were other things to attend to+ other pre*a(tions he m(st ma.e/ 2mpro!isations / / / &e sho(ld ha!e .illed the girl/ &e hated himself for his fail(re/ &e sho(ld ha!e (sed the .nife instead of his hands/ 0he .nife wo(ld ha!e been s(rer/ ,omehow+ he had pani*.ed+ and he had let her get away/ &ad he only followed her far eno(gh+ he wo(ld ha!e fo(nd her lying (n*ons*io(s in the middle of the path+ and he *o(ld ha!e .illed her with ease then/ ,he deser!ed it for what she8d done to his foot/ 0han. 7od that she hadn8t drawn blood and that he was still able to wal. witho(t limping/ limp wo(ld ha!e r(ined him+ mar.ed him at the start/ &e pa*ed ba*. and forth in his room+ .eeping his foot limber+ stopping now and again to loo. at his refle*tion in the mirror/ &e tho(ght he was a handsome man/ &e spo.e to his refle*tion+ too/ &e said+ 6=eremy+ yo(8re 3(st right for the part of the a!enging angel/ Co(8!e got a righteo(s 3awline+ a loo. of strength abo(t yo(+ of tremendo(s *ompeten*e/: =eremy was not his real name/ ,ometimes+ he forgot this/ &e had been tal.ing to the none1istent

=eremy for years now and+ at times+ he felt that he was =eremy and no one else/ &e li.ed being =eremy/ =eremy was *olorf(l and daring/ nd *omposed/ =eremy was afraid of nothing/ =eremy had the *o(rage to stri.e o(t at those who deser!ed to s(ffer+ had the tremendo(s+ admirable strength of *hara*ter reA(ired for him to a*t as both 3(dge and 3(ry+ to mete o(t the proper p(nishment+ no matter how se!ere it had to be/ &e had a .na*. for seeing+ at a glan*e+ who had led a life that was far too easy4 he had a talent for pi*.ing those who simply m(st ha!e their li!es balan*ed by some pain/ 7od had meant e!eryone to li!e thro(gh some pain+ e!en the ri*h/ =eremy *o(ld a*t as 7od8s instr(ment/ &e *o(ld p(t people in their pla*e+ he s(re *o(ld+ real fast/ nd he wo(ld/ ,oon/ )aybe tonight yet/ 6=eremy+: he told the mirror+ 6this is a big night for yo(/ 0onight+ yo(8re going to ma.e fools of e!eryone/ Co(8re going to ma.e fools of ,aine and ?eterson and )ills and Dalton and e!eryone else in this ho(se/ $ot to mention Kenneth "lenwell+ or the !a*ationing Do(ghertys+ who8re going to loo. li.e e!en bigger fools / / /: &e *h(*.led to himself/ &e was happy/ &e was a *hild on Christmas morning+ with a single gift to gi!eD death/ &e wo(ld gi!e them death+ 3(st p(nishment+ pain/ &e stood before the mirror a moment longer+ tal.ing to himself+ to his/ =eremy'self/ s before+ when he named those he wo(ld ma.e fools of+ he in*l(ded his own+ real name in the list/ fter all+ when he was =eremy+ he was not his real self4 he hated his real self as m(*h as he hated nearly e!er' yone else on Distingue. &e was only =eremy now+ no one else/ Bhen =eremy mentioned the .iller8s real name+ real self+ he spo.e of another indi!id(al+ someone else altogether/ nd when the m(rders were *ommitted+ and when =eremy faded o(t+ relinA(ished *ontrol of the mind+ when the real man and real identity ret(rned+ the real man wo(ld ne!er (nderstand that he had .illed with his own hands/ "asi*ally+ tho(gh neither the =eremy'self or the real self wo(ld (nderstand this+ he was not an e!il person/ &e was simply s*hizophreni*+ *ompletely and totally insane/

>#F@0%%$
Despite her in3(ries+ and despite the immediate danger whi*h h(ng o!er ,eawat*h li.e a bla*. *lo(d+ ,onya managed to fall asleep almost as soon as her head to(*hed the pillow/ ,he slept so(ndly+ dreamlessly+ and she wo.e shortly before nine o8*lo*. )onday morning+ stiff and sore b(t de*idedly better than she had been when she *rawled between the sheets the night before/ ,he had felt as if she were a h(ndred years old+ then4 now+ o!ernight+ she had lost se!enty'fi!e years+ anyway+ and was almost her old self/ &er heada*he was gone+ and her eyes no longer felt red and grainy/ &er throat was less swollen than it had been+ b(t it was still A(ite sore+ a *ondition whi*h she .new she wo(ld ha!e to end(re for a few days yet/ &er drapes were drawn tightly sh(t+ still+ and they pre!ented all b(t a few tiny streams of s(n' light from entering the gloomy *hamber/ ,he lay there in the shadows+ staring at the *eiling+ wanting to thin. o(t her sit(ation before she got (p to fa*e another day/ 0he big A(estion in her mind+ now+ was whether or not she sho(ld remain as the Do(gherty go!erness and t(tor / / / #riginally+ she had ta.en the position+ be*a(se it had seemed li.e a f(n thing+ wor.ing for a mil' lionaire+ li!ing in a mansion on a pri!ate island in the Caribbean / / / ,he had always gone o(t of her way to a!oid bad s*enes+ depression+ sadness / / / nd she had been s(re that here on Distingue, she wo(ld meet only happy people+ people who were on top of the world+ who .new how best to en3oy e!erything life had to offer+ who had little or no reason to be gloomy/ ,he had e1pe*ted m(*h la(ghter+ many interesting friendships+ perhaps a few parties+ for di!ersion+ of the sort yo( read abo(t on the so*iety pages of all the better+ metropolitan newspapers/ *t(ally+ she had e1pe*ted almost anything b(t what she had fo(nd when she arri!ed on Distingue. #f *o(rse+ on*e this horrible b(siness abo(t the *hildren was o!er and done with+ perhaps they wo(ld be m(*h happier and more pleasant to .now than they now were/ %!eryone was (nder tremendo(s press(re o!er this affair+ waiting for the worst and praying for the best+ passing time li.e *attle (nder the swaying blade of an a(tomati* e1e*(tioner/ Bhen that press(re was remo!ed+ they might be$o+ she tho(ght+ things wo(ld not be so m(*h better+ e!en if the present *risis passed/ %!en if they *a(ght the wo(ld'be .iller and pa*.ed him off to some remote prison or asyl(m+ there wo(ld still be a lot of negati!ism on the islandD &enry Dalton and his gr(mpiness4 5eroy )ills8 strange+ A(iet+ almost se*reti!e ways that made her thin. he was always planning to do something of whi*h he was (tterly ashamed4 the "lenwells at the far end of the island+ hating e!eryone else+ tal.ing abo(t .illing the parrots+ sitting in their dar. drawing room li.e *reat(res who wo(ld ash and rot if they *ame into *onta*t with dire*t s(nlight / / / $o+ already there were too many bad memories asso*iated with this island+ memories that wo(ld ha(nt her if she remained/ 2t was best to go/ 0hey8d be disappointed with her+ at first/ "(t they8d (nderstand/ ,he wo(ld write o(t her resignation that afternoon and gi!e it to =oe Do(gherty when he and &elen arri!ed ba*. from California this e!ening/ 0hen she8d be free/ fter all+ they8d realize that no one wanted to li!e aro(nd a pla*e f(ll of bad memories+ f(ll of the stin. of death and the threat of death/ 2t was always better to get o(t+ go elsewhere+ slo(gh off

the bad past/ Co( *o(ldn8t be happy if yo( didn8t slo(gh off the bad things that happened+ sti*. them away in a *orner of yo(r mind+ forget them+ let d(st *o!er them/ nyone *o(ld see that/ &er de*ision firmly made and 3(stified+ at least to herself+ she let her mind wander o!er the people on Distingue who might fit a m(rderer8s shoes/ ,he fo(nd that she s(spe*ted almost e!eryone+ from )ills to &enry Dalton+ to ,aine and ?eterson/ 0hey all had the opport(nity+ she s(pposed+ to *ommit s(*h a *rime+ tho(gh she *o(ld see no moti!ation/ %!en a madman+ it seemed to her+ wo(ld need some moti!ation+ no matter how in*onseA(ential it was+ some spar. to set him off/ nd that made Kenneth "lenwell the *hief s(spe*t+ of *o(rse4 he wanted ,eawat*h and all of Distingue. ,he let her mind wander thro(gh the memory of her first meeting with Kenneth and his grandparents+ and she be*ame *on!in*ed she was right/ ,he wo(ld ha!e to spea. with @(dolph abo(t it+ *on!in*e him to be more serio(s abo(t the possibility of "lenwell8s g(ilt/ t last+ her mind began to ret(rn to the same tho(ghts+ as if in a *ir*le+ and she .new it was time to get (p/ ,he showered+ dressed+ br(shed her yellow hair (ntil it shone+ then went downstairs for brea.fast+ shortly past ten o8*lo*./ 2n the small dining room 3(st off the .it*hen+ @(dolph ,aine sat before a large plate of ba*on and eggs+ .eeping a wat*h o!er le1 and 0ina+ who were wor.ing diligently at sta*.s of pan*a.es that were smothered (nder bl(eberry syr(p/ "oth .ids had bright p(rple stains aro(nd their mo(ths and p(rpled fingers+ b(t they had somehow man' aged not to spot the white table*loth/ ,onya said+ 60hey m(st be good/ %ither that+ or yo(8!e 3(st heard that food will be o(tlawed as of tomorrow/: 0ina giggled and wiped at her mo(th/ le1 swallowed a mo(thf(l of pan*a.es in a lo(d g(lp+ then said+ 6&ey+ ,onya; Did yo( .now someone wre*.ed Lady Jane98 &is eyes were fe!er bright+ his !oi*e A(i*. and e1*ited/ ,he frowned/ 6Bre*.ed it9: 6Chopped a hole in her+: 0ina e1plained/ 6@ight in the bottom+: le1 said/ 6,he san./: 6Co( *an still see her+: 0ina said/ 6"(t she8s mostly s(n./: 6,ame thing happened to the neighbor8s two boats+: le1 said+ *hattering li.e a magpie/ 6,ome' one *hopped holes in 8em/: 6,(n. 8em+: 0ina said/ 6Bhoa+ there+: ,onya said/ 6Co( two are going too fast for me/ 2 *an8t .eep (p with yo(/: ,he loo.ed at ,aine/ &e didn8t loo. happy/ 62s this tr(e9: she as.ed/ 60oo tr(e/: ,he went to the .it*hen door+ opened it+ saw &elga wor.ing on a pie *r(st at the *entral table/ 6Bhen yo( ha!e time+ &elga+ wo(ld yo( get me some *offee and maybe a *o(ple of sweet rolls9: 6,(re+ right away+: &elga said/ 60a.e yo(r time/: ,onya *losed the door and went ba*. to the table+ sat down a*ross from ,aine/ 62s it !ery bad9: 65ast night+: the big man said+ 62 told yo( that "ill was going to boat o!er to 7(adelo(pe and get the poli*e/ Bell+ he didn8t ma.e it/ ,omeone opened the sea *o*.s and s*(ttled the Lady Jane. 6,*(ttled9: 6,an. her+ flooded her hold/: &e for.ed eggs into his mo(th+ *hewed and swallowed them/ 6,he was down with her .eel on the o*ean floor and her pilot8s *abin barely abo!e the waterline/:

6 hole *hopped in her too9: 6$o+ that8s le1 being melodramati*/: 6"eing what9: le1 as.ed/ ,aine smiled/ 6%at yo(r pan*a.es before yo( wither (p from la*. of no(rishment/: ,onya said+ 6Co(ldn8t the hold be p(mped o(t9: 6"ill was going to do 3(st that-(ntil he fo(nd o(t that the ele*tri* p(mp was smashed/: 6 hand p(mp+ then-: 6&e8s wor.ing on that+: ,aine said/ 6"(t it8ll ta.e two days of steady wor. to empty o(t those h(ndreds of gallons with a hand p(mp/ nything *o(ld happen in a *o(ple of days+ anything at all/: "ess bro(ght ,onya8s *offee and rolls/ 6Co(8re loo.ing better this morning+: she told ,onya/ 6>eeling better+ too/: "ess gingerly to(*hed ,onya8s br(ised ne*./ 6&(rt bad9: 6$ot m(*h/ $ot so long as 2 don8t t(rn it too s(ddenly/: 60he best thing for that is an onion sal!e/: 6#h9: ,onya said/ 62 ma.e it myself+: "ess e1plained/ 628!e ne!er heard of that/: 62t8s the best thing for strained m(s*les whi*h is+ after all+ abo(t what yo( ha!e/ ,trained m(s' *les/ 0he only differen*e is+ in yo(r *ase+ someone else strained them for yo(/: 6#nion sal!e+: ,onya repeated/ 62 thin. 28ll forgo the pleas(re/: 628ll ma.e some anyway+: "ess said/ 6Co( may *hange yo(r mind/ 2t really wor.s/ Draws the pain right o(t/: 6&ow9: @(dolph as.ed+ smiling at her/ 6Does the stin. ma.e the patient forget abo(t the pain9: 6Do(bting 0homas+: "ess said/ 6Co( see if it doesn8t wor./: ,he t(rned to ,onya/ 62t8ll ta.e abo(t an ho(r or so/: 6@eally-: ,onya said/ "ess to(*hed her sho(lder to stop her/ 6Co(8ll than. me afterwards+: she said/ 0hen she ret(rned to the .it*hen/ 6,ome woman+: @(dolph said/ le1 said+ 6,he (sed onion sal!e on 0ina on*e/: 62 smelled bad+: 0ina said/ 6>or days+: le1 said/ 65i.e a li!er dinner+: 0ina said/ ,onya la(ghed o(t lo(d+ as delighted by the *hildren8s good spirits in the fa*e of their predi*a' ment as she was by the little girl8s sense of h(mor/ 0he *hildren ret(rned to their pan*a.es/ 0o ,aine+ ,onya said+ 6Bhat8s this abo(t the "lenwells8 boats9: 6"oth s*(ttled+: ,aine said/ 60heir *abin *r(iser was hit the same way as Lady Jane. nd Ken8s *atamaran had a hole *hopped in the bottom/ 0hree holes+ in fa*t/ "ill went down to borrow one of their boats last night+ and that8s when the damage was fo(nd/: &e had stopped eating+ e!en tho(gh he had more than half his brea.fast on his plate/ ,onya wished she *o(ld loo. away from him and tal. only with the .ids+ for they were+ in their inno*en*e+ still f(n to be with/ ,aine+ on the other hand+ was going to depress her e!en f(rther/ 6,o how did yo( get word to =oe and &elen abo(t what8s going on here9: she as.ed/ ,he had not to(*hed her food yet+ and now she realized that she hadn8t really wanted it/ 6Be were going to (se the "lenwells8 radiotelephone+: ,aine said/ 6"(t it was damaged+ 3(st li.e o(rs/: ,onya felt dizzy/

,aine said+ 60hey .eep it on the gro(nd floor+ in the ba*. of the ho(se+ in a rather isolated room/ 2t was easy eno(gh for someone to pry open a window+ slip in and do the 3ob/: 60hat wo(ldn8t be ne*essary if the man who did the 3ob already li!ed in &aw. &o(se+: ,onya obser!ed/ 6Co( belie!e Ken "lenwell wo(ld isolate himself along with (s+ *hop (p his own boat+ s*(ttle the other9: 62 forgot+: she said/ 6Co( and Ken are good friends+ aren8t yo(9 nd yo(8re rel(*tant to finger a good friend/: ,aine *olored/ 62 wo(ldn8t say we8re good friends/: 6Kenneth "lenwell said it/: 6#h9: 6&e respe*ts yo( A(ite a bit/ 2 don8t remember his e1a*t words+ b(t he implied that he li.ed yo(+ and that the feeling is m(t(al/: 62t is+: ,aine admitted/ 6&e8s a !ery le!elheaded man+ a good man/: 6Bho wants to .ill the parrots/: ,aine loo.ed perple1ed/ &e said+ 6Bhat8s that s(pposed to mean9: 6%1a*tly what it says/: 6Kill the parrots9: &e frowned/ ,he said+ 6 nd maybe .ill the *h-.ill something else+ too/: 6Fs+ h(h9: le1 as.ed/ 6$ot yo(+: ,onya said/ ,he didn8t want to frighten them/ 0he longer they *o(ld fa*e the sit(ation as if it were one big game+ the better/ ,he .new what it was li.e to be yo(ng and helpless and terrified of death+ and she didn8t want them to e1perien*e the nightmares that she had .nown as a *hild/ 6,(re+ (s+: le1 said/ 6Bho else9: 6%at yo(r pan*a.es+: ,aine said/ 628m almost done/: 6 lmost isn8t good eno(gh/: 6%at yo(r pan*a.es+ d(mmy+: 0ina told her brother/ 60hey8re good for yo(/: 6,o we8re isolated+: she said to the bodyg(ard/ 6H(ite effe*ti!ely/: ,he tried not to let a tremor show in her !oi*e+ b(t it was there anyway/ 6=oe will probably *all+ sooner or later+ to see if e!erything8s all right here/ Bhen he *an8t get thro(gh to (s+ he8ll .now something8s happened/ &e8ll *all 7(adelo(pe-: 6&e8ll thin. it8s the storm+: ,aine interr(pted/ 6,torm9: &e loo.ed s(rprised/ 6Co( didn8t see the s.y9: 62 didn8t open my drapes this morning/: 6Come here+: he said/ &e rose and went to the window+ p(lled aside the drapes and showed her the m(ddied s.y/ "rown'p(rple *lo(ds+ (gly and massi!e+ so low they seemed within her grasp+ s*(dded A(i*.ly northwestward+ thi*. and hea!y with water/ 0he sea+ in the glimpse she had of it far down the bea*h+ loo.ed high and angry+ with a great deal of froth/ 60here8s a h(rri*ane mo!ing this way+ a *enter that formed (p two days ago b(t only rea*hed h(rri*ane proportions last night/ 2t8s the se!enth of the season-they8re *alling it 7reta-b(t it8s the only one that8s formed (p near Distingue, so far/: 6Co( mean we8re in its path9: 6?robably not+: he said/

6Co( don8t .now for s(re9: 6$ot yet/ 2t8s headed dire*tly this way+ b(t it8s a h(ndred and twenty miles o(t+ and it8ll probably !eer *onsiderably before it rea*hes (s/ Be won8t get the h(rri*ane itself+ 3(st the (npleasant fringe effe*ts-lots of wind and rain/ &ow bad that gets depends on how soon 7reta !eers/ 0he *loser she gets before ma.ing a dire*tional swit*h+ the worse we8ll get po(nded/: 6,ho(ld we go to 7(adelo(pe+ to a larger island9: she as.ed/ 6)aybe/ "(t we *an8t/ 0he boats are (seless+ remember/: ,he said nothing/ ,he *o(ld not thin. of anything to say/ ,aine let the drapes fall ba*. into pla*e+ and he t(rned away from the window/ H(ietly+ so that the *hildren wo(ldn8t hear him+ he said+ 6&as a good night8s sleep refreshed yo(r memory any9: 6&ow so9: 6&a!e yo( re*alled anything more abo(t the man who tried to .ill yo( in the garden9: 6$o+: she said/ &e sighed/ 60hese ne1t *o(ple of days are going to seem li.e a whole lifetime/: 6#r e!en longer+: she agreed/

>2>0%%$
,onya de*ided to *arry on in their normal ro(tine+ as if nothing o(t of the ordinary had happened or was abo(t to happen-as if the sabotaged radio'telephones+ the r(ined boats+ and the approa*hing storm were all parts of some monstro(s fantasy that was+ admittedly+ (nsettling b(t+ nonetheless+ only fantasy/ ,he t(tored le1 and 0ina (ntil two o8*lo*.+ with @(dolph ,aine sitting by them li.e an o!ergrown *hild who8d wandered into the wrong *lassroom/ 0hey ate a light l(n*h at two+ and ,onya as.ed the *hildren what they8d li.e to do+ for re*reation/ 6Can we go to the bea*h9: le1 as.ed/ 62t8s not the weather for swimming+: ,onya said/ 6$ot to swim+ 3(st to wat*h+: the boy said/ 6Bat*h what9: 60he wa!es/ Bhen the weather8s bad+ we get these monstro wa!es that8re really .een/: 62sn8t there an indoor game yo(8d li.e to play9: ,onya as.ed/ 62 want to see the monstro wa!es+: 0ina said/ ,onya loo.ed to ,aine for help/ 0he big man rose/ 62f it8s monstro wa!es they want to see+ it8s monstro wa!es we gi!e them/: 67et yo(r 3a*.ets+: ,onya told them/ 0hey stepped a*ross the hall+ with ,aine wat*hing+ and got their windbrea.ers from the *loset+ were ba*. in a moment/ 6,tay *lose+: ,onya warned/ le1 too. hold of his sister8s hand+ and the little girl did not ob3e*t+ as she normally might ha!e/ ,he stood *lose beside him+ *asting glan*es his way+ as if he were *apable of prote*ting her and were not merely a fragile+ nine'year'old boy/ 0his gest(re did not es*ape ,onya8s attention+ and she wondered whether+ despite their apparent good h(mor and playf(lness+ the *hildren didn8t (nderstand the gra!ity of the sit(ation more than they let on to the ad(lts aro(nd them/ #r perhaps+ rather than a *ons*io(s (nderstanding+ their *a(' tion was on a primiti!e+ physi*al le!el+ an (n*ons*io(s rea*tion to a broad spe*tr(m of press(res that they did not e!en realize they sensed/ #(tside+ a good breeze was blowing from the so(theast+ p(shing northwestward+ less for*ef(l at gro(nd le!el than it was (p where the big *lo(ds were herded along/ 2t set (p a soft+ r(stling so(nd in the palm forest+ a sinister hissing+ b(t was otherwise inno*(o(s/ 2t was somewhat diffi*(lt to imagine it growing in for*e (ntil it *o(ld (proot palms and dri!e wa!es halfway a*ross the island/ 0hey went a*ross the edge of the formal gardens+ almost dire*tly o!er the spot where ,onya had lain+ (n*ons*io(s+ the night before+ too. a set of steps down to the gray bea*h/ 6,ee;: le1 *ried+ pointing to the (nr(ly waters/ =(st as he had said+ the wa!es were h(ge+ eight or nine feet high+ *(rling in toward the bea*h with br(tal for*e/ 0hat elemental sa!agery was as hypnoti* a show as the boy had promised/ 60here8s a ship;: le1 *ried/ 6Bhere9: 0ina as.ed/ &e pointed/ ,onya followed the dire*tion of his o(tfl(ng hand and saw+ far o(t on that boiling *a(ldron of a sea+ the dar. shape of a long tan.er whi*h wallowed (p and down li.e some li!ing *reat(re (na**(stomed to sa!age waters and sear*hing for a way o(t/ %!en at this distan*e+ she was able to see the high sheets of white spray that e1ploded along the tan.er8s bow ea*h time it slammed

thro(gh another wall of mo!ing water/ 2t o**(rred to her that the sa!age ways of $at(re *o(ld be far more dangero(s than anything a h(man agent *o(ld do-e!en if the man in A(estion were a *ertified l(nati*/ ,he fer!ently hoped that 7reta wo(ld by'pass Distingue . . / 0hey wal.ed near the water8s edge+ the *hildren fi!e pa*es ahead of them+ and they did not say m(*h of anything/ 6Chilly+: ,onya said/ 6 bad sign/: Bhen+ in a few more *omments+ they had e1ha(sted the s(b3e*t of the weather+ they lapsed into *omplete silen*e/ head+ le1 and 0ina had fo(nd three'A(arters of a *rate washed to shore by the stormy seas+ and they were *lambering o!er it+ playing with it as all .ids play with bo1es/ ,onya and @(dolph wal.ed past them a few feet+ then stopped to wat*h o!er them/ 0he game the two were playing was ine1pli*able+ b(t they were both en3oying it4 0ina was giggling so hard+ as le1 popped in and o(t of the h(ge *rate+ that her small fa*e was *herry'tinted at the *hee.s and nose/ ,onya loo.ed for the freighter/ 2t was gone/ >arther along the bea*h+ howe!er+ another show was in progress+ one that appeared to be A(ite li!ely/ bo(t twenty pa*es away+ half a h(ndred sand *rabs+ and perhaps twi*e that n(mber+ were thi*.ly *ongregated aro(nd some ob3e*t whi*h+ li.e the wooden *rate+ seemed to ha!e been washed ashore/ 0hey s*(ttled o!er it in s(*h n(mbers+ with s(*h de!otion+ that they reminded ,onya of flies on honey+ and they obs*(red the general o(tline of their prize/ 62sn8t that strange9: she as.ed ,aine/ 60he *rabs9: 6Ces/: 6?robably a dead fish that washed ashore-and now they8re ha!ing a real feast/: 60hey8d eat dead meat9: 60hat8s abo(t the only .ind they eat/ 0hey8re s*a!engers+ not gen(ine predators/: 6 n (npleasant diet+: she said/ 6 t least they .eep the bea*hes *lean+: ,aine said/ 62t8s an awf(lly large fish+: she said/ 6Co(ld be a dead shar. or porpoise/: 0he *rabs s*(ttled ba*. and forth+ tossed aro(nd by the foaming wa!es that sl(i*ed o!er half of their prize/ 6Bill they de!o(r it all9: 6 ll b(t the bones/: ,he felt (neasy/ ,he was not s(re why/ 6@(dolph-9: 6&mmm9: le1 popped o(t of his bo1/ 0ina giggled and slapped at him/ 6,omething8s wrong+: ,onya said/ 0he bodyg(ard was instantly alert/ &is hand had gone to his holster/ 6$othing li.e that+: she said/ 6Bhat+ then9: ,he nodded toward the *rabs/

6Bhat abo(t them9: 628m not s(re+ b(t-: 62t8s not pleasant+ 28ll agree+: he said+ regaining his *ompos(re/ 6"(t it8s a perfe*tly nat(ral s*ene+ an e*ologi*al *y*le that ta.es pla*e a million times ea*h ho(r/: 6$o+: she said adamantly/ 6,onya-: hea!y wa!e+ taller than all of the rest that had been so reg(larly pre*eding it+ swept in from the dar. edges of the sea+ rising twel!e feet abo!e the s(rfa*e+ *(rling down li.e a water hammer/ 2t began to brea.+ swept *ompletely a*ross the *rabs and their meal+ s*attering the determined *r(sta' *eans before it/ Bhen the roiling waters po(red ba*. into the sea+ baring the bea*h again+ they left the *rabs8 meal free of pin*ered diners for one brief moment+ and the o(tlines of the thing were+ at last+ pains' ta.ingly *lear and re*ognizable/ 6)y 7od+: ,aine gasped/ ,onya gagged/ 0he *rabs r(shed in again/ 2n a se*ond+ they had obs*(red the thing on*e more/ 0he .ids noti*ed the shift in their elders8 attention+ sensed that something spe*ial had 3(st happened and+ la(ghing+ wa!ing their arms+ ran away from the bro.en *rate toward the *ongregation of *rabs/ 6 le1+ stop;: ,onya s*reamed/ &er damaged throat+ whi*h she wo(ld ha!e tho(ght in*apable of that !ol(me+ prod(*ed a hoarse+ terrified e1plosion of so(nd that stopped the *hildren in their tra*.s/ le1 t(rned and said+ 6,and *rabs won8t h(rt yo(/: 60hey r(n when yo( get *lose+: 0ina said/ 62 don8t *are+: ,onya said+ with all the a(thority she *o(ld m(ster/ 6Co( *ome ba*. here right now+ right away+ this instant/ Do yo( (nderstand me9: ,he had ne!er ta.en that tone with them before+ had ne!er needed to+ and she saw that now they were *owed by it/ 0hey wal.ed ba*.+ not s(re why she had yelled/ 6Bhat8d we do9: 0ina as.ed+ slightly frightened/ 6$othing+ angel+: ,onya said/ 6=(st start ba*. for the ho(se/ Bal. slowly/ 28ll *at*h (p in a min(te/: 0hey did e1a*tly as they were told+ holding hands again+ not loo.ing ba*.+ as if they now (n' derstood+ howe!er !ag(ely+ that they had almost seen something they were ne!er meant to see/ ,onya and @(dolph+ standing *lose together+ as if sheltering ea*h other from the wind-or from something more terrible than wind-loo.ed at the *rab'*o!ered l(mp/ 6Co( saw it9: she as.ed/ 6Ces/: 628m afraid+: she said/ 62t *an8t h(rt yo(/: 62t was a man+: she said/ 6 *orpse/: 6,ame thing/: 6$o/ &e *an8t feel what the *rabs are doing to him/ &e8s playing a part in that e*ologi*al *y*le+ 3(st as a dead shar. wo(ld/: ,he nodded/ 6Be better go see who-who he is/: 6?robably a sailor who went o!erboard/: ,he nodded/

,aine said+ 6Co( *at*h (p with the .ids+ stop them and wait for me/ Co( don8t ha!e to see this/: "efore she *o(ld ob3e*t+ he wal.ed bris.ly off toward the *orpse+ s*attering the *rabs before him/ ,onya t(rned and+ sha.ing (n*ontrollably+ ran to *at*h the .ids+ stopped them+ and .ept their at' tention away from @(dolph and his grisly in!estigation/ 6 re yo( mad at (s9: 0ina as.ed/ 6$o/: 6Be tho(ght yo( were+: le1 said/ ,he .nelt in the wet sand and drew them both against her+ h(gged them tightly+ felt how slight and defenseless they were/ ,he almost started to *ry-for them+ for herself-b(t .new that tears wo(ld help nothing+ and she fo(ght ba*. the (rge to let go/ n eternity later+ ,aine ret(rned from his e1ploration+ *learing his throat and spitting in the sand -as if he *o(ld e1pel the after'image of what he had seen in the same fashion that he might *lear his mo(th of a bad taste / / /

,2I0%%$
2n the .it*hen+ at ,eawat*h+ "ess entertained le1 and 0ina with a game of #ld )aid+ at a small *ard table whi*h she had opened beside one of the big+ m(ltiple'paned windows/ 2n the middle of the room+ sitting side'by'side on stools at the b(ilt'in wor. table+ ,onya and the bodyg(ard spo.e in soft !oi*es+ trying to grow a**(stomed to their morbid dis*o!ery/ 6Bhat *o(ld yo( tell abo(t him9: she as.ed/ 6$ot a lot/ 0he *rabs had done their wor./: ,he sh(ddered/ 62t was a man+: he said/ 65ate twenties or early thirties+ white+ relati!ely well'dressed/: 6Drowned9: 6$o/: ,he loo.ed at him oddly/ &e said+ 62 thin. he was .illed/: ,he pi*.ed (p her *offee+ too. a long swallow/ ,he said+ 6&ow9: 60he *rabs hadn8t gotten to all of him+ yet/ &is one arm was relati!ely (nto(*hed/ 2 saw what 28m s(re were .nife wo(nds/: 62f he was washed ashore+ he might ha!e been *(t by *oral/: 6&e wasn8t washed ashore/: 6Bhat9: 0he *hildren sA(ealed with harsh la(ghter at one of "ess Dalton8s bad 3o.es/ ,aine said+ 6&e was lying in a depression in the sand/: 6,o/: &e too. a swallow of *offee/ 6,o+: he said+ 6it loo.ed dist(rbingly li.e a gra!e+ an oblong hole a *o(ple of feet deep / / / 0he sea had beg(n to smooth its edges and to fill it in aro(nd the body+ b(t the lines were still noti*e ' able/: 6,omeone b(ried him there9 Bhy in s(*h an (nsafe spot9: 6?erhaps the b(rial was a hasty affair/ nd+ anyway+ the tides are (s(ally not fier*e eno(gh to rea*h that far (p the bea*h and wash o(t the loose sand o!er the gra!e/ 0he .iller simply had a bit of nasty l(*.+ what with the arri!al of a storm in the area/: 6,till+: she said+ 6if the wa!es hadn8t washed him into sight+ we8d ha!e smelled him-when we wal.ed by/: 60he *rabs wo(ld ha!e t(nneled to him and pi*.ed him *lean+: ,aine pointed o(t/ 6%!en b(ried li.e that9: 6Ces/: 62 win+ 2 win;: 0ina sho(ted/ n (nserio(s arg(ment began to ta.e shape o!er at the #ld )aid table+ probably fomented by "ess to tease the .ids/ 6"(t who *o(ld he ha!e been9: ,onya as.ed/ 6=ohn &ayes+: the bodyg(ard said/ ,tartled+ she said+ 6&ow do yo( .now9: &e prod(*ed a slip of pin. paper+ wrin.led and damp/ &e said+ 60his is a st(b from a motorboat rental ser!i*e on 7(adelo(pe/ 2t has his name and home address+ b(t it8s been so soa.ed in seawater

that it8s nearly (nreadable/ ,till+ yo( *an ma.e o(t the name/: ,he loo.ed b(t did not to(*h/ 6Bhere8d yo( get it9: she as.ed/ &e said+ 62n his tro(sers po*.et/: 6Co( to(*hed-that thing9: 62t was only a *orpse/: 6,till-: 62 tho(ght there might be identifi*ation on it+ and there was/: &e t(*.ed the slip of paper into his po*.et again/ 6$ow+ we ha!e to fa*e what to do with it/: she said/ 60he body9: 6#f *o(rse+ the body/: &e said+ 6Be lea!e it there/: 6>or the *rabs9: 6Bhat wo(ld yo( ha!e me do9: he as.ed/ 62 *o(ld mo!e it off the bea*h+ b(t the *rabs wo(ld follow/ 0he only other alternati!e is to wrap it in a blan.et+ bring it to the ho(se and d(mp it into a freezer/ Do yo( thin. that wo(ld ma.e e!eryone feel better9: 6#h 7od+ no;: she said/ 60hen we lea!e it where we fo(nd it/: 6Bhat if the sea ta.es it away9: &e said+ with feeling+ 67ood riddan*e;: 6"(t+: ,onya protested+ 6isn8t it e!iden*e9 2sn8t it important to show the poli*e what we saw-: 6=ohn &ayes will be reported missing+ by someone-wife+ mother+ sister+ girlfriend/ nd we8ll ha!e this slip of paper+ and we8ll be able to testify abo(t what we saw o(t there/ 0hat8ll be e!iden*e eno(gh/: ,he tho(ght a while/ 6Bhat was he doing here on Distingue? ,aine said+ 62 wo(ld g(ess that+ somehow+ he was in *ahoots with the man who wants to h(rt the .ids/: 6)admen don8t wor. in pairs;: she said/ 6 point whi*h =ohn &ayes learned too late/: 6&e was .illed by whoe!er8s after le1 and 0ina9: 62 thin. so/: %arlier+ on the way ba*. to the ho(se+ he had as.ed her not to tell anyone what they8d fo(nd (ntil they had a *han*e to tal. abo(t it/ $ow+ she dis*o!ered why he felt a need for se*re*y/ &e said+ 628m going to as. yo( to *ontin(e to be A(iet abo(t this/ 2 don8t want anyone to .now we saw that body/: 6Bhy9: 6"e*a(se 2 ha!e an a*e (p my slee!e that o(r .nife'toting friend *an8t .now abo(t/ 2 now ha!e a slight ad!antage/: 6&ow so9: ,he tried to ta.e a sip of *offee b(t fo(nd that her m(g was empty/ 62f we *an hold e!erything together (ntil this storm brea.s and (ntil someone on the mainland de*ides we8re in some sort of tro(ble o(t here+ if we *an .eep the .ids safe+ then 2 ha!e a *han*e of nailing o(r *razy friend+ whoe!er he is/ 2 *an ta.e this slip of paper ba*. to the boat rental pla*e+ learn the address that8s been washed off+ and find o(t 3(st who =ohn &ayes was-and who he .new/ 2f 28m not getting senile+ 2 belie!e 28ll find that =ohn &ayes was friends with someone on this island+ either in ,eawat*h or &aw. &o(se/: 6 nd that someone is o(r man+: ,onya said/

6%1a*tly/: 628ll .eep it A(iet/: 60han. yo(/: 0hey sat for a long moment+ wat*hing the *hildren playing *ards with "ess Dalton/ ,onya said+ 60hey almost saw-: 6"(t didn8t/: 62 s*ared them with my s*ream/: &e said+ 62 was trying to *all o(t to them too+ b(t 2 *o(ldn8t get any words o(t/ 2 3(st stood there mo!ing my mo(th+ li.e a !entriloA(ist8s d(mmy witho(t his master/: ,onya loo.ed at the bodyg(ard as he *ontin(ed wat*hing the *hildren+ and she tho(ght again abo(t the *ontradi*tions of his personality/ 0he same man who *o(ld *oldly sear*h a de*omposing *orpse8s po*.ets *o(ld not find his !oi*e to warn the .ids away from that same grisly ob3e*t; &e was in no way an ordinary man-a *(rio(s blend of br(tality and sensiti!ity/ Bitho(t .nowing why+ she as.ed+ 6&a!e yo( e!er been married9: &e nodded/ 6#n*e/: 6Children9: 6 son/: 6&ow old is he9: 6&e wo(ld be eight now/: 6Bo(ld be9: 6&e wasn8t a healthy *hild/ &e died of heart tro(ble when he was three+ *ongenital *oronary disease/: 628m sorry+: she said/ 6,o am 2+: he said+ wat*hing the Do(gherty .ids/ 6,o am 2/:

,%E%$0%%$
0he man was angry with >ate/ 2t 3(st wasn8t fair that some people had e!erything they *o(ld want in this world-while other people la*.ed e!erything and always wo(ld la*.+ no matter what they did/ 0he world was o(t of .il' ter+ spinning all wrong+ and life was a mo*.ery/ )en were *lowns+ nothing b(t *lowns+ playing o(t a b(n*h of silly ro(tines that la*.ed wit and made them seem li.e *ement'headed fools/ )en were *lowns/ nd hopes were ill(sions/ Co( *o(ld ne!er hope for anything and re*ei!e it/ %1*ept for a fa!ored few+ those who had e!erything/ 5i.e the Do(ghertys/ &e hated the Do(ghertys/ >ate had been absol(tely philanthropi* when it *ame to the Do(ghertys/ 0hey had money+ so !ery m(*h money+ more money than anyone *o(ld e1pe*t to spend+ reasonably spend on reasonable things+ in ten lifetimes/ 0hey were healthy+ well'ed(*ated+ admired and respe*ted by the people who *o(nted+ other people li.e them/ 0hey had s(*h a lo!ely family+ s(*h a happy family+ two bea(tif(l *hildren for whom they *o(ld b(y or do anything/ 2t wasn8t right/ Bhat did he ha!e9 2n *omparison+ he had nothing/ 0he Do(ghertys had e!erything+ and he had nothing/ =eremy+ of *o(rse+ wo(ld e!en things (p/ 0hat was fair/ "alan*e the ineA(ities >ate *reated/ nd before long/ &e already .new the perfe*t moment/ &e had it all set (p+ and no one wo(ld be able to do a thing to stop him/ &e had been impro!ising so f(rio(sly+ that he had been afraid of slipping (p somewhere+ b(t now he saw it+ in *rystal !isions+ how it wo(ld wor.+ and he .new he8d not made a single mista.e/ 2n a little while+ =eremy wo(ld (se his .nife again/

%27&0%%$
Bhen the rain began to fall+ hard as hail and in sheets so dense that it *(t their !iew from the .it*hen windows to a mere ten or twel!e yards+ "ess swit*hed on the portable radio that sat atop the refrigerator and t(ned in to a weather report/ 6&(rri*ane 7reta+ se!enth of this season+: the anno(n*er told them+ 6is now predi*ted to main' tain its northwestwardly mo!ement toward the island of 7(adelo(pe where twel!e'foot tides are already being re*orded/ 7o!ernment offi*ials at the marine wat*h station at Pointe-a-Pitre ha!e is' s(ed warnings to all ships at sea and are presently *ompleting *alls to o(tlying islands to learn whether anyone there reA(ires assistan*e in lea!ing their homes to weather 7reta on the mainland/ 0he Pointe-a-Pitre do*.s are *losed+ and all the ships in that area ha!e been ordered to stand an*hor in the "ay and ride the storm o(t at a safe distan*e from the piers and berthing slots/ 60he Fnited ,tates Beather "(rea(+ operating o(t of ,an =(an+ reports that &(rri*ane 7reta is now pa*.ing winds slightly stronger than one h(ndred miles an ho(r+ with a storm front some twenty'si1 miles wide/ 2t is pi*.ing (p speed and mo!ing in a northwestwardly dire*tion at appro1imately eighteen miles an ho(r and is e1pe*ted to rea*hed the 7(adelo(pe area sometime before midnight tonight/ 6 nyone reA(iring the assistan*e of the island go!ernment in rea*hing a port of safety sho(ld ei' ther telephone one of the three following n(mbers-: "ess swit*hed the radio off/ 62f it doesn8t roll right o!er (s+ it8ll *ome damn *lose+: &enry Dalton said/ 6"etter bolt the sh(t' ters in pla*e/: 6Co( so(nd li.e yo(8!e been thro(gh this before+: ,onya said/ 0hey had *ongregated in the .it*hen+ as if see.ing m(t(al *omfort from the s*reaming winds and the th(nder-both the Daltons+ )ills+ &elga+ ,aine+ the *hildren/ #nly "ill ?eterson was missing+ for he was still aboard the Lady Jane, trying to *lear her of seawater with the (se of the hand p(mp whi*h+ ingenio(sly+ he had hoo.ed (p to a bi*y*le frame for greater effi*ien*y/ 6#h+ my+ yes+: "ess said/ 6Be8re old hands/ Be8!e weathered o(t two or three other storms o!er the years/: Dalton and )ills went to tend to the sh(tters+ whi*h were all e1ternal for the gro(nd floors+ in' ternal on the se*ond and third le!els/ 6"e some bro.en glass to *lean (p when this is o!er+: &elga said/ 6$ot all them (pper windows are going to es*ape/: &enry Dalton slammed the sh(tters together a*ross the o(tside of the largest .it*hen window+ slid bolts into pla*e+ while )ills tended A(i*.ly to both the smaller windows/ 0he room grew dar.er/ "ess got (p and t(rned on another light/ 6Bill we go into the storm *eller9: le1 said/ 60hat8s f(n; 60ina said/ 6Be8ll see+: "ess told them/ 6"(t we8re not the types to r(n from any little blow+ yo( .now/: ,he spo.e in imitation of some salty old sea dog/ 62 tho(ght there weren8t any *ellars in ,ea'wat*h+: ,onya said+ slightly *onf(sed/ ,he didn8t m(*h li.e the idea of hiding in the *ellar li.e a rat in flight from its own fear/ 62 tho(ght a *ellar wo(ld flood with sea water/: 62t8s not a gen(ine *ellar+: "ess e1plained/ ,he pointed to a white door at the far end of the

room+ a door whi*h was re*essed into the wall beside the large refrigerator/ 60he storm *ellar8s atta*hed to the ho(se instead of lying (nder it/ 0he gro(nd slopes (p at that side of ,eawat*h+ and the storm *ellar is b(ilt partly into the hillside/ Con*rete+ all reinfor*ed/ 2t8s not a perfe*t shelter+ mind yo(+ b(t it8s a sight better than the ho(se when the wind really gets bad and the rain *omes as hard as a waterfall/: 6&ow long will we ha!e to stay in there9: ,onya as.ed/ "ess shr(gged/ 6Depends/ 2f the storm passes (s at a de*ent distan*e+ we might not ha!e to (se it at all/ 2f it passes right o!er (s+ as it loo.s as if it might+ then we8ll be in there a day-maybe two/: 628ll be glad when this is o!er+: ,onya said/ 60hat ma.es a b(n*h of (s+: "ess said/ ,onya *o(ld not help b(t remember 5ynda ,pa(lding8s melodramati* warnings abo(t h(rri' *anes/ @ight now+ as the rain pattered hard against the windows and they waited to find o(t how bad it was going to get+ those warnings did not seem silly and melodramati* at all/ 0hey seemed frighteningly real and !alid/ 2ndeed+ almost e!erything that 5ynda ,pa(lding+ in her moments of 3ealo(sy+ had predi*ted was now *oming tr(e/ %!erything e1*ept for the stories abo(t Eoodoo+ of *o(rse/ 0h(s far in her Carib' bean ad!ent(res+ ,onya had not en*o(ntered anyone wor.ing a Eoodoo spell on anyone else/ $o m(mbo'3(mbo+ no *hants or *(rses/ ,he s(pposed that was so&ething to be than.f(l for+ at least/ t that moment+ "ill ?eterson opened the door+ had it ripped from his hand by the fier*e wind/ 2t banged ba*. against the wall with a terrifi* *rash that sent ,onya halfway o(t of her *hair and bro(ght e!ery eye in the room immediately to the yo(ng man/ "ill *ame in+ followed by the wind and rain li.e a giant *law that was trying to snat*h him ba*.+ and he str(ggled to sho!e the door sh(t against that *law8s insisten*e/ &e t(rned+ that *hore *ompleted+ and smiled at them+ dren*hed *lear thro(gh+ his *lothes pasted to him by the rain+ his hair hanging in thi*.+ wet *l(mps+ made dar.er by the water/ 62 thin. we8re in for a spell of bad weather+: he told them+ grinning/ 6Co(8ll *at*h yo(r death of *old+: "ess said/ &elga was on her feet/ 628ll ma.e *offee for yo(/: 6"e ba*. in a 3iffy+ then+: "ill said/ &e went (pstairs to *hange his *lothes/ Bhen he *ame ba*.+ a *o(ple of min(tes later+ &elga pro!ed tr(e to her word and ga!e him a *(p of steaming *offee+ whi*h he too. at the wor. table+ sitting on a stool/ &e folded his hands abo(t the *(p+ warming himself+ and he dran. it li.e a man fresh from the desert and willing to swallow anything liA(id/ 6&ow8s the boat9: ,aine as.ed/ "ill glan*ed at him/ 6"ad+: he said/ 62n what way9: ,aine as.ed/ 628m getting nowhere with her/: 6Bhy9: 62 was ma.ing a little progress+ mostly be*a(se of the bi*y*le rig 28d hoo.ed (p to the hand p(mp/ 28d gotten the water le!el in the lower de*.s down to+ oh maybe two thirds of what it had been when 2 fo(nd her last night/ 2t wasn8t going smoothly or A(i*.ly+ yo( (nderstand/ "(t steadily/ 0hen this damn rain *ame (p/: &e s*owled into what was left of his *offee+ li.e a gypsy into a tea*(p/ 6,o9: 6Co( *o(ld stand o(t in this st(ff and drown+: "ill said/ 62t8s that damn hea!y/ #f *o(rse+ when 2 was wor.ing the p(mp+ 2 had to lea!e the de*. door open in order to r(n the p(mp hose o!er the side/ s a res(lt+ the rain was *at*hing on the (pper de*. li.e water in a swimming pool/ 2t followed

the de*. slant to the hat*h door+ po(red thro(gh the door and down the steps and into the holdalmost as fast as 2 was p(mping it o(t/ nd it was all falling on my head/: 62 see/: 6Bhen the storm8s finished+: ?eterson went on+ 62 *an get things hoo.ed (p and started all o!er again/: 6"y then+: ,aine said+ 6it won8t matter/: %!eryone stiffened+ (n*ons*io(sly+ when the bodyg(ard made that (npleasant prono(n*ement/ ,aine+ realizing what he had said and how it had been interpreted+ e1plained himself+ 62 mean+ by the time this storm8s really o!er+ )r/ Do(gherty will .now something8s wrong here+ and he8ll be trying to get thro(gh/ &e8ll ha!e alerted the poli*e on 7(adelo(pe+ and help will ha!e arri!ed/: %!eryone eased ba*. again+ some of the tension draining o(t of them+ tho(gh no one seemed to be as rela1ed as he had been before ,aine8s fau( %as. 0hey had be*ome espe*ially intrig(ed with the approa*hing storm+ engrossed in the !iolen*e of $at(re+ and this far greater spe*ta*le had momentarily relie!ed them of their worry for the *hildren/ $ow that worry was ba*.+ twofold+ and there was no way to be distra*ted from it+ f(lly+ again/ &enry Dalton and 5eroy )ills ret(rned from *losing the sh(tters on the gro(nd floor+ stripped o(t of their water'beaded sli*.ers and then+ at "ess8s insisten*e+ from their shoes and so*.s/ &elga made more *offee while the two men went to sh(t the se*ond and third floor windows+ and when they ret(rned+ she had also set o(t se!eral plates of *oo.ies and pastries whi*h e!eryone+ rather half'heartedly+ was helping himself to/ 0he ne1t ho(r passed slowly+ p(n*t(ated by three weather reports on the radio/ 0he firstD 6Binds (p to a h(ndred and ten miles an ho(r at the worst of the storm as &(rri*ane 7reta mo!es *loser to 7(adelo(pe on a steady northwest tra*./ 2nhabitants of the o(tlying island ha!e+ al' most witho(t e1*eption+ reported to Pointe-a-Pitre for shelter+ where stores ha!e been *losed for some ho(rs and sh(tters ha!e been bolted against the fier*e wind and rains that are mo!ing in ad!an*e of the storm itself/: 0he se*ondD 6Captain @i*hard ,pi.er of the Janse Pride, freshly into port on 7(adelo(pe+ reports that &(r' ri*ane 7reta is one of the worst storms he has seen in twenty years of seamanship in the Caribbean/ &e reports towering seas+ and an almost (nbearable wind that managed to p(t the Janse Pride in a hea!y list to port d(ring the last few ho(rs of her franti* dri!e for 7(adelo(pe/: 0he thirdD 60he Fnited ,tates Beather "(rea( operating o(t of ,an =(an+ ?(erto @i*o+ predi*ts that the h(rri*ane will pass thro(gh the !i*inity of 7(adelo(pe between ten'thirty and midnight tonight/ F/,/ re*onnaissan*e planes+ s*o(ting the perimeter of the storm+ report+ from analysis of aerial pho' tography+ that the tides are r(nning e1traordinarily high/ #n this warning+ the shop.eepers and homeowners li!ing near the do*.s at Pointe-a-Pitre, ha!e beg(n to mo!e all f(rnit(re and goods off the gro(nd floor+ in the e!ent the seas sho(ld breast the do*.s and po(r into the lower streets of the *ity/: 0hey tal.ed+ ner!o(sly+ between the e1tended silen*es when they were listening intently to the weather reports and stories of imminent disaster on the radio+ and they made a lot of bad 3o.es that somehow seemed+ to them+ A(ite f(nny/ #nly the *hildren were *learly (nimpressed with the danger posed by &(rri*ane 7reta+ for they played together as they always did+ rela1ed+ pleased with themsel!es+ *ompeting in age'old games and in other games of their own man(fa*t(re/ nd they ne!er wanted for a gen(ine smile or la(gh+ whi*h made the ad(lts8 for*ed h(mor seem all the more phoney/ "ill ?eterson *ame and sat ne1t to ,onya+ trying to *heer her (p/ &e seemed to be aware+ more

than the others were+ that this was her first e1perien*e in a ma3or storm and that+ piled atop all the other horrors of re*ent days+ this was almost too m(*h for her to *ope with/ &e held her hand/ ,he wel*omed that/ &e s(rprised her+ after a while+ by leaning *lose to her and whispering+ 628d li.e to tal. to yo( alone/: ,he raised her eyebrows/ 6 bo(t ,aine+ abo(t the things that ha!e been going on+: he said+ in a !oi*e so low that ,aine *o(ld not ha!e heard him/ 6Bhen9: 6$ow/: ,he said+ 6Bhere9: &e tho(ght for a long moment+ then s(ddenly got to his feet+ p(lling her (p after him/ 0o the others in the .it*hen+ he said+ 6,onya and 2 are going to the library to loo. for a *o(ple of boo.s to pass the time/: "ess said+ 60hat8s the feeblest story of its type that 2 thin. 28!e e!er heard/: ,onya bl(shed+ b(t *o(ld not protest/ "ill said+ 6Co(8re a gossip+ "ess Dalton+ (nprin*ipled+ a *ommon s*old li.e they (sed to p(t in the sto*.s/: 6"(t 2 tell the tr(th+: she said/ 628m afraid yo( don8t+: he said/ 6Be really are going to find some boo.s+ be*a(se we8!e been enormo(sly depressed by the *ompany we8!e been for*ed to .eep+ and-: "ess smiled wearily/ 6#h+ go away+ go away/ %!eryone .nows it8s yo( two who8!e bro(ght this air of defeat in the first pla*e/: $o one paid them m(*h attention when they left the .it*hen/ $o one e1*ept @(dolph ,aine/ 2n the library+ "ill *losed the hea!y tea. door and leaned against it for a moment+ a finger raised to his lips+ listening intently+ as if he tho(ght they might ha!e been followed/ 2n a moment+ satisfied+ he stepped away from the door and led ,onya to two fa*ing+ bla*. leather reading *hairs+ p(t her into one and sat down a*ross from her/ &e said+ 6&ow *an we *on!in*e ,aine that+ all this time+ he8s been loo.ing in all the wrong pla*es for his man9: &e spo.e in a low+ *alm b(t demanding tone of !oi*e/ &is fa*e was *reased with lines of worry+ his thin lips tight and in harmony with his sA(inted+ *on*erned eyes/ 6&as he been9: 6Co( .now he has/: ,he fidgeted/ ,he said+ 628m not s(re what 2 .now/: 6Co( .now who8s the li.eliest s(spe*t/: 62 do/: 6,onya+ please/: ,he said nothing/ 6#n*e+ 3(st ,(nday night+ yo( didn8t hesitate to say who yo( most s(spe*ted/ Co( were !ery adamant abo(t yo(r *on*l(sions+ then/: 62 g(ess 2 was/: 6Co( ha!en8t *hanged yo(r mind+ ha!e yo(9: ,he tho(ght a moment/ 6$o/: 67ood/ "e*a(se if yo( ha!e *hanged yo(r mind+ 2 thin. 2 *an arg(e yo( ba*. to yo(r origi nal s(ppositions/:

,he leaned away from her *hair/ 6Co( .now something9: 628!e had a *o(ple of-(nsettling e1perien*es+: he admitted+ gripping the arms of his *hair so hard his .n(*.les whitened/ 6Bhen is this9: 65ast night+ ,(nday night/: 6 nd these (nsettling e1perien*es of yo(rs-: she said+ afraid of what he wo(ld answer 6-they had something to do with-: 6Kenneth "lenwell/: ,he got (p and began to pa*e/ &e remained seated/ 6@(dolph swears it *an8t be "lenwell/: 628!e heard+: he said+ bitterly/ 6Bhy do yo( thin. he8s wrong9: s if he had been afraid she wo(ld not as. that A(estion+ the one A(estion he had been waiting for+ and pleased that she had+ he s(ddenly rela1ed and let it all po(r o(t+ almost as if he had let it r(n thro(gh his mind a few h(ndred times+ pra*ti*ing the story (ntil he had it to its most effe*ti!e !er' sion/ &e said+ 65ast night+ when 2 fo(nd the Lady Jane s*(ttled+ 2 *ame and told ,aine and s(ggested 2 go down to &aw. &o(se and borrow a boat from the "lenwells/ 0ho(gh there8s a hell of a lot of m(t(al animosity between the families+ it seemed to me that they8d not be so st(bborn+ in a *ase li.e this+ as to ref(se (s a boat/ ,aine told me to go ahead/: 62 .now/: 6Ces+ b(t yo( don8t .now what happened at &aw. &o(se/: 60heir boats were s(n./: 6)ore than that/: ,he ret(rned to her *hair+ sat down+ waited/ 6Ken "lenwell answered the door when 2 .no*.ed+: ?eterson told her/ &is eyes were far away+ as if he *o(ld e!en now see that meeting in perfe*t *larity+ as if it were 3(st now (nrolling for the first time/ 6&e was wearing a pair of filthy white 3eans that were water'soa.ed almost to the .nees+ and a pair of white snea.ers that sA(ished with water when he wal.ed/ &e loo.ed as if he8d been doing a pie*e of pretty stren(o(s wor.+ 3(st before 28d arri!ed/ &e wanted to .now what 2 was there for+ and 2 got right to the point / / /: 6Bho the hell wo(ld want to s*(ttle yo(r boat9: "lenwell as.ed when "ill finished his story/ &e seemed s(spi*io(s+ as if he tho(ght ?eterson had some other moti!e for being there at that ho(r of the night/ 6@(dolph ,aine thin.s it might be the same *hara*ter who made all the threats against the .ids+: "ill e1plained/ 6Bhy wo(ld he do that9: "lenwell as.ed/ 6Bhat per*entage wo(ld there be in it+ for him9: 6&e *o(ld isolate (s+: ?eterson said/ 6Co(8re not isolated so long as we ha!e boats+: "lenwell said/ 6"(t he might not .now that/: 62 s(ppose / / /: "lenwell stepped ba*.+ motioning for ?eterson to enter &aw. &o(se/ 0he foyer was poorly lighted+ and the ho(se *(rio(sly still e1*ept for the o!erly lo(d blare of a tele!ision set t(ned to a *ops and robbers story/ "lenwell+ seeing ?eterson8s grima*e at the rat'a'tat'tat of a phoney s(bma*hine g(n+ smiled and said+ 6)y grandparents wat*h a lot of tele!ision these days/:

?eterson nodded and said+ 62f 2 *o(ld (se yo(r radio+ it might not be ne*essary to ta.e one of yo(r boats/: 6#f *o(rse+: "lenwell said+ then stopped as if 3er.ed on p(ppet strings/ 6Bhat8s wrong with yo(r own radio9: 6,omeone smashed it/: "lenwell loo.ed worried/ 6@(dolph has no idea who might ha!e-: 6?erhaps an idea+ b(t no proof+: ?eterson said/ "lenwell loo.ed at him oddly+ then said+ 6#f *o(rse/ Bell+ yo( *an (se o(r radio'phone+ s(re eno(gh/: 0hey went the length of the hall+ past the lo(nge where the tele!ision set !ag(ely ill(minated two old+ motionless people who stared intently at the gray images that dan*ed before them/ t the end of the hall+ they went into a small+ ba*. room whi*h was isolated from most of the ho(se-and here they fo(nd the "lenwells8 set+ as damaged as Do(gherty8s set had been/ 6Co( don8t seem s(rprised+: ?eterson had said+ when Ken "lenwell dis*o!ered the tro(ble/ 628m not/: 6#h9: 628m s(re this man who8s after the Do(gherty .ids is mad+: "lenwell e1plained/ 6 nd madness+ rather than breeding st(pidity+ (s(ally generates abnormal *(nning/ &e wo(ldn8t ha!e smashed yo(r radio and o!erloo.ed o(rs/: 6Co( ma.e him so(nd li.e a damned formidable opponent+: ?eterson said+ not trying !ery hard to *on*eal his irritation with "lenwell8s off'handed manner/ 2n the orange light of the lamp that rested on a pedestal beside the r(ined radio'telephone+ "len' well grima*ed+ wiped at his fa*e as if he were s(ddenly weary+ and said+ 6Bell+ my friend+ to date+ hasn8t he pro!ed himself to be 3(st that9: 6&e won8t s(**eed/: 6Be hope/: 62 .now/: 60hen yo( .now m(*h more than most mortal men+: "lenwell had said+ loo.ing at him oddly again+ as if probing for something+ trying to g(ess how m(*h-of what9-?eterson might .now or s(spe*t/ ?eterson had t(rned away from the other man and wal.ed to the door/ #!er his sho(lder+ he said+ 6Bhere are yo(r boats9: 628ll ta.e yo( to them+: "lenwell said+ sho(ldering past "ill+ ta.ing him a*ross the .it*hen and o(t the ba*. door/ &e wal.ed h(rriedly o!er the rear lawn+ to the bea*h steps and then down/ 2n the *enter of the *o!e+ in a boatho(se alongside the pier where ,onya had first seen "lenwell+ they fo(nd the sailboat and the *abin *r(iser/ ,*(ttled/ "lenwell 3(st stood there+ smiling r(ef(lly at the boats as they lay li.e ro*.s in the water of the boatho(se+ so hea!y with water that they were not ro*.ed at all by the tide that rolled thro(gh the open doors/ ?eterson+ his mo(th abr(ptly p(n. dry with fear+ said+ 6Be8re really in a tight 3am+ now+ aren8t we9: &e loo.ed at "lenwell+ p(zzled by the other man8s eA(animity in the fa*e of his personal losses+ and he said+ 6Co( e1pe*ted this+ too+ didn8t yo(9: 62t o**(rred to me+: "lenwell admitted+ 6that if he8d destroyed yo(r boat and yo(r radio+ he might also ha!e !isited my boatshed/ 2n fa*t+ 2 tho(ght it highly probable/: 6Co(8re ta.ing it awf(lly well/: 62t8s done/: "lenwell t(rned+ and he wal.ed away from the two boats+ o(t of the boatho(se and ba*. toward

the mansion/ >ollowing him+ ?eterson noted his dirty tro(sers and the slowly drying water stains from *(ffs to .nees/ 6,(rf fishing tonight9: ?eterson had as.ed/ "lenwell t(rned/ &e said+ 6Bhat9: ?eterson motioned at his wet sla*.s/ 62 wondered if yo( were s(rf fishing9: 6#h/ Ces+ 2 was+ in fa*t/: 6Cat*h anything9: 6$o/: "a*. at the ho(se+ ?eterson said+ 6Co( don8t ha!e a g(n+ by *han*e+ do yo(9: 6Bhy do yo( as.9: "ill said+ 62 thin. tonight might get pretty ro(gh (p at ,eawat*h/ #(r man8s ob!io(sly on the island+ and he *learly intends to ma.e his mo!e+ his big mo!e+ soon/ ll this other st(ff is mi*.ey mo(se+ 3(st setting the s*ene for what he really wants to do/ 28d feel a lot better if 2 had a g(n/ 2f anything happened to those .ids+ to le1 and 0ina+ 28d feel 3(st awf(l / / /: 6Doesn8t @(dolph ha!e a g(n9: "lenwell as.ed/ 6Ces+ he does/ "(t it8s the only g(n in the whole ho(se+ hardly eno(gh in the *ir*(mstan*es/ Be *o(ld do with a bit more prote*tion/: &e hoped "lenwell didn8t see his real reasons behind these A(estions/ "(t the other man loo.ed at ?eterson for a long+ (n*omfortable time+ again as if he were probing ?eterson8s tho(ghts+ were trying to find o(t e1a*tly how m(*h ?eterson .new-abo(t what9-or s(spe*ted-abo(t whom9-and as if he had some personal sta.e in the o(t*ome of this e1trasensory in!estigation/ t last+ he said+ 6$o+ 2 ha!e no g(n/: 6Co(8re s(re9: 6$at(rally/: 62t wo(ldn8t e!en ha!e to be a handg(n+ a pistol or re!ol!er/ 2f yo( ha!e a rifle-: 6$o g(ns at all/ 2 don8t belie!e in g(ns+: "lenwell said/ 6Co(r grandfather9: 60here isn8t a g(n in &aw. &o(se+: "lenwell had insisted/ ?eterson felt that it was time to drop that line of inA(iry before "lenwell realized what he s(s' pe*ted/ s pleasantly as he *o(ld+ he said+ 6Bell+ than.s for yo(r help/: 67ood l(*.+: "lenwell had said/ ?eterson had *ome home+ empty'handed/ &is story finished+ "ill let go of the arms of the library *hair and folded his long'fingered hands together+ as if the telling of the tale had somehow relie!ed him of an inner agony and gi!en him a semblan*e of pea*e/ 0o ,onya+ he said+ 6 t least+ now+ 2 feel fairly *ertain that "lenwell doesn8t ha!e a g(n/ 0hat wo(ld ma.e him twi*e as dangero(s as he is/: 2t was *lear to ,onya that "ill no longer had the slightest do(bt abo(t who their man was/ 6#f *o(rse+: she pointed o(t+ 6he ne!er has threatened+ whoe!er he is+ to .ill anyone with a g(n/: 6,till+ 2 feel better/: 6Bhy are yo( so s(re it8s Kenneth "lenwell+: she as.ed/ &is arms ret(rned to the arms of the *hair+ his fingers gripping the leather li.e talons/ &e said+ 6&is entire attit(de was s(spi*io(s/ &e wasn8t in the least s(rprised abo(t the r(ined radio or boats/ nd there was the *ondition of his *lothes+ the wet tro(sers+ as if he had been stand'

ing in water-as if he had been o(t sin.ing a *o(ple of boats/: 6&e said he was s(rf fishing+: ,onya said/ 6$o+: "ill said/ 62 as.ed him if he had been s(rf fishing+ and he said that he had been-after a *onf(sed hesitation/ Co( see+ ,onya+ ' s(pplied him with his alibi for the wet tro(sers+ and all he had to do was agree with me/ nd he did/: 60hen he was lying9: 6Definitely/: 6&ow do yo( .now9: 6Co( don8t go s(rf fishing in tro(sers+: "ill said/ 6Co( either wear a bathing s(it or shorts/ #r+ if yo( do wear tro(sers+ for some odd reason+ yo( roll them (p abo!e yo(r .nees/: 60hat8s pretty flimsy e!iden*e-: "(t he was not finished+ and he interr(pted her before she *o(ld say more/ 6 nd e!en if yo(8!e got some weird reason for s(rf fishing in yo(r street*lothes+ yo( don8t go home+ when yo(8re done+ and wal. aro(nd in the ho(se wearing dripping pants and wet+ m(ddy snea.ers/: ,onya nodded+ b(t she did not ha!e anything to say this time/ 6 nd when 2 as.ed if he8d *a(ght anything+ he said he hadn8t-a !ery *on!enient sit(ation/ 2f he8d *a(ght a *o(ple of snappers or almost anything of interest+ 2 wo(ld ha!e as.ed to see it-o(t of simple sportsmanli.e *(riosity/ &e realized that4 2 .now he did/: 6Co(8!e told @(dolph abo(t this9: 6>irst thing+ when 2 *ame ba*. from &aw. &o(se ,(nday night/: 6 nd9: 6&e said it didn8t mean anything/: 6&e8s got a great deal of faith in Kenneth "lenwell+: ,onya agreed/ 60hat8s abo(t the only per' son he seems to tr(st/: 60hat8s 3(st the problem+: ?eterson said+ 6that illogi*al tr(st/: &e got o(t of his *hair and began to pa*e+ swiftly+ agitatedly+ his hands *lasped behind his ba*./ 6,aine goes blind+ deaf and d(mb e!ery time that someone points a finger at "lenwell-and yet "lenwell is the one with the best reasons for wanting to h(rt the Do(gherty family/: &e t(rned and fa*ed her+ repeated+ 6"lind+ deaf and d(mb/ Bell+ blind and deaf+ anyway/ &e8s not d(mb on the s(b3e*t4 he8s A(ite !o*al abo(t "lenwell8s inno*en*e/ Bhy in the de!il8s name is ,aine so st(bbornly (nrealisti* on this one+ single point9: )iserably+ she said+ 62 don8t .now/: 6$or do 2/: ,he got (p+ too+ b(t she did not pa*e with him/ ,he felt that she didn8t ha!e the strength to pa*e+ to do anything b(t hold herself ere*t as if she were waiting for a blow against the ba*. of her head/ 2f she started wal.ing ba*. and forth+ her ner!es wo(ld tighten (p li.e springs and+ in moments+ also li.e springs+ wo(ld go boing and snap into r(in/ ,he 3(st stood there in front of her *hair+ aw.ward+ li.e a fawn learning to stand by itself+ legs trembling+ (ns(re+ afraid/ 60here are two main possibilities+: ?eterson said/ 6Bhat possibilities9: 6,aine may be ignoring "lenwell simply be*a(se he li.es him as a friend and doesn8t want to ha!e to s(spe*t a friend/ 0hat8s (nli.ely/ 2 thin. ,aine wo(ld a*ti!ely *onsider his own mother if the *ase *alled for it/: 6 nd the other9: &e loo.ed at her+ as if he wondered if he *o(ld tr(st her with his se*ond s(pposition+ then sighed and said+ 6,aine and "lenwell are in!ol!ed in some m(t(al-well+ enterprise+ here on Distingue. >or a moment+ she did not see what he was dri!ing at+ and when she did (nderstand+ she rebelled at the possibility/ 6Co( *an8t thin. that ,aine and "lenwell are wor.ing together-against the

*hildren9: 62 don8t want to thin. it+: "ill said/ 67od .nows+ it8s the most horrifying notion 28!e e!er had/: 6@(dolph is so *on*erned for le1 and 0ina+: ,onya arg(ed/ 6&e8s gen(inely *on*erned+ worried abo(t their welfare/: ,he remembered how ,aine+ in one of those rare moments when he had let his g(ard down+ *ompared le1 to his own son+ now dead/ Co(ld s(*h a man+ possessed of s(*h deep sorrow and *ontaining it so well+ a*t(ally perform the hideo(sly sadisti* a*ts that the madman had threatened+ or e!en san*tion them by a friend or asso*iate9 6 s 2 said+: "ill repeated+ 62 don8t want to belie!e it+ not for a moment/ "(t it8s a possibility that sho(ldn8t be o!erloo.ed/ Kenneth "lenwell *o(ld ha!e been the !oi*e on the telephone/ 2f he8d disg(ised his !oi*e e!en slightly+ no one in the family wo(ld ha!e re*ognized him/: 6"(t how *o(ld he be s(re that ,aine wo(ld be hired as bodyg(ard9: she as.ed/ 6)aybe he wasn8t *ertain/ )aybe they didn8t .now ea*h other before ,aine *ame to Distingue. "(t maybe "lenwell made ,aine s(*h a good offer that he *o(ldn8t t(rn it down/: ,ho*.ed+ ,onya said+ 60hen yo( thin. that+ maybe+ "lenwell offered @(dolph a s(m of money in ret(rn for a *han*e at the *hildren-and that @(dolph+ .nowing what this madman had threatened to do+ a**epted the money and said o.ay9: 62 s(spe*t something of that nat(re might ha!e happened+: "ill said+ 6b(t with a *o(ple of important differen*es/ "lenwell is the ob!io(s main s(spe*t/ Bhen he first *ame to Distingue, ,aine probably saw that as *learly as we do now/ ?erhaps he e1erted himself toward pro!ing or dispro!ing "lenwell8s g(ilt-and pro!ed it/ ?erhaps he went with it+ first+ to "lenwell+ with the intention of *lin*hing his s(spi*ions/ ?erhaps "lenwell e1plained that he did not intend to .ill the .ids+ that those threats had only been so m(*h stage dressing to terrify the Do(ghertys/ ?erhaps he *on!in*ed ,aine that all he wanted was to e!ent(ally s*are Do(gherty into selling the island/ 0hen+ perhaps+ he offered ,aine a s(m of money to remain A(iet abo(t things/ ,aine+ realizing the *hildren ne!er wo(ld be h(rt+ and being h(man eno(gh to be swayed by *old *ash+ too. the money and wal.ed away/: ,he tho(ght abo(t it a while/ 60hat8s a possibility+: she agreed/ 62 *an8t e!er see @(dolph letting anyone harm the .ids/ "(t 2 *an see him ma.ing a deal if the .ids will not be h(rt-3(st barely see it/ "(t at least its a little a**eptable/: 6@emember+ we8re still theorizing+: "ill said/ 6Bell+ let8s hope we8re right+: ,onya said/ 62f this is what has happened+ then the .ids are per' fe*tly safe/: 6 re they9: &e stopped pa*ing+ loo.ing at her+ his eyes f(ll of fear/ 6Bell+ if this theory of yo(rs is *orre*t-and+ "ill+ it8s the most logi*al+ maybe the only logi*al thing 28!e heard yet-then no one really wants to h(rt le1 or 0ina/ ll that "lenwell wants to do is s*are e!eryone+ a goal that he a*hie!ed remar.ably well/: ?eterson was silent for a time+ standing before a wall of boo.s+ letting his eyes r(n o!er the *olorf(l bindings/ t last+ he said+ 6,(ppose that "lenwell *on!in*ed @(dolph that he didn8t want to h(rt anyone+ least of all two defenseless *hildren+ that all he wanted was the island/ "(t also s(ppose that+ in reality+ he was lying to @(dolph/ ,(ppose+ no matter what he *on!in*ed @(dolph of+ he really does want to ta.e a .nife to the .ids+ really does want to .ill them/: &er legs shoo. harder/ ,he said+ wanting to belie!e that it was tr(e+ 6@(dolph wo(ldn8t ha!e been fooled easily/ &e8s a !ery good man at his 3ob/ ,ometimes+ 2 feel he *an see right thro(gh me+ right into the *enter of my mind and .now what 28m thin.ing/: 6)e too+: "ill said/ &e stopped e1amining the boo.s/ 6&e8s made me feel li.e a b(tterfly pinned on a *olle*ting tray/ "(t remember+ ,onya+ that a madman-let8s say+ in this *ase+ "lenwell-*an be

terribly *le!er+ *(nning and A(ite *on!in*ing/: 6"ill+ 2 don8t .now what to thin. anymore;: ,he was trembling !isibly now/ &e went to her and en*ir*led her in both his arms+ holding her to him li.e a father with *hild/ >at tears h(ng in the *orners of her eyes/ 6$ow+ now+: he said/ ,he wiped the *orners of her eyes/ &e said+ 62 didn8t mean to frighten yo(+ ,onya/ 2 3(st wanted to let yo( .now what 2 s(spe*t+ as. yo( for yo(r help/ Co(8re the only person 2 felt 2 *o(ld tal. to/: 6)y help9: she as.ed/ &e let go of her with one arm and offered her his *lean hand.er*hief+ whi*h she too. and (sed/ 60han. yo(+: she said/ 6"(t how *an 2 help9 Bhat *an 2 do9: 6,aine seems to li.e yo( better than anyone in ,eawat*h+: he said+ br(shing a strand of her yellow hair away from her *hee./ 6,in*e 2 was almost strangled+: she said+ 6he no longer *onsiders me a ma3or s(spe*t/: 6Bell+: "ill said+ 6perhaps yo( *an get to him where 28!e failed+ open his eyes/: 6 bo(t Ken "lenwell9: 6Ces/: 628!e tried before/: 60ry again+ and again+: he said/ 6Be ha!en8t anything to lose/: 62 g(ess not/: 6 nd 28m *on!in*ed+: "ill said+ 6that sometime d(ring the storm+ "lenwell8s going to ma.e his mo!e/: 628ll tal. to @(dolph+: she said/ 67ood/: &e .issed her+ lightly on the lips+ then more firmly+ ta.ing her breath away/ 628m o.ay now+: she said/ 6,(re9: 6Eery/: &e loo.ed at her *riti*ally+ holding her fa*e in one hand+ li.e an artist holding his *reation (p to good light+ and he said+ 62 *an8t e!en tell that yo(8!e been *rying/: 62 wasn8t+ really+: she said/ 6=(st a tear or two+ whi*h *an8t be *o(nted/: ,he smiled at him/ &e made a f(nny+ mo*. e1pression of bedazzle'ment+ holding a hand o!er his eyes to shield his !ision/ &e said+ 67od+ what a smile that is; 2t8s li.e the light of the tropi* s(n;: 6#r a h(ndred stars+: she said sar*asti*ally/ 60hat too/: ,he la(ghed+ p(shed him ba*. playf(lly and handed o!er his dampened hand.er*hief/ 62 will frame it+: he told her/ 6$o+ yo(8ll la(nder it/: &e grew serio(s again/ 6$ow+ yo(8re s(re yo(8re feeling all right+ good eno(gh to fa*ing e!eryone in the .it*hen9: 6Ces+: she said/ 628!e felt better b(t 28!e also felt worse/ $ow+ sho(ld we get ba*. o(t there be' fore "ess ta.es it in her head to *ome loo.ing for (s9: &e grima*ed/ 62 lo!e that old woman+ b(t-: 6,he tells bad 3o.es/: &e la(ghed/ 60hat too+ now that yo( mention it/: ,he started for the door/ 6Bait;: he *alled/ Bhen she t(rned aro(nd+ he pointed at the sta*.s of boo.s and said+ 6Be8d better not go ba*. empty'handed+ or we8ll really be adding f(el to the fire of r(mors/:

$2$%0%%$
D(ring their simple s(pper and twi*e d(ring the *ard games that followed it+ as the staff .ept ea*h other *ompany+ listened to the weather reports and waited to see how bad the winds and the rain wo(ld get+ ,onya bro(ght (p the s(b3e*t of Kenneth "lenwell in *on!ersation with @(dolph ,aine/ ll three times+ his rea*tion to her s(ggestions was as it had always been before+ and she got absol(tely nowhere with him+ as if she were trying to roll a bo(lder (phill/ #n*e or twi*e+ when her fail(re to *on!in*e ,aine was terribly e!ident+ she saw "ill ?eterson throw her an agonized loo.+ and she .new e1a*tly how he felt/ %a*h time+ she shr(gged her sho(lders as if to say+ 6Bhat *an 2 do more than 2 ha!e already done9 2sn8t this a hopeless game 28m playing9: "y nine o8*lo*.+ the weather report said that &(rri*ane 7reta had slowed its ad!an*e on the 7(adelo(pe area and was nearly stationary now+ whirling aro(nd and aro(nd on itself+ .i*.ing (p tremendo(s wa!es and forming an o(tward mo!ing whirlpool of winds that were more terrible than anything that had been re*orded sin*e 19<J/ 0hese winds and wa!es were being felt thro(gho(t the Caribbean+ espe*ially in the 7(adelo(pe area+ b(t at least 7reta had stalled for the time being/ 6)aybe there8ll be no need for the storm *ellar after all+: "ess said+ relie!ed/ 6 www+: le1 said/ 6$o po(ting+: "ess warned/ 0he boy said+ 6"(t that8s not fair; Be8re hardly e!er here d(ring the worst of the h(rri*ane season+ and we hardly e!er get to see a really good one/ Be been in the storm *ellar only two times before -and one time+ we was only there for an ho(r or two/ Bhat .ind of danger is an ho(r or two9 0hat8s no f(n/: 6Can8t we go in the *ellar anyway9: 0ina as.ed/ 6Bhere the two of yo( are going to go+: "ess said+ 6is straightaway to bed+ (nder warm *o!ers/: 67ood idea+: ,aine said/ 6Bhat if the storm gets really bad tonight+ with really monstro wa!es9: le1 as.ed/ 60hen+: "ess said+ 6we8ll ta.e yo( o(t of bed and *art yo( down here to the storm *ellar/: 6?romise9: le1 as.ed/ 6?romise/: 6Bill yo( wa.e (s9: 6Be8ll wa.e yo(+: "ess said/ 6Ca(se if we didn8t+ we8d ne!er hear the end of it/: @(dolph s*ooped (p the two *hildren+ one in ea*h thi*. arm+ and he held them at *hest height+ as if they weighed less than nothing/ 0hey giggled and pretended to str(ggle against him/ &e too. it in good h(mor and es*orted them (pstairs to their room/ ,onya went a*ross the room and sat ne1t to ?eterson where he was peeling an apple/ ,he said+ 62 didn8t ha!e any l(*. with him/: 62 saw/: 6$ow what9: 6$ow+: he said+ *ar!ing away the last of the peel and p(tting down the .nife+ his hands mo!ing e1pertly+ as if he8d spent a life peeling apples+ 6we pray a lot+ and we .eep o(r eyes and ears open for the least indi*ation of something (n(s(al/: 6Co( thin. tonight8s the night9: &e too. a bite of the apple+ *hewed it *aref(lly and said+ 6$ot (nless the storm arri!es tonight/ Bhene!er 7reta hits (s+ f(ll for*e+ that8s when he8ll stri.e/:

6&ow do yo( .now9: 6&e8s a madman+: "ill said/ 6 nd l(nati*s are affe*ted by great displays of nat(re/ 0heir frenzy is magnified/: 6,o(nds li.e yo(8!e been reading some psy*hology te1tboo.s/: 6"rowsing+: he admitted/ 62 wanted to .now 3(st what we might be (p against/: 0he ne1t weather report said that 7reta was mo!ing again+ on her original *o(rse+ tho(gh her rate of ad!an*e had slowed/ &er internal winds+ howe!er+ had risen/ Beather "(rea( planes were finding it almost impossible to do any f(rther detailed s(r!eillan*e/ Bith that bad news li.e a lead weight on her mind+ ,onya went to bed shortly past nine'thirty/ @(dolph ,aine answered the door of the *hildren8s room+ his re!ol!er in his hand and his body slightly tensed for A(i*. mo!ement/ Bhen he saw who was there+ he holstered the g(n and said+ 6Can 2 help yo(+ ,onya9: 62 don8t .now+: she said/ ,he loo.ed past him and saw the .ids were at least in bed+ if not asleep/ 6 ll e!ening+ 28!e been hinting to yo( abo(t something+ and yo(8!e been st(dio(sly ignoring my hints/ $ow+ 28!e de*ided to (se the bl(nt approa*h/: 6 bo(t Ken "lenwell+: he said/ 6Ces/: 6Co( want to .now why 2 ref(se to *onsider him a s(spe*t9: &e was wat*hing her *losely+ as he had wat*hed her+ on*e+ when he had *onsidered her a potential s(spe*t/ 62 wo(ld li.e to .now+ yes+: she said+ a bit s(rprised that he .new before she as.ed+ had phrased it e1a*tly as she had intended to+ in a manner that seemed to ma.e ,aine himself slightly s(spe*t/ 6&e8s helped with my in!estigation+: ,aine e1plained/ 6&ow9: ,he remembered "ill8s theory of a payoff/ 6&e8s done some footwor. for me that 2 *o(ldn8t go to 7(adelo(pe to do myself+: ,aine said/ ,he had not e1pe*ted this/ 6>ootwor.9: 6Bhen 2 first *ame to Distingue, when 2 first tal.ed with Ken+ he ga!e me what has amo(nted to my only promising lead in all this time/ nd sin*e 2 *o(ldn8t go ra*ing to 7(adelo(pe to follow (p on it+ he *he*.ed it o(t at my dire*tion/: 6Bhat did he find9: ,onya as.ed/ 6,omething interesting+ b(t not in*riminating/ &e ga!e me my one prin*iple s(spe*t+ b(t 28!e had to wait for the man to ma.e a wrong mo!e before 2 *an do anything/: &e sighed/ 60h(s far+ e!ery mo!e he8s made has been *a(tio(s and dist(rbingly right/: 6 nd who did Kenneth "lenwell point yo( toward9: she as.ed/ 628d rather not say 3(st now/: 62 thin. 2 ha!e a right+ as the go!erness and-: 628d rather not say 3(st now+: he repeated/ 0here had followed an aw.ward silen*e+ m(t(al goodnights+ and ,onya had gone to bed+ won' dering if ,aine was lying to her+ or whether he was telling the tr(th/ ,he had also to wonder if "len ' well had p(rposef(lly misled ,aine+ 3(st as she and "ill had earlier dis*(ssed / / / ,he lay in the *enter of her bed+ wearing bl(e 3eans and a blo(se+ foregoing the *omfort of pa3a' mas so that+ if &(rri*ane 7reta sho(ld *ome *lose d(ring the night and a r(sh for the storm *eller was indi*ated+ she wo(ld be presentably dressed/ ,he *o(ld not seem to find a *omfortable position+ and she .ept twisting and t(rning+ lying now on her ba*.+ now on her side-tho(gh ne!er on her stoma*h+ sin*e+ with her ba*. to the room+ she .ept feeling that someone was snea.ing (p behind her+ an (nreasonable fear+ sin*e the room was lo*.ed/ 0he metal b(ttons on her 3eans pressed into her hips+ and her sore ne*. throbbed slightly -howe!er+ most of her dis*omfort was mental+ not

physi*al/ 0he day had passed+ and she had not yet written o(t her resignation/ #f *o(rse+ e!en if she had written it+ there was no one to gi!e it to+ for =oe Do(gherty had not ret(rned from California as she anti*ipated he wo(ld when she first *onsidered A(itting/ nd e!en if he were here+ he wo(ld be lo*.ed in li.e the rest of them+ isolated both by the madman8s a*tions and by the pressing weight of the tropi*al storm whi*h was rapidly *losing in on them li.e a hea!y blan.et+ a hard and m(sty and (n*omfortable blan.et/ ,he wanted o(t of this gloomy pla*e/ ,in*e she had *ome here to forget her dead grandmother and her long'gone parents+ she had had more o**asion to be reminded of them+ instead+ than she wo(ld ha!e had if she had remained in "oston/ ,he wanted o(t/ ,he tho(ght abo(t @(dolph ,aine+ gl(m and d(ty'bo(nd+ of his *on*ern o!er 5eroy )ills8 mother+ of his sentimental re*olle*tion of his own son-of what .ind of fiend he 3(st might be+ be' low the dependable and somewhat attra*ti!e s(rfa*e / / / nd )ills+ dar. and wat*hf(l+ rel(*tant to tal. abo(t himself+ gi!ing an air of se*re*y+ of A(iet planning and *aref(l *al*(lation / / / 2t was (seless/ ,he s(spe*ted e!eryone/ %!eryone e1*ept herself and "ill ?eterson/ nd if she wanted to be fair abo(t it+ she wo(ld ha!e to add "ill to that list+ for she had no proof that he wasn't the madman/ Bhat a mess+ what a tedio(s and awf(l mess this whole thing had be*ome/ Bhere were the parties she had e1pe*ted+ the people who .new how to en3oy life9 Bhy+ instead+ was she s(rro(nded with these gloomy people+ in this gloomy pla*e9 Bhat was her p(nishment for9 2n time+ growing in*reasingly ner!o(s and farther from sleep by the min(te+ she too. a sleeping tablet and lay down again+ finally s(**(mbed to the gentle dr(g and fell into a *hiaros*(ro world of !i!id nightmares that formed in her mind+ one after the other+ ha(nting her fitf(l sleep/ s*reaming banshee wo.e her/ ,he sat straight (p in bed/ %!en when she had r(bbed her eyes and was f(lly awa.e+ the banshee *ontin(ed to s*ream+ its !oi*e high and sharp+ its *ry a si*.ening (l(lation witho(t meaning/ >or one awf(l moment+ she tho(ght that it was one of the *hildren s*reaming in pain and terror+ and she was *ertain that the madman had done the impossible+ had gotten into their room and o!er' powered ,aine and ta.en o(t his .nife / / / 0hen she realized that what she heard was the wind+ an in*redibly powerf(l wind that was tear' ing at the windows and hammering a*ross the roof of ,eawat*h more than a story o!erhead+ a wind so relentless that the walls m(st be standing only by the power of a mira*le/ Bhen she lay still+ trying to feel how the ho(se was ta.ing it+ she tho(ght she sensed a distant tremor in the floors and walls/ ,he loo.ed at her bedside *lo*. and saw that it was a A(arter to fi!e in the morning+ 0(esday/ ,he got o(t of bed+ somewhat wobbly from the sleeping pill+ and went to the windows+ p(lled open one of the sh(tters on a !ision of &ellD rain dropping straight to the earth li.e a *(rtain of b(l ' lets+ hea!y and th(ndero(s4 the nearest palms bent nearly to the gro(nd+ li.e h(mbled worshipers+ one or two of them already (prooted and leaning prepostero(sly with the wind+ .ept from *rashing o!er entirely by nothing more than a few random taproots4 in the distan*e+ *loser than it sho(ld be+ whiter than it sho(ld be+ the sea dan*ed high and threatening/ s she wat*hed+ mesmerized by the nat(ral f(ry+ a palm bran*h str(*. the window+ dri!en there by the wind+ made a hairline *ra*. in the glass and was whirled away/ ,tartled+ realizing how easily the window might be bro.en+ she sw(ng the sh(tter into pla*e

again+ bolted it/ t the same moment+ abo!e the mania*al *ry of the storm+ someone .no*.ed at her door/ ,he went to the door+ leaned wearily against it+ her ear pressed to the tea.+ and she said+ 6Bho is it9: "(t her sore throat had prod(*ed only a !ag(e so(nd+ and she was for*ed to repeat herself/ 6@(dolph;: ,aine sho(ted/ ,he f(mbled with the lo*.+ slipped it o(t of pla*e+ and sw(ng the door wide open/ &e was standing in the hallway with both the *hildren+ one of them *l(t*hing ea*h of his h(ge hands/ 0hey were pleasantly e1*ited by the (ne1pe*ted drama &(rri*ane 7reta had pro!ided+ still somewhat sleepy'eyed+ b(t wa.ing (p fast+ *(te and a*hingly inno*ent in their animal'de*orated pa3amas/ 6Bhat is it9: she as.ed/ ,aine said+ 60he storm8s here+ or almost here/ Be8re retreating to the *ellar/: 62s it that bad9: 6Co( *an hear it/ nd it8ll be worse+ shortly/: 6Bhat8s the radio say9: 62 don8t thin. we *o(ld get anything on it+: ,aine said/ 6#f *o(rse+: she said+ feeling foolish/ 628ll grab warmer *lothes for the .ids+: he said/ 6"e ready when 2 *ome ba*. for yo(/: 6Bhat sho(ld 2 bring9: 60oothbr(sh and a 3a*.et+: he said/ 0hen+ with the *hildren still in tow+ he h(rried ba*. down the hall again/ ,he was ready when he *ame ba*.+ and he es*orted her toward the main stairs/ Bhen they were halfway there+ a window smashed in one of the se*ond floor rooms behind them/ ,onya said+ 6,ho(ldn8t we see abo(t that9: 6Be *an8t fi1 it now+: ,aine said/ 60he sh(tters are tight eno(gh to hold ba*. most of the water/ nd )r/ Do(gherty *an afford some damage/: 0hey started down the stairs+ to begin a new day/ ,onya .new it was going to be the worst day yet in ,eawat*h/

"##K >#F@
0B%$0C
0he rest of the ho(sehold was already in the .it*hen+ drin.ing hot *offee and ma.ing a A(i*. brea.fast o(t of rolls+ b(tter and 3am/ 0hey all wore 3a*.ets or windbrea.ers and loo.ed as if they e1pe*ted to ma.e a long and (npleasant 3o(rney/ $one of them was pleased by the prospe*t of one or two days in the storm *ellar while ,eawat*h was blown into so many sti*.s of mat*hwood aro(nd them/ 6,leep well9: "ill as.ed+ bringing ,onya a *(p of *offee with s(gar and *ream+ as she li.ed it/ 6>airly well+: she said/ ,he .new that she had had nightmares+ b(t at least she *o(ld not remem' ber what they had been/ %1*ept for the bloody'mo(thed banshee whi*h had really been the wind/ 6Be8ll be all right+: he ass(red her/ 62t so(nds so strong+ the wind/: 65ast weather report+ before the radio be*ame 3(st a big stati* ma*hine+ said a h(ndred and twenty mile'an'ho(r winds at the ro(ghest points of the storm+ and wa!es already o!er the seawall at 7(adelo(pe/ "(t ,eawat*h was b(ilt to end(re that .ind of thing+ not fore!er b(t for as long as it ta.es 7reta to pass thro(gh/: 62 hope yo(8re right/: 62 am/: ,he said+ (neasily+ 62t8s now that yo( e1pe*ted something to happen-to the .ids/: 60hey8re not safe in the storm *ellar yet+: he said+ wat*hing the two *heerf(l yo(ngsters as they *hattered at "ess Dalton+ p(lling their 3eans and shirts on o!er their pa3amas/ 6"(t 2 thin. 2 might ha!e been wrong/ 2 hope 2 was/ 2f we *an 3(st get thro(gh this storm+ (ntil there8s a *han*e of help getting here from the mainland-: &enry Dalton and 5eroy )ills began to remo!e blan.ets from a *loset near the storm *ellar door+ and then transferred these b(l.y items into that small+ *on*rete room/ 6Bhat are those for9: ,onya as.ed/ ?eterson said+ 62f o(r generator gets .no*.ed o(t and there isn8t any power for the a(1iliary heaters+ it *an get *hilly in a damp+ *on*rete room -e!en in the tropi*s/: ,onya wondered how the .ids+ who had twi*e before gone thro(gh this+ *o(ld still loo. (pon it as a !al(able and e1*iting e1perien*e+ and she wished she had a little of their !er!e/ 6,onya9: &elga *alled+ from the table in the *enter of the room+ s(rro(nded by *ontainers of food and the ma.ings for sandwi*hes/ 6Ces9: 6Bo(ld yo( help me ma.e some sandwi*hes and get food ready9 Be don8t want to ha!e to *ome o(t of there more than8s ne*essary/: ,he nodded toward the *ellar/ 6,(re+: she said+ getting (p/ 628m sorry 2 didn8t thin. to offer help/ 2 g(ess 28m not myself/: 6$or are the rest of (s+: &elga said/ ,he had rarely been so tal.ati!e/ $ow+ as if realizing her s(dden !ol(bility+ she silently set to b(ttering and m(starding sli*es of bread/ "ill ?eterson *ame o!er and helped the two women (ntil+ in ten min(tes or so+ the sandwi*hes had all been made+ the fr(it and pastries and other foodst(ffs pa*.ed into se!eral *ardboard bo1es whi*h he *arried into the *on*rete b(n.er/ &e passed &elga as he *ame ba*. from his last trip+

offered to ta.e the final *arton she held+ and was am(sed when she ref(sed/ 628m done o(t here+: she said/ 628m not *oming o(t again (ntil the s(n shines/: ,he s*(rried away from the roar of the wind and rain whi*h had pi*.ed (p noti*eably in the last fi!e min(tes/ "esides themsel!es+ only "ess+ @(dolph and the *hildren remained in the .it*hen and+ in a moment+ @(dolph went off with the yo(ngsters+ down the main hall toward the stairs/ 6Kids;: "ess said/ 6Bhere8s he ta.ing them9: ,onya as.ed/ 60hey were all for the big ad!ent(re+ to(gh little warriors and all that/ $ow+ when it *omes right down to it+ they want all their pa*ifiers to .eep from bawling their heads off/: 6?a*ifiers9: 6@(dolph had to ta.e them to their room to get their fa!orite st(ffed animals and their games/: ,onya smiled/ 60hat ma.es me feel better/ 2 hated to see the .ids being more *o(rageo(s than me/: 6 nd than me+: "ess said/ ,omething large and solid was blown against the ba*. door of the mansion+ made a booming so(nd li.e a *annon/ 6?robably one less palm tree standing in the woods+: "ess said/ ,(rprised+ ,onya said+ 62 .new the wind *o(ld (proot them-b(t 2 didn8t .now it *o(ld blow them aro(nd li.e twigs/: 6#h+ easy+ easy;: "ess said/ 6 nd before it sweeps thro(gh here and blows me away li.e a twig+ 28m heading for the *ellar/: ,he s*(ttled a*ross the .it*hen and thro(gh the hea!y+ white door/ s soon as she was o(t of sight+ "ill said+ 62 don8t li.e this at all/: 6Bhat9: 60he .ids (pstairs at a time li.e this+: he said+ his fa*e a mas. of *on*ern/ 6@(dolph8s with them/: 60hat doesn8t ma.e me feel better/: 6%!eryone8s in the *ellar+ otherwise+: she said/ 6$o one else is (pstairs with them/: 6"lenwell might be/: ,he wanted desperately to pro!e his fears were foolish/ 6&ow *o(ld "lenwell ha!e gotten into the ho(se9 2t8s lo*.ed (p li.e a dr(m+ with all the downstairs windows sh(ttered/: 6&e *o(ld ha!e a door .ey/: 6&ow wo(ld he get it9: 6&ow did he+ e!idently+ get one to the $ew =ersey ho(se9: "ill as.ed/ &e too. hold of her hands/ 67o to the *ellar with the others/: 6Bhere are yo( going9: 6Fpstairs/ "lenwell *o(ld s(rprise @(dolph/ "(t he *o(ldn8t s(rprise and o!erpower the two of (s/: ,onya shoo. her head+ amazed+ and she said+ wonderingly+ 6&alf of the people in this ho(se are as *o(rageo(s as a dozen mo(ntain *limbers rolled into one/: 628m not *o(rageo(s+: he said/ 6,(re+: she said/ 6$ot really/ ll 2 do is what has to be done+ by someone+ sooner or later/ 2 learned that lesson from my brotherD a man m(st do what is *learly needing done4 if yo( r(n away from something (n' pleasant+ it only r(ns after yo(/: 62 didn8t .now yo( had a brother+: she said/ 6 !ery dear one+: he said/ 6Co( ne!er mentioned him before/: &e smiled strangely+ as she had ne!er seen him smile before+ and he said+ his !oi*e rapid now+

as if an1io(s to finish the *on!ersation and get (pstairs+ to help @(dolph with the .ids+ 6#h+ yes/ )y brother =eremy is one of the best men that 28!e e!er .nown/ &e8s not afraid of anything at all/: &e sA(eezed her hands and ran a*ross the .it*hen+ toward the main hall/ 67o to the *ellar; $ow;: he sho(ted+ o!er his sho(lder+ *ompeting with the booming !oi*e of the storm/ 0hen he was gone/ ,onya stood in the same spot where he had left her+ as if she had been rooted to the spot/ 0he (prooted palm tree slammed against the ba*. of the ho(se a se*ond time+ lea!ing a hollow e*ho in the .it*hen/ >inally+ she too. a step toward the safety of the storm *ellar+ b(t stopped long before she rea*hed it/ ,he .new+ witho(t being able to say how she .new+ that the *risis was (pon them and that+ in a !ery short time+ perhaps within the ne1t few se*onds+ the long'awaited disaster wo(ld ha!e *ome to pass / / /

0B%$0C'#$%
s she wat*hed the .it*hen *lo*.+ ,onya felt as if someone had managed to interfere with the proper flow of time+ and that a min(te was passing only a fra*tion as swiftly as it was meant to+ as it always had before/ 2ndeed+ ea*h se*ond was more li.e a min(te+ and the long red sweep hand on the *lo*. fa*e appeared to *rawl forward abo(t as fast as a *hild might be able to mo!e a stirring sti*. thro(gh a b(*.et of $ew %ngland molasses/ >inally+ a min(te had passed/ nd another/ 0he wind s*ree*hed and wailed+ trying to tear the sides of the ho(se open and get into the *rea' t(res hiding in its depths4 she *o(ld almost *on!in*e herself that the wind had be*ome+ thro(gh some e!il magi*+ a sentient *reat(re/ third min(te passed/ ,he went to the entran*e of the hallway and loo.ed toward the stairs+ was disappointed not to see "ill+ ,aine and the *hildren/ Bhat if "lenwell were in the ho(se9 nd what if+ despite what he8d told "ill+ he had a g(n9 Bo(ld she ha!e heard two g(nshots-one for @(dolph+ one for "ill-abo!e the roar of the wind and rain9 ,he do(bted it/ fo(rth min(te passed/ )olasses / / / >i!e min(tes sin*e "ill had gone (p there+ eight or nine min(tes sin*e the bodyg(ard had ta.en the *hildren to their room to get their st(ffed animals and games/ 2t seemed+ to ,onya+ that that was plenty of time to *omplete a simple errand/ ,he wal.ed the length of the main hall+ *onstantly hoping to hear the fo(r of them tramping down the steps+ b(t by the time she had rea*hed the bottom of the stair*ase+ she .new her hope was going to remain nothing more than an ins(bstantial wish/ 6&ey;: she *alled from the first step/ 0he wind o!erwhelmed her *all/ ,he loo.ed ba*. toward the .it*hen+ the storm *ellar entran*e she *o(ld no longer see+ tho(ght of the safety there and+ (na**o(ntably+ all alone+ went A(i*.ly (p the steps to see what was detain' ing the others/ 0he se*ond floor *orridor was espe*ially dar. now that all the windows were sh(ttered+ the drapes drawn+ and no lights left on/ 2t was so gloomy+ in fa*t+ that she almost tripped o!er the body before she saw it/ 2t was lying in the middle of the *orridor , o(tside of the *hildren8s room+ still+ deathly still/ ,he stooped and to(*hed it/ 2t was A(ite bloody/ 6@(dolph9: she as.ed/ &e didn8t answer+ *o(ldn8t answer+ wo(ld ne!er spea. again/ ,he stood (p+ gagging+ b(t she did not pass o(t/ 5ater+ she wo(ld wonder what .ept her mo!ing+ what spe*ial strength she had ne!er .nown she had/ ,tepping *aref(lly+ as if she tho(ght the rest of the *orridor might be littered with *o(ntless other shadow'hidden dead men+ she wal.ed the rest of the way to the door of the *hildren8s room+ whi*h was *losed and sinister'loo.ing/ ,he p(t her hand on the .nob/ ,he twisted it as far as it wo(ld go/

0he door wasn8t lo*.ed/ ,he loo.ed ba*. at @(dolph ,aine+ as if she tho(ght he might ha!e gotten (p from his p(ddle of blood and be*ome a li!ing man on*e more+ as if she s(spe*ted his death had been a !ery elaborate pra*ti*al 3o.e-no+ a !ery elaborate i&%ra#ti#al 3o.e/ "(t it was not any pran.4 it was m(*h too real for *omfort+ for sanity+ for hope/ &e had not mo!ed+ and he wo(ld ne!er mo!e again/ ,he p(shed open the door+ part way/ 0he room was well'lighted+ b(t she saw nothing to dist(rb her th(s far/ ,he p(shed the door open f(rther and stepped into the room+ her hand still tight on the .nob/ 0he *hildren were lying on the bed+ tied with what appeared to be lengths of wire/ 6,onya+ loo. o(t;: le1 *ried/ ,he started to ba*. step+ had the door ripped o(t of her hand+ and staggered forward+ off balan*e+ into the bedroom/ 6Bel*ome aboard+: "ill ?eterson said+ smiling at her+ holding the long+ deadly .nife (p where she *o(ld plainly see it/ 0ina was *rying+ and le1 was trying to sh(sh her/ 2n a !oi*e that so(nded nothing li.e her own+ ,onya said+ 6"ill+ it *an8t be yo(+ not yo( of all people/: 6)adam+: he said+ 628m afraid yo(8re mista.en/ )y name is =eremy+ not "ill/:

0B%$0C'0B#
0ho(gh she was only twenty'three years old+ and tho(gh she had been raised in one of the most *i!ilized *o(ntries and eras in the whole span of re*orded history+ ,onya Carter did not find death to be a stranger/ $ot a friend+ s(rely+ b(t not a stranger either4 more li.e a well'.nown enemy that she still feared+ passionately feared+ b(t whom she had fo(nd she *o(ld tal. with/ ,he had seen death many times+ beginning at the age of ten+ when+ ha!ing *laimed her parents+ he was a fa*eless entity+ ne!er f(lly glimpsed+ ho!ering in the ba*.gro(nd+ a for*e that she *o(ld not readily identify b(t whi*h she (nderstood had *hanged the entire *o(rse of her f(t(re+ her life to be/ ,he had seen him again+ d(ring her n(rse8s training+ and there she had gotten a *loser loo. at him+ had seen him ta.e people away while they sl(mbered- or while they .i*.ed and s*reamed and *(rsed him e!ery in*h of the way/ ,he had seen him do his wor. s(ddenly+ witho(t warning+ and she had seen him dawdle+ as if he en3oyed the agony of his !i*tims the way a *r(el *hild wo(ld en3oy *(tting a leg from a frog and wat*hing it try to hop away from him/ ,he had seen death on the bea*h+ shro(ding a rotting *orpse+ feeding the *rabs+ silent and sandy+ parti*(larly loathsome+ and she had seen death in the *orridor of ,eawat*h+ seen it in the form of an old friend+ @(dolph ,aine+ ghastly and familiar both/ "(t in all of these en*o(nters+ she had ne!er seen a more terrifying death+ a more horrifying glimpse of him than the one she saw in "ill ?eterson8s eyes+ l(r.ing behind "ill ?eterson8s twisted fa*e/ 6Bhy9: she as.ed/ &e said+ 6%!eryone has to s(ffer sometime in their li!es+ sooner or later+ be*a(se that8s only fair/: &is !oi*e was different+ not at all the !oi*e of "ill ?eterson/ 2f she had not .nown him well+ she wo(ld ha!e tho(ght that this a*t(ally was some twin brother of his+ some mania*al relation/ "(t he was too m(*h li.e "ill+ and he wore "ill8s *lothes/ s impossible as it seemed+ he was "ill/ &is !oi*e was nasal+ too reedy+ filled with a self'righteo(s sneer that made her blood r(n *old and her hands grow as *lammy as two dead fish/ 60hat8s no answer+: she said/ 62 held a trial/: 6>or what *rime9: 6>or the *rime of not ha!ing s(ffered/: 60hat ma.es no sense/: 6Ces+ it does+: he ass(red her/ 62 held a trial+ being my own 3(dge and 3(ry+ and 2 passed senten*e/: 6#n little *hildren9: &e glan*ed A(i*.ly at le1 and 0ina+ momentarily *onf(sed/ 6Co(8re tal.ing nonsense+ "ill/: 6=eremy/: 6Co(8re tal.ing nonsense+ =eremy/: &e sneered at her again+ regaining his *ompos(re+ only momentarily r(ffled/ 62 passed 3(dgment on their parents/ 0heir parents ha!e been senten*ed to s(ffer/: 6"y ha!ing their *hildren ta.en from them9: 60hat8s it+ yes/: &e wa!ed the .nife to indi*ate the .ids/ ,he was s(rprised at how *alm she was/ ll the tension that had been b(ilding and b(ilding sin*e that first day she had *ome to the island+ all her nasty apprehensions and the long press(re of

anti*ipation drained rapidly away from her+ lea!ing her p(re+ (ns(llied+ refreshed and feeling remar.ably *apable e!en in s(*h a dangero(s sit(ation as this/ ?erhaps she was also partially b(oyed by her training as a n(rse+ for she had been ta(ght how to tal. to mental *ases+ how to reason with them as m(*h as they *o(ld be reasoned with+ how to for*e them to do what she wanted them to do/ ?erhaps+ too+ her *almness was based on s(*h an intense fear that+ had she not gotten *alm+ she wo(ld ha!e been (tterly immobilized+ terrified into a tran*eli.e state that wo(ld not ha!e done her or the *hildren any good/ "(t if that was the *ase+ she didn8t want to thin. abo(t it/ 67i!e me the .nife+: she said+ holding o(t her hand/ &e 3(st stared at her/ 6Co(8ll get h(rt !ery badly+ when they *at*h yo(+ if yo( go thro(gh with this+ "ill/ $ow yo( don8t want h(rt+ do yo(9: 628m not "ill/: 6Ces+ yo( are/: 6)y name8s =eremy/: ,he sighed/ 6=eremy+ then/ Do yo( want to be h(rt+ badly h(rt+ when they *at*h yo(9: 0he sneer ret(rned/ &e said+ 60hey won8t *at*h me/: 6&ow *an yo( r(n away9: 62n a boat/: 6Co( destroyed the boats/: 628!e got my own/: 60he Lady Jane9: 6$ot the Lady Jane, another boat+ my own spe*ial boat/ 28!e got it hidden where no one will find it/: parti*(larly harsh gale str(*. ,eawat*h+ moaned beneath the ea!es li.e a *reat(re o(t of a nightmare+ throaty+ see.ing/ &e held the .nife more tightly than e!er/ ,he said+ 62t8s not really yo(r boat+ is it9: 6,(re/: 62t8s really =ohn &ayes8 boat+ isn8t it9: &e 3er.ed as if she8d str(*. him/ 62sn8t it9: 6$o/: 60hat8s a lie+ =eremy/ 2t8s &ayes8 boat/: 6&ow do yo( .now abo(t &ayes9: 6Co( .illed him+ didn8t yo(9: 0he point of the .nife dropped and was *orrespondingly less wi*.ed loo.ing/ ,he had impressed him+ st(nned him/ 62 .illed him+: he admitted/ 6Bhy9: 6&e was a fool/: 6Bhy was he a fool+ "ill9: 6)y name is =eremy/: ,he sighed/ 6Bhy was he a fool+ =eremy9: 6&e tho(ght what 2 told him+ at the start+ was the tr(th/ &e tho(ght we were doing all this 3(st to bla*.mail =oe Do(gherty/: &e la(ghed bitterly/ 6Co( see+ a *omplete fool/: 6Bhat was &ayes8 part in it9: she as.ed/ ,he was gen(inely *(rio(s abo(t this+ b(t she as.ed the

A(estion *hiefly to .eep him tal.ing+ the longer he tal.ed+ the less li.ely he was to a*t4 at least+ that was what the psy*hology te1tboo.s had said+ if she remembered them right/ "esides+ if she *o(ld .eep him tal.ing long eno(gh+ someone from the storm *ellar wo(ld *ome to see what was holding her and ,aine and the .ids (p/ 6&e made the telephone *alls+: ?eterson said/ 62n $ew =ersey9: 6Ces/: 6Bas he also the one who bro.e into the ho(se there and left the notes9: she as.ed/ 6$o/ 2 did that/ 2 got .eys to the $ew =ersey ho(se from "ill/: 6"ill ?eterson9: 60hat8s right+: =eremy said/ ,he tho(ght she saw a wea.ness in his fantasy+ here+ and she tried to dri!e a wedge in that *hin./ 60hen "ill is in!ol!ed in whate!er yo( do/ )aybe they won8t *at*h yo(+ =eremy+ b(t they8ll *at*h "ill/ 0hey8ll ma.e him pay/: 60hey *an8t do a thing to him+: he said/ 6"ill didn8t .now why 2 wanted the .eys/: 6&e m(st ha!e s(spe*ted+ e!ent(ally/: 6$ot "ill/ &e8s too le!el'headed a g(y/ &e8d ne!er be able to (nderstand something li.e thisabo(t the trial and being 3(dge and 3(ry+ abo(t the need for e!eryone to s(ffer/: &e pa(sed+ li*.ed his lips/ 6$o+ no+ ,onya/ "ill is too nai!e e!er to (nderstand/: ,he abandoned that tra*. and went ba*. to the s(b3e*t of =ohn &ayes+ the dead man she and ,aine had fo(nd on the bea*h/ ,he said+ 6Bhy didn8t yo( ma.e all the telephone *alls yo(rself9 Bhy (se &ayes9: 6$o one wo(ld re*ognize his !oi*e+: he said/ 6"(t they wo(ldn8t re*ognize your !oi*e+ either/: 6#f *o(rse they wo(ld/: 6Bhy9: 60hey .now me+ of *o(rse/: 60hey .now "ill+ not yo(;: she said/ 0he *on!ersation had gotten to be something li.e a s*ene from )li#e 'n $onderland, nearly nonsensi*al+ b(t she felt that thro(gh the nonsense she was rea*hing him+ 3(st barely+ 3(st a little+ b(t rea*hing him beneath the layers of insanity/ &e had been sha.en by her statement+ and he had no answer for it/ ,he started in on him again+ A(i*.+ before he *o(ld regain his *ompos(re/ ,he said+ 6Bhy did yo( e!er *on*ei!e of h(rting le1 and 0ina9: &e loo.ed at the *hildren+ ba*. at her+ lifted the point of the .nife (ntil it was angled straight to' ward her slim throat+ only a *o(ple of short feet away from a *lean+ A(i*.+ deadly sli*e/ &e said+ 60he Do(ghertys ha!e always had things so good+ too good+ better than they deser!e/ 0hey8!e ne!er s(ffered+ and someone had to show them that s(ffering was ne*essary/: 6Co(8re tal.ing nonsense+: she said+ sternly/ 6$o-: 6Ces yo( are/ Bhat are yo(r real reasons behind this whole affair+ =eremy9 Co(r real reasons/: &e flo(ndered for a moment+ then said+ 6"ill *o(ld ha!e s(*h a m(*h better 3ob than he does/: 6&ow9: 6Bith the "lenwells/: 60hey offered him a 3ob9: she as.ed/ 6Ces/: 6Bhen9: 6 bo(t a year ago/:

6Bhy wo(ld they offer "ill a 3ob+ when they .now he wor.s for )r/ Do(gherty and when they don8t *are at all for the Do(ghertys or their people9: 62t was a deal+: =eremy said/ 6 spe*ial deal/ 0hey offered "ill this 3ob+ same 3ob at their pla*e that he now has at ,eawat*h/ ll he had to do+ to get it+ was tal. to )r/ Do(gherty abo(t selling ,eawat*h+ maybe snoop aro(nd a little and see if Do(gherty had spe*ial reasons for holding on to his part of the island/: 6Bhat do yo( mean-8spe*ial reasons89: she as.ed/ 60hey tho(ght he might intend to b(ild a resort hotel+ or something li.e that+ if he *o(ld get all of the island for himself/ 0hey wanted to .now if that was tr(e/: 6Bas it9: 6$o/ nd poor "ill+: =eremy said+ 6was too ni*e a g(y to fig(re o(t any way of dri!ing the Do(ghertys off Distingue. &ere were the "lenwells+ willing to do(ble or triple his salary/ &ere was a *han*e for him to ha!e something ni*e for the first time in his life+ maybe a boat of his own+ a real ni*e *argo sailboat+ and he was too ni*e a g(y to fig(re o(t how to dri!e the Do(ghertys off Distingue. 6"(t yo( sol!ed that problem for him+: ,onya said/ 6Ces+ 2 did+: =eremy said/ 62 fig(red if 2 *o(ld ma.e the family r(n to Distingue, ' *o(ld .ill the *hildren here+ 3(st li.e 2 threatened+ *(t them all (p/ 0hen =oe Do(gherty wo(ld fall all o!er himself to (nload his share of the island/ &e8d ne!er want to li!e here again/: 0o .eep him off balan*e+ ,onya said+ 62 still don8t see why yo( had to .ill &ayes/: 6&e wanted to go thro(gh with the .idnapping+ what 2 told him we8d do in the beginning/ month ago+ 2 told him it was off+ that 28d de*ided we *o(ldn8t get away with it/ "(t he wo(ldn8t let (p on me/ ,(nday+ when he fo(nd o(t the Do(ghertys were gone+ he rented a boat and *ame o!er here to Distingue. &e was getting in my way/ 2 had to .ill him/: ,he tho(ght she heard something in the *orridor+ o(tside+ b(t she *o(ld not be s(re if it was someone who had *ome (p from the storm *ellar+ or whether it was only a noise that the storm had made/ ,adly as she *o(ld+ as if she sympathized with him+ she said+ 6"(t =eremy+ yo( won8t help "ill at all+ if yo( .ill le1 and 0ina/ 0he "lenwells ne!er meant for yo( to go this far to get the Do(ghertys off Distingue. Bhen they realize what yo(8!e done to help "ill get that 3ob+ they8ll ne!er hire him/: 60hey don8t ha!e to .now it was done for "ill+: =eremy said+ smiling slyly/ 60hey ne!er ha!e to .now/: ,he tho(ght fast+ still listening for a repeat of that noise from the *orridor+ and she said+ 62f yo( do es*ape+ do yo( realize who they8re going to blame for @(dolph8s death-for the *hildren and for me9: &e loo.ed blan./ 6"ill+: she said/ 6"ill8s the only man that8s not in the *ellar/ $obody on Distingue e!en .nows abo(t yo(/ ,o "ill will be*ome yo(r fall g(y/ 0hey8ll send "ill to prison in yo(r pla*e/: &e grinned/ &e said+ 62 tho(ght of that/: tra*e of fear lay beneath her *alm again+ b(t she tried to .eep it small+ to .eep it from b(rgeoning and ta.ing o!er/ ,he was beginning to see that his madness was too entren*hed+ and that she *o(ld ne!er really sha.e him (p badly+ *ra*. him open/ &e said+ 628ll *(t "ill a few times+ not serio(sly+ b(t deep and with a good bit of blood r(nning/ 0hen 28ll dispose of the .nife/ &e *an gi!e them a des*ription of me+ tell them that 2 *(t him and that he fell and passed o(t/ &e *an *on!in*e them that 2 spared him be*a(se 2 probably saw him bleeding and tho(ght he was dead/ $o one will s(spe*t him for long+ if at all/ &e8s too ni*e a g(y/

%!eryone .nows that he is/: "y now+ she had realized that the noise in the hall m(st ha!e been made by the storm+ for she had heard nothing li.e it again+ and no one had appeared to help her/ ,he *o(ld thin. of nothing f(rther to say to this madman+ nothing to delay him any longer4 and if she *o(ld not .eep him en' gaged in *on!ersation+ he wo(ld step forward in a moment and p(t that .nife (nder her *hin+ !ery deep (nder her *hin/ &er only hope now was to distra*t him+ to t(rn and try for the door/ 2f he ga!e *hase+ she o(ght to be able to lead him downstairs+ where a *ry for help wo(ld be heard/ ,he t(rned+ witho(t warning+ str(*. the edge of the open door+ and sp(n *l(msily thro(gh into the hall/ &e grabbed her almost at on*e/ 0he .nife *ame (p/ @emembering the fight in the bo(gain!illea arbor+ she stamped down on the same foot she had in3(red then+ harder than she had before+ grinding hard to the right/ 0ho(gh he had been able to *on*eal his in3(ry to this point+ had not needed to limp+ that portion of his foot had been parti*(larly tender+ and now it er(pted into white hot pain/ ,he 3er.ed loose of him/ &e sw(ng the .nife/ 2t sli*ed along the (pper part of her left arm+ drawing blood b(t not digging too deeply/ ,he stepped ba*. into the .ids8 room and+ in one fl(id series of mo!ements+ slammed and bolted the door+ ma.ing them temporarily safe from the man who was now *alling himself =eremy b(t had on*e been a new and spe*ial friend/

0B%$0C'0&@%%
,onya had not+ for a moment+ belie!ed they wo(ld be indefinitely safe in that se*ond floor bed' room+ e!en tho(gh the door was bolted/ "ill ?eterson was a strong+ !ital+ yo(ng man who wo(ld be able to .i*. in e!en one of these st(rdy old doors if he were gi!en a few min(tes for the 3ob/ ,he did not thin. that they *o(ld afford to sit by and hope that+ before he had smashed the lat*h+ someone wo(ld ha!e *ome (p from the storm *ellar to see what was delaying them/ ,he was s(re that+ already+ someone had most li.ely de*ided to *ome loo.ing for them/ "(t what *han*e did men li.e &enry Dalton and 5eroy )ills ha!e against a man li.e ?eterson+ when ?eterson had so easily dispat*hed with someone li.e @(dolph ,aine/ madman+ with his system p(mping e1tra adrenalin+ *o(ld often ha!e the strength of three or fo(r men his size and weight4 and e!en witho(t this ad!an ' tage+ men li.e )ills and Dalton wo(ld ha!e been no mat*h for him/ 0hey might ma.e it (p the stairs+ against his wishes+ b(t they8d ne!er get *lose to this room or to res*(ing her and the *hildren/ s soon as she8d lo*.ed the door+ she ran to the bed and twisted the wire loose of le18s wrists+ told him to get the other length off his feet+ then freed 0ina/ 6Bhat are we going to do9: le1 as.ed/ 0ina was still sniffling+ b(t was getting o!er her fear with remar.able speed/ ,onya did not respond+ b(t went to the window and opened the interior sh(tters 3(st as ?eterson deli!ered a first+ solid .i*. to the far side of the door+ 3(st abo(t where the lat*h was/ ,he slid the window (p+ letting in the bl(nt fingers of the storm+ letting in 7reta8s !oi*e and thereby d(lling the so(nd of his se*ond .i*. whi*h+ ne!ertheless+ she was s(re was as effe*ti!e as his first had been in loosening the lat*h s*rews and gaming him entry/ 65oo. here+: she told le1/ &e stood beside her+ rain pelting his fa*e thro(gh the open window+ and loo.ed o(t at the roof of the first floor por*h/ 6Co( want (s to get down there9: 6Co( first+: she said/ 62t8s a flat roof+ and it sho(ldn8t gi!e yo( m(*h tro(ble if yo( don8t stand (p on it/ 0he wind will blow yo( off if yo( try to stand (p straight+ do yo( (nderstand9: &e nodded !igoro(sly/ ?eterson .i*.ed the door/ single s*rew pinged loose+ and the lat*h rattled/ 6,tay on yo(r hands and .nees+: she said/ &e had *rawled onto the windowsill+ fa*ing her/ ,he too. hold of his hands+ helped him to sA(irm o(t+ groaned as she too. his weight on her arms/ ,he leaned forward+ trying to p(t him as far down as possible+ dropped him when his feet were only eighteen in*hes from the por*h roof/ &e fell+ dropped to his .nees at on*e+ and *ro(*hed there in the high wind+ as tena*io(s as a little animal/ 6Co(r t(rn+: ,onya told the girl/ 628m s*ared+: 0ina said/ ,he was pale and trembling+ and she loo.ed (tterly (nable to withstand e!en a few se*onds in 7reta8s fero*ity/ "(t she was going to ha!e to withstand it+ and for longer than a few se*onds/ ,onya .issed her+ ga!e her a big h(g/ s .indly and firmly as she *o(ld+ she said+ 6Co(8ll be o.ay+ angel/: 6Co( *oming+ too9: 6#f *o(rse+ angel/: ?eterson was *alling to her from the hall+ b(t she did not listen/ &e had nothing to say that

wo(ld *hange her plans4 they had only one *han*e of es*ape+ and they m(st ta.e it A(i*.ly/ ,he repeated the ro(tine she had (sed with le1+ letting 0ina dangle from her hands+ abo!e the bla*. por*h roof/ ,he was two and a half feet from safety+ a more dangero(s distan*e than le1 had been+ b(t when she fell+ her brother grabbed her and held her+ ma.ing a more diffi*(lt weight for the wind to mo!e aro(nd/ ?eterson had stopped tal.ing and was .i*.ing the door again/ nother s*rew pinged loose+ and the whole lat*h slipped+ *lose to being torn *ompletely free/ ,onya sat on the window ledge+ dangling her legs a moment+ then p(shed off and fell to the roof/ ,he landed on her feet+ whi*h s(rprised her+ felt the wind t(g at her+ *ro(*hed+ s*(rried to the .ids and dire*ted them to the edge of the por*h roof+ helped them 3(mp to the lawn eight or nine feet below+ followed them/ Kneeling in the grass+ she t(rned+ sA(inting as stinging whips of rain lashed a*ross her eyes+ and she loo.ed ba*. at the bedroom window from whi*h they had *ome/ ?eterson was there+ his fa*e twisted in rage+ his hands gripping the sill+ as if he were abo(t to follow them+ a de*ision she fer!ently hoped he wo(ld ma.e+ for they wo(ld then ha!e a *han*e to get inside and to the storm *ellar+ a small *han*e+ b(t something+ anyway/ 2nstead+ he t(rned abr(ptly away from the window+ disappeared/ &e wo(ld be on his way downstairs/ ,he had no door .ey with her+ and they wo(ld ne!er be able to brea. a window in the door and get inside to the storm *ellar entran*e before he met (p with them/ ,he stood+ bent o!er by the (ngodly hammer of the wind+ her hair s.inned tightly ba*. from her head+ dren*hed despite the plasti* windbrea.er she wore+ her whole body st(ng by pellets of hard rain+ li.e tho(sands of determined gnats or mosA(itoes/ ,he had hold of the *hildren8s hands+ and she drew them *lose to her+ aware that they wo(ld be feeling the m(rdero(s anger of 7reta more f(lly than she/ 6&e8s *oming after (s;: le1 yelled/ 62 .now+: she said/ 0ina had to hold her head down+ to .eep from s(ffo*ating in the dense sheets of rain that bat' tered her small fa*e/ 6Bhat *an we do9: le1 as.ed/ &e was ta.ing it all !ery well+ she tho(ght+ and that ga!e her the ner!e to say what she had to say+ as ridi*(lo(s as it was going to so(nd/ ,*reaming to be heard abo!e 7reta8s deep and (nfeminine !oi*e+ ,onya said+ 6Be8re going to go to &aw. &o(se+ to see the "lenwells/: 6 *ross the island9: 6Ces+: she said/ ,he wasn8t s(re they8d heard/ ,he said+ 6Be *an get help there; $ow+ hold tightly to my hands/ Don8t let go of my hands no matter what/: ,he felt their fingers tighten aro(nd her palm+ and she tightened her grip as well/ 60ry to wal. as fast as yo( *an for as long as yo( *an+: she said/ 6Don8t as. for a rest (nless yo( 3(st *an8t go another step/: ,he loo.ed *losely at ea*h of them/ 0hey loo.ed li.e two bedraggled p(ppies+ and she *o(ldn8t see how they wo(ld e!er ma.e a mile and a half in the middle of the worst h(rri*ane in almost thirty years/ "(t they had to/ 0hey would ma.e it simply be*a(se they had to4 they had no other *hoi*e+ other than to wait for ?eterson and to die/ ,he .issed le1+ then 0ina/ 6Come on+ then+: she said/ ,he started forward+ her head bent so that the rain did not blind her+ and she was happy to see that the *hildren had either *opied her post(re or had *ome to it nat(rally/ 0hat was a good sign/

)aybe not good eno(gh+ b(t something+ anyway/ 0he first few steps were not so hard at all+ e!en with the wind dri!ing them a step sideways for e!ery three steps forward+ and she felt that+ if she *o(ld rea*h the shelter of the palm forest+ they might find the going 3(st easy eno(gh/ %!ery now and again+ she raised her head to be s(re they were still mo!ing in the right dire*tion and+ as they neared the edge of the long lawn+ she t(rned to see if ?eterson was after them yet/ &e was nowhere in sight/ &er heart leaped at that+ and she got them started+ e!en faster+ for the shelter of the big trees/

"##K >2E%
0B%$0C'>#F@
,eawat*h was at the point'end of the island8s first hill+ per*hed on the brow+ with its lawn e1' tending a*ross the *rest of the hill (ntil the palms began on the far+ downward slope and *ontin(ed for the length of the island8s spine+ or at least (ntil they were *(t down to form the gro(nds aro(nd &aw. &o(se more than a mile away/ s ,onya led the *hildren down that first small slope+ slipping and sliding in the wet grass+ mo!ing toward the start of the palm thi*.et+ she was s(rprised to see that the tiny glen at the hill8s base was awash with bra*.ish'loo.ing water/ 0he rain .ept her from loo.ing !ery far to either the left or the right+ b(t so far as she #ould see+ this slopping+ *hoppy stream *ontin(ed/ ,he *o(ld not+ or wo(ld not *on*ei!e that this might be part of the sea+ that the storm had dri!en the waters this far in from shore+ and so she ass(med that what lay below was sim' ply the rainwater whi*h had r(n off from this hill and the ne1t/ 0ho(gh the stream appeared to be no more than a foot or two deep+ its s(rfa*e was de*ei!ing+ for it *ame nearly to her hips/ 2f it had had any *(rrents in it+ she might ha!e fo(nd it impossible to *arry both *hildren a*ross+ whi*h she managed+ now+ in two trips/ Climbing e!en the gentle slope of the se*ond hill pro!ed a s(preme *hallenge+ for they all three slipped and fell repeatedly+ as if they were on a greased ramp/ t last+ when they did rea*h the top+ they were into the thi*.est growth of palms and *(t off from at least a third of the wind8s battering ram/ 0he going was still not easy+ not by any stret*h of the most !i!id imagination+ not anywhere so easy as ,onya had hoped that it wo(ld be when they got this far/ %!en at two'thirds its real !ol(me+ the wind was staggering and+ when it g(sted by an additional twenty and thirty miles'per'ho(r+ it tore thro(gh the trees li.e f(sillades of *annon fire+ .no*.ing them against the boles of the pine trees and+ sometimes+ dri!ing them (n*ontrollably to their .nees in the m(*.y earth/ nd+ if they gained an ad!antage from the windbrea. effe*t of the trees+ they had to s(ffer an ' other tort(re they wo(ld not ha!e been fa*ed with in open land/ 0he wind+ already with a !oi*e li.e a herd of mastodons+ made the brittle palm bran*hes rattle and s*rape (ntil the res(ltant din was almost more than h(man ears *o(ld ta.e/ ,he hoped that she wo(ld not ha!e to tell le1 or 0ina anything important+ for e!en with her mo(th to their ears+ they wo(ld ha!e tro(ble hearing her abo!e the *hor(s of *hattering fronds/ #**asionally+ b(t less often than she wo(ld ha!e li.ed to be*a(se the effort reA(ired and the time lost made it dangero(s to do !ery often+ she t(rned *lear abo(t and loo.ed to see if ?eterson was anywhere in sight+ her heart in her throat ea*h time+ s(re that he wo(ld be there+ frighteningly *lose+ still holding his .nife/ "(t he was not/ 0hey were alone/ fter one of these pa(ses+ she t(rned to go forward again and leaped in fright when a *o*on(t and se!eral palm bran*hes *rashed to the earth fi!e feet ahead of them+ torn from their moorings by the wind/ &ad they ta.en another two steps+ one of them might ha!e been .illed or re*ei!ed a s.(ll fra*t(re from that *o*on(t/ $ow+ in addition to ?eterson and the wind and the rain and the slippery gro(nd+ she had another

thing to worry abo(t/ 0hey stepped a*ross the fallen bo(ghs and h(rried on/

0B%$0C'>2E%
2n a short while+ the land began to fall away again+ into a slippery in*line+ as the se*ond hill in the island8s *hain ro(nded off and fed into another small glen/ &ere+ as in the first depression whi*h they had *rossed+ the water swirled between the boles of the trees+ (p to ,onya8s waist+ (gly and *ho.ed with what appeared to be seaweed/ ,he *o(ld hardly belie!e that the slimy st(ff was what it seemed to be and+ after she had *arried the .ids a*ross+ one at a time+ ma.ing fo(r trips thro(gh the water+ she s*ooped (p a trailing mass of this floating !egetation+ and she saw+ when she loo.ed at it more *losely+ that it was indeed seaweed and that this m(st not merely be rainwater that had r(n off from the hills on both sides/ 0hey *limbed the h(ndred foot slope of the third hill+ .eeping to their hands and .nees so that they *o(ld ma.e better time+ their fa*es down so that they saw little more than grass filmed by water+ their hands digging into the grass for s(pport+ in*hing toward the top and le!el land where they *o(ld get (p and wal. again/ ,onya was o!er halfway (p the slope when she realized that 0ina had fallen behind+ rather far behind/ 5etting le1 to go ahead alone+ she ret(rned for the little girl and half'dragged her along/ t the top+ 0ina ga!e her a weary b(t big smile+ and ,onya repaid that with a strong h(g+ h(gged le1 too+ and sat down with them to rest+ before going on/ ,he had no idea how far they8d *ome/ nd she had e!en less of an idea of how m(*h farther they had to go before they8d rea*h &aw. &o(se/ &owe!er+ she wo(ld not let herself thin. of fail(re/ ,he had to ma.e the most of her famed optimism whi*h Daryl ?attersen and 5ynda ,pa(lding+ at the (ni!ersity+ had first made her aware of/ &er ba*. a*hed from the base of her spine (p and a*ross both sho(lders+ as if she had been sA(eezed into a bra*e meant to tort(re/ &er ne*. was afire on*e again+ and had dri!en spi.es of pain into her head+ right thro(gh the top of her s.(ll+ so that the rainwater seemed to be seeping into her brain and s*or*hing trails a*ross the top of her *erebell(m/ 0his did not worry her+ be*a(se she .new that o!er'e1ertion and the pains of e1ha(stion *o(ld be *(red/ &er legs+ howe!er+ were another matter altogether / / / 0hey were all A(i!ery with the strain they8d ta.en+ and had she been e!en willing to *onsider the slim possibility of fail(re-whi*h she was not-she might ha!e do(bted their ability to get her (p when the rest period was o!er and to *arry her on howe!er long was ne*essary4 she might ha!e e1pe*ted them to t(rn r(bbery+ to bend+ wriggle and finally b(*.le (nder her/ ,he might ha!e e1pe*ted to drop on them+ soon/ "(t sin*e she was permitting no tho(ght of fail(re+ she was only worried that+ on*e they rea*hed &aw. &o(se+ her legs might gi!e o(t on her for good+ fore!er/ ,he worried a good deal abo(t the .ids+ for if she were this e1ha(sted+ what m(st they feel li.e9 #f *o(rse+ she had helped them along most of the way+ and she alone had fo(ght the resistant waters in those two flooded g(llies whi*h they had had to *ross/ ,till+ she .new that they m(st be !ery tired indeed/ ,he hoped they weren8t *lose to s(rrender/ ,he loo.ed at 0ina+ who was h(ddled miserably against her side+ the small head sli*. with water+ and she .new she8d soon ha!e to begin *arrying the *hild the whole way+ not 3(st (p the sides of the slippery hills+ b(t on the le!el gro(nd as well/ 0hat was o.ay/ ,he *o(ld manage that/

,he *o(ldn8t+ howe!er+ *arry both of them/ ,he loo.ed at le1+ afraid that she wo(ld see him on the !erge of s(rrender+ too/ >or a moment+ she tho(ght that he had already gi!en in+ and her heart san./ &e was leaning against the bole of the tree+ his legs splayed o(t before him+ leaning far forward+ as if he had *ollapsed and were (n*on' s*io(s/ 2f he were+ they were finished/ 0hey *o(ld try to wait the storm o(t+ here in the woods+ hoping ?eterson wo(ld not find them/ "(t that was a small hope/ 0he storm wo(ld rage for at least another day+ and they wo(ld all be dead of e1pos(re by then/ br(ptly+ le1 mo!ed+ and she saw that he was not+ after all+ (n*ons*io(s/ ,he loo.ed *loser/ &is legs shielded an ant hill whi*h the storm had partly eroded+ and he was wat*hing a few of the bra!e little wor.er ants trying to repair+ despite the wind and water+ the damage that had been infli*ted/ Fnbelie!ably+ mostly be*a(se le1 was shielding them with his legs+ the *o(ple of dozen tiny ants were winning their desperate battle to restore the integrity of their earthen home+ obli!io(s of the greater f(ry of the storm+ *on*erned only with this (nimportant bit of destr(*tion that it had *a(sed/ 0he boy seemed to sense that he was being wat*hed/ &e t(rned and loo.ed at her+ a bright smile splitting his *her(bi*+ m(d'strea.ed fa*e+ loo.ing not a little bit li.e his father/ ,onya felt li.e *rying with happiness/ "(t she .new that too. energy and might be misinterpreted/ ,he *o(ld not afford to dampen his spirits+ e!en a**identally/ 2nstead+ she rea*hed o(t for the boy8s hand/ &e too. hers/ ,he nodded toward the ants+ still (nable to ma.e herself heard abo!e the wind and the *lash of the palm bo(ghs o!erhead/ &e loo.ed at the ants+ then ba*. at her/ Bith one hand+ he pointed at the ants and+ with an in' *l(si!e gest(re+ at all three of them/ 6Ces+: ,onya said/ &er !oi*e was *arried off instantly+ b(t at least he had (nderstood what she meant/ 0he ants were a sign of good fort(ne+ 3(st as the shar.+ days ago+ had been a sign of bad times to *ome/ ,he ro(sed them then and led them a*ross the top of the third hill+ angling them toward the shore'edge of the forest in hopes that she *o(ld get a glimpse of the sea and (nderstand why the g(llies+ between the hills+ were so water'logged/ 0en min(tes later+ when they rea*hed the thinned'o(t edge of the palm forest+ a pla*e where they *o(ld !iew the seaward slopes of the hills+ the bea*hes and the sea beyond+ ,onya wished that she had not been so *(rio(s/ Bhat+ after all+ *o(ld she gain by .nowing the first thing abo(t the *on' dition of the sea9 $othing/ &er only problem was getting to &aw. &o(se for help+ into the safety and prote*tion that Kenneth "lenwell might be able to gi!e her/ ,he had no obligation to report on the nat(re of the seas when she arri!ed there/ ,he *o(ld gain nothing by this st(pid e1ploit-b(t she *o(ld lose a portion of her hope+ a fragment of her *aref(lly no(rished optimism/ nd what she saw+ when she loo.ed down the hill toward the sea+ bro(ght her terror ba*. to her and made her thin.+ again+ that their long mar*h from one end of the island to the other+ was ridi*(lo(s+ sheer folly / / / 0he Caribbean was aboil+ foaming and tossing/ si*. brown *olor+ the water hea!ed (p and s(bsided with s(*h drasti* rapidity and to s(*h ab' s(rd e1tremes that it loo.ed li.e nothing so m(*h as a pail of water that some large man had ta.en in his hands and whi*h he was sha.ing f(rio(sly/

Ba!es higher than a ho(se+ higher than ,ea'wat*h+ *rashed toward the shore+ e1ploded on the ro*.s+ on ea*h other+ and were diminished only slightly by these *ollisions+ swept *lear a*ross what had on*e been a wide bea*h/ 0he bea*h was gone / / / 0he sea had de!o(red it/ 2mpossible/ "(t tr(e/ 0he towering wa!es boomed against the base of the hills+ mo!ing as fast as freight trains+ rolled o!er the palms that were growing on the bottom of the slopes and whi*h they had not *ompletely torn away yet+ and *rawled to within a dozen feet of the top+ a h(ge+ dirty+ lapping tong(e that was insatiably h(ngry/ ,he felt as if the sea itself had singled them o(t as its targets and was straining mightily to rea*h them/ Bhere the land fell away between the s(**ession of low hills+ the sea s(rged into this gap+ forming the hip'deep pools of water whi*h she had twi*e before str(ggled thro(gh while *arrying the *hildren in her arms/ Bhen she realized that+ on the other side of the narrow island+ the other arm of the sea wo(ld probably be doing m(*h the same thing+ and when she pi*t(red how Distingue m(st loo. from the air at that !ery moment-it wo(ld not loo. li.e an island at all+ b(t li.e an isolated string of tiny .nolls+ fi!e or si1 hilltops+ the last one on either end sporting a h(ge ho(se at its *rest-she sh(d' dered and t(rned A(i*.ly away from the raging o*ean+ ha!ing seen far+ far more than she had wanted to/ 2mpossible/ "(t tr(e/ le1+ howe!er+ was fas*inated by the s*ene and did not want to lea!e it so soon/ 0ina had rea*ted m(*h the same as ,onya had and+ from her first sight of this watery monster+ had ref(sed to loo. at it again/ ,onya t(gged at the boy8s hand and got him t(rned aro(nd/ &olding tightly to both of them+ her heart ra*ing+ determined not to be (pset by what she8d seen+ b(t (pset anyway+ she pl(nged ba*. into the denser regions of the palm forest+ heading again toward &aw. &o(se/

0B%$0C',2I
=eremy saw the three of them r(nning a*ross the lawn and into the first of the palm trees+ b(t he did not realize+ for a moment+ what ,onya had in mind/ Bhile he wat*hed+ they had nearly been blown from their feet half a dozen times d(ring that short 3o(rney4 only a fool wo(ld attempt to r(n the ga(ntlet of the h(rri*ane *lear to the far end of Distingue, more than a mile away/ 2nstead of that+ he was *ertain+ she intended to get the .ids into the trees+ witho(t him seeing where they had gone+ then hide them there (ntil s(*h a time as it was safe to bring them ba*.-either (ntil the storm ended and help had arri!ed (whi*h might be day yet)+ or (ntil the others in the storm *ellar learned abo(t ,aine and fo(nd who the !illain was/ ,he wo(ld e1pe*t them to o!erpower him+ =eremy+ and ma.e it safe for her to lead the .ids ba*. to ,eawat*h/ &e *h(*.led/ t first+ when she had lo*.ed herself in that room+ and when he had bro.en the door down only to find them gone thro(gh the window+ he had been more f(rio(s than e!er in his life/ &e wo(ld ha!e .illed anyone 3(st then+ no matter whether they had already s(ffered eno(gh in their life or not/ $ow+ howe!er+ he was *alm again/ &e wat*hed them d(*. into the trees and la(ghed o(t lo(d/ &e was not *ompletely o!er his anger+ b(t now that he .new where they were and had already de*ided how to get at them+ he felt in *ontrol of things again+ and he was not worried/ Bhen he *a(ght them+ he8d spend a little e1tra time *ar!ing (p the woman before he .illed her+ a few e1tra min(tes of pain so that she wo(ld better (nderstand what he was trying to do+ what his mission in life was/ "(t that was all/ #therwise+ he wo(ld *arry on with the plan 3(st as he wo(ld ha!e if she had not p(lled that tri*. in the (pstairs hall and lo*.ed him o(t of the .ids8 room/ Caref(l to .eep o(t of sight of the palms where she had entered them+ he went down the seaward side of the hill on whi*h the ho(se was b(ilt+ and always .eeping the sea at his side+ *rept aro(nd the hill+ so that he wo(ld e!ent(ally enter the palms 3(st slightly behind them/ &e felt good/ &e *arried the .nife+ e!en o(t here in the wind and rain+ opened and pointed straight ahead of him/ &e was s(rprised to find how high the sea had *ome+ and he felt it s(rge at his feet on*e or twi*e as he s.irted the side of the hill+ li.e a *old'nose n(dge from a fa!orite dog/ >ollowing the edge of the hill+ he rea*hed the first narrow ra!ine where the land fell for a short spa*e before rising again+ saw that the depression was filled with a thi*. finger of seawater/ &e was s(re she wo(ldn8t try *rossing that+ with two .ids+ not a woman alone+ and he finally t(rned inland+ e1pe*ting to *ome (p behind them/ 2n the heart of the island+ *ro(*hing down o(t of sight in the water'bottomed g(lly+ the roar of the dist(rbed palms made his head a*he pretty badly+ tho(gh nothing so insignifi*ant as a heada*he *o(ld t(rn him ba*./ $ot now/ $ot so *lose the .ill/ @ather-not so *lose the e1e*(tion+ the p(nishment+ not so *lose the appli*ation of the senten*e whi*h he+ as the 3(dge+ had so long ago de*reed/ "esides+ tho(gh the wind in the palm bo(ghs was grating on the ner!es+ it also reminded him of the noise that might be generated by a tho(sand raging sword fights / / / 0wo tho(sand blades singing and smashing off one another / / / nd that image was not altogether (npleasant/ ,words

were sharp+ all honed and glistening+ with tips fine eno(gh to peel an apple with / / / nd he had a spe*ial fondness for sharp things+ more than a sportsman8s interest / / / &e *rept (p the g(lly+ into the trees on the top of the se*ond hill+ and he peered o(t between the 3(mble of dar. boles+ loo.ing for a sign of mo!ement/ &e saw none/ &e mo!ed+ first+ to the right+ being *aref(l not to lose his footing+ .eeping a low profile+ hidden by trees and br(sh+ and he loo.ed for the woman and .ids/ Bhen he saw nothing to the right+ he went left+ and e!en when he had no s(**ess there+ he was not (nd(ly worried/ &e began to *ir*le the whole broad hilltop+ peering in+ hoping to spot them as if they were animals in their nat(ral habitat and he a !isitor to this *omple1 zoo/ 0en min(tes later+ he had not fo(nd them/ $ot a tra*e/ &e stood in the rain+ obli!io(s of it+ of the wind and e!en of the m(si* of sword fights/ &e realized that the woman+ the *razy damned woman+ had ta.en the Do(gherty .ids deeper into the island+ and by the gra*e of some si1th sense+ he also .new that+ as ridi*(lo(s as it so(nded+ she intended to ta.e them all the way to &aw. &o(se/ Bhere there was help for her/ 6$o;: he sho(ted/ "(t sho(ting at the wind didn8t ma.e the sit(ation any better+ didn8t ma.e the tr(th any less tr(e/ 2n his e1*itement to be after her+ *ons(med by both disbelief and by fear that she wo(ld s(**eed in her goal+ he t(rned and ran toward the third hill in the island8s *hain+ tripped o!er an e1posed root and went down+ hard+ his .nife t(rning ba*. on him li.e a slippery eel and go(ging the palm of his right hand/ "lood dripped into the sand/ &e loo.ed at it+ disbelie!ing/ &e s(*.ed the wo(nd+ e1amined it when he had it s(*.ed *lean+ wat*hed new blood well (p/ 2t wasn8t so bad/ $ot bad eno(gh to stop him+ anyway/ &e stood+ pi*.ed (p the .nife+ loo.ed at it with new respe*t/ 0his was the first time that he had e!er been h(rt by his own .nife+ and he felt li.e a betrayed father+ amazed at the s*andalo(s doings of a bad son/ &e *aref(lly folded the .nife/ &e p(t it in his po*.et+ where he *o(ld get it easily when he *a(ght (p to the three of them/ 0hen he started after them at a more reasonable pa*e than he had first employed-tho(gh+ he was s(re+ at a pa*e that far o(tstripped their own / / /

0B%$0C',%E%$
"etween the third and the fo(rth hills+ in the third ra!ine that they had to *ross+ ,onya fo(nd that the brown water was deeper than it had been either of the first two times she had had to wade thro(gh it/ ,he tried *rossing it alone+ witho(t either of the *hildren in her arms+ to test its depth+ and tho(gh she tried it at se!eral pla*es along its ban.s+ she fo(nd that it always rose to her *hin and wo(ld+ in a few more steps+ go well abo!e her head before she wo(ld rea*h the other side and the slopes of the fo(rth hill/ ,he wo(ld ne!er be able to *arry le1 and 0ina a*ross a pool so deep as that+ not e!en if she *o(ld hold her breath and *arry them high abo!e her head on rigidly e1tended arms/ nd she did not ha!e that .ind of strength now/ ,he had not e!en had it when they8d first set o(t from ,eawat*h-an eternity ago/ Cet she wo(ld not let the obsta*le defeat her/ 2f she stopped now+ ?eterson or =eremy or whate!er yo( wanted to *all him wo(ld be onto them before long/ ,he loo.ed ba*. at the .ids+ saw that 0ina was lying on the gro(nd+ her head in her brother8s lap+ while he sat with his ba*. against a palm bole/ 0hey were both nearly *oated with m(d so that they appeared to be little $egro *hildren+ and still they were *(te+ more pre*io(s than anything else/ Certainly+ more important than the *ondition of her legs and her ba*./ ,he st(died the pool+ whi*h was appro1imately thirty'fi!e feet a*ross+ only dangero(sly deep for half that distan*e or+ at most+ for no more than twenty feet/ 2t was a width that .ept her from wal.ing it (nder water+ espe*ially with one of the .ids as a b(rden+ b(t it wo(ld be a relati!ely sim' ple thing to swim a*ross/ ,he *o(ld not e1pe*t le1 or 0ina to swim it+ of *o(rse+ not in their present *ondition+ for they were min(te'by'min(te *loser to (tter *ollapse/ "(t if she *o(ld find / / / *o(ple of min(tes later+ she lo*ated a three'foot'long log whi*h lay in (nderbr(sh hardly more than thirty yards from where they had stopped/ ,he strained+ hefted it off the gro(nd and held it a*ross her arms as if it were a baby+ and+ str(ggling with it as if it weighed a ton instead of+ maybe+ forty or fifty po(nds+ she *arted it to the edge of the pool and dropped it into the water+ wat*hed it sin.+ rise/ ,he p(shed it off a ways+ so it wo(ld be in deeper water/ 2t floated/ ,he waded in+ p(lled it ba*.+ st(*. it in the m(d at the edge of the water+ and went to get le1/ 0ina+ still with her head in her brother8s lap+ had fallen asleep+ despite wind and rain and all the worst that &(rri*ane 7reta *o(ld throw at them/ Bhen le1 slid o(t from (nder her+ she *ontin(ed to sleep+ ni*e a tiny spirit+ an angel/ 5i.e the s*ene+ earlier+ with the ants+ ,onya *o(nted the *hild8s pea*e+ in the midst of *haos+ as a sign of good fort(ne ahead/ le1+ when he saw that ,onya wanted him to more or less ride the log a*ross the pool+ while she swam behind him (sing her feet to stay afloat and her hands to p(sh with+ tho(ght that she had *ome (p with one of the neatest ideas sin*e the bi*y*le/ #f *o(rse+ he didn8t ha!e to p(sh/ &e waded into the water with her+ (ntil it had risen to the middle of his *hest+ waited while she went ahead a bit and left the log wallowing in deeper water/ ,he ret(rned+ pi*.ed him (p+ *arried him o(t to where the water rose slightly o!er his waist+ settled him onto the log and dire*ted him+ with her hands+ to lay on his belly and *l(t*h his ar. with hands and .nees/ &e got the .na*. of it straight off/ 7ently+ gently+ she released his weight+ let the log ta.e it and+ in t(rn+ let the water ta.e it/ ,he

was immensely relie!ed to see that+ tho(gh the log went (nder+ a good part of the boy atop it re' mained abo!e the s(rfa*e and that he had only to .eep his head raised in order to get his breath/ &e seemed happy/ 2n three min(tes+ she was happy too+ for she had gotten him to the other side witho(t in*ident/ ,he t(rned aro(nd and started ba*. to get 0ina+ who still slept so pea*ef(lly in the m(d and rain on the other shore/ 0he *loser she drew to that shore+ the more she began to fear that+ 3(st as she was getting to the *hild+ ?eterson wo(ld appear at the *rest abo!e+ as bedraggled as they+ the .nife in his hand / / / ,he gained the shallow water+ stood (p+ p(shed the log into the m(d+ to .eep it from drifting o(t of rea*h and stranding them on this side/ ,he went to wa.e 0ina/ ?eterson had not yet appeared/ 0he ants were right/ 0he little girl r(bbed her eyes with two balled fists+ loo.ed blearily at her s(rro(ndings+ ob!i' o(sly bewildered by what she saw+ loo.ed (p at ,onya as if she *o(ld not pla*e who she was and as if she were abo(t to start *rying/ ,onya8s heart went o(t to the girl+ for she .new only too well what it was li.e to wa.e (p in a strange pla*e and not .now how yo( had gotten there/ 2t was an e1perien*e she had s(ffered too often+ and it was a fear whi*h+ all these years later+ all mat(re and ad(lt now+ she *o(ld still not forget/ )agi*ally+ things seemed to *li*. in pla*e for 0ina+ li.e pie*es of a p(zzle/ ,he smiled+ tentati!ely+ and she rea*hed (p with both hands+ as.ing to be held/ ,onya *arried her ba*. to the water+ got the old log in pla*e+ p(shed the log and *arried the *hild into the deeper regions of the pool/ 0ina still blin.ed+ sleepily+ b(t she seemed to (nderstand what ,onya wanted her to do/ ,he too. hold of the log almost as well as her brother had+ holding her head high e!en tho(gh she did not sin. A(ite so far as le1 had/ ,onya *ast one last+ apprehensi!e loo. ba*. at the far shore+ saw nothing mo!ing+ began the last trip a*ross the pool/ 0hey made the *rossing witho(t in*ident/ #n the other side+ ,onya *ast the log adrift and str(g' gled (p the ne1t slope with the *hildren beside her/ 0his rise pro!ed easier to negotiate than any that had *ome before it+ be*a(se it was spotted with all sizes of ro*. o(t*roppings whi*h they *o(ld set as goals and whi*h they *o(ld (se to steady themsel!es when the grass grew trea*hero(sly slippery (nderfoot/ t the top+ she stopped+ not to *all for a rest period+ b(t to *at*h her breath and to loo. ba*. a*ross the top of the other hill+ whi*h was now on the same le!el as they were/ ,he tho(ght that+ far off in the twining palm boles+ she saw mo!ement that was (nli.e anything the wind might *a(se+ the p(rposef(l ad!an*e of a man on foot/ ,he t(rned to h(rry the *hildren along and fo(nd that 0ina was asleep again/ ,he wo.e her+ stood her (p and br(shed her m(ddy hair away from her fa*e+ hoping that wo(ld somehow ma.e her feel fresher and more awa.e/ 2t did not/ &er small eyes fl(ttered+ *losed+ e!en as she was on her feet+ and she swayed towards ,onya/ 0he woman *a(ght her+ saw that e!en this near'fall had not awa.ened the *hild+ and .new that from here on o(t+ she was going to ha!e to bear the e1tra weight the whole way/ le1 seemed st(rdy eno(gh yet+ or perhaps he was .eeping going only on that male *ha(!inism that e!en little boys seemed possessed of+ (nwilling to admit that he *o(ld e!er grow weary sooner than a woman/ 0hen she saw that something else might also be moti!ating the boy to go on/ &e was wat*hing

the hilltop a*ross the ra!ine+ and he too appeared to ha!e seen that man mo!ing in their dire*tion/ "efore their stal.er *o(ld *at*h a glimpse of them+ she (rged le1 forward and+ following with 0ina *radled in her arms+ h(rried *loser to &aw. &o(se+ *ons*io(s that their time was r(nning o(t and that their *han*es of es*ape had been greatly red(*ed/

0B%$0C'%27&0
&e was gaining on them/ >or the past ten min(tes+ he had been s(re that they were nearby+ 3(st ahead+ not far ahead+ barely beyond his range of !ision+ and he had been eA(ally s(re that+ before the ho(r was o(t+ he wo(ld at last ha!e them in his hands/ s he ran+ he slapped his .nife whi*h bo(n*ed aro(nd inside of his tro(sers po*.et+ and he .new that+ soon+ he wo(ld ha!e the opport(nity to (se it+ a**ording to the plan-e!en if the plan+ sin*e this *hase had beg(n+ was not as *lear to him as it had on*e been/ >or a while+ as he ran+ he tried to re*all e1a*tly why this thing m(st be done+ these li!es ta.en+ and *o(ldn8t e1a*tly do it4 parts of the story remained blan. for him+ not different than they had been b(t totally blan.+ as if someone had ta.en an eraser to his mind and obliterated a n(mber of important things/ "(t that hardly mattered/ =(st to (se the .nife / / / 0hat was what *o(nted+ to (se the .nife+ the sharp thing / / / nd he .new he wo(ld ha!e a *han*e for that/ 0his *ertainty+ li.e his realization that ,onya had herded the .ids toward &aw. &o(se and had not merely hidden them in the fringes of the forest+ *ame from the same si1th sense+ the same s(perh(man so(r*e+ from the same pri!ileged psy*hi* pool that pro' d(*ed his spe*ial s(periority as 3(dge and 3(ry o!er others/ 0his he .new+ and in his mind it was a sharp thing / / / #n*e+ when he gained the brow of the third hill after a n(mber of hard falls on the slippery slope+ his bleeding palm bro.en open wider in one of those t(mbles+ and when he was r(nning fairly hard again+ he felt that he had gone right past them+ past the three of them witho(t seeing them+ felt that they m(st ha!e grown too weary to *ontin(e and that they had dropped down in a thi*. *l(mp of br(sh/ Ces / / / &e felt *ertain / / / 0hey had hidden+ and he had passed right by them in his headlong r(sh to get them in his hands / / / 0his feeling be*ame so strong+ so demanding+ that he slowed his pa*e for a bit and serio(sly *onsidered do(bling ba*. on his tra*.s+ 3(st to ma.e s(re that s(*h a thing+ s(*h a potentially disas' tro(s thing+ had not happened/ "(t he hadn8t gone ba*.+ in the end+ be*a(se he re*ognized the so(r*e of his *razy (rge to retreat/ 2t was demon'sent/ 2t was inspired by the for*es that wo(ld li.e to see him lose his *han*e to pass his 3(dgment and deli!er his retrib(tion/ 2t was a *heap+ a downright shoddy+ attempt to detain him+ to delay him from his most righteo(s d(ty/ @ealizing this tr(th+ he pl(nged ahead on*e more+ at top speed/ $ow+ he *ame to the third and largest of the pools where the sea had r(shed in between the hills and+ sin*e he was dren*hed to the s.in anyway+ he waded o(t into it (ntil he *o(ld wade no farther+ then do!e forward and swam to the far shore where he tho(ght+ in the soft+ wet earth+ he *o(ld see signs of their passage/ 0he fo(rth hill was ro*.y and+ therefore+ easily topped+ a wel*ome *hange from the greased grass he8d had to l(mber (p before/ t the top+ s(*.ing in air as if it were to be o(tlawed in an ho(r+ he loo.ed along the table of this hill and tho(ght he saw+ at the far end+ three fig(res disappear o!er the brin./ &e to(*hed his .nife whi*h was still in his po*.et+ and he ran after them+ 3oyo(s+ half the island behind him and half ahead+ the perfe*tly isolated pla*e for what he had in mind/

0B%$0C'$2$%
0wo ho(rs earlier+ not long after dawn+ Kenneth "lenwell had spent half an ho(r fastening down the sh(tters on &aw. &o(se+ not long before &enry Dalton and 5eroy )ills had performed the same *hore at the other end of the island+ in ,eawat*h/ &e had worn a hea!y *an!as rain sli*.er with a hood that *losed tight aro(nd his fa*e by means of a drawstring that tied beneath his *hin+ and he had still felt damp and *hilled to the bone before the 3ob was a A(arter finished+ his own body heat trapped (nder the sli*.er and t(rning *old the perspiration that filmed his s.in/ ,tanding o(tside+ fa*ing a window+ swinging the hea!y wooden+ tin'ba*.ed sh(tter panels into pla*e and wor.ing the r(st'st(*. bolts thro(gh their loops+ he had felt as if a *o(ple of h(ndred mali*io(s *hildren+ with slingshots and a s(pply of ripe grapes+ were (sing his ba*. as a target/ >rom pre!io(s+ similar e1perien*es+ he .new that the A(i*.est way to get this ro(tine finished+ the easiest way to end(re the p(nishment of the wind and the rain+ was to let his mind wander and forget what he was doing / / / &e wo(ld mo!e from window to window li.e some sort of robot+ an a(tomaton who need only fall into a familiar wor. pattern and did not need to thin.+ letting his mind dwell on other matters4 then before he realized it+ he wo(ld ha!e ro(nded the ho(se and *losed down all the windows/ 0herefore+ he began to *onsider the mess o!er at ,eawat*h+ ,aine+ the Do(gherty family+ e!eryone who was in!ol!ed with the strange threats against the Do(gherty *hildren / / / &e wandered thro(gh these mental images m(*h li.e a man strolling leis(rely thro(gh a m(' se(m+ *onsidering ea*h of the many *hara*ters who was in!ol!ed in this real'life drama+ t(rning them aro(nd in his mind+ b(t rather A(i*.ly re3e*ting them and *hoosing+ for a longer *onsideration+ )iss ,onya Carter / / / &e was a yo(ng man+ some said a handsome yo(ng man+ and he was wealthy and ed(*atedwith a degree in literat(re-and he had seen a great deal of the world+ from %ngland to =apan+ from Chile to ,weden/ &e had+ a**ording to pop(lar modern mythology+ all of the A(alities for a great romanti*+ a ladies8 man / / / Cet+ (ntil he had seen the Carter girl+ he had ne!er pi*t(red himself as a romanti*+ and *ertainly not-as he had been *ontin(ally imagining sin*e-as a family man/ &e tended to be *yni*al+ wary of people professing friendship+ and felt it (nli.ely that he wo(ld e!er e1perien*e a *lose+ lo!e'relationship with anyone b(t his grandparents+ with whom he shared a spe*ial *loseness originally born of m(t(al dependen*y b(t now gone far beyond that/ 0hen he had seen ,onya Carter/ Bhen he first glimpsed the Lady Jane mo!ing slowly a*ross the mo(th of the *o!e+ he had been s(r!eying the horizon for large *r(ise ships+ an idle hobby that he sometimes spent ho(rs at/ &e realized that ?eterson was not alone and+ still *on!in*ed that ?eterson was the most li.ely s(spe*t in the re*ent Do(gherty family in*idents+ trained his glasses there to see who might be with him/ %!en at that distan*e+ seen only thro(gh a pair of field glasses+ she had mesmerized him/ $ot by her loo.s+ so m(*h (tho(gh she was A(ite lo!ely)+ b(t by her smile+ her attit(de / / / 2n prep s*hool+ when he was a teenager+ the other .ids had beg(n to *all him 60he @a!en+: be' *a(se they said that he mat*hed the gloomy personality of that bird in ?oe8s famo(s narrati!e poem of the same name/ &e had end(red his ni*.name witho(t *omment+ tho(gh he had nat(rally not m(*h appre*iated it/ &e was not gloomy at all+ he felt+ b(t merely being realisti*/ 0he world was not+ as most of his fri!olo(s *lassmates seemed to thin. it was+ the pro!erbial oyster/ Certainly+ many things in life were pleas(rable+ and he en3oyed himself whene!er he *o(ld/ "(t yo( had to be on the loo.o(t for

the bad+ for the (psets and the disappointments/ )ost of these prep s*hool .ids had li!ed all their li!es+ to date+ in wealthy homes where doting parents had s(pplied them e!erything they wanted and twi*e e!erything that they needed/ Fntil they were on their own+ (ntil they ris.ed emotional in' !ol!ement with the world+ they *o(ld not realize that it *ontained things yo( had to be wary of/ &e realized it+ be*a(se he had his mother8s history of madness ha(nting him+ and he was plag(ed by the memory of that awf(l day when the news of her s(i*ide had *ome and his grandparents+ tho(gh they .new she was insane+ had grie!ed so deeply+ so terribly at her loss/ 2n *ollege+ too+ he had been .nown as a pessimist+ an image he at first attempted to !oid himself of b(t later embra*ed be*a(se+ if they all belie!ed it+ he *o(ld be let alone+ friendless/ &e en3oyed his pri!a*y more than the a!erage st(dent his age+ and he *on!in*ed himself that he also en3oyed being witho(t any *ompanions at all/ 0hese days+ he li.ed to thin.+ he was in a m(*h lighter mood+ far less li.ely to be*ome despondent o!er e!ents/ &e had de!eloped a sense of h(mor that pleased his grandfather immensely and+ tho(gh it was based on a *yni*al o(tloo. on life+ a sar*asti* approa*h to almost e!erything he en*o(ntered+ it was still a gen(ine sense of h(mor+ proof that instead of depressing him+ these days+ the inanities of life did little more than am(se him/ Bhen he had seen ,onya+ la(ghing o(t lo(d+ head thrown ba*.+ her yellow hair streaming in the sea breeze+ her whole attit(de one of *arefree optimism+ he had been str(*.+ had been str(*. hard+ as if someone had p(n*hed him in the *enter of his *hest+ dire*tly o!er the heart+ and he8d had tro(ble breathing/ 0hen+ of *o(rse+ in that first moment+ he had been attra*ted to her only as one magnet might be attra*ted to an (nli.e for*e+ intrig(ed by the e!ident differen*es between them/ ,he was+ he had seen in that single+ long'distan*e glan*e+ A(ite his emotional opposite+ and be*a(se of this+ she was (niA(e/ &e8d met other optimisti* people+ nat(rally+ s*ads of them+ b(t none so p(rely gay and open as this girl appeared in this brief and indire*t *onta*t/ 0he first meeting+ of *o(rse+ had been a *omplete disaster/ &e had been ner!o(s at meeting her+ s(rprised to find her on the bea*h near &aw. &o(se+ and he had not rea*ted well/ $either had she/ ,he seemed to rebel at the sight of him+ and she misinterpreted his ner!o(sness for-he later realized-mali*io(s antagonism/ 0hen there8d been their first meeting with his grandparents+ a disaster to o(tdo all others/ &e lo!ed them both+ dearly+ and he sometimes forgot that their age had made them different people+ in other8s eyes+ than those he saw them as/ 0hey were no longer spar.ling *on!ersationalists+ and their passion for tele!ision was almost (nbrea.able/ Bhen they had rambled on abo(t the details of the threats against the Do(gherty .ids+ he had .nown they were not really gho(lishly interested in the gore+ b(t that they were merely going on as old people often did/ Bhen Balter snapped at the girl+ he .new the snap was not intended to so(nd mean+ b(t *hiding/ "(t+ of *o(rse+ ,onya *o(ld .now none of this/ Bhat a bot*h that afternoon had been; &e had learned+ from @(dolph ,aine+ later+ that she was far too optimisti*+ a !ery nai!e and inno*ent yo(ng lady who had been early attra*ted to "ill ?eterson8s s(rfa*e glitter+ his fa*ade of *arefree *harm+ and that she had not seen the thinly disg(ised restlessness that shifted rapidly 3(st below his s(rfa*e/ &e .new then that he had probably lost her and wo(ld most li.ely ne!er be able to *omm(ni*ate properly with her+ b(t he did not gi!e (p thin.ing abo(t her/ &e worried for her/ Bhen he had first tal.ed to ,aine+ months ago+ had first heard all the details of the Do(ghertys8 problems+ he had pointed o(t that he was fairly s(re "ill ?eterson had been away from ,eawat*h for se!eral wee.s at the same time the threats were being deli!ered in $ew =ersey/ &e had s(pposedly been on a !a*ation/ &e and ,aine had hit it off at on*e+ re*ognizing+ perhaps+ their m(tal distr(st of

most of the world+ and he had gone to 7(adelo(pe+ at ,aine8s reA(est+ to see if he *o(ld tra*. down ?eterson8s whereabo(ts d(ring the *riti*al time period when things had been t(rned (pside down in $ew =ersey/ &e was able to tra*e ?eterson to a )iami'bo(nd pri!ate plane+ b(t lost him there+ in the re*ords of the *ommer*ial airlines+ where he *o(ld easily ha!e employed a false name/ 0his was little for ,aine to form an opinion on+ b(t added to his own obser!ations of ?eterson+ the big man had *entered m(*h of his attention+ from then on+ on the boat *aptain/ nd now ,onya was be*oming friendly with ?eterson+ too friendly for a girl whose o(tloo. on life left her intensely !(lnerable to danger and h(rt/ "lenwell *losed and bolted the last gro(nd floor sh(tter and+ his tho(ghts drifting to ,eawat*h again+ began to wonder 3(st what was going on now+ at that fated ho(se+ as &(rri*ane 7reta isolated them e!en f(rther than e!er / / / &e had wanted to be there now+ e!er sin*e the boats and radios had been destroyed+ be*a(se he was s(re the madman was abo(t to ma.e his mo!e/ "(t in the middle of the worst h(rri*ane in thirty years+ his pla*e was at &aw. &o(se+ with his grandparents+ who might need him/ %!en if the storm did not tear the ho(se down+ the e1*itement of the wind and noise might fatally wea.en the heart in one of them/ &e *o(ld not lea!e them by themsel!es+ e!en tho(gh he .new ,aine *o(ld (se his help/ 2nside+ he *losed the interior sh(tters on the (pper floors+ one by one+ still an a(tomaton with his tho(ghts elsewhere/ ,tanding at the last window+ with his hands on the sh(tters+ staring o(t at the final pie*e of the rainy world whi*h was still !isible from &aw. &o(se+ he hesitated to *lose them+ for his tho(ghts too. a s(dden and parti*(larly nasty t(rn/ &e had great faith in @(dolph ,aine+ and he do(bted !ery m(*h that anyone+ e!en a madman+ *o(ld o!erpower that giant/ "(t 3(st s(ppose that ,aine grew *areless+ or that the madman was more *(nning than anyone *o(ld ha!e s(spe*ted / / / ,(ppose he str(*. at ,eawat*h and+ s(spe*ting that "lenwell .new who ,aine s(spe*ted+ de*ided to *ome after the "lenwell family too/ &e sh(ddered/ ,(*h a possibility was predi*ated on the *ertainty that the .iller wo(ld eliminate both the Do(gherty *hildren+ @(dolph ,aine+ and anyone else in ,eawat*h who might be able to *onne*t him with m(rder/ &e didn8t want to thin. abo(t s(*h a bloodbath/ %spe*ially not with ,onya (p there / / / &e loo.ed at the s.iesD bla*.+ low+ mo!ing fast+ bro.en (p by sheets of hard rain/ &e loo.ed+ too+ at the seaD towering+ fier*e+ *r(shing the island in its watery !i*e+ narrowing Distingue to a tiny strip of land+ a strip of wind'battered m(d/ Bal. a mile in that+ to .ill those in &aw. &o(se while the h(rri*ane still raged9 0hat seemed (nli.ely/ ,(*h a tre. *o(ld be deadly/ #nly a madman / / / &e p(shed the sh(tters open/ Bhat in 7od8s name was he thin.ing9 #f *o(rse only a madman wo(ld wal. the length of the island in a h(rri*ane+ b(t it was a madman that they were dealing with; &e left the sh(tters open/ &e p(lled a *hair (p to the window+ and he went to load the rifle he had told "ill ?eterson he did not ha!e/

0&2@0C
2n the fo(rth ra!ine+ between the fo(rth and the fifth hills+ not so terribly far from the san*tity of &aw. &o(se-she hoped+ she prayed-they *ame a*ross the dead body of a shar./ 2t was floating in the dirty water that had *o(rsed in between the low hills+ its belly (p+ its toothy mo(th frozen in a hideo(s grin that ,onya felt she had seen somewhere before b(t whi*h she *o(ld not pla*e / / / / / / and then #ould pla*e/ 2t was the grin one saw+ in horror films+ on the fa*e of a death8s head+ a s.(ll smile both broad and (tterly (nh(moro(s+ the sort of *heap theatri*s that+ in films+ had made her *h(*.le b(t whi*h now bro(ght her no am(sement at all/ ,he t(rned the *hildren away from the thing and led them A(i*.ly along the shore of the pool+ so that they *o(ld *ross witho(t *oming into *onta*t with the shar.8s *orpse/ 0hey had seen it already+ of *o(rse+ for she had not been A(i*. eno(gh to t(rn them before it had bobbled into sight+ and she .new that they wo(ld ha!e dreams abo(t it for many nights to *ome/ >or the most part+ she was not so m(*h dist(rbed by the grisly s*ene be*a(se it was stoma*h' *h(rning or be*a(se it was another en*o(nter in what seemed an endless string of en*o(nters with death-b(t she was most dist(rbed be*a(se she *o(ld not de*ide whether the shar.+ this time+ was a good omen or a bad one/ 2n one sense+ be*a(se it was dead+ it might represent a pre!io(s threat now dissol!ed/ nd in another way+ be*a(se it was dead and grinning at them+ it might mean / / / ,he shoo. her head and tried to get hold of herself/ Beariness was *losing in on her li.e a glo!ed fist+ and it was *a(sing her to go off on (seless tangents (li.e thin.ing in terms of good l(*. and bad l(*.+ good omens and bad omens)+ and this was a trend she *o(ld not permit to *ontin(e/ 0he pool+ this time+ was not (niformly deep and permitted an easy *rossing at one point+ thirty or forty feet from the dead shar.+ where the land beneath the in!ading sea rose (p almost li.e a series of stepping stones/ ,he *arried the *hildren a*ross+ one at a time+ her arms a*hing li.e sore teeth whi*h she longed to p(ll from the so*.ets and gain a modi*(m of release/ 0hat done+ the hill remained ahead/ ,he didn8t want to go (p it/ ,he had to/ Ca(tio(sly+ be*a(se the rise was slippery and st(dded with flat ro*.s whi*h were no good to (se as handholds b(t whi*h wo(ld stri.e a good blow if she fell on one of them and hit her head+ she mo!ed *rabwise (p the slope+ ta.ing 0ina with her+ *asting an1io(s glan*es ba*.wards at le1 who+ tho(gh doggedly following+ was beginning to lose some of his all'important pep/ #n*e+ she lost her balan*e and+ in trying to *radle 0ina and .eep the *hild from being in3(red+ fell and str(*. her head on one of those ro*.s whi*h she had intended so hard to a!oid/ Dizziness swept o!er her / / / ,he felt she wo(ld pass o(t/ nd sleep / / / ,he gritted her teeth+ then bit at her lips+ p(shed (p and+ p(ffing+ went on+ drawing her breath in great+ wra*.ing sobs whi*h+ fort(nately+ the storm *o!ered/ ,he *o(ld not ha!e borne to hear that so(nd of absol(te desperation+ not here when she needed e!ery o(n*e of her s(pposedly bottomless optimism/ t the top of the hill+ she wanted to rela1+ to sleep/ ,he .new she m(st not gi!e in to the (rge/

,he wanted 3(st to lie down+ stret*h o(t on the soft earth and *lose her eyes for a *o(ple of min' (tes/ ,he wo(ldn8t sleep/ $o+ she8d not sleep be*a(se she dared not to sleep+ b(t why *o(ldn8t she 3(st stret*h o(t for a rest ///9 $o+ not e!en that/ 0he most she wo(ld permit herself+ by way of a breather+ was a brief stop+ at the top of the hill+ with the fo(rth g(lly and the fo(rth rise behind them/ ,he p(t 0ina down+ wat*hed the *hild stir+ m(mble and blin. at the world for a moment before t(mbling into sleep again/ 0he e1ample was tempting/ ,he loo.ed away/ ,he r(bbed the ba*. of her ne*.+ then her eyes+ felt the pla*e on her arm where ?eterson had slid the sharp blade a*ross her fleshD that had already stopped bleeding+ tho(gh the edges of the wo(nd were p(rled and p(rplish/ ,he loo.ed at the s.y/ "la*.ness b(t not night / / / Bhere the trees were for*ef(lly parted to let it show thro(gh+ it was li.e an open mo(th+ swiftly des*ending to de!o(r the earth/ ,he *o(ld still not belie!e that it *o(ld p(t down so m(*h rain+ so rapidly+ e!en tho(gh she had been dri!en temporarily half'deaf by the fall of that rain+ e!en tho(gh she had been soa.ed deep and long by it/ %!en as she loo.ed (p+ the water st(ng her open fa*e+ made her *lose her eyes for fear of being blinded/ ,he lowered her head/ ,he leaned against a palm bole and s(*.ed air into her l(ngs+ moist alt that made her feel almost as if she were on the !erge of drowning+ that made her p(ff in desperation/ ltho(gh &(rri*ane 7reta and the 3o(rney from ,eawat*h were !ery painf(lly real+ she *o(ld barely bring herself to belie!e that any of this were happening/ &ow had a girl li.e her+ a girl who had set o(t to en3oy life+ not terribly strong and not interested in heroi*s of any .ind+ end (p in s(*h a predi*ament9 ,he t(rned to loo. ba*. the way they had *ome+ at what seemed an eternal *onf(' sion of twisting+ looping palm boles+ and she *o(ld find no answer there/ 2t was almost easier to be ' lie!e that this was entirely fantasy/ Bith a *rash that made her sA(eal and whirl away from the tree against whi*h she was leaning+ three large *o*on(ts and a b(ndle of palm bo(ghs *rashed down abo(t fi!e yards away+ wa.ing 0ina who+ tho(gh her !oi*e was ina(dible+ began to *ry/ ,he had slept thro(gh the storm be*a(se it was a *ontin(ing (proar+ a familiar and almost hypnoti* l(llaby s(ng at top !ol(me/ "(t the s(dden e1plosion of the *o*on(ts had been li.e a so(r note in that l(llaby+ a harshly 3angling *hord that r(ined the b(ilding effe*t+ and it had been dis*on' *erting e!en to her drowsing ears/ ltho(gh ,onya had hoped for another min(te or so of rest before she had to ta.e 0ina into her a*hing arms again+ she did not hesitate to bend and lift the *hild+ *(ddle her *lose and m(rm(r sweetly to her+ tho(gh m(rm(rs were (seless in the s*ream of the wind/ 0ina slowly re*o!ered her ner!e/ ,he stopped *rying/ ,onya wiped rain from her fa*e+ only to see more rain po(r a*ross it+ wondered whether all of them wo(ld s(r!i!e this *razy 3o(rney+ e!en if they did rea*h &aw. &o(se safely/ #n*e in a warm+ dry ho(se+ they wo(ld ha!e to ta.e immediate steps to thwart pne(monia and ha!e a do*tor o!er from 7(adelo(pe the moment that the weather impro!ed s(ffi*iently to permit that trip/ 0hro(gh the film of water+ 0ina loo.ed (p at the yo(ng woman holding her+ dar. eyes lo*.ing

with bl(e eyes+ and e!en tho(gh she was a *hild and s(pposedly in*apable of sophisti*ated *omm(' ni*ation with an ad(lt+ she passed a wealth of emotion in those short se*onds+ fears and hopes that ,onya was able to re*ognize at on*e and sympathize with/ ,he h(gged 0ina *loser/ ,he said+ 628ll get (s thro(gh/: t abo(t the same moment+ she be*ame aware that le1 was standing before her+ trying to get her attention/ ,he bent+ as if to try to hear what he had to say+ then saw that he was franti*ally pointing toward the flooded glen o(t of whi*h they had 3(st *ome/ Knowing what she wo(ld see before she loo.ed+ she t(rned and stared into ?eterson8s eyes/

0&2@0C'#$%
Kenneth "lenwell sat before the (nsh(ttered window+ wat*hing the rain'swept lawn+ the dipping trees that loo.ed a bit li.e franti* dan*ers in a new style dis*otheA(e/ &e win*ed ea*h time that something-perhaps a leaf+ a tiny bran*h+ a bare palm frond+ a pie*e of paper *arried from who' .new'where+ *lo(ds of d(st and small pebbles- slapped against the glass with the for*e of 7reta8s big+ in!isible hands behind them/ &e .new that something might !ery li.ely be blown against the window at 3(st the proper angle and at 3(st the right speed to smash the pane and shower him with dangero(sly sharp shards of flying glass+ b(t he tried to be wat*hf(l for s(*h a thing+ and he re' mained+ fairly faithf(lly+ at his post/ #n*e+ he went for a *(p of *offee+ telling himself that he was being the perfe*t fool and that nothing *o(ld happen in the three min(tes or so that he wo(ld be gone/ "(t he8d *ome r(nning ba*.+ breathless+ slopping *offee on his hand+ *ertain that he8d *hosen the *r(*ial moment to ta.e a brea. and that he was missing what he had been wat*hing all this time for/ 0he lawn had been empty/ &e sat down/ &e finished his *offee/ &e wat*hed/ 0ime passed as slowly for him as it had for ,onya+ earlier in the morning+ when she had waited in the .it*hen of ,eawat*h for @(dolph ,aine and "ill ?eterson to ret(rn from the se*ond floor with the .ids/ &e .ept loo.ing at his wat*h+ frowning+ holding it *lose to his ear to see if it were still wor.ing/ 2t always was/ &e went and got another *(p of *offee and too. his time ret(rning to the window+ so that he wo(ld not feel li.e an (tter fool when he loo.ed o(t and saw that the lawn was (npeopled and that the storm was still the fo*al point of the s*ene/ >ifteen min(tes later+ he went to see how Balter and 5ydia were getting along in the storm *el' lar/ 0he pla*e was as *omfortably f(rnished as their reg(lar li!ing room+ tho(gh the *on*rete walls ga!e off an (nmista.able *hill/ 0hey *o(ntera*ted this irritant by wearing *oats and draping their legs with afghans whi*h 5ydia had made herself/ 0hey were sipping wine and reading+ *learly (pset that they m(st miss their tele!ision programs for a while+ b(t f(n*tioning nonetheless+ in their (s(al style/ 6Co( sho(ld be down here too+: 5ydia warned him/ 62 will be+ shortly/: 6Bhat8s ta.ing yo( so long+ anyway9: his grandfather as.ed/ 60ying things down/: 6$e!er too. this long before/: 628m getting old+: he said+ smiling/ &attie+ the maid+ was there too+ reading+ sipping *ola instead of wine/ ,he smiled at him+ a rare thing these days/ 0ho(gh he had often been angry with his grandparents for .eeping her on 3(st be' *a(se+ after wor.ing a lifetime for them+ she had nowhere else to go+ he was now glad that they had ignored him/ ,he was gr(mpy+ aging faster than either Balter or 5ydia+ tho(gh they were senior to her+ and she was no longer a parti*(larly effi*ient ho(se.eeper and *oo./ "(t her presen*e was a testament to his grandparents8 generosity and their *on*ern abo(t people they to(*hed/ ,he reminded him of how Balter and 5ydia had been+ when they were more !ital+ re*alled to him the

tho(sands of other .indnesses he had seen them e1tend and whi*h they had e1tended to him/ >or that reason+ despite her gr(mpiness+ &attie was good to ha!e aro(nd/ 628ll gi!e yo( 3(st another fifteen min(tes+: 5ydia said+ loo.ing at her wat*h/ 6 nd yo(8ll span. me if 2 ta.e longer9: 6$o+ b(t yo(r grandfather might/: 6,he doesn8t spea. for me+: Balter said+ *h(*.ling/ 6Bhy not9: she as.ed him/ 62 always ha!e in the past/: 0he old man threw Ken a meaningf(l glan*e/ 60his woman+: he said+ 6has been my lifelong bane/: 6 nd yo( hers+: Ken said/ 0he old people la(ghed/ 628ll be ba*.+: he told them+ when he had as*ertained that they were *omfortable/ 6>ifteen min(tes;: 5ydia *alled after him/ 62 heard;: "ehind him+ as he wal.ed away+ he heard Balter say+ 6Don8t nag the boy+ my dear/ 0o (s+ he8s still a *hild+ b(t to the rest of the world+ he8s a grown man+ more than a grown man/: &e did not hear her reply/ Fpstairs+ he sat down in his *hair on*e again+ p(lled it (p to the window and stared toward the edge of the palm forest+ res(ming his !igil/ &e tho(ght abo(t ,aine+ the Do(ghertys+ ,onya / / / "(t be*a(se there was no new data+ no new e1perien*es+ sin*e he8d early tho(ght of these things+ he was *o!ering gro(nd that he had been o!er before and+ in the *ase of ,onya+ tho(ghts he had gi!en way to a tho(sand times in the last *o(ple of wee.s / / / "efore the fifteen min(tes had passed+ he began to feel li.e the !illage idiot+ sitting at his wat*h' tower+ waiting for an e!ent that+ in all logi*+ wo(ld ne!er transpire/ &e was worrying his grandparents for no good reason/ 0ho(gh he didn8t thin. that 7reta wo(ld manage to rip &aw. &o(se apart+ it was possible that he *o(ld re*ei!e a se!erely la*erated fa*e from the flying glass if the window before him sho(ld be bro.en-and that wo(ld be eno(gh to ha!e the old people in hysteri*s/ ?erhaps he needed more *offee/ "(t he didn8t want it/ &e fidgeted/ &e tho(ght of ,onya again/ 5a(ghing / / / @iding the boat+ hands gripping the rail+ her blonde hair streaming o(t behind her / / / ,he was whiteness+ he bla*.ness/ 0ogether+ fa*ing the world together+ what wo(ld they ma.e of it+ in s(*h *ontrasting *olors+ half in p(re white and half in gloomy bla*./ 0he *yni* in him an' swered that A(estion with a sneerD they8d ma.e gray together+ (nrelie!ed+ depressing gray/ &e la(ghed bitterly at his ability to always bring himself ba*. to the reality at hand+ ba*. to the moment/ ,onya was not yet and probably ne!er wo(ld be his responsibility+ while+ on the other hand+ those old people in the storm *ellar downstairs were definitely his responsibility/ s he had on*e tr(sted in them to prote*t him from harm and ma.e him *omfortable+ they now+ perhaps (n*on' s*io(sly+ had swit*hed roles and depended on him to do the same for them/ &e m(st forget 6what ifs: and tend to the 6what is+: to Balter and 5ydia and+ yes+ to &attie/ &e stood (p+ abr(ptly *on!in*ed that nothing wo(ld be gained by remaining here and wat*hing for a madman in a h(rri*ane/ &e was a bit angry with himself for e!en ha!ing serio(sly *onsidered s(*h a l(di*ro(sly melodramati* de!elopment/ &e was the realist+ after all/ &e was the *yni*/ &e

did not belie!e+ as so many people did+ in a life that was li.e a motion pi*t(re+ where drama arose at the e1a*tly ne*essary point / / / &e p(shed his *hair ba*. and drew *losed one of the sh(tters/ &e too. one last loo. at the lawn/ Bind+ rain+ glowering *lo(ds+ dan*ing trees+ nothing more/ &e sw(ng the se*ond sh(tter aro(nd in order to bolt it tightly to the first half that was already in pla*e/

0&2@0C'0B#
=eremy *ame o!er the brow of the hill and+ digging his heels into the m(shy earth to .eep from losing his balan*e and falling to the bottom+ he started down toward the sea'flooded ra!ine+ yet another of the watery obsta*les whi*h had be*ome familiar and hated/ &e had gone a third of the way down the hill before+ o(t of the *orner of his eye+ he tho(ght he saw something more than green !egetation and gray rain at the top of the ne1t slope+ beyond the pool/ &e loo.ed (p+ gasped when he saw the woman+ ,onya+ standing with her ba*. to him+ holding one of the *hildren/ 0he other *hild was nowhere in sight/ >or a moment+ he *o(ld not mo!e/ 0he sight of her made him realize he8d not really e1pe*ted to *at*h them+ no matter how hard he8d tried to *on!in*e himself that he wo(ld/ nd+ *oming (pon her (ne1pe*tedly li.e this+ his memory was 3arred so that he *o(ld not instantly re*all why he had been *hasing her / / / &e *o(ld not thin. of her name or what relation she was to him and+ when he was honest+ he *o(ld not e1a*tly remember who he was+ himself/ &e stood there in the po(nding rain+ sweating+ his brow f(rrowed+ desperately trying to re*all what this was all abo(t/ 0hen the other *hild+ the boy+ *ame into sight+ loo.ing down into the ra!ine and+ instantly+ dis*o!ered his p(rs(er+ t(rning to the woman to tell her that the gap had been *losed/ 2n the same moment+ =eremy remembered that he was a 3(dge+ that he had held a trial+ that he had passed a senten*e and m(st now see that it was *arried o(t/ 0he Do(ghertys m(st s(ffer+ m(st (nderstand what life was really li.e/ 0hat was fair/ &e too. o(t his .nife/ 0he three people abo!e t(rned away from him and disappeared into the trees+ b(t he was not worried+ for he .new he wo(ld ha!e them shortly/ &e started a*ross the pool+ his .nife held before him again+ the blade gleaming in the rain/

0&2@0C'0&@%%
,onya was not a !iolent woman4 !iolen*e repelled her+ for it was so *losely asso*iated with death and (nhappiness/ Cet+ when she saw what m(st be done in order to sa!e their li!es+ she did not hesitate+ e!en briefly+ to do it+ tho(gh she .new that she might end (p .illing a man who had on*e been "ill ?eterson/ ?erhaps it was 3(st this tho(ght+ *o(*hed in 3(st those terms+ that made her able to perform a !iolent a*t against another li!ing *reat(re-the painf(l realization that he was no longer that man whom she had .nown and had felt affe*tion for and+ ha!ing gone so far o!er the edge of madness as he had+ wo(ld ne!er be that man again/ %ither =eremy+ the bla*. side of his s*hizophreni* per' sonality+ wo(ld r(le the mortal shell from now on+ or he wo(ld be*ome a *atatoni* *ase for the mental wards+ a staring and helpless !egetable witho(t any personality at all+ far beyond the help of any bran*h of modern medi*ine/ ,he wo(ld not+ then+ be .illing a friend+ b(t an absol(te stranger/ 2ndeed+ if yo( wanted to be bl(nt abo(t it+ she wo(ld not e!en be atta*.ing a man+ b(t a thing, a li!ing and mo!ing being that was less than a wild animal/ "(t she wo(ld ha!e to a*t fast/ ,he had maybe three min(tes+ or fo(r/ $o longer/ ,he p(t 0ina down again+ stood her on her feet and tried to ma.e the little girl (nderstand that she wo(ld no longer be *arried/ 0ina blin.ed at her+ on the !erge of tears again/ *o, %lease, ,onya tho(ght/ Don't #ry. 2f 0ina didn8t f(lly grasp the import of their sit(ation now that ?eterson had nearly *a(ght (p to them+ her brother+ le1+ did+ for he grabbed hold of his sister8s hand and held it tightly/ @elie!ed+ ,onya stood and pointed thro(gh the palm forest+ in the general dire*tion of &aw. &o(se+ and indi*ated that she wo(ld be along behind them in a min(te or two/ le1 t(rned away from her and tottered off+ p(lling 0ina with him+ not mo!ing A(i*.ly b(t at least mo!ing+ not with m(*h of a *han*e of s(r!i!al b(t at least with a small *han*e+ a tiny one/ 2f she *o(ld stop ?eterson witho(t getting h(rt herself+ they wo(ld ma.e it yet/ "(t if she was h(rt and *o(ld not *at*h (p to them+ they8d die/ 0hey8d die e!en if she8d .illed the madman and he *o(ld no longer rea*h them+ for they were almost s(re to lose themsel!es in the storm and die of e1pos(re d(ring the long night ahead / / / ,onya t(rned away from them/ ?eterson had still not *rested this hill4 he was still down there in the ra!ine/ ,he went A(i*.ly to the fallen *o*on(ts and p(lled away the palm bo(ghs that half'*on*ealed them/ %a*h of the three fr(its was as large as a *annon ball+ and ea*h loo.ed abo(t that deadly/ ,he tried to pi*. (p two *o*on(ts at on*e/ Co(ldn8t do it/ 0hey were too big and hea!y for that/ ,he needed both hands for ea*h of them+ and she lost !al(able se*onds f(mbling with two before she realized this/ ,he dropped one of them/ s A(i*.ly as she *o(ld+ legs r(bbery+ she *arried the other *o*on(t to the edge of the hill+ *are' f(l not to let herself be seen by ?eterson+ who m(st by now ha!e *rossed the pool below/ ,he went ba*. for the se*ond *o*on(t/ ,he p(t it by the first/

,he retrie!ed the third+ lined them (p/ 5oo.ing at it+ she realized what a p(ny arsenal it was+ and that she *o(ld hardly afford to miss him+ e!en on*e/ "(t she did not see what else she *o(ld do+ at this point+ e1*ept to go on with it/ ,he hadn8t the time to r(n all o!er the hilltop in sear*h of other shaggy missiles/ ,he lifted the first sphere/ ,he stepped to the edge of the slope+ where he wo(ld be able to see her+ and she loo.ed for him/ &e was halfway (p the slippery grass in*line+ trying to ma.e it on his feet and not his hands and .nees/ ,he raised the *o*on(t o!erhead/ &e sensed her+ loo.ed (p/ &e threw his hands (p to prote*t himself+ lost his balan*e+ and fell ba*.wards+ to the bottom of the in*line/ ,he realized that she had lost the pre*io(s ad!antage of s(rprise+ now+ b(t she did not throw the *o*on(t yet/ ,he wanted to hit him when he was on the hill+ so that+ with a little l(*.+ he wo(ld lose his balan*e again and fall to the bottom+ h(rting himself in the pro*ess+ perhaps e!en brea.ing a leg/ >or a moment+ they seemed stalemated/ &e stood by the pool+ loo.ing (p/ ,he stood atop the in*line+ loo.ing down/ &e held the .nife/ ,he held the *o*on(t/ 0hen he started (p again/ &e *ame at a r(n+ 3(mping from side to side instead of ma.ing a dire*t line for her+ *o!ering gro(nd in the manner he had been ta(ght in the army+ in the war/ ,he waited/ &e was halfway (p+ his ne*. strained into *orded ropes of m(s*le+ his head thr(st o(t ahead of him+ bent in an odd manner to gi!e himself the best balan*e and the lowest point'of'gra!ity/ ,he threw the *o*on(t/ &e tried to r(n (nder it/ 2t str(*. the *enter of his ba*. and bo(n*ed off him+ str(*. hard eno(gh to dri!e him down onto his stoma*h+ dazed/ ,he pi*.ed (p the se*ond missile/ ,he was sha.ing (n*ontrollably+ as if she had a se!ere fe!er+ and she *o(ld not manage to get rid of the !ision of that first dire*t hit+ whi*h remained behind+ playing o!er and o!er again as if on some internal motion pi*t(re s*reen/ ,he saw the brown ball ar*hing / / / ,he saw it *ome down on his spine+ saw it bo(n*e / / / &e *rashed forward into the m(d+ his fa*e dri!en into the m(d so that he m(st ha!e gotten a mo(thf(l of it / / / nd she *o(ld almost feel the e1*r(*iating pain whi*h she had *a(sed him/ &a!ing done that+ ha!ing h(rt him li.e that+ e!en if he were less than a h(man being right now+ she felt (nspea.ably si*. and .new+ if she s(r!i!ed this ordeal+ here was the ma' terial for new nightmare aplenty/ $e!ertheless+ she was resol!ed to *ontin(e this almost *omi* battle with *o*on(ts and to ta.e whate!er moral p(nishment was her d(e as a res(lt of her br(tality/ ,he had not started this pri!ate war+ after all4 she was an (nwilling *ombatant/ &e lay still for long se*onds/ ,he wondered if he were dead or (n*ons*io(s+ b(t she .new she did not dare lea!e him there witho(t being s(re+ for he might be hoping to tri*. her and then *ome *lose behind+ when there was no slope for her to fight him on to her ad!antage/ t last+ he mo!ed/ &e raised (p on his hands/

,hoo. his head/ &e loo.ed aro(nd himself+ then (p at her/ ,he threatened him with the *o*on(t she held/ &e loo.ed aro(nd him+ on all sides of him+ *on*entrating *losely on the grass and m(d+ as if he *o(ldn8t fig(re o(t what it was-then he *ame (p with the .nife whi*h had fallen from his hand when the *o*on(t had hit him/ &e inspe*ted it/ 2t was in fine *ondition/ &olding it o(t before him+ not attempting to stand now+ he started (p the hill again+ on his .nees+ battered by rain and wind b(t seemingly (naware of e!erything e1*ept ,onya/ ,he waited another moment+ ga(ging the distan*e+ (ntil she felt the time was right+ then threw the *o*on(t as hard as she *o(ld/ 2t ar*hed / / / "(t the wind was !ery strong+ not strong eno(gh to lift away so hea!y an ob3e*t+ tho(gh for*ef(l eno(gh to defle*t it/ "e*a(se of the wind+ the se*ond missile missed him altogether/ &e grinned at her/ &e was only forty feet away now/ 0he .nife loo.ed longer than a sword/ ,he t(rned and pi*.ed (p the last *o*on(t/ &e stopped smiling when he saw it+ and he *on*entrated on ma.ing better time on the glass hill' side/ &e had no way of .nowing+ she dis*o!ered+ that this was her last missile/ &e might thin. she had an endless s(pply of these and that she *o(ld+ with a better aim+ hold him off for a long while+ or permanently in3(re him/ 0his+ howe!er+ was a psy*hologi*al ad!antage she wo(ld not ha!e m(*h longer+ for he wo(ld soon .now that she had nothing else to (se against him/ >or the most part+ he .ept his fa*e to the gro(nd+ mo!ing toward her li.e an inse*t obli!io(s of the world abo!e it/ $ow and again+ howe!er+ at fairly reg(lar inter!als+ he raised his head to loo. at her and to ga(ge the angle of his as*ent/ ,he pi*.ed (p the rhythm of these (pward glan*es and+ when she felt he was 3(st abo(t to raise his head again+ she threw the *o*on(t with all her might/ &e loo.ed (p/ &e s*reamed/ 2t *a(ght the side of his fa*e/ &e went ba*.ward+ head o!er heels+ to the bottom of the rise+ fell half into the water and did not get (p or mo!e/ ,he waited+ trembling+ on the !erge of throwing (p b(t not s(re if she had the time for that/ &e lay still/ Bater lapped at him/ ,he tho(ght of going down there and t(rning him onto his ba*.+ to see if he were dead+ b(t the memory of what his strong hands had almost done to her in the bo(gain!illea arbor .ept her where she was/ ,he saw the .nife where he had dropped it+ more than halfway down the hill+ its point dire*ted at her+ its red handle li.e a small bea*on in the midst of the drab+ storm'painted earth/ ,he wondered if she *o(ld ris. going that *lose to him so that she *o(ld get hold of the .nife and depri!e him of his most dangero(s weapon/ ,he remembered how fast he had r(n (p the first se*tion of the slope+ 3(mping from side to side and digging his heels in li.e a soldier ta.ing enemy gro(nd d(ring an offensi!e a*tion+ and she .new she wo(ld ha!e to t(rn and renegotiate half the hillside while he wo(ld be *hasing her / / / Cet+ she tho(ght+ now+ that he was (n*ons*io(s+ and she .new that+ when

he *ame to+ e!en if that was while she was retrie!ing the .nife+ he wo(ld not ha!e the wits abo(t him to gi!e immediate and *ompetent *hase/ nd if she *o(ld ha!e the .nife / / / ,he started o!er the brin. of the hill and had ta.en fo(r or fi!e steps when he sh(ddered+ thrashed abo(t+ and tried to get his hands (nder himself/ 0errified+ she t(rned+ s*rambled to the top again+ and ran after the .ids/ 0hey had not managed to get !ery far+ no more than a third of the way a*ross the flat top of the hill/ ,he s*ooped 0ina (p and (rged le1 to ma.e better time than he had th(s far/ >rom somewhere+ she did not .now where+ tho(gh it might ha!e been from a terror that was greater than any she had e!er .nown before+ she fo(nd a new s(pply of energy/ &er legs were r(bbery+ b(t they dro!e her on with renewed speed4 her ba*. and arms felt as if they wo(ld reA(ire ma3or s(rgery to e!er be right again+ yet they were la*ed with new strength that made 0ina seem less of a b(rden than she had before/ 0he so(nds of the storm seemed so lo(d now that she felt as if they were *oming from within her head and not from the land aro(nd her4 she felt as if she *o(ld b(*.le (nder the demanding e1' plosions of the so(nd alone/ t the ne1t slope+ she t(rned and loo.ed ba*.+ hoping to see that they were (np(rs(ed/ >or a few se*onds+ it seemed that way+ seemed safe/ 0hen+ she *a(ght sight of him+ wea!ing dr(n.enly between the trees b(t nonetheless *losing the distan*e between them/

0&2@0C'>#F@
"e*a(se the depths of the ra!ine between these last two hills was not so great as it had been in ea*h of the pre!io(s geographi*al di!isions of the island+ the pool of seawater a*ross whi*h they had to go was not nearly so m(*h of an obsta*le as those whi*h had *ome before it/ 2ndeed+ it only rea*hed to ,onya8s .nees and slightly past le18s waist/ 0hey were able to wal. a*ross the pool to' gether+ while ,onya *arried the little girl+ and no time was lost in ma.ing a se*ond trip to ferry one or the other of the *hildren to safety/ 2n other ways+ $at(re seemed s(ddenly to ha!e *hosen their side/ 0he trees grew e!en thi*.er than before+ *(tting the whip of the wind in half and ma.ing ad!an*ement a good deal easier/ 0he slope of this hill was more gentle than those before it+ and while it was not ro*.y+ it was also not grassy+ *omposed of spotted *l(mps of !egetation and a lot of loose sand whi*h+ while shifting (nder their feet+ was preferable to sli*. grass/ #n the hilltop+ they ran forward+ zig'zagging more than before+ to get between the *losely grown trees+ aware that+ not far ahead+ the dar.ness of the forest seemed to er(pt into light+ b(t not able to interpret this sight (ntil they st(mbled+ e1ha(sted+ aro(nd the last of the thi*. palm boles and sh(ffled into the open lawn that ringed &aw. &o(se/ ,onya pa(sed+ (nable to immediately a**ept the sight of that fine old ho(se+ for she was more willing to belie!e it was a fantasy+ a figment of her imagination+ than the a*t(al pla*e/ ,he had hoped to rea*h here for so long+ and she had prayed so desperately+ that now she tho(ght her mind might ha!e fantasized what she wanted be*a(se+ otherwise+ she wo(ld ne!er obtain it/ "(t+ fantasy or not+ she *o(ld not afford to remain here and stare at it/ 0he lawn was a good h(ndred and fifty yards a*ross and+ when they had gained the door of &aw. &o(se+ they might still be far from sal!ation/ ,he had tho(ght+ earlier+ b(t had ref(sed to *onsider+ that on*e they rea*hed the "lenwell8s pla*e+ they might find it boarded (p and its inhabitants all o(t of earshot+ in their own dry storm *ellar/ 2f that were the *ase+ ?eterson wo(ld *at*h them on the "lenwell doorstep and pro!ide an espe*ially ironi* ending to the whole gr(esome aff air/ ,he started forward+ wal.ing fast+ no longer able to r(n+ with le1 st(mbling by her side/ 0he wind+ here in the open+ hit them so hard they went to their .nees+ as they had on the lawn of ,eawat*h-how long ago9 %a*h time+ they got (p and went on/ 0ina was no longer in the mood to sleep+ b(t *l(ng to ,onya li.e a b(rr to wool+ her head o!er the woman8s sho(lder+ her fa*e b(ried in her warm ne*./ 2t was 0ina+ be*a(se of her position+ who first saw ?eterson and+ s*reaming dire*tly into ,onya8s ear+ warned the woman a moment before he *rashed into her and .no*.ed her down+ li.e a bowling ball (psetting the last pin on the alley floor/ ,he landed in a painf(l tangle of o!ere1erted arms and legs+ e!ery strained m(s*le *rying o(t at this final indignity+ whimpering helplessly to herself/ ,he rolled to get away from him+ for she felt he m(st ha!e his .nife with him and that he m(st already be dri!ing it toward her ba*.+ and in the pro*ess of her pani*.ed es*ape from this imagined nearness to a swift death+ she lost hold of 0ina/ ,he spit o(t grass and m(d+ loo.ed (p/ ?eterson had passed her and was *hasing le1 toward &aw. &o(se+ and he was almost on top of the boy/ 2n!ol(ntarily+ ,onya s*reamed/ ?eterson *l(t*hed the *ollar of le18s 3a*.et and sw(ng the boy aro(nd as if he were nothing more than a sa*. of potatoes/ &e threw him down and+ as le1 tried to stand again+ slapped him

hard alongside the head+ .no*.ing him (n*ons*io(s/ ,onya got (p/ ,he was s*ared+ b(t she was also f(rio(s/ ,he had to stop him/ "(t he was the one with a weapon/ ,he loo.ed aro(nd for 0ina b(t *o(ld not+ at first+ *at*h sight of her/ 0hen she saw that ?eterson seemed to be r(nning a*ross the lawn witho(t real dire*tion+ and she followed his intended path+ where 0ina sat in (tter defeat+ wat*hing her assailant *harge at her b(t (nable to do anything to sa!e herself/ 0ho(gh ?eterson had not finished with the boy+ he seemed mania*ally determined to stri.e o(t at ea*h of them first+ as A(i*.ly as he *o(ld+ no matter how great the ris. that as he ran from one to the other+ his first !i*tim might es*ape/ ,onya too. a few steps toward 0ina+ then saw that she wo(ld ne!er be able to rea*h the girl be' fore ?eterson did/

0&2@0C'>2E%
s he was *losing the last half of the sh(tters o!er the window where he had .ept his wat*h+ Ken "lenwell *a(ght a A(i*. flash of mo!ement by the edge of the palm trees and+ tho(gh he was A(i*. to attrib(te it to his imagination or to the storm+ he p(lled the sh(tter open part way again and had another loo./ woman and two small *hildren had *ome o(t of the trees and now stood at the edge of the lawn+ leaning into the wind+ filthy and soa.ed and ob!io(sly beaten/ 0ho(gh they were too far away for positi!e !is(al identifi*ation+ he had no do(bt that they were ,onya Carter and le1 and 0ina Do(gherty+ e!en tho(gh it seemed impossible and (nreasonable that they had *ome the length of Distingue, by foot+ in the middle of the storm/ 0hey started toward &aw. &o(se+ tr(dging li.e ref(gees+ h(ddled and dar. and forlorn/ 0hen+ behind them+ another fig(re emerged from the palms+ this one a man who stopped 3(st where the woman had stopped and loo.ed after them/ ,aine9 $ot big eno(gh/ &enry or )ills9 0oo big for them/ nd Do(gherty wasn8t home+ so it m(st be ?eterson/ s "lenwell wat*hed+ aware that danger was *oming and that his pla*e was o(t there with the woman and the two .ids+ not here by the window li.e a man of stone+ ?eterson ran forward and slammed into ,onya with his sho(lder/ "oth she and the *hild *rashed forward to the gro(nd+ rolled+ and then be*ame separated/ 0hen ?eterson leaped past them+ ma.ing for the boy who+ ha!ing seen this first atta*.+ was now r(nning f(ll tilt for &aw. &o(se+ wea!ing on wea. legs and losing gro(nd all the time/ "lenwell whirled away from the window+ grabbed (p the rifle that stood against the *hair+ and ran into the hall/ Bhen he rea*hed the .it*hen+ his feet po(nding on the tile floor+ he heard 5ydia *alling to him+ tho(gh he had no idea what she was saying/ 6,tay there;: he sho(ted/ &e f(mbled with the door lat*hes/ ,he was still *alling his name/ 62t8s o.ay;: he sho(ted/ 6Don8t lea!e the *ellar;: &e p(shed open the door/ Bind hit him/ @ain soa.ed him in the instant and p(mmeled past him to *latter on the hard .it*hen floor/ gainst the wishes of the wind+ he p(lled the door sh(t and+ holding the rifle to his side+ hoping the rain wo(ld not damage it and ma.e it (seless+ he went onto the lawn and h(rried toward the bat ' tling fig(res down near the palms/ Despite the fa*t that the storm made r(nning all b(t impossible when yo( were headed into the wind+ as he was+ he rea*hed the s*ene before ?eterson had managed to .ill anyone/ le1 was lying on the gro(nd+ either e1ha(sted or st(nned by a blow from ?eterson who was now r(nning *l(msily toward the little girl/ ,onya stood+ helpless+ wat*hing all of this+ her sho(lders sl(mped+ her hands spread o(t in front of her as if she were pleading with someone+ tho(gh there was no one near to her/

"lenwell went down on one .nee and raised the rifle to his sho(lder/ &e had done a lot of target pra*ti*e with the g(n+ and-when he was depressed and forgot that they were not responsible for his problems-he *onsidered (sing it on Do(gherty8s parrots/ "(t this wo(ld be the first time in his life that he had e!er (sed a g(n against a man/ &e sighted in+ estimated the mo!ement of the wind and allowed for it+ then slowly sA(eezed the trigger/ 0he g(n 3er.ed against him+ b(t he heard its report only as another s(dden growl from the storm/ ?eterson .ept r(nning/ &e fired again/ 0he madman was sp(n aro(nd+ li.e a ta*.led football player+ his speed *(t in the instant+ and he went down+ hard/ &e stayed down/ 2t was o!er/

>0%@B @D
0ho(gh it had been filtered thro(gh the perf(me of the bo(gain!illea !ines that grew o!er the one end of the front por*h of ,eawat*h+ the breeze still bro(ght them a tang of sea and sand/ #f *o(rse+ few of the bo(gain!illea8s flowers had s(r!i!ed 7reta8s wrath+ and not many new blossoms had opened yet+ b(t still the refreshing sea smell was a delightf(l s(rprise to ,onya and Kenneth as they sat side'by'side in two antiA(e rattan ro*.ers/ 2t reminded them of the sea when it was tame+ of the pleas(res one *o(ld get from the sea-and those were aspe*ts of its ma3esty whi*h they had not had o**asion to thin. abo(t for some days/ 5oo.ing o(t on the pea*ef(l green lawn+ the stately palms+ the glimpse of white bea*h and the pla*id sea+ ,onya *o(ld hardly (nderstand how s(*h a pea*ef(l pla*e *o(ld ha!e t(rned+ for two long days+ into a nightmare of rage and destr(*tion+ both h(man and nat(ral/ 0he storm had gone three days ago now+ and the Do(ghertys had been home almost as long/ "ill ?eterson+ whom Ken had shot *leanly thro(gh the ne*.+ had been ta.en ba*. to 7(adelo(pe for b(rial by his family whi*h was st(nned by what had happened/ 0he poli*e had *ome and gone+ as had the do*tors+ and now there was no more e1*itement/ 0han.f(lly/ ,he had spent a f(ll day or longer+ d(ring the storm+ in &aw. &o(se+ b(ndled into a g(est bed/ 0he "lenwells had treated her and the *hildren as best they *o(ld4 and ,onya and her two *harges had slept most of that time+ re*harging batteries+ blissf(lly (naware of the *on*ern paid them by e!' eryone in that mansion+ in*l(ding &attie/ fter that+ when the weather had *leared s(bstantially+ they had been able to ret(rn to ,eawat*h where they were greeted li.e three modern 5azar(ses all raised from the gra!e/ "ess+ &enry+ 5eroy and &elga had all been *ertain that they were dead+ for ,aine was dead and ,aine was m(*h to(gher than they were/ ,in*e then+ she had rested+ *o(ld hardly get eno(gh of rest+ and of &elga8s food+ whi*h tasted better than she remembered it/ %a*h day+ Ken *ame early in the morning+ went on wal.s with her+ sat with her on the por*h+ played *ards with her+ and slowly be*ame more and more of the romanti* yo(ng man whi*h he had always had the potential b(t ne!er the desire to be/ $ow+ as they were *ommenting on the s(dden fresh sea breeze+ =oe Do(gherty *ame o(t of the front door and too. a *hair ne1t to theirs+ so they were sitting aro(nd a small+ white wro(ght iron *o*.tail table/ &e said+ 60wo days ago+ or better+ yo( said yo( wanted to resign as t(tor and go!ern' ess for the .ids/: 6Bell-: she began/ &e held (p a hand to stop her/ 628d be the first one to admit that yo( ha!e e1*ellent reasons for wanting to get away from the Do(gherty family fore!er/ nd when 2 told yo( that 2 intend to remain on Distingue despite all that8s happened here+ 2 saw how yo( paled/: &e *leared his throat/ 6"(t 28!e ne!er been one to r(n from pain or bad memories+ and 2 won8t start the pra*ti*e at this late date/ "esides+ be*a(se of this affair+ 28m finding it more and more diffi*(lt to serio(sly *onsider going ba*. to the *rowded s(b' (rbs and poll(ted air of $ew =ersey/ 28ll stay- that is+ if Ken here is finally willing to a**ept me as his neighbor/: Ken bl(shed/ 62 was always so s(re that an ind(strial man li.e yo(rself+ someone who always has his finger in a lot of pies+ wo(ld be hell'bent on t(rning the island into a to(rist trap/:

6Co( belie!e 2 ha!en8t any s(*h designs9: 62 do now/ "(t 2 was always so afraid yo(8d r(in Distingue. 628!e not .nown it long eno(gh to lo!e it li.e yo( do+: =oe said+ 6"(t 28m getting there/: &e loo.ed ba*. at ,onya/ 628m willing to a**ept yo(r resignation and brea. yo(r *ontra*t+ b(t 2 do wish yo(8d *hange yo(r mind abo(t lea!ing/: 6Bell-: she began/ &e stopped her/ 65et me finish/ 2 find yo( to be one of the most !al(able employees 28!e e!er had/ Co(8re intelligent+ *heerf(l and amazingly *o(rageo(s/ Bhen a professional bodyg(ard *o(ldn8t prote*t my *hildren and .eep himself ali!e+ yo( too. them (nder yo(r wing/ Bhen yo( were p(t into an impossible sit(ation+ yo( performed the impossible sol(tion and sa!ed both yo(rself and my .ids/ 2 owe yo( all 2 ha!e/: 62f yo(8d let me get a word in edgewise+: she said+ a smile on her fa*e+ 628d sa!e yo( all this embarrassing repetition/ 28!e de*ided not to lea!e yo(+ the .ids or Distingue, after all/: &e loo.ed blan.+ for a moment+ then bro.e into an enormo(s 2rish smile/ 6Bhat *hanged yo(r mind9: 6Ken+: she said/ &e loo.ed at the two of them+ smiled and said+ 6#h+ it8s li.e that+ is it+ now9: 62t may be+: Ken said/ 6%!ent(ally/ @ight now+ we8re 3(st getting to .now ea*h other/ >or the last three days+ 28!e learned a lot from ,onya+ more than 2 tho(ght anyone *o(ld tea*h me now that 28d grown (p/ ,he8s shown me a brighter side of life+ a more pleasant o(tloo. on things than 28d e!er .nown 2 *o(ld ha!e/ 28!e gained-2 g(ess yo(8d *all it perspe*ti!e/: 6 nd yo(9: Do(gherty said+ loo.ing at ,onya/ 62 still ha!en8t heard what he8s said to yo( that8s made yo( rethin. yo(r position/: ,he said+ 628!e always a!oided people who seemed sober or serio(s+ always opted for friends who were f(n'lo!ing and *heerf(l-and e!en giddy/ 2 wanted to r(n from the bad memories as' so*iated with Distingue, b(t 2 also wanted to get away from 5eroy )ills8 se*reti!eness whi*h 2 on*e tho(ght sinister and now see is only his way/ 2 wanted to get away from &enry8s on*e'a'wee. gr(mp/ $ow 2 see that it8s not m(*h to end(re that in order to wor. with him on the days he8s himself/ 2 was the opposite of Ken+ too eager to e1perien*e only the best parts of life+ and 2 too needed balan*e/ 2 thin.+ from him+ 28!e gotten a little of that/: Do(gherty got to his feet and+ still beaming+ said+ 6Bell+ then+ may 2 tell &elen and the .ids that yo(8!e *hanged yo(r mind and are going to stay on after all9: 6?lease+ yes+: she said/ Bhen he was gone+ they remained seated in the rattan *hairs+ holding hands+ loo.ing o(t at the palms/ &e said+ 6Fmmm+ smell the sea/: ,he sniffed and said+ 62sn8t it a bea(tif(l day9 2 still ha!e a sore ne*.+ and 28m stiff in all my 3oints still+ b(t otherwise it8s a perfe*t day/ 28!e probably had better days+ b(t right now 2 *an8t thin. of them and don8t parti*(larly want to/: 6@ightly p(t+: he said/ 60here+ loo. at the seag(lls playing tag in the s.y;: