Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese [150]
AFTER GHOSH LEFT, I wondered if the army man was my pair of slippers. If so, they'd come back once already in the form of his brother. What form would they take next?
Just when my thoughts were coming in illogical sequences, a prelude to sleep, I felt someone lifting up the mosquito net. In the instant that I saw her, she was already sitting on my chest, pinning my arms down.
I could have thrown her off. But I didn't. I liked her body on mine and I liked the faint scent of charcoal and the frankincense that permeated her clothes. Maybe shed come to make up to me for being so rude before. She could ‘ve climbed in through one of the open windows.
In the light from the hallway, I could see the fixed smile on her face.
“So, Marion? Did you tell Ghosh about the thief?”
“If you were hiding here, you already know.”
Shiva, awake now, looked at the two of us, then rolled over, and closed his eyes.
“You almost told that officer, his brother.”
“I didn't. I was just surprised …,” I said.
“We think you told Ghosh and Hema.”
“Of course not. I wouldn't.”
“Why wouldn't you?”
“You know why. If it gets out, they'll hang me.”
“No, they will hang me and my mother for sure. You'll be to blame.”
“I dream about his face.”
“I do, too. And I kill him every night. I wish I'd shot him.”
“It was an accident.”
“If I'd killed him, I wouldn't call it an accident. If I'd killed him, we'd have no worries.”
“Easy for you to say because you didn't kill him.”
“My mother thinks you'll tell. We're worried about you.”
“What? Well, you tell Rosina not to worry.”
“It'll slip out one day and get us all killed.”
“Okay, stop. If you know I'll tell, why talk to me? Get off me now.”
She slid down so that her body was spread-eagled over mine. Her face hovered over me, and for one second I thought she was going to kiss me, which would have been very strange in the context of our exchange. I studied her eyes so close to mine, the blemish in the right iris, her breath on my face, sweet, pleasant. I could see the dangerous beauty she was going to turn into. I thought of the last time we were this close. In the pantry.
Her pupils dilated, her eyelids sagged down over the irises.
I felt something warm where her thighs were on top of mine, a spreading heat.
I felt fluid soak my pajamas. The air under the mosquito net filled with the scent of fresh urine. Now her eyes rolled up, showing only the whites, and she threw her head back. She shivered. Her neck was arched, the strap muscles taut. She looked down one last time. “That's so you don't ever forget your promise.” She jumped off and was gone before I could think of reacting. I reared up now, ready to chase after her, to tear her to pieces.
Shiva held me back, whether from his desire to be a peacemaker or to protect her, I couldn't say. His eyes were downcast and they managed not to look at me. I stood shaking with anger as Shiva stripped the bed. My pajama bottom was soaked; Shiva had been spared. In the bathroom Shiva ran the tub and I got in. Shiva sat on the commode, quiet but keeping me company. We did not exhange a word. Back in the bedroom I was putting on fresh pajamas when Ghosh came in.
“I saw your light. What happened?”
“An accident,” I said.
Shiva said nothing. The scent was unmistakable. I was ashamed. I could've told on Genet, but I didn't. I opened the window for a few minutes and then closed it.
Ghosh wiped down the mattress. He helped us flip it over. He brought fresh sheets, made the bed for us. I could tell that he was distressed.
“Go back to the guests,” I said. “We're all right. Really.”
“My boys, my boys,” he said, sitting on the edge of the mattress. I know he thought I had wet the bed. “I can't imagine what you have been through.