O'hara's Choice - Leon Uris [139]
Zach went to the boat pier, working mucky on shoring up a pair of sagging pilings. Ned picked it up, quicklike, and when Ulysses came bubbling down the duckboard, he threw a glance to his son to indicate that Zach was in a mood.
The village wondered how long it would be before Zach and Amanda bent.
Amanda snapped string beans in the kitchen. Pearly shuffled about moaning low some sorrowful song and it annoyed Amanda, as if it were the only damned song she knew.
Even though the sun burned the fog off by noon, seemed like the whole of Nebo was still engulfed.
Enough string beans.
She chopped at the collard greens.
“Damn!”
Amanda dropped her knife and sucked at the finger she had nipped.
“You’d think they’d know how to sharpen a knife down at the boat shed.”
“Ain’t nothing wrong with that knife,” Pearly said.
Amanda caught her breath, rocking on the stool, as though she’d just run a long distance.
“It’s okay, baby girl,” Pearly said touching her shoulder. Amanda threw her arms around Pearly and rested her head in that old flat place and stifled her sobs quickly.
“It’s okay, baby girl. Now, now. You two been so brave, we’ve all been wondering when the fears would start to take over.”
Amanda held on until she stopped reeling, said she was all right, and tried to jack up a smile.
“I told myself not to start counting days and we’ve tried so hard but so that—”
“Amanda, when you talk that fast, the end of what you’re saying overtake the front of what you’re saying and it sure comes out confusing.”
Amanda toughened. “I’ll be all right, now.”
“Anything in particular you’d care to let me know?” Pearly asked.
She thought about it a moment and shook her head and attacked the collards again.
“Pearly?”
“Yes, baby.”
“Is there a ghost in Veda’s cottage?”
“Everybody in Nebo got their own special ghost.”
Someone’s been in there with us for the last two nights.”
“It’s just the world calling you back.”
“No, it’s a ghost with a voice and I know Zach hears it. He wakes up suddenly and puts his hands to his face and gasps. He never says anything, but I feel his sweat when he lies back down and I can hear his heart pounding.”
“Here, let me cut these greens, you’re making a mess.”
“I’m dog tired,” Amanda said. “I spend the nights watching him, listening to him breathe. I’m going to excuse myself. I have to set a fire and have some hot water for his tub.”
“You better rest some.”
“I will. I’ll curl up in the loft and take a nap. It’s nice up there.”
Pearly went to the cup nook, took a waiting envelope, and handed it to Amanda.
“This come early. Sheriff Bugg delivered it, personal. Folks are knocking at the door . . . knocking at the door.”
Amanda stared at the envelope, knowing Horace’s perfect flaring handwriting.
For Miss Amanda Blanton Kerr. Personal. Hand-Deliver to Ned Green.
She hesitated, fingering it, turned it over to its seal, and there was written I Implore You to Read This.
“I’m going. If Zach stops by, tell him I’m napping in the loft and there is hot water on the stove by the tub and—”
“You better get some sleep, baby, you look like hell.”
It was dusk. Zach’s footsteps outside brought her to a half-conscious state, fighting her way out of a gray third of a hard dream. She sat up groggy in the loft as he opened the door downstairs.
“Amanda?” he called.
Before she could answer, she was shocked by his scream. “Amanda! Amanda!”
She could watch him through the railing, staggering, hit by a sudden rush of terror.
“Amanda!”
She did not answer, but waited, watching him fall against a wall. “Leave me alone, Da!” Zachary screamed.
And she waited till he quieted.
“Is that you, sweetheart?” she called down.
Zach groaned with relief.
“What are you doing up in the loft?”
“Taking a nap. There’s hot water on the stove. I’ll be right down.”
“All right . . . all right. I’ll take care of it.”
He drew the curtain to the tub alcove behind him and, in time, came out, a little melted and calm, and he dressed wordlessly.
She sat before a mirror and brushed her hair.
The grandmother’s clock chimed fading