Part 14 (1/2)

”The hospital...” said the colonel. ”Where is the hospital in this town?”

”On high ground,” replied the mayor's wife, who entered now with coffee and towels.

”Just as well,” said the officer, and no more.

No one in Perdido noticed that Elinor Caskey had not been out of her house in ten days. For ten days the rain had fallen, and Perdido thought of nothing but that. Some children were taken out of the school and sent to their grandparents in places where it wasn't raining and there was no danger of flooding. Those who had beach houses at Gulf Sh.o.r.es or Destin were suddenly overwhelmed with a desire to visit those places, though April was still quite early in the season for the beach. Quietly, at Billy Bronze's 174.

suggestion, all the important files of the mill were packed up and taken out to Gavin Pond Farm. It was true that the farmhouse was no more than half a mile from the river, but it was situated on much higher ground than Perdido, and unlikely to be inundated. When that was done, Tommy Lee went to Elinor'g house and took away the files in Billy's office, too. And so, day by day, and little by little, Tommy Lee took everything that was important to the Gas-keys-including the boxes of jewelry in the bottom of Miriam's dresser-out to Gavin Pond Farm. Grace and Lucille had made so many additions to the house over the years that there was plenty of room for everything to be stored.

After his first interview with Elinor in her bed Tommy Lee did not visit her again; in fact, when he and Escue went to the house to collect some records from Billy's office, Tommy Lee sidled quickly past the door to Elinor's room.

Lucille and Grace did pay a visit to Elinor, a single visit of state, quite formal and brief.

Lucille, looking more and more like Queenie every day, and already surpa.s.sing her mother in the matter of girth, stood at the window and looked out. Through the curtain of water that spilled off the roof, Lucille could see the gently twisted narrow trunks of the water oaks that Elinor had planted before she was married to Oscar. She heard their branches creaking beneath the weight of the water, and once after a sodden crack, she saw a large branch, leafless and rotten, fall from the very top of the tree to the ground, where it landed with a loud splash in the sheet of shallow water that covered the yard. Lucille did not want to look at Elinor. Tommy Lee had told them that Elinor was dying.

Grace had pulled a chair up close to the side of the bed.

”Tommy Lee says you are dying,” said Grace. ”Did he know what he was talking about?”

Elinor nodded solemnly. ”I am dying,” she said. 175 ”Are you in pain?” Grace asked.

”Yes,” said Elinor.

”Is there anything Lucille and I can do?”

”No,” said Elinor. ”One thing,” she amended.

”What?” said Lucille, turning with alacrity. She felt helpless, and was glad to hear there was something to be done for Elinor.

Elinor spoke softly, but with deliberation. ”Tell Tommy Lee that it was not his fault.”

Grace and Lucille exchanged glances.

”Does he think it was?” asked Grace. When Elinor nodded, Grace said, ”What is wrong with you, Elinor?”

Elinor shook her head. ”Just make sure Tommy Lee knows that it wasn't his fault.”

Lucille was about to speak, but Grace said quickly and with finality, ”We will. It wasn't his fault,” she repeated, as if to get the message straight.

”You're tired,” said Lucille solicitously. ”We'll come back tomorrow.”

”No,” said Elinor. ”Say goodbye now.”

”You have to let us come back!” exclaimed Lucille.

”Stay out at the farm,” said Elinor. ”Don't come back into town.”

”Why not?” asked Grace.

”Because the levee is going to break,” said Elinor. ”And I don't want you to get caught.”

Lucille involuntarily glanced out of the window at the kudzu-covered embankment beyond the water oaks. ”It's not gone break, Elinor!”

”Are you sure?” said Grace to Elinor, ignoring Lucille's wishful thinking. Elinor nodded. ”Then you ought to let us take you out to the farm where you'll be safe. Lucille, start packing Elinor a bag.”

”No,” said Elinor. ”I'm staying here.”

”And get washed away?” Lucille demanded.

Elinor only smiled.

”What about Billy and Zaddie?” asked Grace. ”What happens to them if the levee breaks? You 176.

ought to let them bring you out to the farm. We've got so much room!”

”I'm tired,” said Elinor weakly. ”Say goodbye to me and go back out to the farm. You'll be safe there.”

Lucille and Grace stood at the side of the bed holding hands.

”I cain't say goodbye!” exclaimed Lucille. ”Oh, Elinor, don't make me say goodbye!”

”Goodbye, Lucille. Queenie was very proud of you. We've all been proud of you.”

Lucille turned away and began to weep softly.

”Goodbye, Elinor,” said Grace.

”Open that top drawer,” said Elinor. ”And take out the box that's right at the front.”

Grace did so; inside the box were Elinor's black pearls.

”James gave those to Genevieve,” said Elinor. ”They should come to you now.”

”No,” said Grace. ”I couldn't take them.”

”Mary-Love got all of Genevieve's other jewelry, and Miriam has it now. Miriam's not likely to give any of it up, so take the pearls, Grace.”

”I'll wait,” she said softly.

”You can't wait. When I die, Fm not leaving anything behind.” Elinor glanced around the room and smiled. ”Not a thing. If you don't take them now, those pearls will be lost forever, and I'd hate to think of that happening.”

Grace nodded and put the box of pearls into her purse.

”You're the only one left who was alive when I came to Perdido,” said Elinor. ”It's hard to believe they're all dead.”

'1 remember,” said Grace. ”I remember sitting on your knee out at Miz Driver's church. I remember when you came to live with Daddy and me.”

”A long time ago. You were such a little girl back then-a prissy little girl.” Elinor laughed softly.

”I loved you very much, Elinor,” said Grace simply. ”I always have. I do now.”