Part 40 (1/2)
He stopped abruptly. Her tone had filled him with dread wonder.
”What is it, Claire?” he whispered.
She stood a moment, silently looking at him.
He straightened and stepped toward her, ”What is it?” he demanded.
She swayed unsteadily and sank into his arms, sobbing, her body wrenched with the agony.
”Take me outside,” she whispered fearfully.
He lifted her and carried her out into the sunlight.
She sat down on the ground and wept bitterly, while he sat silently beside her, seeking to comfort her with his arms.
At last she said in an awed tone: ”Lawrence, he is dead. Killed by his own blow--with his own knife. But I might have done it. I--I thought of it.”
She remembered the touch of the knife in her hands, the sight of Philip's blood seeping out around his own body.
”It is terrible,” she moaned. ”I--I might have done it.”
Her lover's hands tightened spasmodically. His face went white, then became normal again. She watched him, hypnotized. Would he tell her that she was as good as a murderer, that he could not love her now?
He wet his lips, then suddenly laughed aloud. Claire could have screamed at the sound. She clutched his arm and shook him.
”Stop it!” she commanded. ”What is it, Lawrence?”
He stood up and lifted her beside him.
”I must have a drink,” he said calmly.
She stared at him, then brought him some water from beside the cabin. He drank it easily, but with some pain. Finally he dropped the cup at his feet.
”Life is a wonderful thing, Claire.”
She was still too shaken to do aught but gaze at him.
”What now?” she asked at last, falteringly.
He heard the fear, half anguish and half hope, in her voice, and suddenly he caught her to him and cried buoyantly: ”What now? Life, Claire, life! We have the whole world before us. It was my life or his.
I am glad it was not mine.” He smiled. ”Well, we have staged the great animal stunt. I have fought for the possession of life.”
She let her head fall on his shoulder.
”Then--then I am not repulsive to you?” she choked.
”Repulsive! Why?” His voice was full of wonder.