Part 39 (1/2)
”Yes. It was him.”
”Please point to that man, Ms. Marchand.”
She barely raised her head and with a quick motion pointed to Alex. Her glance was so swift, it was hard to believe anything had time to register.
”Is the defendant the man you saw?”
She nodded, then said, ”Yes.”
”Did the same thing happen again?”
”Yes. A lot of times.”
”Did you tell your parents?”
”No. Not right away.”
”Why not, Ms. Marchand?”
”I was afraid there would be trouble.”
”What kind of trouble?”
”I was afraid he'd get mad and do something.”
”Who would get mad? Your father?”
”No. Him. I didn't want to make him mad.”
”Who, Ms. Marchand? You have to tell the court who you were afraid of.”
”Him. The freak. The man over there,” she said, glancing again toward Alex.
”Do you mean the defendant, Alexander Feldman?”
”Yes.”
”How did your father find out about the incidents?”
”I told him.”
”When did the incidents start, Ms. Marchand?”
”I don't know. Last year sometime.”
”And when did you tell your parents?”
”I don't know. School was almost out.”
It was eerie to hear her unvarying monotone; her stillness was even eerier. She hardly moved a muscle.
”June? Was it in June?” Novak asked.
”Maybe. I don't know.”
”What was your father's reaction? What did he do when you told him?”
”He was sad, and we went to the living room and prayed. He told me not to worry because he would take care of me. And he met me on the road every day after that and walked partway with me.”
”Did you see Mr. Feldman behind the trees again after your father started meeting you on the road?”
”No.”
Novak had a few more questions, but nothing was added to her story. He turned to Barbara. ”Your witness.”
”I have no questions for Ms. Marchand at this time,” Barbara said. ”I ask the court to advise the witness that I'll recall her as a hostile witness when the defense presents its case.”
Judge Mac nodded and instructed Rachel to hold herself in readiness to be recalled at a future time. ”Do you understand, Miss Rachel?” he asked kindly.
”Yes.”
”Please look at me, Miss Rachel,” he said then. Barbara had only vague memories of her own grandparents, but she was reminded of her grandfather. He had sounded just like that.
Rachel lifted her head and turned to face the judge. She looked more dead than alive, with no expression at all. Empty eyes, Dr. Minick had called that look. She looked empty.
For a moment the judge regarded her soberly, then he asked in a gentle voice, ”Miss Rachel, when you told your father you had seen someone in the woods, who did you say it was?”
”Him,” she said, without s.h.i.+fting her gaze.
”Did you name him that day?”
”No. I didn't know his name.”
”What did you call him?”
”The devil freak.”
”Have you ever spoken to Alexander Feldman?”
”No.”
”Has he ever spoken to you?”
”No.”
”You may step down now. You are excused.”
There was not a sound in the courtroom as she stood up and in her sleepwalker manner left the stand and started for the rear of the room. Her aunt met her and took her by the arm, and they walked from the courtroom with Daniel Marchand close behind them.
Then the judge turned to Novak. ”Counselor?”