Part 19 (2/2)
”So you came to see whether I might be amenable to something?”
He scrambled to his feet. ”No. This is going wrong. I'll get out of here.”
”No, wait. I didn't say I objected.”
He froze. ”I just had to see that you were all right. That's all.” But it wasn't all.
”Frank, you helped me when I needed it. You were the only one I felt free to turn to, and I didn't like imposing, but-”
”I was glad to do it. Look, is there anywhere else you can go?”
”I think not. My job here isn't finished. Frank, I acted impulsively, but I realize now that there was some substance to that impulse. I had no business calling on you, but I must have known that you could be prevailed upon. I am flattered if I made an impression on you. I realize what a sight I was-and what a sight I remain.”
”You're a good sight. You won't go?”
”I'm afraid I won't. But I do appreciate your concern. I am coming to appreciate qualities in you that I did not perceive before. But you are a married man, and I'm an independent woman, normally. I think we are in a situation where appearances may be deceptive.”
”Yes. I guess I'll have to leave you here. But I don't like it.”
”Will you come again tomorrow?”
”Do you want me to?”
She nodded. ”Yes, Frank. I want you to. You don't need to bring anything.”
”Maybe I should bring you a gun,” he said.
”I'd shoot myself in the foot. As far as I know, the monster never took anyone who was alert.”
”But you have to sleep!”
”I know. I wish I had company-no, no, don't volunteer! I'd love to have you, perhaps for more reasons than one, but that isn't right. But I think I have to brave this night myself, as I did last night.”
”Yeah. Maybe so. d.a.m.n, I hope you're okay!”
”That's sweet of you, Frank.”
”That's straight fear!” He went out, before he could say anything else that might be even more stupid.
He drove back along the trail. ”Exterminator-Cyrano-you keep good watch tonight!” he muttered. He felt stupid and guilty and mixed up. What business did he have getting emotional about that woman? So he had seen her bare-breasted; that shouldn't have been more than a pa.s.sing thrill. So he had carried her mostly naked to the car, and felt her bare flesh. So that was in the line of duty. She had been beaten up and raped-but he had seen that before too. She had been glad to see him; what else could she have been, in that situation?
Yet she had not objected when she misconstrued his purpose in visiting her at the cabin. That suggested that she returned his illicit emotion. That the spark of her joy had signaled a deeper change of feeling. Of course such speculation was treacherous, considering the situation. They were both, after all, adults, and not young ones. Still- He reached the house. Demerit was there. ”She won't leave. I don't like this at all. How sharp is this guy Cyrano?”
Demerit-Geode-spread his hands.
”That's what I thought. Listen, I helped put her there. I have some responsibility. If she gets taken-”
Jade Brown emerged. none-yes, that did seem to fit her now. ”If she gets taken, we'll all be responsible,” she said.
”She told me your names,” he said, apropos of nothing.
”We're in this together,” she agreed.
He nodded. ”I'll check tomorrow. Can you folk-?”
”Yes,” she said. ”Geode will go there. Maybe I'll go there for the night. I've had experience with the firefly.”
Frank began to move. ”That'll help, maybe.” He returned to his car and drove off. His feelings were mixed, about all of them, especially himself.
* 24 - GEODE SIGHED. He could see that Frank Tishner didn't like it, but like the rest of them, he was stuck.
”He likes her,” none said as they went back inside.
Geode was astonished. ”Him? Her?”
”It happens. We know, don't we? We can check on her when we go on the rounds.”
”Better wait till afternoon. Sometimes Mid calls in the middle of the day, and I'm supposed to be here.”
”Then we shall wait,” she said brightly. ”It's the night we have to fear.”
”Yes.”
”What's next, then?”
”Every month or so I have to clean the pool.”
”Then we shall clean the pool!” She led the way toward it.
Geode followed. It was amazing how much nicer things were with her along.
The pool was about thirty-two feet long, sixteen wide, and ranged from three to eight deep. There was a Jacuzzi extension at the shallow end. It was enclosed by a screen, the yard and trees visible beyond. Its deck was pebbled in brown.
”Oh-there's a dragonfly caught in here,” none said.
”They get in,” he agreed.
”Maybe I can get it out. There's nothing for it to eat in here.” She picked up the net and went after the insect, but it avoided her teasingly.
”They don't like to be caught,” he said. ”But they're pretty tame.”
She set down the net and put out her hand instead. The green dragonfly lit on it. ”Oh! you're right!” she exclaimed, pleased. She walked carefully to the screen door, opened it, and put her hand outside. The dragonfly flew away.
”We have a frog too,” he said. ”A black one. It got in somehow, and I don't think Mid would mind, so I let it be. It takes a swim maybe once a day, and hides behind the flowerpots the rest of the time.”
”That means the water's good,” she said.
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