Part 21 (2/2)

-Dante Gabriel Rossetti, The House of Life (1881)

RACHEL DORMIN'S LEFT HAND WAS ROCK STEADY AS SHE AIMED the small pistol straight at the patterer's heart. He noted with surprised detachment that the serpent's-neck was at full c.o.c.k. She had said she could shoot. And she had proved it. Twice.

”Why me?” he asked. It was a question loaded only with calm interest. He wasn't begging. Not yet, he thought grimly. ”Why did you set that trap for me?”

Her voice was as coolly controlled as his. ”It had to be you-you were getting too close to the truth. And suddenly I didn't want to be caught. Perhaps, at the beginning, I didn't care what happened to me, but then I grew to like my life as Rachel Dormin-and her power. Who knows, maybe I could even have taken Madame's place. Why not? I served my apprentices.h.i.+p there.

”But you spoiled it, and now the bill must be paid. Death is the price. I promised myself that that when I realized why you must have summoned me here.” Her tone softened. ”I more than liked you at first, I really did. You seemed old-fas.h.i.+oned in your manners, and a gentleman. You were nice, if there's such a thing as that. when I realized why you must have summoned me here.” Her tone softened. ”I more than liked you at first, I really did. You seemed old-fas.h.i.+oned in your manners, and a gentleman. You were nice, if there's such a thing as that.

”Even when I waited that night to go to the Lumber Yard, with my arms and face blackened and my wig discarded, I even girlishly, foolishly, thought that one day we might become more ... intimate ...” She broke off. ”But it was not to be. And, in the end, you turned out to be like all the others. You couldn't help touching-no, pawing pawing-me. And I knew I could never let myself be soiled again.”

She glared at the men. ”How many children did it take to kill your first wife, Dr. Halloran? Was it a dozen?” she asked her old friend, who could only shake his head, stricken.

”Even you, Excellency. Like a rooting dog, you can't leave Elizabeth alone, can you?”

Darling flushed brick red.

Distract her, thought Dunne; delay her until salvation presents itself. But even the soldiers are paralyzed. Think, d.a.m.n you! Keep her talking. ”Of course,” he said, ”there was always one clue staring me in the face right from the beginning. I own that it slipped completely past me.”

”And that was?” prompted Rachel Dormin, distracted.

”Why, your very name.”

He turned to Dr. Halloran. ”But this is your your field, Reverend. Doesn't Genesis talk about a 'mighty hunter before the Lord'?” He raised a hand to stop Halloran answering too soon. ”And I believe the Targums, those Aramaic interpretations of the Old Testament, say the name in question is that of a 'sinful hunter of the sons of men.' More modernly, Mr. Alexander Pope agrees, in his 'Windsor-Forest, ' that the name refers to 'A mighty hunter, and his prey was man.'” field, Reverend. Doesn't Genesis talk about a 'mighty hunter before the Lord'?” He raised a hand to stop Halloran answering too soon. ”And I believe the Targums, those Aramaic interpretations of the Old Testament, say the name in question is that of a 'sinful hunter of the sons of men.' More modernly, Mr. Alexander Pope agrees, in his 'Windsor-Forest, ' that the name refers to 'A mighty hunter, and his prey was man.'”

”Get to the point, Dunne,” said the governor testily. ”This is not a d.a.m.ned schoolroom.”

”My apologies, Excellency,” murmured Dunne. ”Your thoughts, Dr. Halloran?”

The minister nodded. ”Your hunter, of course, was Nimrod.”

”Exactly. Nimrod. Which, backward, is Dormin.”

Their Nimrod nodded approvingly, adding, ”They say his tomb is in Damascus and that rain never falls on it.”

”So, we have captured the angel of death,” said Mr. Hall sadly.

Miss Dormin looked at him intently. ”Yes, sir, but the zuzim zuzim verse is not quite finished, you know.” verse is not quite finished, you know.”

He frowned at her as she continued.

”I'm sure you believe in G.o.d, in a higher being?”

He bridled. ”Of course!”

”Well then. The last line-I know it comes first, but it is the end of the cycle-the last line of the riddle has the Most Holy killing the angel of death ...”

”The hangman will do that job for the Most Holy,” interrupted Darling coldly.

”I won't hang!” said Miss Dormin fiercely. ”I know what would happen. I won't be forced into canvas underdraws to save my executioner offense as I drop through the trap and lose control of my bladder and bowels. I won't have any dirty man's hands pulling at my thighs to finally strangle me if he's misjudged the drop and failed to break my neck cleanly. I know that happens.” She turned the pistol to her own breast. ”I never said who who would die!” would die!”

The patterer's satchel was beside him. He swooped it up and hurled it at Miss Dormin, to distract her. But his desperate move failed. The bag deflected her aim, but only downward. In reflex, she squeezed the trigger.

The crash of firing echoed through the stone-walled room and battered the eardrums of the shocked witnesses. As the smoke cleared, Rachel Dormin slid to the floor. When Dunne reached her, so much blood was already pumping from the area of her thighs, and so fast, that her blue dress was soaking with a glistening stain. The very fabric seemed to pulse.

The patterer moved in and bent low. Her face was contorted in agony and blood oozed through her fingers as she pressed her hands to her thigh and weakly tore at the dress.

”You could have got away, Rachel,” cried Dunne. ”I tried to warn you. Doctor, help her, for G.o.d's sake!”

Owens pushed the patterer aside and knelt beside the dying woman.

Those who were nearest heard her say, ”Do you want to save me for the noose?”

The doctor held her hand and looked up. ”The ball has. .h.i.t the femoral artery. It may even have gone right through the thigh, without breaking the bone. But there's no way of staunching the flow. She's lost, I'm afraid.”

Only the clock broke the hushed deathwatch.

Dunne took her limp hand from Thomas Owens's grasp and squeezed it.

She gazed up and smiled crookedly through her pain. ”Do you remember my goats? ...” Then she fell back and lay still.

The doctor felt for a pulse, shook his head, then gently closed her eyes.

[image]

THE GOVERNOR TOOK charge while Shadforth and Crotty stolidly surveyed the scene; they were no strangers to violent death. The civilians, however, were shattered. Even the usually bl.u.s.tering firebrand Wentworth was pale and silent.

”Colonel,” ordered Darling. ”You will ensure that there is no record of this matter. Put your heel on any loose talk. It seems that no one has heard the shot-keep it that way. In a moment, put a sentry on the corridor to keep others out. The rest of you-except for Captain Rossi and Dunne-will disperse quietly. The whole matter is now closed. I think you will find it in your best interests to remain silent.”

There was a murmur of agreement, punctuated by nervous nods.

Nicodemus Dunne sat shaking, with his head in his hands, saying brokenly, ”I killed her. But I had to do it.”

Captain Rossi at last eased him to his feet.

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