Part 8 (1/2)

”You did it on purpose. You saw the cart and you threw the ball.”

”You're a stupid little boy. Ask Aunt. She'll tell you it was an accident.”

”Aunt wasn't there. It was just you and I.” James's voice was getting stronger. Despite the wind and the flying snow, he faced his sister. ”Spratt knew the truth. So did Uncle, even if he wouldn't dare say it.”

”James, James, James,” Sophia chanted, giving his name a nasty sound in the cold air. ”Everyone adored James. Spratt, Uncle, the servants, the vicar, the village shopkeepers, the blacksmith. When James and I were together, no one noticed me. I was invisible.”

”If you'd smiled more,” James said tentatively, ”if you hadn't been so sullen, then maybe people would have-”

”What did I have to smile about?” Sophia turned on James angrily. ”My dear darling mother died giving birth to you! A brother I neither asked for nor wanted. And what a fuss they all made about the poor, motherless babe, without a thought for me, the poor, motherless girl. Father forgot about me-he paid me no mind at all. He cared only for you. Believe me: I had nothing to smile about and great reason to be sullen.”

James had nothing more to say. Frightened, he stared at his sister. His lips shaped the word ”please.” But he did not say it. We both knew ”please” meant nothing to Sophia.

Against my will, I looked down at the ground. Covered in new-fallen snow, the terrace lay far below. Spratt and his helper, a boy about my age, were no bigger than dolls as they went about their business. Dizzy with vertigo, I turned back to Sophia.

”Why have you chosen the roof to settle your quarrel?” I asked her.

She looked at James with contempt. ”On this very day, I dared the little ninny to walk the ridge of the roof at its highest point, from this chimney to that one.”

She pointed to a chimney about fifteen feet from the one James clung to. ”He said he'd do it if I did it first.” With a fierce scowl, she turned to her brother. ”Didn't you say that? Didn't you?”

James nodded. He'd begun to cry again. His nose ran.

”You promised.”

”Yes,” he whispered, ”yes, I did. I promised to do it if you did it first.”

”So I did-just like this.” Sophia walked along the roof to the other chimney, touched it, and came back. The wind made her waver as if she were a paper doll, but she didn't fall. ”You see? I did it then and I can do it now.”

I supposed if one didn't look down, it wouldn't be too difficult to walk along the roof line. But how could one not think about the height of the roof and the certainty of death if one fell? I could never do such a foolish thing, no matter who dared me.

Sophia sneered at James. ”Now it's your turn. Let's see if you can keep your promise this time.”

”No,” James sobbed. ”I couldn't do it then and I cannot do it now. Please, Sophia, please, I'm sorry. It's my fault, all my fault. Blame it on me. Say I killed you. Say I deserve to suffer, but don't make me walk to the chimney. I cannot do it!”

Sophia was implacable. ”I'm giving you a second chance, James. Not everyone is that fortunate.”

”No, no-I cannot!”

Sophia tried to force him to stand. ”Hold my hand. We'll do it together.”

But James resisted. ”I won't. You can't make me.”

”You must do what you promised.” She tugged at his hands as if to break his grip on the chimney.

”Please, stop,” I begged. ”Do you want to kill him?”

Sophia turned to me. Never had I seen a more malevolent expression on anyone's face. ”Haven't I told you that already? Did you not believe me? Of course I want him to die,” she said, ”as he should have last year. I was stronger than he was-I was more agile. I had the grace and daring he lacked. What happened was a twist of fate, and I plan to correct it.”

”You cannot correct anything,” I said.

”You're wrong, cousin.” Sophia gave me a scornful smile. ”If James falls from the roof and dies today, I shall live. I know I shall. I must!”

I looked up at her wavering on the roof line, a small figure against a turbulent winter sky.

”If James falls, he will be dead,” I cried, ”and so will you. You can go on fighting for all eternity, but neither of you will ever return to life.”

”You'll see.” Sophia managed to pull James to his feet.

I watched my cousins struggle. The wind tugged at them almost as if it wanted them both to fall. James teetered, Sophia swayed. He leaned one way, she the other.

”Stop,” I cried. ”Stop!”

But they paid me no heed. Indeed, I don't think they heard me. Or remembered I was there.

Suddenly James pulled free of Sophia's grasp and tried to retreat. Hands outstretched, she came after him. Terrified, he pushed her away.

Sophia stumbled, her feet slipped on the slates, and she slid down the roof. With a scream, she shot off the edge and disappeared.

”It's just like before,” James cried. ”I pushed her and she fell. I killed her-I killed my sister!” Sobbing, he pressed his face against the chimney.

Cautiously, I peered over the edge of the roof. Sophia did not lie on the terrace below. She was gone.

With my heart pounding, I inched my way up the slates, struggling to find finger and toe holds. My fingers were so numb with cold, I expected to fall as Sophia had, but somehow I managed to join James by the chimney.

Putting my arms around him, I said, ”You didn't mean for Sophia to fall. You were protecting yourself. It was an accident.”

With a sob, James pulled away from me. ”I must do as I promised. Perhaps I should have died and Sophia should have lived. I have to find out.”

Ignoring my cries of protest, he began walking toward the other chimney. Step by step, slowly putting one foot just in front of the other, arms spread for balance, he teetered and tottered along the roof's ridge. The wind tugged at his nightgown, and his hair streamed behind him.

”No, James,” I shouted. ”Come back! You'll fall!”

He didn't answer; nor did he obey. He kept going with agonizing slowness, swaying as if he might lose his balance at any moment. Somehow he stayed upright. Unable to watch any longer, I covered my eyes and braced myself for his scream.

”Open your eyes and look,” James cried. ”Look at me!”

With great relief, I saw him touch the other chimney. Now all he had to do was return to me safely. Holding my breath, I watched him begin to make his slow and careful way back. Despite the wind, he kept his footing. Above him, clouds heavy with snow rolled across the sky. Below, crows as black as coal cawed in the trees.

At last, James's fingers touched the chimney. ”I did it,” he whispered. ”I kept my promise, and I didn't fall.” Exhausted, he sank down beside me.

”You were very brave.” I hugged him, loving the warmth and solid feel of him, the life in his small body. My brother, I thought. He's my brother now. I'll take better care of him than his real sister did.

”But you were very foolish, too,” I added in a whisper.

”Don't you see?” he asked. ”I had to prove I wasn't meant to die. It was the only way to free myself from her.”