Ch. 2: A Peaceful Quiet

Back to Arheled

             September   came   to   Winsted. The   maples   were   turning   brown   and   crumply   at   the   edges   of   their   leaves,   due   to   the   damp   week   in   spring,   and   the   elms   and   ash   began   to   turn   yellow   and   brown. Occasional   pale   orange   broke   out   on   branches   here   and   there. The   elderberries   were   nearly   done. The   weather   was   mildly   hot,   with   a   bright   pleasant   sun   and   a   cool   pleasant   taste   in   the   air. Chestnuts   grew   pale   green   balls   on   their   twigs,   thorny   and   still   tight   shut. Leaves   beaten   down   by   the   storm   littered   the   ground   and   increased   the   autumn   feel. Mornings   were   cool   and   thick   with   dew. The   woods   had   a   burnished   appearance,   as   if   they   were   crusting yellow   and   brown.

             “Up   in   Winsted   they   only   seem   to   have   had   a   few   trees   down.”   Travel   said   over   the   phone to   Carlee,   who   had actually   picked   up. “Colebrook   had   whole   areas   without   power,   though. We   used   a   generator   but   Grandmother   just   laughed   at   us.”

             “Yeah,   they   closed   the   spillway   and   drained   the   lake   so   it’s   not   flowing   over   the   road.”   Carlee’s   clear,   hearty   voice   sounded   from   the   phone. “Some   of   the   pavement   peeled   right   up. Laughed? Why,   is   she   so   old   she   grew up   without   power?”

             “She’s   pretty   old,”   said   Travel,   “but   she’s   old-fashioned   too,   so   she   uses   candles   and   stuff   anyway. And   our   boarder,   old   man   Wayham,   well…he’s   a   character. Hey,   you   wanna   do   lunch? My   battery   is   low.”

             “Sure.”   said   Carlee. “Let   me   see…I   get   out   at   3,   and   I’m   supposed   to   go   out   with   Dave   at   8:00;   we’re   going   to   the   drive-in. We’re   gonna   watch   Spy   Kids   and   Planet   of   the   Apes   while   he   fingers   me   in   the   darkness,   ha   ha.”

             “I   hope   you   get   firm   with   him!”

             “No   sweat,   honey,   I’ve   got   more   respect   for   myself   than   that. I   really   like   him,   though. Maybe   I   should   marry   him.”

             “Has   he   proposed   yet?”   giggled   Travel.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Honey,”   Carlee’s   voice   suddenly   sounded   very   weary   and   sad,   “men   these   days   never   propose. They’ll   go   to   bed   with   you,   even   move   in   with   you,   but   show   them   a   ring   and   they   freak   and   run.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Not   all   men   are   like   that.”   said   Travel   staunchly.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yeah,   a   few,   but   you   could   probably   count   them   on   one   hand. Don’t   mind   me. I’m   just   twenty-five   and   hoping   to   be   a   mom   before   I’m   too   old   to have   any. Oh,   yeah,   your   battery   is   low. Say,   you   want   to   try   Sophia’s? They   have   awesome   pizza.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Sounds   good. So,   maybe   4   or   5?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Sure. Let’s   say   4:30. I’ll   meet   you   there.”

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<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Travel   pulled   into   the   Super   Stop&Shop   plaza   at   4:00. She   had   some   cans   to   cash. Putting   them   through   the   machine   reminded   her   of   the   first   time   she   met   Ronnie,   and   she   giggled. Maybe   she   should   play   matchmaker   and   try   fixing   Carlee   up   with   him—he   certainly   was   not   the   type   to   panic   at   the   thought   of   marriage.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Carlee   was   getting   out   of   her   car   when   Travel   drove   over   to   the   wing   of   the   plaza   facing   the   street. The   plaza   was   a   single   immense   square,   most   of   which   in   the   middle   was   Super   Stop & Shop,   with   a   row   of   small   stores   in   the   side   facing   the   street,   and   a   row   of   stores   at   the   rear. Sophia’s   occupied   a   narrow   section   of   front,   a   red-and-blue   sign   announcing   they   were   open,   and   another   neon   in   orange,   white   and   green—the   Italian   colors—proclaiming   the   excellence   of   the   Italian   cuisine. Travel   hugged   Carlee   and   looked   her   over. She   had   fine   wrinkles   in   the   corners   of   her   eyes   since   the   days   when   she   and   Travel   were   in   the   ice   skating   club,   but   her   tanned   face   and   legs   were   smooth   and   shapely,   and   she   had   a   figure   Travel   could   die   for. Her   straw-yellow   hair   was   curly   and   her   pleasant   hearty   face   was   lit   with   a   smile. She   wore   a   clinging   top   and   brief   cutoff   shorts.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   don’t   look   so   bad.”   said   Travel.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Neither   do   you.”   laughed   Carlee. “In   fact,   I   think   you’ve   actually   gotten   pretty.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You’re   just   being   nice.”   giggled   Travel.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   like   being   nice,   especially   to   nice   people.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Ha   ha.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             They   walked   into   the   restaurant. To   enter   they   went   up   a   long   aisle,   separated   by   a   low   partition   from   the   dining   area   on   the   right. Facing   them   was   a   cubbyhole   with   swinging   doors   where   one   of   the   waitresses   stood,   a   soda   cooler   on   the   right   glowing   red   and   blue   and   green   with   its’   colorful   beverages. Turning   right   at   the   cubbyhole   they   faced   a   further   dining   area   in   a   recess   in   the   wall,   around   the   corner   of   the   soda   cooler. They   took   a   seat   in   the   main   area,   in   one   of   the   side   tables:   these   had   cushioned   seats. The   cushions   were   red,   the   tables   beige,   and   the   chairs   around   the   central   tables   were   dark   brown   and   tan. Hand-dipped   candles   in   fall   colors   hung   in   pairs   from   a   decorative   rack. The   prevailing   color   was   beige   and   tan;   the   low   helmet-like   lamps   above   the   tables,   the   ceiling   fans,   the   wood   cutouts   fastened   to   the   wall   to   look   like   beams,   were   darker   tan   and   bronze. The   light   was   yellow,   fitting   the   beige   walls   and   grey   carpet. Several   very   pretty   waitresses,   in   black   pants   and   thin   white   shirts,   hurried   about   attending   to   the   many   patrons.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Travel   ordered   soup   and   Carlee   garlic   bread,   and   both   agreed   on   what   kind   of   small   pizza   they   wanted. While   they   were   waiting,   Carlee   folded   her   hands   so   her   fingers   were   pressed   together   and   said,   “So,   you   have   a   boarder?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   might   call   him   that.”   said   Travel   enigmatically. “He’s   very   old. I   think   he   was   thirty   or   so   in   1611,   although   he   looks   nearly   fifty   now. Sometimes   his   manners   are   practically   uncouth,   and   then   at   other   times   he   bears   himself   with   such   a   stern   ancient   wisdom   you—feel   like   bowing   on   one   knee.”   she   blurted.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Wait—what? He   was   around   in   when?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   know   it   sounds   crazy,”   said   Travel,   “but   believe   me,   I’m   getting   used   to   strange   things. I   mean,   when   you’re   held   captive   by   a   dragon   who   turns   out   to   be   your   own   mom,   you—well,   that’s   all   over   and   done   with.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “If   I   didn’t   know   better,   I’d   say   your   imagination   is   running   away   with   you.”   said   Carlee. “You’re   not   going   to   believe   this—but   I   saw   people   turning   into   dragons. At   the   carnival. And   I   saw   the   Wild   Man   of   Winsted   when   he   haunted   the   town   that   night. He   stopped,”   her   voice   fell   to   a   whisper,   and   he   stared   at   me,   and   then   he   sort   of   bowed   and   headed   off.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yeah,   he’s   a   pretty   creepy   sort   of   fellow.”   said   Travel. “I’ve   seen   him   before. Even   had   a   picnic   with   him   once,   me   and   the   others.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I—wow. So   he’s   a   real   person,   then? I   read   the   old   records—after   that   day,   I’ll   bet   half   Winsted   did. Does   he   actually   talk?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “He’s—fay.”   said   Travel. “Very   queer. Very   dangerous. Fortunately   he’s   on   a   rather   tight   leash. Was   Dave   there   when   you   saw   him?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Dave   doesn’t   believe   me.”   said   Carlee,   waving   her   hand. “We   got   separated   just   before   the    dragon-attack—I   think   he   went   to   find   a   portapot—and   he   never   came back,   and   I   thought   he   was   dead   until   he   called   me   the   day   after. He   thinks   he   was   on   a   trip   when   he   saw   the   dragons. You   know,   high. Pot.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Ronnie   was   right   in   the   thick   of   it.”   said   Travel. “Oh,   sorry,   my   friend   Ronnie   Wendy. He’s   a   very   unusual   guy. The   girls   don’t   like   him,   though.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “How   come? Is   he   ugly?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Travel   laughed. “No,   he’s   really   striking   in   his   own   way,   but   he   has   such   sharp   eyes   and   such   an   odd   way   of   looking   at   things;   and   he’s   religious,   too. The   Winsted   girls   are   all   just   out   for   sex. He   isn’t. I   guess   they   feel   that.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “He   sounds   interesting.”   said   Carlee   thoughtfully. Then   she   gave   a   sly   grin. “Does   he   freak   if   you   show   him   a   ring?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   think   he’d   prefer   to   do   the   showing   himself.”   said   Travel   dryly. “But   yes,   he’s   very   responsible. He   sticks   to   things. I   think   you’d   like   him.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Hmm,   playing   matchmaker,   are   we? But   I’ll   go   along. It   might   even   be   fun. See   if   you   can   get   him   to   the   beach   for   the   Labor   Day   weekend. What’s   his   name   again?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Ronnie   Wendy.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Carlee’s   eyes   leaped. “Oh   my   gosh,   I   think   I   know   him! Does   he   have   red   hair   and   a   sharp,   kind   of   serious   face?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “That’s   him.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Wow,   I   can’t   believe   this! I   met   him   while   night   swimming   with   some   of   my   friends. He   was   really   intriguing. We   drifted   out   on   the   lake   in   tubes,   and   he   was   pointing   out   the   stars   and   telling   me   about   ruins   on   Pratt   Hill. You   know,   I   think   a   date   with   him   might   be   fun.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Want   me   to   give   him   a   call?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Carlee   giggled. “How   about   you   just   arrange   to   meet   him   at   the   beach,   introduce   us,   and   then   fade   away   and   drive   off? That   way   we   can   keep   it   casual—unless   of   course   he   asks   me   out.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Why   do   they   call   it   Sophia’s?”   Travel   asked   their   waitress,   who   was   clearing   off   their   dishes.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   know,   I   really   have   no   idea.”   said   the   girl. “But   you   can   ask   him.”   pointing   to an   Italian-looking man   in   a   red   apron   who   was   talking   with   some   of   the   customers. He   looked   quite   pleased   when   two   pretty   girls   came   up   and asked   him   about   the   name,   but   he   didn’t   know   either.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   just   manage   it,   and   do   the   cooking.”   he   shrugged. “The   owner,   she   never   come   in,   you   know? I   never   see   her. It’s   called   Sophia’s   ever   since   I   remember.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “What’s   the   owner’s   name?”   Carlee   smiled.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I think   it   is   Laran,   Mrs. Laran,   something   like-a   that. I   only   see   it   on   a   signature,    it-a   hard   to   make   it   out,   no?”

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<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Ronnie,   as   usual,   didn’t   pick   up   his   phone,   so   Travel   heaved   a   deep   sigh   and   gathered   her   thoughts   as   she   waited   for   the   idiot   recorded   voice   to   stop   telling   her   obvious   things. There,   that   was   the   beep   that   meant   she   could   finally   leave   a   message. Casual? Should   she   leave   a   long message   with   all   the   details,   or   just   a   “Call   me   back”? Deciding   on   the   latter,   she   said   airily,   “Hey   Ronnie,   this   is   Travel,   can   you   call   me   back? My   number   is   860-378-5129.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             She   had   scarcely   put   the   phone   away   for   five   minutes   when   it   rang. “Hull,   Travel.”   said   Ronnie’s   voice   when   she   answered. “What’s   up?”   He   had   that   humerous,   wry   drawl   in   his   voice   again   that   always   reminded   her   of   John   Wayne.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh,   hey   Ronnie. Um,   me   and   a   couple   of   friends   were   thinking   of   heading   over   to   the   beach   for   Sunday,   and   I   figured   you’re   probably   just   going   to   go   mooch   your   way   into   somebody   else’s   group   so   I   might   as   well   invite   you   along.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Sounds   like   fun.”   said   Ronnie. Still   that   John   Wayne   drawl. “Whereabouts?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Um,   that   long   beach   near   the   boat   launch, on   Highland   Lake,   you   know—“

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Holland   Beach? Sure. What   time?”   Terse   and   to   the   point. His   voice   was   back   to   Ronnie   again.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Um,   probably   about   1:00,   maybe   1:30. See   you   there?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I’ll   be   there. Bye,   Travel.”   Click. Ronnie   had   a   prepaid   phone,   which   ran   25   cents   a   minute;   as   he   did   little   calling   it   worked   well   enough. But   as   a   result   he   seldom   was   very   chatty   when   he   did   call.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “This’ll   be   interesting.”   she   said   aloud.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Labor   Day   weekend   was   hot,   sticky   and   cloudy. A   cool   breeze   was   blowing   when   Travel   parked   near   the   beach. The   sand   was   whiteish-tan   in   the   corner   lot   and   on   the   narrow   ribbon   of   beach,   and   the   lake   homes,   white   and   green   with   trees,   looked   furry   with   the   soft   air. Carlee   was   waiting   in   her   car,   and   there   was   Ronnie,   just   locking   his   bike   up   to   the   green   chain-link   fence   between   beach   and   boat   launch. He   unslung   his   backpack   as   he   walked   over.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “There   you   are!”   sad   Travel. “Oh,   Ronnie,   this   is   my   friend   Carlee.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Hello.”   smiled   Ronnie   as   he   shook   her   hand.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Hey,   I   remember   you!”   Carlee   exclaimed. “You   know   me? We   went   night   swimming   here.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   thought   you   looked   familiar,”   said   Ronnie,   smiling   like   a   schoolboy. Carlee   laughed.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Where’d   the   portapot   go?”   wondered   Travel.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh,   didn’t   you   know? it   floated   off   on   the   hurricane,   they   gave   it   a   new   name,   the   ''Stinkin’   Scumpot! ''It   sailed   all   over   First   Bay   until   they   slapped   a   biohazard   symbol   on   it   and   sailed   it   to   Long   Island   Sound.”   Ronnie   said   elaborately. “Nahh,   they   hauled   it   off   for   end-of-the-season. Town   couldn’t   pay   the   dues.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   are   so   funny!”   Carlee   gasped,   bending   over   with   laughter. Travel   had   an   expression   of   suspended   belief. “Oh   well,   I   guess   if   anyone   has   to   change   we’ll   just   have   to   walk   all   the   way   around   to   the   boat   launch.”   Two   portapots   stood   there.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Naw,   I   have   my   suit   under   my   pants.”   said   Ronnie.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yeah,   same   here.”   said   Travel. “It   pretty   much   looks   like   it’s   just   us,   Ronnie. Vanessa   said   she   might   come,   and   Kyle   was   thinking   about   it,   but   the   others   just   cancelled. So   we   might   as   well   go   in.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Hey,   it’ll   still   be   fun.”   smiled   Carlee.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh,   hold   on,   guys.”   said   Travel,   fumbling   for   her   phone   and   heading   around   the   car. It   actually   hadn’t   rung,   but   being   matchmaker   involved   a   plot   as   elaborate   as   a   criminal   heist. She   pretended   to   talk   for   a   little   and   then   rejoined   the   others.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Was   that   Vanessa?”   said   Carlee.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Nahh.”   sighed   Travel. “It   looks   like   I’m   not   sticking   around   very   long,   guys. That   was   my   dad. His   car   broke   down   and   I   have   to   pick   him   up   in   half   an   hour   or   so.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Well, let’s   have   some   fun   while   we   can.”   said   Carlee   brightly,   but   the   mood   was   already   perilously   close   to   spoiling. Travel   felt   it. Who   knows   what   Ronnie   felt—he   was   sensitive   to   the   oddest   things,   but   he   was   a   guy,   and   guys   are   dense.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Did   you   bring   the   tubes?”   he   was   teasing   Carlee.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Even   better.”   and   she   unstrapped, of   all   things,   a   surfboard   from   her   roof. It   was   hideous   and   garish,   in   zebra-style   tropical   colors,   but   it   floated,   and   that   was   all   that   mattered. Carlee   carried   it   across   the   street. They   took   off   their   clothes,   Ronnie   in   a   heavy   who-cares   guy   way,   the   girls   more   breezily,   as   if   casually   performing,   well   aware   of   the   stunning   effect   of   their   revealed   beauty. Travel   wore   a   red   two-piece,   not   very   revealing   as   she   had   a   low   opinion   of   her   own   figure. Carlee   evidently   had   no   such   doubts;   her   grey   and   blue   bikini   showed   her   off   to   perfection. Ronnie   seemed,   however,   to   be   more   attracted   by   her   vivacious   face   and   its’   changing   expressions. Ronnie   plowed   into   the   water,   man-style,   ignoring   the   cold. The   girls   waded   up   to   their   knees   and   began   acting   all   wussy,   as   girls   always   do   when   there   are   boys   to   watch   them.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Eeek! It’s   cold!”   shrieked   Carlee.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “My   legs   are   frozen!”   hollored   Travel. Ronnie   proceeded   to   splash   them,   causing   both   girls   to   scream   and   run   frantically   along   the   beach   for   a   few   steps,   before   coming   to   a   stop,   laughing.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Come   on,   Travel!”   Ronnie   berated. “You   must   go   swimming! It’s   a   law!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I’ll   get   wet   if   you   will.”   giggled   Travel   to   Carlee.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “No,   you   first.”   she   laughed   back.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Hurry   up   before   I   just   souse   you.”   threatened   Ronnie. The   girls   were   thigh-deep   now,   shrieking   every   time   a   wave   slapped   them. “No,   I’m   coming,   I’m   coming,”   Carlee   yelped,   as   Ronnie   headed   toward   them. Ronnie   bent   down,   grabbed   her   around   the    knees   with   one   arm   and   around   her   back   with   the   other,   and   hoisted   her   clear   out   of   the   water.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Aaa! Put   me   down,   put   me   down!”   squealed   Carlee.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Certainly.”   and   he   dropped   her   full-length   in   deep   water. She   went   completely   under   and   came   up   gasping   and   laughing,   her   yellow    hair   dark   and   streaming.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “It’s   cold,   it’s   cold,   it’s   cold!”   she   shouted.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “How’s   the   water?”   teased   Travel.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh,   it   actually   does   feel   really   nice,   now   I’m   wet.”   said   Carlee,   wading   out   deeper. Ronnie   swam   beside   her,   pushing   the   surfboard.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   want   to   ride   on   that.”   said   Travel.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Well,   you’re   gonna   have   to   get   wet   first!”   retorted   Carlee. Travel   plunged   under   and   came   up   breathless.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yep,   it’s   cold.”   she   said.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Carlee   had   scrambled   up   on   the   board   and   was   trying   to   stand,   a   difficult   task   with   the   waves   and   with   Ronnie   rocking   the   board   until   she   fell   in. Travel   laughed   hysterically   and   managed   to   climb   on,   but   fell   in   as   soon   as   she   stood   up.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   rocked   it!”   she   yelled   at   Ronnie.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   didn’t   even   touch   it!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You’ll   just   have   to   face   it,   girl,   you   have   no   sense   of   balance.”   teased   Carlee.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh,   that’s   right! Travel,   when   did   you   have   to   leave?”   said   Ronnie.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh   my   gosh. I   forgot   all   about   it. I   should   probably   leave   now.”   said   Travel. “Vanessa   should   be   coming   up   in   a   little   while,   unless   she   bows   out,   and   Kyle   might   come,   if   you two   want   to   stick   around.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “That’s   all   right,   we’ll   be   fine.”   smiled   Carlee.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Bye,   Travel.”   said   Ronnie. “Sorry   you   couldn’t   stay.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “S   all   right.”   she   said. “There’ll   be   other   times. Take   care,   Ronnie! Thank   you   so   much   for   coming!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Thank   you   for   inviting   me.”   said   Ronnie. Travel   swam   ashore   and   quickly   dressed,   and   then   with   a   wave   got   into   her   car   and   drove   off. Carlee   and   Ronnie   were   left,   holding   to   the   board,   swimming   out   in   the   deep   water.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “This   is   nice.”   said   Carlee,   lifting   her   face   to   the   warm   brightness   of   the   white   sky. “We’ve   pretty   much   got   the   beach   to   ourselves.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Hey,   let’s   ride   out   past   the   buoys.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   got   a   better   idea. How   about   both   of   us   ride   on   the   board?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   sure   we’ll   fit?”   said   Ronnie   dubiously.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Hey,   we   can   try!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Ronnie   vaulted   onto   the   board in   a   single   motion. Carlee   hoisted   herself   on   her   elbows,   sprawled   full   length   on   her   stomach   and   stayed   there,   breasts   squashed   against   the   board,   her   legs   churning   fruitlessly. She   peered   up   at   him   with   a   helpless   look.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I’m   stuck.”   she   said.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   look   positively   fetching   when   you’re   stuck.”   he   told   her.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yeah,   you   just   like   taking   advantage   of   girls   in   helpless   situations.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Ronnie,   crouched   on   all   fours   with   splayed   arms,   braced   himself   and   grabbed   her   hand. With   a   mighty   pull   he   helped   her   on   board. The   two   of   them   sat,   facing   each   other,   almost   in   each   other’s   arms.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh,   this   is   ridiculous!”   giggled   Carlee.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Not   completely.”   said   Ronnie. He   slipped   over   the   side   and   scrambled   back   on,   till   both   of   them   were   astride   the   board   and   facing   the   same   way. “Let’s   row!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             They   splashed   and   churned   frantically,   trying   to   keep   the   surfboard’s   head   into   the   waves. It   wasn’t helpful   that   their   combined   weight   had   pushed   the   board   slightly   under   water,   although   it   felt   really   nice   when   waves   hit   them   in   the   middle. Finally   Carlee   bent   over   till   she   was   pretty   much   on   top   of   Ronnie,   and   then   she   could   muster   enough   leverage   to   paddle.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   don’t   mind,   do   you?”   she   laughed. “I’m   practically   breathing   down   your   back.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   find   the   proximity   to   be   very   pleasing.”   Ronnie   replied. “By   all   means,   continue   to   examine   my   dorsal   muscles.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yeah,   with   my   breasts.”   Her   bosom   was   crushed   up   against   his   backbone. His   muscles   flexed   and   moved   pleasantly   under   her.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “It   is   doubtful   if   I   have   the   necessary   dorsal   muscles   to   carry   Piglet   to   the   ceiling.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “What??”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Sorry,   Winnie-the-Pooh   quote.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh   yeah,   that   was   Owl’s   excuse   for   not   rescuing   Piglet,   wasn’t   it?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             They   managed,   splashing   and   wallowing,   with   a   great   deal   of   laughter   and   mayhem,   to   make   it   nearly   to   the   first   of   the   tall   buoys   before   a   wave   bigger   than   the   others   toppled   them   both   underwater. They   surfaced,   laughing   like   maniacs,   and   decided   to   swim   back. It   took   a   while,   as   they   would   stop   to   rest,   drifting   and   holding   on,   for   long   periods.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “This   is    so—much—fun!”   shouted   Carlee   when   they   got   to   where   they   could   touch   bottom. Ronnie   laughed,   as   best   he   could:   the   cold   water   was   beginning   to   tell.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh   my   gosh,   you’re   shaking!”   she   exclaimed.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Am   not.”   retorted   Ronnie   through   clenched   teeth. His   muscles   were   chattering. “Just   a   little   cold.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Carlee   put   one   hand   on   his   vibrating   arm. “Riiiight.”   she   drawled. “Well,   I’m   cold   anyway,   so   I’m   going   on   shore.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             They   towelled   themselves   dry   and   sat   on   the   beach   for   a   while. The   air   was   damp   and   warm. Ronnie   stopped   shaking   after   some   time. It   was   very   nice   and   companionable.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “This   has   been   a   lot   of   fun.”   said   Carlee. “Hey,   you   wanta   grab   something   to   eat?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “This   is   turning   into   a   date.”   smiled   Ronnie. “Say,   weren’t   you   with   some   guy   when   I   first   met   you?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Dave? Yeah,   we’re   dating,   but   we’re   not   really   serious. I   mean,   he’s   all   ‘Let’s   go   and   do    it.’ and   I’m   all   ‘Nahh,   I   think   I’ll   wait,’   but   if   I   even   mention   marriage   he   panics.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Well,   if   we   run   into   him   we’ll   say   we’re   waiting   for   our   friends   to   join   us.”   He   laughed,   a   little   artificially. “A   pity. I’d   have   liked   to   ask   you   out.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Carlee   looked   at   him   for   a   long   time. “You’re   sweet.”   she   said   at   last. “Well,   let’s   try   Sophia’s;   Dave   and   I   never   go   there. And   we’ll   see   how   things   happen.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You’re   nice.”   mused   Ronnie. “Most   girls   would   be   making   excuses   by   now.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Well,   I   kinda   like   you,   Ronnie.”   she   said   archly.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Thanks,   I   like   you   too.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You’re   sweet.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   said   that   already.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Still   bantering,   they   got   into   her   car   and   drove   to   the   boat   launch   to   change   out   of   their   suits. “I   forgot   to   bring   underwear,”   laughed   Carlee,   “so   I’ll   have   to   just   ‘go   commando’   and   wear   nothing   underneath. It   doesn’t   show,   does   it?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Not   that   I   can   see;   but   then,   I   have   so   few   opportunities   to   judge   what   women   are   supposed   to   look   like   underneath.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Oh   dear, we’ve   got   to   broaden   your   horizons….Maybe   a   few   porn   movies…a   nude   beach   or   two…I’m   just   fooling. Stop   giving   me   that   stunned   look   or   I’ll   laugh   so   hard   I’ll crash   into   that   cop   car   in   front   of   us.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   would   hate   to   be   responsible   for   such   a   public   service.”   said   Ronnie,   recovering   his   poise. Carlee   found   that   remark   so   funny   that   the   dreaded   event   came   perilously   close   to   happening.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   really   don’t   like   the   police,   do   you?”   she   said   when   she   had   recovered.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “They   are   a   necessary   evil.”   said   Ronnie. “But   it   is   not   demanded   of   you   to   like   the   evil,   however   needed   it   may   be. All   that   is   demanded   of   us   is   that   we   respect   it.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Carlee   gave   him   a   long,   strange   look. “How   can   you   respect   an   evil?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Well,”   said   Ronnie   as   they   pulled   into   the   Stop & Shop   plaza,   “to   respect   something   means   to   render   it   what   regard   is   proper   to   it. For   instance,   a   dog   is   barking. You   avoid   the   dog,   because   you   respect   its’   teeth. Your   parents   order   you   to   do   something,   and   you   do   it,   but   not   out   of   respect. The   bond   of   parenthood   demands   something   higher   than   respect,   namely   honor. Whereas   when   you   see   a   policeman,   you   speak   politely   and   avoid   drawing   his   attention,   because   you   respect   his   power   to   harass   and   persecute   you.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   thought   it   was   because   they   have   authority.”   said   Carlee   as   they   headed   inside   Sophia’s.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Ronnie   took   a   seat   at   a   table   in   the   back. “Christ   never   said   they   have   authority.”   he   replied. “He   told   Pilate   that   Pilate   had   power   over   him,    which   had   been   given   him   from   above.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “What’s   the   difference   between   power   and   authority?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Power   is   defined   as   the   ability   to   do   something. Authority   is   the   right   to   do   something. The   Pope,   for   instance,   has   the   right   to   teach   infallibly   under   pain   of   sin   that   such   and   such   must   be   believed   or   done. A   legitimate   ruler   also   has   authority   to   pass   laws   regulating   the   common   good. However,   he   is   limited   to   passing   only   those   laws   that   uphold   the   common   good   and   do   not   defy   the   moral   law. His   power,   on   the   other   hand,   is   different:   he   has   the   power   to   do   whatever   he   can   get   away   with   doing,   long   after his   authority   has   passed   away.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   mean   a   tyrant,   for   instance.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Interesting   you   chose   that   word. Most   people   use   the   word   dictator. But   yes,   a   tyrant   is   one   who   rules   unjustly. He   has    power,   ability   to   carry   out   his   unjustice,   but   he   has   no   authority   and   may   lawfully   be   overthrown. Now   in   the   case   of   our   government,   it’s   a   little   less   clear-cut. We’ve   legally   murdered   infants   for   nearly   forty   years. Our   government,   therefore,   has   no   authority. However,   most   of   our   laws   still   uphold   the   common   good. Our   government,   therefore,   is   not   unjust. That   is   why   we   still   obey   traffic   laws   while   protesting   abortion.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   don’t   know.”   objected   Carlee. “If   you   serve   a   country   which   does   not   serve   God,   how   can   you   serve   God   yourself?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You’ve   read   De   Wohl??”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Way   back. Just   his   novel   on   St. Thomas   Aquinas,   though. I   saw   it   in   a   catalog   for   Ignatius   Press   and   got   curious.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “That   is   a   point,   though. I   mean,   I   know   homeschoolers   and   devout   Catholics who   are   in   the   military. But   at   the   same   time   they   seem   to   me   to   have   an   almost   undue   reverence   for   America:   bordering   on   worship,   sometimes. America   must   be   defended. Why? Because   she’s   America,   of   course! A-mer-icaaa…But   the   Church   is   outside   of   nationalities.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I’m   not   Catholic,   Ronnie.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Christian?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Well,   mostly…”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   believe   in   God.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yes,   how   could   you   not? I   mean,   it’s   mind-boggling   to   even    think    about   there   being   no   God. Nothing   at   all   would   make   sense.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “But   yes,   that’s   why   in   conscience   I   could   never   be   in   the   military. Not   to   mention   their   sudden   welcoming   of—well,   I   don’t   know   how   you   stand   toward   homosexuals,   but   as   a   devout   Catholic   I   believe   they   are   wrong. And   when   wrongdoers   are   bowed   down   to   and   worshipped,   we’re   in   deep   trouble. But   let’s   not   open   that   can   of   worms.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Good   call.”   said   Carlee   dryly. “I   know   what   you   mean—I   don’t   approve   of   them   either—but   your   stance   is   a   little   harsh.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “If   you   don’t   approve   of   them,   that   too   is   a   harsh   stance.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “How   did   we   get   on   this?”   Carlee   wondered. “You   made   an   anticop   remark   and   suddenly   we’re   debating   the   nature   of   authority. You   really   are   unique,   Ronnie.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Why,   thanks.”   said   Ronnie   shyly.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Their pizza came   around   then   and   they   busied   themselves   with   eating. Ronnie   had   ordered   garlic   bread   as   well—light,   toasted   crisp,   buttered   and   with   not   too   much   garlic—and   he   shared   that   with   her. “Travel   warned   me   we   might   hit   a   restaurant,   so   I   brought   $10.”   said   Ronnie. “But   I   didn’t   think   I’d   be   dating   a   certain   wonderful   girl. If   we   stop   by   my   house,   I   can   reimburse   you   for   some   of   that.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Why,   that’s   very   nice   of   you,   Ron. I   appreciate   that. Yes,   I   suppose   a   five   or   so   would   help.”   said   Carlee. They   had   ordered   a   medium   pizza.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Ronnie.”   she   said   meditatively. “Is   that   short   for   anything?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “It’s   actually   a   worn-down   form   of   two   words   in   another   language,   Ronmond   Wendtho—Ronnie   Wendy. An   old   name   of   a   mountain   out   by   Mad   River   Dam;   it   means   Hill   of   the   Road.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “That’s   a   funny   name.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “It   deserves   it.”   said   Ronnie   with   a   slight   shudder. “You   do   not   walk   lightly   upon   the   height   of   Temple   Fell. It’s   a   queer   place.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “So   I   can   see.”   murmered   Carlee. “There   is   something   very   strange   about   you,   Ronnie…as   if   something   vast   and   complicated   is   woven   all   around   you,   hanging   in   air   where   you   walk,   as   if   wood   and   tree   and   soil   are   forming   a   tapestry,   and   your   name   runs   through   it   like   fire.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   was   right   about   you.”   said   Ronnie. “I   said   once   that   you   were   one   of   those   who   can   see,   who   know   what   is   and   isn’t   real. There   aren’t   many.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   always   wondered   about   this   place,”   said   Carlee   lightly,   feeling   a   need   to   change   the   subject. “I   mean,   nobody   seems   to   know   why   it’s   called   Sophia’s. Why   not   any   other   random   name?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “It   is   called   Sophia’s,   because   the   owner   is   named   Sophia.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             They   glanced   up,   surprised,   and   saw   a   tall   slender   lady   in   the   red   apron   of   the   kitchen   staff. She   had   fine   golden   hair,   brushed   very   bright   and   glossy,   and   a   strikingly   beautiful   face   that   it   was   difficult   to   put   an   age   to. Her   skin   was   unwrinkled,   so   she   couldn’t   be   past   thirty,   but   the   expression,   and   especially   the   eyes,   were   those   of a   woman   of   much   experience. She   was   smiling.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “So   sorry   to   interrupt,”   she   laughed,   “but   I   was   going   to   ask   if   the   is   all   right   and   everything   well,   and   then   I   heard   your   remark. But   yes,   she   is   named   Sophia,   Sophia   Laran,   and   she   lives   overseas.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Are   you   the   cook?”   said   Ronnie,   “because   if   you   are,   I   wanted   to   tell   you   I’ve   never   had   such   good   pizza.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   boss   the   cook.”   she   said   with   a   husky   laugh. She   had   a   low,   strong   voice   of   the   kind   described   as   passionate,   though   it   bore   no   passion   at   the   moment. “A   very   good   man,   but   he   not-a   know   everything,   hmm? Thank   you,   however. I   will   tell   him.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             She   walked   slowly   back   toward   the   kitchen,   and   Ronnie   could   hardly   help   his   eyes   lingering   on   the   grace   of   her   carriage.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “So,   what   do   you   want   to   do   after   this?”   Carlee   said   as   they   consumed   the   last   pieces. “Considering   this   is   practically   a   date.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Well,   I   did   bike   here,”   said   Ronnie,   “so   you’d   have   to   drop   me   off   at   my   bike   anyway.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Where   do   you   live? Burrville? That’s   a   bit   of   a   ride   in   the   dark. Yes,   you   dunderhead,   we’ve   been   talking   so   long   it’s   nearly   evening. I   live   right   here   in   Winsted.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Nice. At   least   you   don’t   have   far   to   go.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Well,   I   was   going   to   say:   before   I   stuff   your   bike   in   the   trunk   and   drop   you   off   at   your   house—“

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “—Yes,   and   I   have   that   money   to   give   you.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “—that   too—how   about   we   stop   at   my   place   first   and   watch   a   movie? I   have   a   roommate,   though   I   don’t   know   if   she’s   going   to   stop   in   or   not   tonight. Labor   Day   weekend,   she’d   be   hitting   the   bars.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “The   high   notes   or the   low?—Just   joking,   I   know   what   you   meant.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “That   was   a   good   one,   though. I’d   crack   it   to   her,   but   I   don’t   know   if   Cassie   would   even   understand   the   point. So,   what   d’you   say?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Sounds   good.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Right,   and   then   I’ll   pick   up   your   bike   and   drop   you   at   your   house—unless   you   don’t   want   me   knowing   where   you   live.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   don’t   have   any   reason   to   conceal   it,   as   long   as   you   don’t   go   siccing   jealous   boyfriends   on   me.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “He’s   not   my   boyfriend;   we   were   just   ‘seeing’   each   other.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You’d   better   make   sure he   understands   that. A   man   has   to   have   things   laid   out   to   him   in   plain   words:    No,   I   am   not   your   girlfriend.   Otherwise   we   get   some   very   strange   ideas   in   our   heads.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “You   know,   that’s   a   good   point. I’d   better   call   and   clarify   things   with   him. Oh   yes,   we’d   like   a   check,   please.”   to   the   pretty   waitress. Ronnie   gave   her   his   ten   and   she   paid   the   rest,   and   they   worked   out   how   much   he   would   reimburse   her. She   insisted   on   paying   half. Then   Ronnie   went   to   use   the bathroom   while   Carlee   stepped   outside   to   call   up   Dave.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Ronnie   was   still   hanging   around   the   car   a   quarter   of   an   hour   later   when   Carlee   came   up,   red   and   angry   and   with   glistening   eyes. He   only   said,   “Are   you   all   right?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   hate   you.”   she   said   through   her   teeth. “And   your   advice. And   your   damn   perceptive   eyes. The   jerk   acted   like   he   owns   me! ‘Where   were   you   all   day,   I   was   calling   and   calling,   how   dare   you   not   pick   up.’    I   told   him   off   proper. I   told   him   he’s   not   my   husband   and   freaks   out   when   I   bring   up   the   subject   and   he   has   no   right   to   go   owning   me,   and   he   starts   calling   me   a   bitch   and   an   a—h--,   so   I   broke   up   with   him. So   I   don’t   have   a   boyfriend.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I’m   sorry.”   said   Ronnie   softly. “That’s   too   bad.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yeah,   and   then   the   jerk   starts   shouting   at   me   that   he   has   a   new   father now   and   things   aren’t   going   to   be   the   same,   and   then   he   starts   threatening.   I’ll   make   you   crawl,   bitch,   I’ll   make   you   whore   to   me,   I’ll make   you   lick   my—you   know   what—I’ll   make   you   beg   me   to   stop   the   pain. I’m   seriously   freaked. Do   you   think   he’ll   harm   me? I   mean,   it   does   not   sound   like   Dave. Not   at   all.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   have   a   new   father   now.”   muttered   Ronnie. “This   does   not   sound   good.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Carlee’s   house   was   only   five   minutes   away,   up   some   side   streets   under   Street   Hill. It   was   a   queer   old   Victorian   townhouse   of   great   age,   high,   square   and   white,   and   rather   narrow,   with   a   steep   roof   and   gabled   porch,   pale   in   the   evening   gloom. Several   ancient   outbuildings   and   garages   lay   at   the   back   of   the   rectangular   yard,   half   buried   in   trees. The   neighborhood   was   open   and   shadeless   save   for   a   few   ancient   withered   trees,   quiet   tall   old   houses   standing   above   green   lawns. Street   Hill’s   cliff   towered   dim   and   cloudy   in   the   background.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Is   this   all   yours?”   said   Ronnie.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Part   of   it;   Cassie   and   I   only   rent   the   top   floor. Somebody   else   rents   the   rest. Landlord’s   a   real   pain. No   taking   stuff   out   of   the   garages. No   storing   stuff   in   the   garages. No   gardening;   it   would   mess   up   his   nice   lawn. And   so   on.”   She   led   him   up   a   flight   of   wooden   steps   in   back. A   white   door   at   the   top   led   into   a   hallway,   which   had   the   attic   stairs   on   the   left,   and   at   the   end   a   newer   door   had   been   installed   for   her   apartment.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Tenants   can   use   either   attic   or   basement   for   storage;   our   keys   fit   both. I   never   had   much   to   store,   so   that’s   not   a   problem,”   Carlee   said   as   she   unlocked   her   door. “Dead   silence,   that   means   Cass   isn’t   in. She   plays   the   most   gruesome   death   metal/rap/you   name   it. I   don’t   know   how   you   stand   that   stuff.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">                  “I   don’t.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “ ‘You’   in   the   generic   tense.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">               “Yes,   I   know.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Want   a   soda?”   said   Carlee   brightly,   opening   the   fridge. “And   there’s   Oreos   on   the   counter—I   kept   them   for   Dave,   cause   we   girls   have   to   watch   our   fat,   you   know.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Thanks.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             They   decided   on   ‘Nanny   McPhee’,   as   all   her   other   movies   were   what   Ronnie   described   as   “wussy   girl   movies”:   chick   flicks,   sappy   romances   and   bad   comedies. “Cassie   likes   those.”   The   other   side   was   full   of   horror   movies,   SAW,   Dawn   of   the   Dead,   Resident   Evil,   The   Fog.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Let   me   guess. Cassie?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Pretty   much. She   just   likes   getting   scared   stiff. I   can’t   stand   even   thinking   about   them.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Same   here.”   said   Ronnie   grimly. “When   you   have   a   normal   mind,   the   abnormal   is   abhorrent   to   it.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yeah,   you   have   to   be   pretty   messed   up   to   like   horror. I   mean,   I   can   see   some   kinds   of   horror,   like   in   the   Shelob   scene   of   Return   of   the   King,   but   the   sick   kind,   the   really   horrible   kind—you   have   to   be,   like,   disturbed    to   enjoy   that   stuff.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             The   movie   was   one   that   Ronnie   really   liked. They   sat   squished   nicely   together   on   the   couch,   and   Carlee   let   him   put   his   arm   around   her,   but   rather   to   her   surprise   he   didn’t   proceed   any   further   than   that. Quite   unlike   Dave,   who   pretty   much   didn’t   know   the   meaning   of   Hands   off,   and   she   would   get   so   tired   of   slapping   him   she   usually   just   gave   up   and   let   his   fingers   roam. She   even   got   to   like   it. Ronnie’s   behavior   was   a   surprise,   and   somehow   touching.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             When the   movie   (and   the   Oreos)   were   done,   they   stayed   on   the   couch,   talking   now   and   again. It   was   very   pleasant,   even   homey. But   as   midnight   drew   near   and   Ronnie   began   to   yawn,   they   reluctantly   got   up   and   went   out   to   the   car. They   drove   to   the   beach   in   near   silence. Ronnie   got   his   bike   into   the   trunk   and   tied   down   the   lid. Carlee   laughingly   declined   his   offer   of   a   night   swim,   although   the   air   was   still   pleasantly   humid.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             As   they   drove   to   Burrville,   Carlee   said,   “This   has   been   such   an   interesting   date.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yes,   I   really   enjoyed   it. Shall   we   go   out   again?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Carlee   laughed. “I   would   really   like   that.”   she   said. “Let’s   see…give   me   a   call   on   Friday,   and   I’ll   see   what   the   weekend’s   like.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             By   the   time   they   got   halfway   down   the   lake   Carlee   had   the   radio   working   and   was   playing   a   weird   Dies-Irae-like   Goth   metal   song   by   Virgin   Black. It   was   a   sad,   queer,   song,   “like   the   background   music   for   a   movie   scene   of   a   defeated   army.”   as   Ronnie   put   it. They   parked   and   sat   in   the   car   until   it   was   finished.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Come   inside   for   a   moment.”   said   Ronnie,   after   they   exchanged   phone   numbers   and   emails   and   he   had   unloaded   his   bike. “I   have   something   for   you.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             She   followed   him   inside. He   ushered   her   to   a   seat   while   he   counted   out   the   money   he’d   agreed   to   give   her,   and   as   she   put   it   in   her   purse   he   reached   into   his   hung-up   coats   and   took   out   a   long   umbrella,   black,   furled,   with   a   hooked   cane   handle;   it   looked   like   a   strange   sort   of   sword.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Keep   this   with   you.”   he   said. “Take   it   in   the   car   when   you   go   anywhere,   and   hang   it   in   your   room   when   you   sleep. It   is   my   greatest   gift   to   you   that   I   can   give. There   is   a   virtue   in   this   umbrella   that   enabled   me   to   keep   at   bay   all   the   dragons   in   the   carnival. I   can’t   say   if   it   will   work   for   you—but   I   think   it   will.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             She   took   the   umbrella   a   little   doubtfully. “Is   it   a   Staff   of   Power   or   something?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “No,”   Ronnie   said   sternly. “I   said   it   has   a   virtue. I   don’t   think   it’s   magic   at   all. I   think   it   may   transcend   magic   completely. But   it   did protect   me—and   it   may   protect   you.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “So   I   shouldn’t   call   the   police?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             Ronnie   looked   at   her   wearily. “I   think   the   police   would   only   bring   you   harm. I   do   not   advise   you   to   call   them. If   you   do,   do   not   mention my   name   or   let   them   know   about   that   umbrella. Can   you   promise   me   that?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Yes,   Ronnie. I   promise.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Then   let   us   seal   the   pact.”   said   Ronnie   softly,   bending   toward   her. Their   lips   met   and   clung   for   a   long   time. At   last   Ronnie   ended   their   kiss.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “I   wish   I   didn’t   have   to   go.”   whispered   Carlee,   her   arms   about   him.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">             “Sooner   or   later,   all   of   us   must   go.”   Ronnie   murmered. “That   is   the   way   of   Middle-earth. God   be   with   you,   dirla.”

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