Jack sighed. How could he explain to her that 'the woman' might be aging years by the hour, might be a drooling senile wreck by now? How could he convince Gia when he couldn't quite convince himself?
The rest of the trip passed in silence as Abe wended his way uptown. They saw a few police cars, but none were close enough to notice the missing windshield.
'Thanks for everything, Abe,' Jack said as the truck pulled up in front of the brownstone.
'Want me to wait?'
'This may take a while. Thanks again. I'll settle up with you in the morning.'
'I'll have the bill ready.'
Jack kissed the sleeping Vicky on the head and slid out of the seat. He was stiff and sore.
'Are you coming over?' Gia asked, finally looking at him.
'As soon as I can,' he said, glad the invitation was still open. 'If you still want me to.'
'I want you to.'
'Then I'll be there. Within an hour. I promise.'
'You'll be okay?'
He was grateful for her worried look.
'Sure.'
He slammed the door and watched them drive off. Then he began the long climb to the third floor. When he reached his door, key in hand, he hesitated.
A chill crept over. him: What waited on the other side?
Nothing, he hoped. An empty front room and a young Kolabati asleep in his bed. He’d deposit both necklaces on the nightstand where she’d find them in the morning, then he’d leave for Gia's place.
That would be the easy way. Kolabati would know her brother was dead without his actually having to tell her. Hopefully, she’d be gone when he got back.
Let's make this easy, he thought. Let
He opened the door and stepped into the dark front room. The only illumination leaked down the hall from his bedroom. All he could hear was breathing—rapid, ragged, rattly…from the couch. He stepped toward it.
'Kolabati?'
A gasp, a cough, a groan, then someone rose from the couch. Framed in the light from the hall was a wizened, spindly figure with high thin shoulders and kyphotic spine. It stepped toward him. Jack sensed rather than saw an outstretched hand..
'Give it to me!' The voice was little more than a faint rasp, a snake sliding through dry straw. 'Give it back to me!'
But the cadence and pronunciation were unmistakable—Kolabati.
Jack tried to speak and found his throat locked. With shaking hands he reached around to the back of his neck and removed the necklace. He then pulled Kusum' s from his pocket.
'Returning it with interest,' he managed to say as he dropped both necklaces into the extended palm, avoiding contact with the skin.
Kolabati either did not realize or did not care that she now possessed both necklaces. She made a slow, tottering turn and hobbled off toward the bedroom. For an instant she was caught in the light from the hall. Jack turned away at the sight of her shrunken body, her stooped shoulders and arthritic joints. Kolabati was an ancient hag. She turned the corner and Jack was alone in the room.
A great lethargy seeped over him. He went over to the chair by the front window that looked out onto the street and sat down.
It's over. Finally over.
Kusum gone, the rakoshi gone, Vicky home safe. And in his bedroom Kolabati was turning young again. He fought an insistent urge to sneak down the hall and see out what was happening...to watch her grow young. Maybe then he could believe in magic.
Magic...after all he’d seen, all he’d been through, he still found it difficult to believe in magic. Magic didn't make sense. Magic didn't follow the rules. Magic...
What was the use? He couldn't explain the necklaces or the rakoshi. Call them unknowns. Leave it at that.
But still—to watch it happening...
He went to stand up and found he couldn't. He was too weak. He slumped back and closed his eyes.
Sleepy...
A sound behind him startled him. He opened his eyes and realized that he must have dozed off. The hazy skim-milk light of predawn filled the sky. He must have been out for at least an hour. Someone was approaching from the rear. Jack tried to turn to see who it was but found he could only move his head. His shoulders felt glued to the wing back of the chair...so weak...
'Jack'?' Kolabati's voice—the Kolabati he knew. The young Kolabati. 'Jack, are you all right'?'
'Fine,' he said. Even his voice was weak.
She came around the chair and looked down at him. Her necklace was back on around her neck. She hadn't
