Savage Night

'Do you hear that, Your Highness? Did you hear what this gentleman said about my hat?'

'Well, heck, Bessie. It does look kinda of like a lamp-'

'Hush.Just be quiet, and Mr. Bigelow and I will try to ignore you.'

They kept it up all the way to church, and practically up to the door. And they seemed to enjoy it in a way, but I wondered if they wouldn't have enjoyed some other way better. I mean, arguing is arguing, and quarreling is quarreling, and it's still that regardless of how you laugh and kid around about it. You don't do it unless something is eating on you. You don't do it when things are like they should be.

I opened the car door for her and helped her out… and she looked at him. I took her elbow and helped her up the steps of the church… and she looked at him. I stood aside at the door and let her go in first… and she looked at him.

We stayed through Sunday school and church, and you probably know a lot more about those things than I do, so I won't describe them to you. It was better than wandering around the street. It was as good a way as any of killing the morning. I felt safe and peaceful, like a guy has to feel if his brain is going to work at is best. I sang and prayed and listened to the sermon-just sort of letting my mind wander, Letting it go where it wanted to. And by the time church was over, I had it. I'd figured out how I was going to kill Jake Winroy.

Not completely, you understand. There were a few details to iron out, my alibi and setting him up and so on, But I knew they'd come to me.

Mrs. Summers glanced at me as we went back up the aisle together. 'Well, young man. You're looking very happy.'

'I'm glad you let me come with you,' I said. 'It's done me a lot of good.'

They stopped at the door to shake hands with the minister, and she introduced me. I told him his sermon had been very inspiring… which it was. I'd doped out the plan forJake while he was spieling.

We started on out to the car, she and I walking together and the sheriff trailing along behind.

'I was wondering, Mr. Big-Oh, I think I'll call you, Carl. If you don't mind.'

'I wish you would,' I said. 'What were you wondering, Mrs. Summers?'

'I was going to ask you if-' We'd reached the curb, and she turned and motioned impatiently. 'Oh, do come on, Bill. You're slower than molasses injanuary. I was about to ask Carl to come home to dinner with us.'

'Yeah?' he said. 'How come? I mean-uh-you were?'

Her mouth tightened. Untightened. I think she ws just about to open up on him when he headed her off.

'Well, fine, great!' He clapped me on the back. 'Tickled to death to have you, son. Meant to ask you myself.'

He hadn't meant to. He didn't even halfway like the idea. He could take me to church, sure. But to take me into his home- pal up with me-when there was any kind of a chance that I might mean trouble.

There was something about me that bothered him. There was something he wasn't quite satisfied about.

'Thanks very much,' I said. 'I don't think I'd better today. They're expecting me at the house, and I've got a lot of things to get ready for school and-and all.'

'Uh-huh. Sure,' he nodded. 'Well, if you can't make it, you can't… guess we'll have to eat by ourselves, Bessie.'

'You,' she said. 'I'll swear, Bill Summers, I-I-!'

'Now, what'd I do? I asked him, didn't I? You heard him say he couldn't come. Didn't I'-he turned to me-'Didn't you say you couldn't come?'

'Hush. You're impossible. Utterly impossible… Carl, I'd ask you to let us drive you home, but I imagine His Highness would find some way to keep you from accepting.'

'Now, I wouldn't neither! Heck, I-why'd I do a thing like that?'

'Why do you do anything, pray tell?'

It was getting embarrassing. I put a stop to it. I said I honestly couldn't take dinner with them today-maybe some other time-but I would appreciate a ride home.

Neither of them said anything until we reached the house. Then, while I was thanking them and saying good morning, he squinted at the coupe pulled in at the gutter.

'Hey,' he frowned, 'that's Doc Dodson's car, ain't it? You got some sick folks here, son?'

'Not that I know of,' I said. 'I left the house before anyone was up this morning.'

'Must be someone sick. Doc wouldn't be payin' no social calls on the Winroys. Wonder who it could be?'

'Why don't you go in and ask?' Mrs. Summers glared at him. 'Shake hands with all of them. Call them all by their first names. Ask about their families. Never mind about me, or how I- '

He jammed the car into gear, cutting her off. 'I'm goin', ain't I? Doggone it, can't you see I'm goin'?… son, I'm-I-'

I hopped out fast. He drove off, the engine roaring, and I went up the walk and into the house.

Fay met me in the hall. She was breathless. The reddishbrown eyes blazed with fear against the dead white of her face. I looked past her, into the dining room.

Ruth was in there. Ruth and Kendall and Jake and a potbellied, bald-headed little guy I knew was a doctor. Jake was sprawled on the floor on his back, and the doctor was stooped down over him, holding a stethoscope to his chest.

Fay whispered to me, her lips barely moving.

'His wine. Poisoned. Doped. Did you-?'

13

I pushed past her, flipping my fist against her groin. Goddammit, of course she was scared, but she didn't need to hang a sign on me. She followed me into the dining room and stood beside me. I moved away from her, over between Kendall and Ruth.

Jake's eyes were closed. He was mumbling, rolling his head from side to side. The doc leaned back, letting the stethoscope swing free, and frowned down at him.

He picked upJake's wrist and felt the pulse. He let the hand drop back to the floor.

'Hold still,' he said curtly.

'… Slee-py… s-so-' Jake kept on rolling his head, breathing in great shuddering breaths '… S-save me… l-lookit… w-wine-'

'Stop that! Stop it this minute!' The doctor gripped him by the head with one hand. 'Hold still!'

Jake held still. He had to. The way the doc was gripping him, he might have got his scalp peeled off.

The doctor pulled back first one eyelid, then, the other. He stood up, brushing at the knees of his pants, and nodded to Kendall.

'You tell me how this happened, Phil?'

'Why, yes, Doc.' Kendall took the pipe out of his mouth. 'I don't know as I can add anything to what Mrs. Winroy-'

'Mrs. Winroy was somewhat excited. You tell me.'

'Well, let's see. She and I-Mrs. Winroy and I-were in the living room, reading the Sunday papers, and Miss Dome was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Isn't that right, Ruth?'

'Y-yes, sir.'