I brace myself in case Ezra Brewer shrieks again, but he does not.
Ezra Brewer leans back so his face is obscured in the growing darkness and rests his hands in his lap. I imagine he is smiling, pleased with himself.
Andrew Noble seems spooked but angry too.
“I am a man of science, not small-town superstitions,” he tells Reverend Lee, who is still interpreting his speech. Andrew is no longer looking at me or Ezra Brewer.
Andrew says, “I’m sure there is a much more reasonable explanation for the infirmity in your town, and I intend to discover it.”
“Others have tried before you,” Ezra Brewer signs, with a wink and a nod at Reverend Lee. “Pride cometh before a fall.”
“I am wasting my time with this nonsense,” Andrew replies.
Andrew’s manner unsettles me. I see him lean forward in his chair with his fists clenched so tightly in his lap that I’m certain his fingernails must be leaving marks in the soft part of his palm. Although Reverend Lee is always sympathetic, I can tell he’s embarrassed when Andrew storms back to the trap, without thanking Ezra Brewer.
The ride home is uncomfortable. Andrew carries on to Reverend Lee while I sit silent. I don’t know if his arm waving or cross-armed sulking is more petulant. I have seen colicky infants who are less irritable. Even though I was raised on a farm, I was taught to admire and respect learned people. I admit I am having trouble with this one.
The next day, after breakfast, Mama informs me that she and I are taking a walk to the Meeting House. I wash and dress slowly as a snail, as I fear what Mama’s stiff manner might mean. Is my reckoning nigh for haunting in the woods? But why the Meeting House?
By the time we arrive, I am frozen to the bone and filled with dread. The feeling increases when we enter the Meeting House and I see Nancy. Our broken friendship saddens me. She showed compassion when I shared my darkest secret. Why couldn’t she have told the truth about the sheets?
To make matters worse, Nancy appears to have lost none of her spite. Her eyes narrow on me, even as she politely greets Mama. She and Mrs. Skiffe are already seated with Reverend Lee.
He announces, “I’d like to speak to the girls alone.”
Our mothers go to the antechamber. I don’t see what Mrs. Skiffe signs to Nancy, but I imagine it’s similar to Mama’s signed instructions to “behave honorably” and “straighten your bonnet.”
Reverend Lee gestures for us to sit in front of him. He opens the Bible to a page he’s marked with a worn ribbon. Then he closes it and rests it on his robed knee. He removes his spectacles and searches our waiting faces.
“Do you understand that blasphemy means not only speaking against Our Lord but also committing acts of impiety or godlessness?” he asks us.
We both nod earnestly.
“I believe you do. So I cannot reckon how you thought that mocking the dead in their winding shrouds would not put your souls in mortal peril. Can you tell me?”
I look to Nancy. I truly don’t know what to say. I can’t tell the truth about George.
Seeing that I am silent, Nancy’s brown eyes spark and focus.
“How could we mock our poor, lost dead ones?” she signs. She looks directly into his kind blue eyes. “On the night my grandmother Edith died, I received a visitation at the foot of my bed. Her lustrous glow lit the room. Before passing on, she wanted to convey a message of love to me. I was moved that she thought of reassuring me before her soul ascended.”
Reverend Lee is fascinated by the tale.
She continues. “Mary has been deeply troubled by her only brother’s untimely death. We thought we might find some remnant of his spirit and commune with him for comfort and peace if we dressed as he last appeared in this world. We thought Our Lord would understand our true meaning as He sees into our hearts at all times.”
Reverend Lee pauses for a moment. His brow is knitted as he opens and closes his Bible and rubs the ribbon.
Finally, he signs, “Well, well. I can see you have thought a great deal about your sin. I am relieved to know that you realize God observes you and divines your true intentions at all times.” He is not a fool, but he may also remember childish games, and he knows the hardship my family has faced.
“I believe you do fully comprehend your sins,” he signs. “If you agree never again to call to the dead on land the Church has not consecrated, we can let the matter rest.”
We nod somberly and cross our hearts.
As Reverend Lee traverses the room to talk with our mothers, I turn to Nancy so no one else sees my words. “You didn’t tell my secret.”
“That would have been cruel,” she signs. “Though I don’t like you taking the Indians’ side against me.”
I look at Nancy. She’s sullen but not bitter.
“Are we still friends?” I ask.
“I have no other choice,” she signs. “I certainly don’t want to fall in line behind Sarah Hillman the way Carrie does.” Do I detect a twinkle in her eye?
“I need your help,” I tell her. “I want to know what Andrew Noble is up to.”
Nancy nods and rubs her chin. “Spying?” she asks hopefully.
I sign, “There may be no other way.”
A few days later, Papa tells me that Andrew Noble has taken a census of the different towns on the island. After officially counting people on Martha’s Vineyard, Andrew has decided to focus on Chilmark. We have the highest number of deaf residents. I hadn’t noticed
