“If you don’t let me like you supposed to, I’ll have to just make you.” Quickly he undid his trousers and stepped out of them when they dropped to the floor. Pulling his genitals free from his drawers, he cupped his balls with one hand and shook his penis with the other. “Your education begins now. You see this, gal? This here is a big, hard dick—this here is me. Understand? This is the best thing there is, and whether you want to or not, you’re going to have it shoved up your little pussy. It’d be easier for me and you both if you acted nice, but however you act, it’s gonna be my way.”

She backed away from him, shaking her head quickly again and again in total rejection of him and of all he said.

“Don’t you run from me,” he said, his voice mean now. “Don’t you holler, neither—don’t you squawk like no chicken!”

She sprang toward the door with what strength she had left, but he caught her as she opened it. The sound of music and shuffling feet came up the stairwell. He pulled her back and shut the door, shutting the world out, shutting them in together.

“I was wrong, Bonard. I was wrong to marry you. I’m sorry, but you’ve got to let me go now. I didn’t know what it all meant. I can’t do what you want. Let me go, for pity’s sake!”

He held his penis again and stroked it. “Now that’s a pretty thing, don’t you think so? It’s give me a lot of pleasure, and it could pleasure you too, were you willing.”

“Please, Bonard. Please. I’m begging you. Please—”

“You sure you not going to let me do it?”

She shook her head in terrified jerks.

“You not? You right sure you not?”

10

She woke herself moaning and choking on her own phlegm. As consciousness returned, she raised her head from the floor where he had left her. “Thank God,” she breathed, telling herself that she was at least and at last alone. Knowing only that, needing only that for the moment, she kept her head up from the floor, although to do so was an effort, and her head swayed, nodded, and drooped, as if seeking a pillow to rest on. He was—somewhere in the room. She could hear him breathing and snoring. He, him.

She raised herself to lean on an elbow. Her elbow was skinned raw from the coarse rug. Her crotch was fiery and aching. She opened her legs a little to ease its fever, then closed them automatically in a self-protective grip.