“I’ve put things right,” Beaumont says. “I thought of taking revenge for Claudine every time I’ve seen you since her death, but either my courage wavered or the circumstances were against it. I’ve lived long enough, however, to understand the power of patience, and I knew an opportunity to punish you for your carelessness would eventually present itself. When you called the other day, everything finally fell into place.”

The ancient rover sips his wine and gestures with the glass at Johona. “The girl was something I hadn’t anticipated, but something that pleases me greatly,” he continues. “Partial compensation for my years of mourning Claudine.” He stands and holds out his hand. “Come with me now, and you’ll not be harmed,” he says to Johona. “You’ll live a life beyond your wildest dreams.”

“I…I…I…,” Johona stammers.

“Go with him,” Jesse says.

“What’s your hurry, Beaumont?” the short, burly Fiend holding the knife to Johona’s throat says.

“We agreed—”

“Sit down.”

Beaumont sinks into his chair.

Jesse addresses the Fiends, though he knows it’s futile. “I can get money,” he says. “I can get another baby. Whatever you want me to do to make up for what happened, I’ll do it.”

The Fiend holding the knife on Johona says, “Money’s not gonna even things up. Neither is another baby.”

“Fine,” Jesse says. “But let my brother and the girl go. He’s a half-wit, and she stumbled into this.”

The Fiend with the knife walks over to Edgar and bends to peer into his face.

“Is that true?” he says. “Are you a half-wit?”

Edgar starts to cry.

22

22

I GOT A SACK OF SALTWATER TAFFY FROM VIRGINIA BEACH. I GOT a Mickey Mouse shirt and a Superman shirt. I got a Sunday school medal for memorizing verses. And when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine own blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live. Yea I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live.

I knew what Jesse and Johona were up to under the covers at the motel. He had his pecker in her. And all the while the Little Devil hissed how I should do something about her. He didn’t believe she’d be shoving off soon. He said her and Jesse was gulling me. In the swimming pool I played I was a giant in the ocean. I scooped up a drowned moth. They’re the same as butterflies but come at night. Their wings are made of powder and if you touch them turn to dust.