“That’s right,” said Jack yawning. “Scrabble usually gets more interesting as it goes along.”

“When all the players have learned to spell at least simple words,” I said. He had just reversed the “I” and the “E” in “receive.”

On my next turn I added “kill you” to his word. I wasn’t disturbed by it any longer. I just smiled.

“Single words only, Mother,” said Franny.

“Who will?” Father Jackson asked softly.

My left hand put down an “M” and then an “E.” Then I swept the board and all the letters off the table and ran upstairs. I locked myself in my room and sat on the bed. At that moment I did want to kill Jack. I wanted his death more than anything else, even more than I wanted General Caine.

After a while I went and sat in front of the mirror. I couldn’t wait to become Margaret Dorn and fulfill whatever mission was destined for me. I believed completely now in the General’s Master, and I was willing to serve that Master as he had.

21

Chapter Twenty-­One

Franny knocked on my door after a half hour or so and said petulantly that I had spoiled the evening for everyone and that her father had sent her up to get some sheets and a blanket for Father Jackson. I told her to take whatever she needed from the linen cupboard in the hallway.

“Why does your voice sound so funny?” she asked.

“I have a cold,” I said.

“Why did you spell what you did on the board, Mama?”

I didn’t answer that. In a little while she went away. I disrobed, turned out the light and lay on the bed, waiting for the General to come. After a few moments I began to hear voices calling me. First his voice, then others I recognized out of the past, but I was still too much Maggie Caine to put names to them.

“Come,” the voices called. “Come to us, Margaret.”

Still I waited. I wanted to obey, but I knew it was better to wait until those downstairs were asleep. I wasn’t concerned about Duff. I suppose he came upstairs when Jack and Franny went to their rooms and Father Jackson made ready to sleep on the sofa. Or maybe he didn’t bother with any pretense.

The voices continued, more insistent now and louder. Old voices, young voices, even the voices of children calling for Margaret to come and join them. There seemed to be dozens of them calling plaintively, wistfully, but never commanding. It was as if those who were calling really loved Margaret and wanted her to be with them.

At last I knew it was time to go. I had become Margaret Dorn in body as well as spirit, and I was immensely happy. As Maggie Caine I had never had the same feeling of happiness and fulfillment.