I relaxed and let him shine his flashlight in my eyes and then use his stethoscope. I even went along with his tests, counting his upheld fingers and giving the proper responses.

“She’ll be all right,” he said. “We’ll keep her here for a few days though, just to be on the safe side.”

“I’m leaving now,” I said. I tried to sit up, but the room began to spin.

I lay back again as Father Jackson took Dr. Fowler’s arm and drew him to the door. I heard the word “funeral.”

“Will it be on Friday?” asked Dr. Fowler. “We should be able to release her then.” Then he left the room without looking at me again.

“What funeral?” I was afraid to hear the answer. I tried to sit up again, but Father Jackson pushed me down gently.

“It was God’s will, Maggie,” he said.

“Bullshit! Whose funeral?”

“Your husband’s.”

I sighed. Was I relieved? I had been thinking of Duff.

“He had a heart attack last night. It was evidently a massive attack. He died instantly. And he didn’t suffer at all, Maggie.”

Fine, I thought. Great. The poor devil. Then I cried a little, at first because I thought it was expected of me, but then some genuine tears came.

“What about Duff?” I asked.

“Duff is at home.” Father Jackson hesitated. “But Franny’s not too well, Maggie.”

That shook me. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She had a seizure of some sort. She was unconscious for a couple of hours, but she’s awake now although she doesn’t seem to recognize anyone. Her room’s down the hall.”

“Let me see her!” I tried to get up, but again I couldn’t make it.

“In a little while, Maggie. She’ll be all right. She’s in no danger. You were, though. Dr. Fowler was very concerned about you.”

“He belongs to the group, you idiot!” It was all coming back to me now, my flight through the woods and the rest of it.

“Maggie, you mustn’t say those things.”

“Where did Jack die?”

“In the graveyard. We were out looking for you and he was the first to find you after you fell and hit your head on a stone. The shock of seeing you there on the ground evidently caused his heart attack.”

But Jack had seen me before I fell, or at least as I was falling. He also must have seen the General, and so must Franny, who had been standing behind Jack.

“And Franny had her attack at the same time?”

“Then or seconds later. All three of you were on the ground when I got there.”

“Where were you earlier?” I asked bitterly. I remembered leaving the house and his coming after me a short distance along the path.