Without standing, he reaches one arm into the doorway of the shack and pulls out a shotgun that must have been standing just inside and points it at her.

Now shoo, he says. I aint a bad man is why you get one tub of berries at all.

You aint a bad man is why Im not gonna kill you.

What?

He drops his guard momentarily, trying to puzzle through why she isnt scared of him and thats when she grabs the barrel of the shotgun and jerks it forward to pop his finger free of the trigger, then with all her strength she shoves it back, stock first into his belly. He clenches his stomach and falls out of the chair. Then she turns him over and plants one knee on his chest, jamming the shotgun lengthwise across his throat.

Now heres what Im gonna do, she says. First, Im gonna go inside and get my two tubs of bingberries, like we agreed before. Second, Im gonna go out back to the coop and pluck me a dozen eggs for the work Maury did for you. Third, Im gonna take along a jug of that lemonade you got to even things out so I dont have to resent you for the offence you given us. You got that?

He nods, still choking and gasping. She stands and backs down the steps of the porch.

Now why dont you lay there a while, she says. Youll get your breath back in a bit.

Around the side of the shack, the big man continues to chop with thick precision.

Maury, she calls. Maury! You can stop that chopping. Were gettin back on the road.

*

Later, in the car, she puts a tub of the berries on Maurys lap.

Eat up. Youll like em. You can eat that whole tub if you want, its for you. I got us each one. Go on.

She takes one and puts it in her mouth to show him.

Mmm. I aint had bingberries in I dont know how long. That Albert, he may have been a scoundrel all told, but he knew how to raise himself some crops, didnt he? Go on, eat one.

Maury puts one of the berries in his mouth and a sour expression comes into his face. He opens his mouth wide as though hoping the thing in it will fly away on its own.

Whats the matter, you dont like it? I swear, you got no feeling for the finer things in life, you big dummy. Thats a project for you to work on. All right, spit it out. Here, heres a rag. Try not to make such a awful mess everything you do.

He spits the berry out and scrubs the rag across his tongue, but hes still cringing afterwards, and begins a low moan, like crying except without the tears.

All right, she says. Hush up now.

The moan goes on long and low.