“Carlotta lifted the ax again, as though nothing had happened, and started walking over to Katie. I was just sitting there looking. I couldn’t do anything. I guess I didn’t want to do anything. It was the sort of thing you don’t believe when you see it.”

Sam wet his lips. I could feel my heart in my ears, in my throat and wrists, even a thick pulsing in my nostrils. Rennel’s white hands were clenched in his lap.

“Well, she axed Katie. She was tied to a log. She hit her across the back, but the blade had turned around so the blunt side struck first. Katie screamed and fell down. I got up then and started walking toward Lotta. I didn’t have anything in mind to do. I didn’t understand, you see? I had my hands up and I just walked toward her, but before I got there she’d got the blade turned around again and hit Katie’s front leg. It was broken and bleeding everywhere. Katie’s eyes were open and she was screaming. You wouldn’t think a goat could scream like that.

“Lotta didn’t notice me at all. She was standing there with the ax, looking at the chickens. They were making a lot of noise and running around. Angelina had run off into the woods. I grabbed the ax. She didn’t try to stop me. It was hot. I suppose it was from sitting in the sun, even though there was snow on the ground. But at the time I thought it was blood that made the ax hot. It was just at that minute that I thought of the baby. I said, ‘Where’s the baby?’

“And then Lotta laughed. Very sarcastic, like. I went into the cabin. She hadn’t killed him. I could tell right away. He slept in this wooden box. He was doubled up in a corner. I knew he was dead when I saw him. He looked stiff already. His eyes were closed. I guess he died in his sleep. He was a funny color.”

Sam fumbled with the pipe. The cold ash stuck wetly to his fingers. I spent some time finding a cigarette and a book of matches. Cigarettes for Rennel and me, as well. Sam blew two full lungs of smoke at the skylight.

“After a while, when Lotta was calmed down, she wrapped the baby up in blankets and we got into the car. We left Lichtenstein there. He was just kind of standing around. The goat was still making noises. Angelina hadn’t come back.