Dark Mountain Page 12

  “I’ll tell you when you can look. We’re gonna stay put till I’ve got it figured out.”

  “Well, how many are there?”

  “Nine.”

  “Nine, and just three of ’em men?”

  “There’s some kids, don’t look older than twelve. And three women.”

  “How old are they?”

  “Never you mind.”

  “Are they pretty?”

  “Fetch me the coyote skin.”

  Obediently, Merle crawled past the head of her sleeping bag. He rummaged through a dark pile at the far end of the chamber and came back with the pelt of a coyote he had snared two weeks before. “What’re you fixing to do?” he asked.

  “Read the signs. Maybe these folks come here by chance, or maybe the Master sent them.”

  “Think He wants ’em offered down?”

  “I don’t know what to make of it. Could be we’re out of favor and He sent them to punish us.”

  “Why’d He do that, Ettie?”

  “Not saying He did. I’m saying He might’ve. Now you just shush, and let me find out.”

  She got to her knees and spread the coyote pelt on the sleeping bag. Then she unsheathed her knife. “O great Master,” she intoned, “Shadow of the Dark, give us a sign that we, Your servants, may know Your will.” With the knife, she carved a crescent on her left forearm. Blood spilled out, pattering on the coyote skin. “Give us wisdom, Master, that we may abide by Your way.” She slowly waved her cut arm back and forth over the skin, then held it steady while she sheathed her knife. “Count backward from thirteen,” she told Merle. Together, they counted down. When they reached one, she swung in her arm and tied a kerchief around the wound.

  She stared down at the hide. The band of sunlight made a bright path across it, showing streaks and pools of blood on the pale skin. Except for the sunlit area, the rest was in deep shadow.

  “What’d He say?” Merle asked.

  “Get me matches.”

  He dug a book of matches out of his jeans and gave it to Ettie. She plucked a match free, struck it, and bent low over the hide. By the light of the wavering flame, she studied the pattern of her spilled blood: its trails of shiny droplets, its loops, the way its shiny threads connected larger blotches, the shapes of the small puddles. A cold, sick feeling spread through her as the meaning became clear. She moaned.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Shh.” She shook out the match, lit another, and once again studied the map of blood. No, she hadn’t been mistaken. She dropped the match. A spatter of blood killed its flame in a hiss.

  “Is it bad, Ettie?”

  She stared at her son. He was on his knees, looking down at the pelt. His face was a dim blur in the shadows. Reaching out, she patted his cheek. “Nothing’s gonna come of it, honey. It’s nothing to fret over. We’re just gonna stay hidden here till they go away.”

  As Merle reached for the pelt, Ettie swept a hand across it, smearing the blood.

  “Shit!” he cried.

  “It’s not for your eyes.”

  “Wouldn’t of hurt nothing,” he said in a pouty voice.

  Ettie folded the pelt over. She pressed down on the fur with both hands, and rubbed it hard.

  “’Least you can do is tell me what it said,” Merle complained. “Must’ve said more than just stay in the cave.”

  “It didn’t say to stay in the cave, I did.”

  “Well, what’d the blood say?”

  “Said we better not mess with the folks down there. They brought death.”

  Merle was silent. He stared down at the pelt for a while, then picked it up and peeled it open and moved it through the path of sunlight, squinting at the red smears. “Is that what it really said?” he asked, sounding doubtful.

  “You calling me a liar, son?”

  “Well, no. But maybe you didn’t read it right.”

  “I read it right. Now, you got any notions about the women down there, put them out of your head, or you’ll get us both killed. Do you understand?”

  “I guess.”

  “That’s not much of an answer, Merle.” She crawled along her sleeping bag to the dimly lit gap of the cave’s entrance. There, she sat down and crossed her legs, blocking the only way out.

  “You don’t gotta do that,” Merle whined.

  “I’ll do it, just the same.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  With a sooty rock in each hand, Julie stepped over to the fireplace. “Here’s a couple more for you,” she told Benny, and dropped them to the ground beside him.

  “Thanks,” he muttered. He didn’t look up. He lifted one of the rocks and added it to the low, circular wall he was building.

  “Don’t look so pitiful,” Julie said.

  “It’s all my fault.”

  “That’s right, Bonzo. Look on the bright side. At least you didn’t break her foot.”

  “Thanks. You’re real nice.”

  “Ain’t I, though?” Trying to brush the black from her hands, she walked toward the lakeshore. Nick was there, sitting on a rock beside his sister while she soaked her left foot. “How’s it going?” Julie asked.

  “Fine,” Heather said.

  “Haven’t seen any water snakes,” Nick said.

  “Well, that’s a relief. Any crazy old women?”

  “Not a one.”

  “Terrific.” She stepped out onto a low flat rock, squatted down, and washed her hands. The water felt cold, but not numbing. “Still interested in a swim?” she asked.

  “Sure.”

  “Can I swim, too?” Heather asked.

  “Better check with Mom.”

  Julie shook the water from her hands and leaped ashore. “See you in a couple of minutes,” she called over her shoulder.

  Benny, still crouched by the fireplace, raised his head as Julie approached. His nose was wrinkled, upper teeth bared, like a snarling dog. Just his way to keep his glasses from slipping off. He shoved them up with a forefinger and stopped snarling.

  “We’re going for a swim,” Julie said. “Wanta come?”

  His head tilted sideways. He looked confounded. “Are you going in?”

  “That’s the picture.”

  “What about the water moccasins?”

  “If you’re scared, stay here.” In front of the tent, she dug into her backpack and dragged out her towel. It was still slightly damp from that morning’s washing up. She hung it over a shoulder, and continued to search until she found her bikini at the very bottom.

  Dropping to her knees, she crawled inside the tent. The tent had only been up for a few minutes, but already the trapped air felt stifling. Karen’s sleeping bag was laid out. It looked thick and soft. Had it belonged to anyone but Karen, Julie would’ve sat on it while she changed. Instead, she sat on the tent floor, the ground hard under her as she stripped off her clothes.

  She was on her back, naked, legs in the air, pulling the small white bottom of her bathing suit over her feet when the tent flap opened. Sunlight spilled onto her.

  “Sorry,” Karen blurted. The flap dropped, shutting out the light.

  Julie muttered, “Shit.” Raising her rump, she pulled the pants into place. She sat up. Her heart was thudding. With shaky fingers, she knotted the strings of the top behind her neck, stretched the flimsy fabric of the triangles down over her breasts, and reached behind her to tie the back. “Okay,” she called. “You can come in.”

  Karen ducked inside. She had a one-piece black swimsuit in her hand. “Sorry about that,” she said. “I didn’t realize you were in here.”

  “You could’ve asked,” Julie muttered, still fumbling with the strings at her back.

  Karen sat down on the bag, and started to unlace her boots. “Hot in here,” she said.

  “You going in the lake?”

  “Yeah. Benny and your dad are getting into their trunks.” She tugged her boots off, and sighed with pleasure. “That water’s gonna feel awfully good.”

  Julie go
t the strings tied, but didn’t move. She watched the woman peel off a sock and inspect her foot in the murky blue light. “Well, no blisters on this one. How’re your feet holding out?”

  “That’s my business,” she said.

  Karen stared at her. In the gloomy light, Julie couldn’t tell whether she looked angry or just hurt. “Sorry,” Karen finally said. “I was just trying to be friendly.”

  “Don’t bother.”

  In a quiet voice, she asked, “What are you afraid of?”

  “I’m not afraid of you, that’s for sure.”

  “You’re afraid of liking me, I think.”

  “What, you’re so irresistibly charming I’ve gotta be a nutcase if I’m not kissing the goddamn ground you walk on? Forget it. I just don’t like you, that’s all. I wish Dad had never met you.”

  “Your father and I…we love each other.”

  “Ain’t that just dandy,” Julie said through a tightness in her throat.

  “You knew that, didn’t you?”

  “I’m not blind.”

  “We love each other, Julie, but don’t think for one instant that he loves you or Benny any less because of that. You’re his daughter. He’s been with you all your life, and he’ll love you as long as he lives, no matter what. You’ll always be part of him in a way I can never be. I’m not taking him away from you. I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.”

  Julie stared down at her folded hands.

  “Would you be happier if I stopped seeing your father?”

  “I don’t know,” she mumbled. “I guess not.”

  “What would make you happy?”

  “I don’t know.” She gnawed her lower lip as tears filled her eyes. “I don’t want him hurt, that’s all.”

  “You think I’d hurt him?”

  Shrugging, she wiped her eyes. “Everything was fine till you came along.”

  “Your dad wasn’t fine. He was lonely.”

  “He had us.”

  “And he had a wife who’d run out on him. That left a big hole inside. Maybe he didn’t let you see the hurt because he didn’t want to make things worse for you and Benny, but it was there. And it isn’t so bad anymore.”

  “Thanks to you, huh?”

  “Thanks to the way we feel about each other.”

  Julie took a deep, trembling breath. She picked up her towel, and rubbed the tears from her face. “Nick’s waiting for me,” she muttered.

  “You’ll make his day when he sees you in that bikini.”

  “Trying to butter me up?”

  “Yep. It’s the truth, though. Look, Julie, I’m going to be your friend whether you like it or not. Because I love your father and I like you.”

  “You like me, huh? Sure.”

  “I do. And you’ll get to like me, too, sooner or later. Before you know it, you and I are going to be buddies. Do you know why?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m irresistibly charming.”

  Julie cracked a smile. “My ass,” she said, and crawled out of the tent. The bright sunlight made her eyes ache. Standing, she brushed some dirt and pine needles off her knees. She felt strange—her mind vague, her muscles weak, her legs trembling. As she walked toward the lake, she tried to make sense out of her encounter with Karen. Her mind couldn’t hold steady on it. Maybe everything had changed. Or maybe the talk had just confused her.

  Nick, standing at the shore, was watching the twins wade in. He had a towel draped around his neck, and wore blue shorts that looked like the ones he slept in. When Julie walked closer, he turned around as if sensing her approach. He gazed at her. She blushed, uncomfortably aware of her near nakedness and the way her breasts jiggled with the motion of her walk. “All set?” she asked.

  Nick smiled thinly, nodded, and quickly turned away.

  Julie realized that she liked how she’d felt while he was staring. Beneath her uneasiness, there’d been a kind of thrill. She found herself dashing past Nick, the chill water splashing up her legs. Knee-deep, she spun around, scooped up water with both hands, and flung it at him.

  “No!” he cried. He raised his arms to block the cold shower, and cringed as it splashed against him.

  Julie stood up straight. She frowned with pretended concern. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did that get you?”

  He looked astonished for a moment. Then, laughing, he lunged forward, drove his hands into the water, and launched an icy barrage that pelted Julie from face to knees. Staggering away, she lost her footing. She yelped and fell, flapping her arms and hitting the lake flat on her back. She shuddered as the chill water closed over her. After the first shock, though, it didn’t feel so bad. She pushed against the rocky bottom and sat up.

  “Are you okay?” Nick asked. He sounded worried.

  She wiped her eyes clear, and blinked up at him. “Was it a graceful entry?”

  Rose and Heather were giggling.

  “Beautiful,” Nick told her.

  “I’m so glad.” Her bikini top felt slightly awry. She made sure her breasts were still in it, gave the front a small adjustment, and stood up. Nick stared as the water streamed off her.

  “How’s the water?” Dad called from behind him.

  “Cold,” she answered.

  Karen was walking along close beside Dad, holding his hand. Her one-piece black suit clung to her like shiny skin. It was open in front with a wide, deep V that extended down to her belly. The lower part of the suit seemed even more revealing, cut so high at the sides that it left her hipbones bare and formed a long, lean triangle down to her groin.

  Benny, off to one side and slightly behind Karen, was agape as he stared at her.

  Someone whistled. Julie spotted Flash near one of the tents, his arms loaded with firewood. The whistle caught Nick’s attention. He looked over his shoulder at the same time that Karen turned around to say something to Flash. Julie sighed. The suit was backless and almost bottomless, so narrow down the buttocks that it left the sides of her cheeks bare. They were lean, and smooth.

  “Come on, Nick.”

  He kept staring.

  “Forget it. She’s already taken.”

  He faced Julie, innocently raising his eyebrows as if he’d been caught daydreaming by a teacher.

  “Besides,” Julie said, “isn’t she a little old for you?”

  His eyebrows dropped to their normal level, and the corners of his mouth turned up. “Yeah,” he said. “She’s sure something to look at, though.”

  “Tell me about it,” Julie muttered, feeling a little sick.

  “She’s gorgeous, in fact.”

  “Not to mention irresistibly charming.”

  Nick opened his mouth to speak, but Julie whirled away and dived, hitting the water flat out and swimming hard. Bastard, she thought. Damn it all to hell. The bitch is irresistible. Has Dad head over heels, and Benny damn near swooning. Even Nick’s got the hots for her. Parading around damn near naked. Flash whistling at her. He didn’t whistle at me. What am I, dog food? Damn her! Wants to be my friend. Sure, sure.

  Julie realized she was crying, sobbing into the water. She choked and came up for air.

  Wonderful. Drown yourself.

  She kept her head above the surface, but continued to swim as hard as she could. She didn’t look back. She was near the center of the lake, so she turned to the right and swam parallel to the shore.

  She saw a small inlet where a slab of granite slanted out of the water. She sidestroked toward it. When she reached the rock, she crawled up it and lay down flat. She crossed her arms under her face. The surface was hot and gritty against her skin. The sun on her back felt good. She panted for air, and tried to stop sobbing.

  Then she heard splashes. Someone swimming not far away. Coming closer.

  Go away, she thought. Whoever you are, go away and leave me alone.

  Down near her feet, the splashing stopped. She didn’t bother looking around.

  “You’re pretty fast.” Nick.

  “A regular speed demon,
” she muttered.

  “Mind if I come up and join you?”

  “I don’t care.”

  She heard a swoosh of water, then dribbling sounds as he crawled up the rock. He sat down close beside her and leaned back, bracing himself up with stiff arms. His slim belly, streaming with water, heaved as he gasped for breath. “You mad at me?” he asked.

  “Why should I be mad?” Julie muttered, and turned her head aside so she wouldn’t have to look at him.

  “I don’t know. Because I made you fall?”

  “It wasn’t that.”

  “Then you are mad at me. What’d I do?”

  “Nothing,” she mumbled.

  “I don’t get it.”

  “That’s okay. You don’t have to get it.”

  “Is it because I was staring at you? Like the other night when you yelled at me?”

  “I didn’t yell,” she protested.

  “You said, ‘Take a picture. It lasts longer.’ If that’s it, I’m sorry. Really. It’s hard not to stare, though. You’re so…” He hesitated.

  “What?”

  “Well, you know—beautiful. I keep trying not to stare, but then you come along in something like…like what you’re wearing, and…”

  She raised her head and looked at Nick. He was frowning out at the lake. “You think I was angry because you were staring at me?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “I didn’t mind that.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Julie rolled over. She folded her hands under her head to cushion it. Her heart was racing, and her mouth was very dry. She licked her lips. Nick continued to gaze forward. “I got upset, if you really want to know, because you were staring at Karen instead of me.”

  He shook his head as if rejecting the idea, then turned and met her eyes. He seemed to be frowning and grinning at the same time. He looked very confused. “Are you serious?”

  “I know I shouldn’t blame you. I mean, you’re a guy and…like you said, she’s gorgeous. And that bathing suit of hers…”

  “You won’t…” Nick paused, shaking his head some more.

  “I won’t what?”

  “Never mind,” he muttered, and looked away.

  “Come on, tell me.”

  “It’s too embarrassing.”

  Julie smiled. “Embarrassing for who?”