"Carol Emshwiller - At Sixes and Sevens" - читать интересную книгу автора (Emshwiller Carol)

I almost forget IтАЩm supposed to be looking for Howie. I lean over and
check under the house. As far as I can see itтАЩs empty under there, but IтАЩm
not going to crawl in. She canтАЩt expect me to do that.

I go around to the outbuildings. I check under the honeysuckle. I go
intoтАФnot very far intoтАФthe dusty old barn. I go all the way to the edge of
her land where the goat shed used to be. And I find him. Dead. Did I do
that with my spells? I meant to kill the cat, not this poor old mangy dog.
Well, at least my spells worked on something.

I have to go back and tell Iris. I hope she doesnтАЩt want me to bring her
the body. I just canтАЩt do that. It already smells. Maybe Daniel will do it for
her. IтАЩll tell her heтАЩll bury him under the honeysuckle if she wants that.

****

When I come back to tell her, that cat is still sitting on the back of the
couch as if on guard. He stares at me again.

тАЬHeтАЩs dead,тАЭ I say.

She tries to get up right on her broken leg, but then flops back down.

тАЬHeтАЩs out by the goat shed. DanielтАЩll bury it if you want him to. Do you
have a wheelbarrow?тАЭ

****

Daniel does go over. I didnтАЩt go with him. I figured IтАЩd done enough.
Besides, I wanted to think. I mean if she only has that cat for company I feel
sorry for her even though I still think that cat should go. What if I found her a
puppy?

****

Daniel looks shaken when he comes back. тАЬThat old dog wasnтАЩt worth
much except for company. SheтАЩs going to miss him. He was her fatherтАЩs.
Thirteen years old.тАЭ

Thirteen! Everything is fitting together.

тАЬIтАЩm going to get her some crutches. Why didnтАЩt we bring some right
away? I know youтАЩve been helping her a lot, but she needs to be able to get
around more. She wants to make a grave marker. I found her a nice piece
of wood. IтАЩll pound it in when sheтАЩs got it carved.тАЭ

He shakes his head no, about five times. HeтАЩs still upset. тАЬWe
wrapped him in her grandmotherтАЩs old handsewn quilt.тАЭ

тАЬBut that quilt must be valuable.тАЭ