@@@@@Perhaps even in the poolBecause the pool
@@@@@Perhaps even
in the poolBecause the pool had been, for some
reason, safeOr so little Libbit had believed
1002
Noveen said, "It din' make Perse gone, but it
sholy did get her attentionI think it hoit dat
bitch The voice sounded tired now, croaky, and I
could see Jack's Adam's apple sliding up and down
in his throat again"I hope it did!"
"Yes," I saidwhat came
next?" But I knewNot the details, but I knew
The logic was grim and irrefutable"Perse took
her revenge on the twinsAnd Elizabeth and Nan
Melda knewThey knew what they didNan Melda
knew what she did
"She knew," Noveen saidIt was still a female
voice, but it was edging closer to Jack's all the
timeWhatever the spell was, it wouldn't hold
much longer"She held on until the Mister found
their tracks down on Shade Beach - tracks goin
into the water - but after that she couldn't hold
on no longerShe felt she got her babby-uns
killed
"Did she see the ship?" I askedYou cain't see that boat at
night and not believe
I thought of my Girl and Ship paintings and knew
that was the truth
1003
"But even before the Mister rung the high sheriff
on the s'change to say his twins was missin and
probably drownded, Perse done spoke to LibbitAn' Libbit tole Nanny
The doll slumped, its round cookie-face seeming to
study the heart-shaped box from which it had been
exhumed