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en invented some nonexistent paintings of your own and wrote about them instead。〃
〃Jesus； do you realize how crazy that sounds？〃
〃Yes； I do。 But you can show me how crazy it is by letting me read the article you wrote。 If there's no mention of that weird orange…〃
〃Burnt orange…〃
〃All right； burnt orange painting in your article； then you can easily prove me wrong。 I'll apologize； and that'll be that。〃
〃That'll be that； just like that？ And then you'll expect me to forgive your wild accusation as if you'd never made it； right？〃
〃I said that I might be wrong； and I sincerely hope that I am。 It's easy enough to prove me wrong； isn't it？ What I do know though； and there's nothing you can ever say to persuade me that I'm wrong； is that Debierue never painted that picture in your hotel room。 You painted it。 It was still wet when I touched it…including Debierue's signature。 And the only reason I can possibly e up with for you to do such a thing is because you want to write about it； and pass it off as Debierue's work。 I…I don't know what to think； James； the whole thing has given me a headache。 And really…you may not believe this…I actually don't care！ Honestly； I don't！ But I don't want you to get into any trouble； either。 Arson is a very serious offense； James。〃
〃No shit？〃
〃It isn't funny； I'll tell you that much。 And if you did set fire to Debierue's house； you should tell me！〃
〃Why？ So you can turn me in to the police for arson？〃
〃Oh； James；〃 she wailed。 Berenice put her face into cupped hands and began to cry。
〃All right； Berenice；〃 I said quietly； after I had let her cry for a minute or so； 〃I'll tell you what I'm going to do。〃 I handed her my handkerchief。
She shook her head； took a Kleenex tissue out of her purse； and blew her nose with a refined honk。
〃You're right； Berenice； on all counts；〃 I continued； 〃and I might as well admit it。 I guess I got carried away； but it isn't too late。 Setting the fire was an accident。 I didn't do it on purpose。 The old man had spified some turpentine； and I accidentally dropped my cigarette and it caught。 I thought I'd put it out； but apparently it flared up again。 Do you see？〃
She nodded。 〃I thought it was something like that。〃
〃That's the way it happened； I guess。 But painting the picture was another matter。 I don't know how I expected to get away with it； and the chances are I would've chickened out at the last minute anyway。 What I'll do is throw the picture away； and then rewrite the article altogether； using the information I've actually got。〃
〃He told us lots of interesting things。〃
〃Sure he did。〃
There was a dirt road on the right； leading into a thick stand of pines。 I made the turn； shifted down to second gear； but kept up the engine speed because of the sand。
〃Where are you going？〃
〃I'm going to drive back in here well off the highway and burn the painting。〃
〃You can wait until morning； can't you？〃
〃No。 I think that the sooner I get rid of it the better。 If I kept it I might change my mind again。 It would be possible； you know； to get away with it…〃
〃No； it wouldn't； James；〃 she said crisply。
The sandy road； after more than a mile； ended in a small clearing。 The clearing was filled with knee…high grass； and we were pletely surrounded by second…growth slash pine。 It would be another two years； at least； before these trees would be tall enough to cut。 I left the lights on and cut the engine。 Without another word I got out of the car； opened the trunk with the key； and picked up the tire iron。 It was about ten inches long； quite hefty； and the flattened end； although it wasn't sharp； was thin enough to make a good cutting edge。 Rounding the car on Berenice's side； I brought the heavy iron down on her head。
〃Ooauh！〃 She expelled her breath； clasped both hands over her head； and turned her face toward me。 Her eyes were wide and staring； but her face was expressionless。 I hadn't hit her hard enough； or I had miscalculated the thickness of her hair； piled on top of her head； which had cushioned the blow。 I hit her on top of the head again； much harder this time； and she slumped down in the seat。
I opened the door； grabbed the thick collar of her polo coat； and dragged her out of the car。 She was inert； unbelievably heavy； and her left leg was still in the front seat。 I was working one…handed； still clutching the tire iron in my right hand； and trying to free her leg from the car door； when she convulsed； roiled over； and came up off the ground； head down； butting me in the stomach like a goat。
Caught by surprise； I fell backward and my shoulder hit a splintered tree stump。 At the same time my left elbow banged against the ground sharply； right on the ulna bone。 My right shoulder felt as if it were on fire； and crazy prickles from my banged funny bone danced inside my forearm。 I dropped the tire iron； rubbed my right shoulder with the fingers of my left hand； and the pain in my elbow and shoulder gradually subsided。 Through the trees； and getting farther away every second； Berenice's voice screamed shrilly。 I picked up the tire iron。
I turned off the headlights and started after her； judging direction by the sound of her screams； which were growing fainter； in the dark forest。 Berenice ran awkwardly； like most women； and she was hampered by the knee…length coat。 I didn't think she could run far； but I was unable to catch up with her。 I tried to run myself； but after tripping over a stump and sprawling full length on the damp ground； I settled for a fast walk。
The screaming stopped； and so did I。 The abrupt silence startled me and； for the first time； I was frightened。 I had to find her。 If she got away； everything was over for me… everything。
I moved ahead； walking slower now； searching every foot of ground； now that my eyes had bee adjusted to the dim light。 A light mist hovered a hundred feet above the trees； but there was a moon； and I could see a little better with every passing moment。 The trees thinned out and the wet ground began to get mushy。 I was on the edge of a swamp； and after another fifty yards or so； I came to the edge of a lake of black； stagnant water。 I knew Berenice well enough to know that she wouldn't have plunged into that inky water。 The way was easier going toward the left； and I took it； figuring that she would do the same。
I found her a few minutes later； catching sight of her light…colored coat。 She was in a prone position； with her legs spread awkwardly； partially hidden under a spreading dogwood tree。 Afraid to touch her； I rolled her over on her back。 A pale shaft of moonlight filtered through the tree branches； lighting her bloody face and wide staring eyes。
I didn't know whether she was dead or not； but I had to make certain。 There was one thing I did know。 I wouldn't have been able to hit her again。 As I knelt down beside her and opened her coat； an aroma of Patou's Joy filled my nostrils with loss。 I put my head down on her chest and listened for a heartbeat。 Nothing。 Berenice was dead； but my blows on her head hadn't killed her。 She had died from shock。 No one； mortally wounded； would have been able t