按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃I've never believed in clairvoyance or premonitions。〃
〃Neither have I；〃 Grace said。 〃But now I wonder。 After all； I have two nightmares about you getting hurt； and the next thing I hear is that you've had two close calls； just as if you were acting out a script or something。〃
They sat at the small table by the kitchen window。 Carol was wearing one of Grace's robes and a pair of Grace's slippers while her own clothes finished drying out。
〃Only one close call；〃 she told Grace。 〃The lightning。 That was a gut…wrencher； all right。 But I wasn't really in any danger this morning。 That poor girl was the one who nearly got killed。〃
Grace shook her head。 〃No。 It was a close call for you； too。 Didn't you tell me you slid toward the oning traffic when you braked to avoid the girl？ And didn't you say the Cadillac missed you by an inch or less？ Well； what if it hadn't missed？ If that Caddy had rammed your little VW； you certainly wouldn't have walked away without a scratch。〃
Frowning； Carol said； 〃I hadn't looked at it that way。〃
〃You've been so busy worrying about the girl that you haven't had a chance to think about yourself。〃
Carol ate a bite of spice cake and washed it down with coffee。 〃You're not the only one having nightmares。〃 She summarized her own dream： the severed heads； the houses that dissolved behind her as she passed through them； the flickering； silvery object。
Grace clasped her hands around her coffee cup and hunched over the table。 There was worry in her blue eyes。 〃That's one nasty dream。 What do you make of it？〃
〃Oh； I don't think it's prophetic。〃
〃Why couldn't it be？ Mine appear to have been。〃
〃Yes； but…it doesn't follow that both of us are turning into soothsayers。 Besides； my dream didn't make a whole lot of sense。 It was just too wild to be taken seriously。 I mean； severed heads that suddenly e to life…that sort of thing isn't really going to happen。〃
〃It could be prophetic without being literally prophetic。 I mean； it might be a symbolic warning。〃
〃Of what？〃
〃I don't see any easy interpretation of it。 But I
really think you ought to be extra careful for a while。 God； I know I'm starting to sound like a phony gypsy fortune…teller； like Maria Ouspenskya in all those old monster movies from the thirties； but I still don't think you should dismiss it as just an ordinary dream。 Especially not after what's already happened。〃
***
Later； after lunch； as Grace squirted some liquid soap into the sinkful of dirty dishes； she said； 〃How's the situation with the adoption agency？ Does it look like they'll give you and Paul a child soon？〃
Carol hesitated。
Grace glanced at her。 〃Something wrong？〃
Taking the dish towel from the rack and unfolding it； Carol said； 〃No。 Not really。 O'Brian says we'll be approved。 It's a sure thing； he says。〃
〃But you're still worried about it。〃
〃A little；〃 Carol admitted。
〃Why？〃
〃I'm not sure。 It's just that。。 I've had this feeling。。。〃
〃What feeling？〃
〃That it won't work out。〃
〃Why shouldn't it？〃
〃I can't shake the idea that somebody's trying to stop us from adopting。〃
〃Who？〃
Carol shrugged。
〃O'Brian？〃 Grace asked。
〃No； no。 He's on our side。〃
〃Someone on the remendations mittee？〃
〃I don't know。 I don't actually have any evidence of ill will toward Paul and me。 I can't point my finger at anyone。〃
Grace washed some silverware； put it in the drainage rack； and said； 〃You've wanted to adopt for so long that you can't believe it's finally happening； so you're looking for boogeymen where there aren't any。〃
〃Maybe。〃
〃You're just spooked because of the lightning yesterday and the accident this morning。〃
〃Maybe。〃
〃That's understandable。 It spooks me； too。 But the adoption will go through as smooth as can be。〃
〃I hope so；〃 Carol said。 But she thought about the lost set of application forms； and she wondered。
***
By the time Paul got back from the adoption agency； the rain had stopped； though the wind was still cold and damp。
He got the ladder out of the garage and climbed onto the least slanted portion of the many…angled roof。 The wet shingles squeaked under his feet as be moved cautiously across the slope toward the television antenna； which was anchored near a brick chimney。
His legs were rubbery。 He suffered from a mild case of acrophobia； a fear that had never bee incapacitating because he occasionally forced himself to challenge and overe it； as he was doing now。
When he reached the chimney； he put a hand against it for support and looked out across the roofs of the neighboring homes。 The storm…dark September sky had settled lower； lower； until it appeared to be
only six or eight feet above the tallest houses。 He felt as if he could raise his arm and rap his knuckles on the bellies of the clouds； eliciting a hard； ironlike clank。
He crouched with his back to the chimney and inspected the TV antenna。 The brace…plate was held down by four bolts that went through the shingles； either directly into a roof beam or into a stud linking two beams。 None of the bolts was missing。 None of them was loose。 The plate was firmly attached to the house； and the antenna was anchored securely to the plate。 The antenna could not possibly have been responsible for the hammering sound that had shaken the house。
***
After washing the dishes； Grace and Carol went into the study。 The room reeked of cat urine and feces。 Aristophanes had made his toilet on the seat of the big easy chair。
Stunned； Grace said； 〃I don't believe it。 Ari always uses the litter box like he's supposed to do。 He's never done anything like this before。〃
〃He's always been a fussy cat； hasn't he？ Fastidious。〃
〃Exactly。 But now look what he's done。 That chair'll have to be reupholstered。 I guess I'd better find the silly beast； put his nose to this mess； and give him a good scolding。 I don't want this to bee a habit； for God's sake。〃
They looked in every room； but they couldn't find Aristophanes。 Apparently； he had slipped out of the house by way of the pet door in the kitchen。
Returning to the study with Grace； Carol said； 〃Earlier； you mentioned something about Ari tearing up a few things。〃
Grace winced。 〃Yes。 I didn't want to have to tell you…but he shredded two of those lovely little needlepoint pillows you made for me。 I was sick about it。 After all the work you put into those； and then he Just…；'
〃Don't worry about it；〃 Carol said。 〃I'll make you a couple of new pillows。 I enjoy doing it。 Needlepoint relaxes me。 I only asked because I thought maybe； if Ari's been doing a lot of things that're out of character； it might be a sign that he isn't well。〃
Grace frowned。 〃He looks healthy。 His coat's glossy； and he's certainly as spry as ever。〃
〃Animals are like people in some ways。 And when a person suddenly starts behaving strangely； that can
be an indication of a physical malady； anything from a brain tumor to an inbalanced diet。〃
〃I suppose I ought to take him to the vet。〃
Carol said； 〃While there's a break in the rain； why don't we go outside and see if we can find him？〃
〃Wasted effort。 When a cat doesn't want to be found； it won't be found。 Besides； he'll