octave2029

@@@@@Then she handed it to me "Do you know what to do with this?" she asked I could see her strugglingThe word was there, but dancing just out of reachI could give it to her, but I remembered how furious it made me when people did that, and waited"Did him tell you what to do with it?" "Yes "Then what are you waiting for? Take the bitch I carried the tin up one side of the tennis court to the little pondThe fish were jumping at the surface, a lot more excited by the rain than I was There was a little pile of stones beside the bench, just as Wireman had said there would beI tossed one in ("You might not think she could hear that, but her ears are very sharp," Wireman had told me), being careful to avoid beaning one of the carp Then I took the tin, with the figurine still inside, back into the houseBut not into the China ParlorI went into the kitchen, removed the 370 lid, and pulled out the wrapped figureThis hadn't been in Wireman's set of contingency instructions, but I was curious It was a china woman, but the face had been chipped awayThere was only a ragged blank where it had been "Who's there?" Elizabeth shrieked, making me jump I almost dropped the creepy little thing on the floor, where it surely would have shattered on the tiles "Just me, Elizabeth," I called back, laying the figure on the counter "Edmund? Or Edgar, or whatever your name is?" "Right I went back into the parlor "Did you take care of that business of mine?" "Yes, ma'am, I sure did "Have I had my snack yet?" "Yes "Do you want something else? I'm sure I could-" "No thanks, ho