everything。　That’s　where　he　crushed　my　father’s　face　and　skull；　that’s　where　he

killed him。 I brought him down here so the children wouldn’t see and so I

might have a chance to caution you。 After you three left； I also went out。

Father　was　home　by　himself。”

“I　was　not　aware　of　that；”　she　said　insolently。　“Where　were　you？”

I wanted her to take careful note of my silence。 Then I said； “I was with

Black。　I　met　with　Black　in　the　house　of　the　Hanged　Jew。　But　you　won’t　breathe

a　word　of　this　to　anyone。　Nor；　for　the　time　being；　will　you　mention　that　my

father　has　been　killed。”

“Who　was　it　that　murdered　him？”

Was　she　truly　such　an　idiot　or　was　she　trying　to　corner　me？

“If　I　knew；　I　wouldn’t　hide　the　fact　that　he　was　dead；”　I　said。　“I　don’t　know。

Do　you？”

“How　should　I　know　anything？”　she　said。　“What　are　we　going　to　do　now？”

“You’re　going　to　behave　as　if　nothing　whatsoever　has　happened；”　I　said。　I

felt　the　urge　to　wail；　to　burst　out　crying；　but　I　restrained　myself。　We　both　were

quiet。

200

Much　later；　I　said；　“Forget　about　the　fish　for　now；　set　out　the　dishes　for　the

children。”

She　objected　and　started　to　cry；　and　I　put　my　arms　around　her。　We　hugged

each　other　tightly。　I　loved　her　then；　momentarily　pitying；　not　only　myself　and

the children； but all of us。 But even as we embraced