There was no hesitation, no preparation. He didn’t even say what he was doing, only asked Dobbs and Browning to take Charlie’s coffin out the front, where the villagers could see. Theywere not to say what was to come—it must be a surprise. As they’d told him, they didn’t want to raise hopes unnecessarily. Take the coffin out and make some excuse, and he’d be there in a moment. Doc Adams ought to speak to anyone still outside. With that, Eleazar and the old man disappeared into the kitchen.
Browning was still carrying Charlie’s coffin to the door when Eleazar appeared.
“Rene has passed,” he announced.
“What?” Dobbs nearly dropped his end of the coffin.
“It was swift and merciful. Doctor, could you please confirm it is done? He’s resting in the back.”
Doc Adams did as he was asked, while Browning and Dobbs carried the coffin outside.
Most people had gone home now, content to wait and hear what the mysterious men wanted. Some had lingered, though, and when they brought out the coffin, a gasp went up.
“All is fine,” Doc Adams assured them as he came out. “All is fine. The men have asked us to bring one of our dearly departed into the sunlight, so they might better see his condition.”
Whispers snaked through the smattering of people. The men were doctors then, or scientists. A few left in disappointment.
As Browning stepped away from his son’s closed casket, he caught sight of a man striding along the road, a slender woman beside him, her blond hair pushed up under a bonnet.
Preacher. Bringing his schoolteacher wife to chastise them.
He’s going to stop this. Take away your chance. Take away your Charlie.
The warnings seemed to slide around him, whispers like…
The voice of God. That’s what it was. Resurrection was God’s work, and now this “preacher” thought he’d stop it. The preacher who hadn’t stopped Charlie from dying. The preacher whose own daughter lived. A girl who’d wanted to see his son before he passed.
The voice whispered,You know there’s a reason she lived. And a reason your son died. A strong, healthy boy, older than the rest, contracts the illness after the rest? It’s unnatural.
Browning shoved past the villagers, ignoring their grunts of surprise. He bore down on Preacher. The schoolteacher started forward, chin raised, eyes flashing, but her husband pulled her back with a whispered word. He strode forward to meet Browning.
“If you dare—” Browning began.
“Dare what? Dare stop you from something we both know will fail?” Preacher said, lowering his voice. “If I thought it would do any good, I’d try, but your course is clearly decided. Nothing will help now but for you toseefailure, however hard that will be for all of us.”
Browning clenched and unclenched his fists. The rage still wound around his gut like a cyclone.
Hit him. Show him who’s the mayor.
But he’s given me no cause.
Hit him anyway. Drive him off. Tell him begone. He’s a doubting Thomas. He’ll spoil everything.
“If you’ll excuse us,” the schoolteacher said, elbowing between the men. “Addie is here somewhere, and we’d like to find her.”
Browning looked down at the woman. It took a moment for his gaze to focus, the rage still nearly blinding him. He felt his fists clench again. Felt them start to rise. Then he realized what he was doing, whom he was about to hit, and they dropped quickly, and he stepped back.
“Thank you,” the schoolteacher said.
“Your Worship?” It was Eleazar, calling to him. “We’re ready to begin.”
Addie
Addiecould see Charlie’s closed coffin, out in front of the community hall. She could also see Preacher and Sophia, searching for her in the small gathering. She started scooting around the building, but her foster parents were splitting up now, one heading for each side, knowing if she wasn’t in the crowd, she was still in the forest.
She raced to the back porch and swung onto the railing, then up to the roof.
Like Charlie taught me to do.
