Addie spun and bolted out the kitchen door.
Browning
MayorBrowning’s wife was home now with Charlie. When he’d left, she’d been sitting at their son’s bedside, watching him sleep, looking very much as she had the night before, sitting at his coffin’s side. She’d even had the same look on her face, anxious and afraid.
When he’d first told her the news, she’d shouted at him, for the first time in their marriage. She’d even thrown something—a plate she’d been washing, shattering it against the wall as she cursed him. She seemed to think he was pulling a prank. Yes, he’d been known to make them. Yes, sometimes, perhaps, they bordered on cruel, but this was not one he’d ever have attempted. He’d struck her, another first for their marriage. Struck her full across the face, bellowing at her that she was an ungrateful wretch, that he’d done this for her—brought back her boy—and this was how she treated him.
She’d raced out of the house then, not even pausing for a bonnet or a cloak, gathering her skirts and running like a girl through the streets, graying hair streaming behind her.
Now they were home. Her boy was home. Yet she was not beside herself with joy. Not falling to her knees to thank the Lord. She hovered over Charlie, pushing his cowlick aside, tentatively, as if the slightest touch might send him back to the other side. It was not what Browning expected. Not what hewanted. But he supposed it might take time for her to accept the miracle as real.
Eleazar had summoned him back to the community hall. Yes,summonedhim, as if he were a common innkeeper. That rankled, but Browning reminded himself of the incredible debt he owed the man. Eleazar wished to speak about the other children, and he had a right to be somewhat abrupt—time was wasting, the children were wasting.
So Browning returned to the community hall. Doc Adams and Dobbs were already inside with Eleazar.
“How is Charlie?” Dobbs asked.
“Tired. Sleeping.”
“That’s to be expected,” Eleazar said. “I fear he will not be his usual self for several days. He will require sleep, and he may be somewhat confused. His memory is weakened also. Do not overtax him.”
“We won’t,” Browning said.
“Now, on to the matter at hand—the rest of the children. Doctor? As I was saying, I’ll ask that you go round the parents up now. I’ll need them all here to discuss my fee.”
“About that,” Doc Adams said. “I’ve been thinking on the…other part. I-I’m not certain how to tell?—”
“You won’t. Just bring them here. I’ll discuss the rest with these two gentlemen.”
As the doctor left, his words repeated in Browning’s mind.The other part.How would they tell people that to bring their children back, they had to pay a life? Before Charlie was resurrected, it had seemed simple enough. Of course people would pay that price, terrible though it was. This was their children. His own wife would have gladly given her life for their son.
Except, now, having seen Charlie return, Browning wasn’t as certain. No, in fact, he was quite sure that if he’d told Dorothythe cost, she’d have flown at him like a harpy, as she’d done when he said Charlie was back. She’d never have believed him. She certainly wouldn’t have offered to die for the chance to resurrect their son. She’d have thought him mad.
It is madness. Desperate madness.How had they ever agreed?—
No, not madness. Charlie was alive.
“How’re we gonna do it?” Dobbs asked, and when Browning looked over, the blacksmith was sitting down, his face pale.
“Strangulation,” Eleazar said. “That is the swiftest and cleanest way.”
Dobbs raised his gaze to the man, his eyes filling with horror. “I only meant finding volunteers. We don’t need to…to…takethem, too, do we?”
“Do you expect me to?” Eleazar’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “I took Rene’s life because I owed him as much, for his years of service. He trusted me to be swift and kind. It is still an unpleasant task, one I don’t intend to repeat six more times.”
Dobbs looked as if he might be sick. Browning’s mind reeled.Six times.Strangle six people. Take six lives. How had this seemed simple before?
“Now, you must do it quietly,” Eleazar said. “You cannot announce this price or you will have chaos. Even if you get your volunteers, there will be resentments and rancor for years.”
“Even if we get our volunteers?”Browning turned to the man. “I thought… You’ve done this before. People must have volunteered.”
“Certainly. If, as I said, they are ill or elderly and wish to escape this life. Sometimes, though, that is not the case, which is what it seems here.”
“Then how…?” Browning swallowed. “You brought Charlie back in front of them. Now the doctor is out telling them theycan have their children back for three hundred dollars. If they arrive and we say it’s not true…”
“It damned well better be true,” Dobbs said, pushing to his feet. He turned on Browning. “You tricked me.”
“What—”
