| III.3.100 |
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In the living room of the Passareil house the furniture was cream colored, the thick
carpeting dulled the heaviest footfall and, within a glass clock a golden mechanism
revolved. Angel, having returned unexpectedly from Shining River the previous day was
slouched on the couch beside her mother, pretending to read. Her father, imminently
departing on a trip to the European Capital, moved about the room, at last picking up the
telephone on the bureau by the window. 'Five minutes, O.K? Then he sat opposite his wife
and daughter. 'You're not looking very cheerful, Angel. 'What brings you back?' 'I wanted to get away from all that religion for a few days, if you don't mind.' 'We're always glad to see you, Angel. Are you staying long?' 'As long as it takes to cure me.' Angel was praying that her father would leave before the Rev. Williams called. 'It's a pity you couldn't have let us know you were coming. We could have arranged to do something together.' 'You're going away in five minutes.' 'Well, yes I am, but... last night, I meant.' The phone rang and a chill descended Angel's spine. Passareil picked it up. 'Fine, Tom, be with you in a second. ' He kissed Vera. 'Back in a week. I suppose you'll be gone by then, Angel? Try not to let life get you down. Are you going to give me a kiss.' Angel shook her head. 'I wish you would not act that way towards your father,' said Vera when Passareil was gone. 'I do not know what has got in to you. Your father loves you very much. We both do, you know. You should have let him kiss you. He will be lying awake worrying about you now.' 'How do you know that, mother?' said Angel in a surly voice. 'Because I do. Why are you back here, Angel? What is wrong?' 'Don't ask stupid questions, mother. I'm sure you'll find out soon enough.' The Rev. Williams had hoped to effect a measure of surprise in his confrontation with Angel's parents but he was thwarted by another telephone call which Vera answered, noting Angel's agitation. 'Vera? Eldridge here.' 'Eldridge! How nice to hear from you again. It has been so long. ' Briefly Vera was agitated as well, afraid that Bluemud was going to proposition her before her daughter. 'Elizabeth has just called me. She says there's been some trouble involving your daughter. That man Williams is on his way up to see you. Has he arrived yet?' 'Oh no!' The mere mention of trouble in association with the Pastor's name was sufficient to make Vera blanch. 'Good! I hoped I'd beat him to it. I really don't know what going on. Something about a fight and a diary. I just thought I'd let you know.' Bluemud hung up. Vera turned angrily to Angel. 'Why didn't you tell me? We could have discussed it with your father.' 'That was exactly what I wanted to avoid,' said Angel. The Rev. Williams arrived, brandishing the diary. 'Good evening, Mrs. Passareil. I hope you'll excuse my arriving here so unexpectedly. Is your husband available? I hope it isn't inconvenient?' While the facts were laid before Vera, Angel had to leave. She retired to her own room and sat miserably on the bed. The room had been hers since she was born though she had not always lived here: Vera had taken her away when she was eight, she had not seen her father for seven years and it had been as an adolescent and the daughter of a high official that she returned. She used to love this place, holding, as it did, the memory of everything she held dear but now she felt that everything in it was a traitor and a lie. She knew now that there was no reason and no justice in the world: it was corrupt and awful. The loud, semi-hysterical shriek of a socially damaged female rang up from below, 'Angel!' And Angel returned, seeing the pair dimly. 'Angel, tell us about Mike,' said the Rev. Williams in a quiet voice and a look of the greatest sympathy in his eyes. 'Who told you about Mike? There's nothing in... ' 'No, Angel, there's nothing in your diary. Elizabeth Bluemud told us what happened to you when I asked her if she knew of any explanation for the things you wrote.' Angel paled and began trembling. She shouted, 'Elizabeth's a traitor, then!' 'Elizabeth should have told me before. As should you. I've already reprimanded her for not doing so. We made a mistake allowing the boys to come back, I don't deny that. But you weren't the only ones who had... unpleasant experiences. It seems to have affected you more than it did Elizabeth.' 'Those are terrible things you wrote in that diary, Angel. Terrible,' said Vera sadly. 'I do not know how you could write them.' 'You're just saying that, mother. You're a hypocrite!' 'Tell us about it, Angel,' said the Pastor, his voice still calm. 'No!' Angel began to cry. 'Nothing happened. Nothing of importance. They are both dead now. There's nothing I can say against them.' 'He did not rape you, did he, Angel?' said Vera. 'Mrs. Passareil!,' said the Pastor indignantly. 'These are delicate matters. They must be treated with the utmost circumspection! I doubt that Angel even knows... ' 'I do!' shouted Angel, 'and the answer is : mind you own business!' 'What is it that upsets you, child? Is it the War? The fact that Mike was killed?' Angel stared at them through her tears. They were monstrous, evil people! She could not restrain her indignation. She sneered, 'Tell us about Dentonsville, Reverend Williams. What happened to all those people in your flock?' Now it was Williams turn to go pale and tremble slightly. For a full minute he just stared at Angel, completely unable to speak. Finally he brought his emotions under control. He said stiffly, 'How did you know I was in Dentonsville, Angel?' 'You told us at the Tutor's Dinner.' 'But you referred to the people there. What do you know of them?' 'Nothing. Mike told me they are called the Country Folk.' 'He used those words?' 'Yes.' 'And how did he know they were from Dentonsville?' Angel's heart was sinking as she realized what she had said. She was on the verge of betraying everything, everyone. How could she have done it? She threw herself over on the couch and began to sob violently. But the Rev. Williams now was steely cold. He took Angel by the arm and shook her. 'Answer me, girl! How did he know they were from Dentonsville?' 'He knew because he asked them!' Angel sat up and screamed into the Pastor's face. 'Pastor, I really think that this should stop,' said Vera anxiously. 'No, no, Mrs. Passareil, we must get at what this boy told her. I hadn't realized it was quite so serious. This is more than just a simple crime. We must have the full truth. The sanctity of our great institutions is at stake. Continue, Angel. Elizabeth didn't tell me this. Did Mike tell Elizabeth as well?' 'No, of course he didn't. He was my boyfriend not hers.' 'And did you tell Elizabeth?' 'No... ' in her desperation, Angel faltered. 'Are you telling me the truth, Angel? Did you tell Elizabeth?' 'I..., I may have mentioned it.' 'Angel!' The Rev. Williams exploded. 'Do you know what you're saying? You passed on the lies this man told you to another and you have narrowly escaped corrupting her as well. It's very fortunate that Elizabeth is such a level headed girl.' 'Obviously, Lizzie can look after herself!' 'Yes, it's lucky that at least some people have the moral fiber to withstand such falsehoods!' 'Pastor!' Even Vera protested. But the Rev. Williams went on, 'isn't it a coincidence that of all the people in the world, Mike met those from Dentonsville? I doubt that more than a few hundred men went from Dentonsville to the War.' 'That isn't true,' screamed Angel. 'What isn't true?' the Pastor shouted back. 'Mike said there were many more than that. And there were women there as well as men. Just as many.' The Rev. Williams clapped his hands in dismay and looked at Vera. He was breathless. 'That's ridiculous! The boy just made it up.' 'He didn't! He didn't! Why should he? He was there! Mike knew they were women because he tore off their clothes and raped them! Then afterwards he killed them with a knife. I know he did! He told me!' There was a stunned silence in the room. Angel lay sobbing on the couch, the Rev. Williams could not keep his hands from shaking and Vera knew not where to look. Eventually she got up and lead Angel away and, when she returned the Rev. Williams was preparing to leave. 'A terrible thing,' he said, still very pale. 'A tragedy. Angel is in no condition to return to Shining River. We can't take the risk. I'm sorry, Mrs. Passareil, you'll have to speak to your husband and arrange a term of conditioning for her. Until she is passed by a competent examiner we cannot have her back.' |
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