The Secret of the Dark (13 page)

“I said it wasn't locked. Surely it was closed. Five or bix bats didn't just accidentally fly into Granny's cabin and go up to my room. My door was closed too.” I realized I had a clear memory of my door closed. Even if Granny had left the front door open, the bats didn't fly up to my room and then close the door.

“Okay, that's a puzzle. But who would put bats — or anything — in your room, Valerie? There's no reason for it.”

“That's my problem exactly. I can think of no motive for such a prank.” Now I was calling it a prank.

“Then forget it.”

“I can't.” I was angry again. “I'm tired, Neal, and so are you. I think you'd better go home.”

He hesitated, then stood up. “Okay, maybe you're right. I don't want to get into an argument with you. Maybe we can go someplace together soon. I'll take you on a recording trip.”

“Okay. Call me when you're free and I'll get someone to stay here.” I didn't say it with much enthusiasm, and I backed off when he started to put his arms around me again. “Good-night, Neal.”

I lay awake again that night. Was Neal right? Were all the funny things that had happened to me jokes? I wished I could believe that. Apparently Neal did. He didn't even act interested, much less concerned. At least Rick was concerned. Could the different environment, the quiet of the mountains, make me exaggerate what had happened? Yes, maybe, but not the bats. Everything could be explained away except that.

I slept fitfully until about the middle of the night. Abruptly I sat up, more frightened than I've ever been by a dream. I was in total darkness, but all around me I could hear rattlesnakes rustling and one glassy body slipped across my foot. I didn't dare move.

After an hour or more of dreading going to sleep, I got up and went downstairs. I opened the refrigerator door and stood, looking in. I reached for the milk and poured some, not wanting it, but needing to try something. I'd never had trouble sleeping before. I carried it to the living room and sat in Granny's rocker.

Draining the glass, I took a deep breath and said to myself, surely you can sleep now. I started to the kitchen when the phone rang. It was too late for anyone to call, but I lifted the receiver so as not to wake Granny.

There was a soft, rustling sound. Once you've heard that sound you never forget it. It was the rattlesnake warning.

I said nothing but hung up quickly. I'd give no one the satisfaction of knowing how frightened I was. I shivered and could see the long, brownish body slide in front of me.

Back in my room I looked all around. Under the bed, in the closet, in my shoes, any place anything could hide. Then I stood in the window until my body protested if not my mind.

I got dressed and sat downstairs the rest of the night. The risk of going back to my dream was unthinkable.

It was the first time I'd known how early Granny got up. Light was just starting to come to the mountain when I heard her get up and go in the bathroom. Then she came to where I sat.

“You're up early, child. Anything wrong?”

“No, Granny. I just had a bad dream.”

Granny seemed interested and her mind was more clear when she was rested so I went on to tell her about the rattlers.

“Why, child. A snake dream means you have enemies.”

“Who would be my enemy, Granny? Why would anyone want to bother me?”

“I don't rightly know. But I'm powerful scared of snakes. I've had to kill a lot of them, but I let 'um go if I can. Once I heered about a right frail girl over to Possum Hollar. They gave her milk and bread every day to strengthen her up. She went off behind the barn to eat it every time. Finally her daddy follered her and found her giving part of her food to a snake. That snake'd stick his head out from under the barn to eat. Course, he killed the snake, but I reckon he was sorry.”

Granny had my undivided attention with her tall tale. “Why, Granny? Why was he sorry?”

“Cause not long after he killed that snake, that little girl got weaker and weaker till she died.”

“Do you believe that story, Granny?”

“Well, I don't disbelieve it. Snakes is powerful animals.”

I had told Granny my dream to get it off my mind. Now she'd told me a tall-snake story plus another one of her superstitions. To dream of snakes means you have enemies.

After breakfast, during which Granny complained about the jam again — she was determined to make an issue of store-bought jelly versus homemade — I attacked the piano. I took out my fear and frustration there. Granny sat listening. When I stopped she said, “Landsakes, child. That's powerful music.”

Powerful music for powerful animals — to chase them from my mind. Finally, feeling better, I sight-read some music from the piano bench.

“I've forgot that song,” Granny said.

I took the music over to her, hoping the notes were big enough for her to see. She held it a moment, then gave it back. “I cain't see that, child.”

“I'll play it over and over.” I figured Granny played mainly by ear anyway.

When I looked back at Granny, though, she had gone on one of her mind trips.

“Hit's getting darker and darker. I'm afraid of the dark.”

I knew it must be awful to know you were losing your eyesight. “It'll be all right, Granny. You can still play your guitar and sing.”

Granny strummed a few chords on her guitar. Then she went right into singing a song I hadn't heard, called “Jealous Lover.”

Which one? Did Granny “see” more than she let on? Did she sing that song for me? Did she think one of the guys was jealous or both of them were? Could either guy be so jealous he'd torment me?

Neal knew my fear of snakes. Would he think it funny to call me back last night with the rattle? Prove to me it was just a joke? I didn't think he'd do that, but by now I didn't know what to think.

Had Rick known Neal was here last night? Maybe he'd walked over and heard us talking. Heard me tell about more phone calls. He'd hear the silent spaces and guess Neal and I were kissing. I'd been with both of them several times now, but I couldn't believe either of them liked me so much he'd be jealous.

Maybe, maybe, maybe. Trying to second guess all this was impossible. Maybe even though lots of people acted glad I was here, it was an act. I had heard enough talk of strangers to know the hill people didn't take newcomers to their hearts often.

As
long as no one bothered Granny, I'd handle whatever was going on, I decided. But I wished I hadn't shared my problem with Neal, hadn't told him anything. He wasn't any help and I was disappointed with his response.

I felt as wilted as the flowers on the kitchen table.

“Granny, I'm going to get some fresh flowers. Want to go for a walk?”

“I reckon.” Granny pushed herself out of the rocker and smiled.

Slowly we walked up the path, keeping the cabin in sight. By the time we got up the hill to where flowers were growing in profusion, Granny was tired. I sat her on the flat rock under the shade tree where I'd been when Rick walked out of the fog.

Bees buzzed in the hot sunshine of mid-morning. They gathered pollen from the yellow centers of lavender-colored daisy look-alikes. The world seemed normal and beautiful. I wanted my world that way.

One arm loaded, I helped Granny up and took her arm for walking back down the path. “Why, you're cold, Granny. And in this heat.”

Her skin felt almost clammy.
Don't get sick, Granny
, I pleaded silently.
Please don't get sick
. I didn't need anything else to worry about.

Granny slept all afternoon and then picked at her supper. I read her Rue's letter again and parts of Dad's. We'd read them hurriedly the night before, after returning from town. They were saying they could see that their project would be winding down soon. That would be great. If they were in New York I could call them. Ask for advice. Maybe it was Granny's mood rubbing off on me. I had a bad case of homesickness and feeling lonely.

I had nothing to look forward to. Maybe I should have said I'd go caving with Neal and his dad.

I'd never had any trouble sleeping before this summer, but as soon as I lay down I started thinking about snakes. Then Granny's snake story came back. I knew it was farfetched mountain lore, but I remembered it anyway. I guess I was afraid that I'd dream if I went to sleep. Finally I sat up and looked at my fashion magazines.

I wrote Pam a cheerful letter, skipping the problems I was having. I didn't lie about the way the summer was shaping up. I just left out big pieces.

Mrs. Butterworth came up and curled beside me. Somehow her being there made me feel more secure. I turned off the light and fell asleep with my hand on her warm, furry body.

When I woke I felt so much better. The sun streamed in and I knew it was late. I was also starving. I guess I had picked at my food last night too. I laughed and picked out a blue skirt and blouse that were old, but favorites. I'd dress for a better day ahead.

“Morning, Granny,” I sang out as I backed down the stairs. She didn't answer so I looked to see if she'd gotten up and gone back to bed already. Her bed was rumpled but she wasn't there. Her rocker sat empty.

A tickle of fear flashed through my stomach, replacing the hunger pains.

“Granny!” I called out the front door. She wasn't on the porch. Mrs. Butterworth wasn't, either. In the yard I called again while I circled the house. Then I ran to the bathroom where the door was closed. I knocked, then with no answer, threw open the door. Empty.

Granny was gone!

CHAPTER

13

Don't panic
, I told myself. There are places that Granny could be. She could have gone for a walk to get more wild flowers to surprise me. I remembered how easily she had tired. Maybe she was sitting up on the hill.

She could have gone to By Golly's. For what reason? To prove she could “if she had a mind to.” Would she go off without telling me? I didn't know. The way her mind went back and forth in time, she could forget I was there.

Should I go to By Golly's? Did he have a phone? There was no phone book that I could find. I picked up the phone and found someone visiting. “Please may I have the line? This is an emergency. Granny is missing.” I may as well tell the party line. They could spread the word. To my surprise they got off without an argument.

I dialed the code for information. “What city?” The operator sounded like a machine.

“Catalpa Ridge,” I said.

“Go ahead.”

“Hillard … Hillard Talley.” Thank goodness I remembered his real name. I couldn't ask a computer or an operator in Little Rock if By Golly had a phone.

“There's no listing under that name. I'm sorry.” It must be an operator. A computer wouldn't say she was sorry.

The chance that Granny was at By Golly's was slim so I decided to call for help before I went.

There was no answer at Neal's house, so I called the doctor's office. “I'm sorry, Dr. Gallagher is with a patient.”

“This is an emergency.” It wasn't a medical emergency, I hoped. But who else to call? The inept sheriff?

It seemed like hours before Dr. Gallagher's voice came on.

“Dr. Gallagher, I'm sorry to bother you. This is Valerie Wreyford. Granny is gone. I've looked all over the house and outside. I don't know who else to call.”

“Okay, Valerie. Calm down.”

I thought I was being calm, but I guess my voice said otherwise.

“When did you last see her?”

“Last night. When I got up this morning, she was gone. So I don't know how long she's been gone.”

Had she got up to investigate some noise? Maybe someone had tried to scare me again with a noise in the night, and when I hadn't heard it, Granny went to investigate.

“Okay, I'll get Neal to come and help look. I'll see if I can get away. Then if you know other people to call, do so. With Granny's age, time is important so a search party is in order, even if she hasn't gone far.”

I felt better talking to Dr. Gallagher. I would have felt silly calling in a big search party only to have us find Granny sitting on a rock nearby.

Fleecy said she'd come stay at the house, and Cedrick could help look. I hesitated only for a moment, then dialed the code for Rick's number.

“Hi, sweet thing. What's up? Want to come over today? I'm not seeing enough of you.”

“No, Rick. I want you to come over here. Granny is gone and I need help looking for her.”

“Well …” Rick hesitated. Was he worried about missing a few tourists?

“I need you, Rick. Your dad can run things, can't he?”

“I'll see.”

“Look for her as you walk over. Call out. She can't see very well but her hearing is perfect.”

I had told Fleecy I was going to By Golly's. Maybe I should have asked Neal to drive there. But I had to do something. I couldn't sit and wait for people to come help me.

I put on my tennis shoes. Then, calling out every few steps, I started up the mountain, going by the big rock on the path first. I hurried as best I could as the path got steeper. Going down, I ran and slid, but was careful not to fall. It would do no good for me to get hurt looking for Granny.

I pounded on By Golly's door. Wasn't he home? I was almost ready to leave when I heard him inside say, “Hold your horses, I'm a' comin'.”

“Oh, hit's Valerie. I was taking me a little nap. What's wrong?” He read my face and I was still breathing hard.

“Granny's gone, Mr. Talley. I'd hoped she might have come over here.”

“I haven't seen hide nor hair of Annie since you was here. I misdoubt she'd come to visit me.”

“Thanks. I have to go back and keep looking.” I turned to leave.

“Wait just a minute. I'd like
to
help.” By Golly turned around and went back inside his house.