her arms and stood where she was on the cactus carpet.
“Ah, Christ.” He ran his hands through his hair. “You’re a piece of work.”
She reached out, took his hand. “We’re going to finish this together. Now come on. Let’s get out of this room. I don’t think I like it here, after all.”
Their fingers interlaced, and the room where he had lived for a time as a child dissolved.
4
Dan had time to register the hood of Billy’s pickup folded around one of the thick posts holding up the Roof O’ the World lookout tower, its busted radiator steaming. He saw the mannequin version of Abra hanging out the passenger-side window, with one plastic arm cocked jauntily behind her. He saw Billy himself trying to open the crumpled driver’s side door. Blood was running down one side of the old man’s face.
Something grabbed his head. Powerful hands twisting, attempting to snap his neck. Then Abra’s hands were there, tearing Rose’s away. She looked up. “You’ll have to do better than that, you cowardly old bitch.”
Rose stood at the railing, looking down and resetting her ugly hat at the correct angle. “Did you enjoy your uncle’s hands around your throat? How do you feel about him now?”
“That was you, not him.”
Rose grinned, her bloody mouth yawning. “Not at all, dear. I just made use of what he has inside. You should know, you’re just like him.”
She’s trying to distract us, Dan thought. But from what? That?
It was a small green building—maybe an outside bathroom, maybe a storage shed.
(can you)
He didn’t have to finish the thought. Abra turned toward the shed and stared at it. The padlock creaked, snapped, and fell into the grass. The door swung open. The shed was empty except for a few tools and an old lawnmower. Dan thought he’d felt something there, but it must only have been overwrought nerves. When they looked up again, Rose was no longer in view. She had retreated from the railing.
Billy finally managed to get the door of his truck open. He got out, staggered, managed to keep his feet. “Danny? You all right?” And then: “Is that Abra? Jesus, she’s hardly there.”
“Listen, Billy. Can you walk to the Lodge?”
“I think so. What about the people in there?”
“Gone. I think it would be a very good idea if you went now.”
Billy didn’t argue. He started down the slope, wallowing like a drunk. Dan pointed at the stairs leading to the lookout platform and raised questioning eyebrows. Abra shook her head
(it’s what she wants)
and began leading Dan around Roof O’ the World, to where they could see the very top of Rose’s stovepipe hat. This put the little equipment shed at their backs, but Dan thought nothing of this now that he had seen it was empty.
(Dan I have to go back now just for a minute I have to refresh my)
A picture in his mind: a field filled with sunflowers, all opening at once. She needed to take care of her physical being, and that was good. That was right.
(go)
(I’ll be back as soon as)
(go Abra I’ll be fine)
And with any luck, this would be over when she came back.
5
In Anniston, John Dalton and the Stones saw Abra draw a deep breath and open her eyes.
“Abra!” Lucy called. “Is it over?”
“Soon.”
“What’s that on your neck? Are those bruises?”
“Mom, stay there! I have to go back. Dan needs me.”
She reached for Hoppy, but before she could grasp the old stuffed rabbit, her eyes closed and her body grew still.
6
Peering cautiously over the railing, Rose saw Abra disappear. Little bitchgirl could only stay here so long, then she had to go back for some R & R. Her presence at the Bluebell Campground wasn’t much different from her presence that day in the supermarket, only this manifestation was much more powerful. And why? Because the man was assisting her. Boosting her. If he were dead when the girl returned—
Looking down at him, Rose called: “I’d leave while you still have the chance, Danny. Don’t make me punish you.”
7
Silent Sarey was so focused on what was going on at Roof O’ the World—listening with every admittedly limited IQ point of her mind as well as with her ears—that she did not at first realize she was no longer alone in the shed. It was the smell that finally alerted her: something rotten. Not garbage. She didn’t dare turn, because the door was open and the man out there might see her. She stood still, the