So it meant Sylvia was lying.
The thought came to Maggie on a little wave ofshock. It made her feel as if she were suddenlyspeeding backwards, or as if the room were receding from her very fast.
But why?Why would Sylvia make up such a terrible story? It didn't make any sense.
Sylvia had a hand half covering her eyes now."I looked for him, but …there was icefall…a crevasse…"
No body. She's saying there's no body .
With that, a new wave of heat swept over Maggie.And, strangely, what made her certain of it was Sylvia's eyes.
Those violet eyes had been turned down for mostof the time Sylvia had beentalking, fixed on theSpanish tiles in the entry hall. But now, as Sylviagot to the last revelation, they had shifted toward Maggie. Toward Maggie's feet. They fixed there,slid away, and then came back and stayed.
It made Maggie glance down at her own feet.
My socks. She's staring at my socks.
One red and one blueand she's noticing that.
Like an actress who's said the same lines oftenenough that she doesn't even need to pay attention to them anymore.
All at once, hot anger was burning through Maggie's shock, filling her so there was no room foranything else. She stared hard at Sylvia,whoseemed to be very far away but very bright. And inthat same instant she knew for certain.
This girl is lying.
She must have done something-something terrible. And she can't show us Miles's body—or maybethere isn't a body because he's still alive.
Yes! Maggie felt suddenly lifted by hope. It is alla mistake. There's no reason for Miles to be dead.All we have to do is make Sylvia tell the truth.