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THE LIZARD
283
Mrs. Hurst drew her hand along the rope. "Beautiful colors, aren't they, Frank?"
Her husband tugged at the swing' ing hemp. "That's about all, though. Just junk they peddle to the tourists."
Ed closed his mouth and watched them move with vague indirection around the clearing. What do these people like? he a^ked himself. He stood in the center of the open space waiting until they turned back to him, and then led them down to the orchard.
THE trees were already heavy with green fruit, apples and cherries and several fig trees that were almost naked in contrast to the thick foliage of the others. He stopped to scratch his head and tilt his hat back to let the wind cool the sv/eat on his fore
head. His stomach began to knot into that sick feeling that came so regularly these days. The dizziness started behind his eyes. Hurst was saying, "These trees aren't in rows. You plant them?"
"Some of them were here when I got the place." He felt the rigidity of his jaws and reached up for a branch to steady himself. The thought kept pounding through the waves of dizziness: It's worth more than they've offered. Damn if I'll sell for twelve.
He led Hurst toward the orchard edge, to the brush that marked the beginning of the lot thick with spreading bay trees, white oaks, and thick bushes.
"This piece could be sold separately," Hurst said. "Someone could build on it. Is that another redwood grove up there?"
Ed nodded. "You could sell this to someone you'd like for a neighbor. Even then he wouldn't be too close to you. I've had plenty of offers for it." He saw the blankness that spread over Hurst's features veiling his thought.
"Would you consider selling the rest for ten thousand, and keeping this? I really don't need it."
He felt he ought to turn and walk away. "No. The whole thing, or nothing, the way I feel — for fifteen thousand."
"Guess I could sell it." The tall man's head moved from side to side, and Ed glanced toward Mrs. Hurst seated detached in the patio chair.
"We'd better find out what Mrs. Hurst thinks," he said. He wished the