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284 Su
realtor were here. This selling was not his line. Money, money, he thought. If only he were younger. If only Sue were alive. He brushed sweat from his forehead again and wondered if the dizziness came from walking on the uneven ground, and knew it didn't. I keep forgetting my cane, he reminded himself.
She looked up. "What have you two decided?"
"Mr. Simmons wants fifteen, for all of it."
"How about the place we talked about yesterday?"
Ed felt the anger within himself. They had been figuring all the angles. He spoke quickly. "A great deal could be done here. You could landscape it." His lips were dry. "What do you think of the house?"
She took off her glasses for the first time and chewed on one of the bright'green prongs. "It is small. And — do you think it's too old, Frank? But I adore the fireplace. Would you include the vases?"
He knew Sue would object if she were alive. He tried to push the thought of her aside. "Yes, and the prints. And the bookcases. I'll even throw in the stove and refrigerator." He spoke directly to Hurst now. "You must have noticed how solid the house is built. That hardwood floor cost plenty. If I were feeling better I wouldn't sell at any price." Maybe with those fixtures, and that authentic folk-art — . He thought of something then. "Would you like to see the flowers and shrubbery on the other side?" Maybe he should have showed her around there first. Women liked flowers.
In^ lune, 1931
THEY followed him as he began to pass by the woodbox. Hurst was saying, "I'll go to twelve-five, Mr. Simmons," but he pretended not to hear. He stopped and pulled up on the hd of the woodbox. It was a false lid, raised so that there was a space an inch high between it and the real top of the box.
"Would you like to see my pet?" He tried to sound friendly. As he pulled up on the planking the lizard curled and straightened out on the box top. It twisted jerkily toward the wall just as Mrs. Hurst screamed and jumped back and fell into a thorny bush. He saw Hurst grab up the cane, raise it high, and crash it down on the box. A long piece of it flew up against the house with a dull clatter and then dropped back on the patio. Hurst cursed.
"Missed him," he rasped. Ed could hear branches crackling behind him. For an instant he thought that he should turn and help her, but he knew he couldn't. He closed his mouth and felt his nerves loosen slightly. Hurst said, "Are you hurt, Myrna?" as Ed peered around the corner and saw an armored tail disappear under the house. He breathed deep and walked back to the patio, closing his eyes for a few seconds against the dizziness. He didn't look back as Mrs. Hurst swore briefly but viciously.
Their steps scuffed hesitantly behind him in the dirt and he turned to face them. His mouth moved but no words came. Then his lips met and he said, "You can work out all