clean for decades , sometimes with my own toothbrush . And what do I have to show for it ? Gout and gingivitis .”
it do ?”
“ Why don ’ t you just remove the cage ? What does
8
“ Oh , and nightmares , too . Do you get ’ em ?” “ Nightmares ?”
“ I swear , I sometimes think I see the faces when I close my eyes . Maybe it ’ s us who ’ s been cursed .”
She looked to the sky for someone or something , a face peeking around a cloud , then said we could speak no more .
I stole glances at his wrist when I handed him his scotch and bread . He snapped his cane over my shoulder when my fingers grazed his chunky sweater . “ Don ’ t touch me , disgusting little boy !” he cried . “ Or I ’ ll flay you like I did your father .”
“ An old man like you couldn ’ t hurt my father !” I blurted , never one to resist my urges , and dodged a stream of books that came for my head .
But I saw it . The red mark on his wrist , a twisted nevus , the shape of head and horns .
It became my obsession . On some nights , the mark invaded my dreams . Once I dreamt that the creature sat across me at a poker table , hiding its grotesque features with a fan of cards . At its side were heaps of gold , while I