Зима тревоги нашей

           OnlyayearagoMary’sbrotherDennisdiedinourhouse,dieddreadfully,ofaninfectionofthethyroidthatforcedthejuicesoffearthroughhimsothathewasviolentandterrifiedandfierce.HiskindlyIrishhorse-facegrewbestial.Ihelpedtoholdhimdown,topacifyandreassurehiminhisdeath-dreaming,anditwentonforaweekbeforehislungsbegantofill.Ididn’twantMarytoseehimdie.Shehadneverseendeath,andthisone,Iknew,mightwipeouthersweetmemoryofakindlymanwhowasherbrother.Then,asIsatwaitingbyhisbed,amonsterswamupoutofmydarkwater.Ihatedhim.Iwantedtokillhim,tobiteouthisthroat.MyjawmusclestightenedandIthinkmylipsfleeredbacklikeawolf’satthekill.

           Whenitwasover,inpanicguiltIconfessedwhatIhadfelttooldDocPeele,whosignedthedeathcertificate.

           "Idon’tthinkit’sunusual,"hesaid."I’veseenitonpeople’sfaces,butfewadmitit."

           "Butwhatcausesit?Ilikedhim."

           "Maybeanoldmemory,"hesaid."Maybeareturntothetimeofthepackwhenasickorhurtmemberwasadanger.Someanimalsandmostfishteardownandeataweakenedbrother."

           "ButI’mnotananimal—orafish."

           "No,you’renot.Andperhapsthat’swhyyoufinditforeign.Butit’sthere.It’sallthere."

           He’sagoodoldman,DocPeele,atiredoldman.He’sbirthedandburiedusforfiftyyears.

           BacktothatCongressintheDark—itmusthavebeenworkingovertime.