Chapter 6

           Hemadecigarettesinthedark,thenlitthemandpassedonetoher.Theroomheldherscent,freshlilac,pathetic.Thesmellofthedeserthadoverlaidit,crippledit.Itwaslikethesmellofthesea.Herealizedhewasafraidofthedesertahead.

           "HisnameisNort,"shesaid.Noharshnesshadbeenwornoutofhervoice."JustNort.Hedied."

           Thegunslingerwaited.

           "HewastouchedbyGod."

           Thegunslingersaid,"IhaveneverseenHim."

           "HewashereeversinceIcanremember-Nort,Imean,notGod."Shelaughedjaggedlyintothedark."Hehadahoneywagonforawhile.Startedtodrink.Startedtosmellthegrass.Thentosmokeit.Thekidsstartedtofollowhimaroundandsictheirdogsontohim.Heworeoldgreenpantsthatstank.Doyouunderstand?"

           "Yes."

           "Hestartedtochewit.Atthelasthejustsatinthereanddidn’teatanything.Hemighthavebeenaking,inhismind.Thechildrenmighthavebeenhisjesters,andthedogshisprinces."

           "Yes."

           "Hediedrightinfrontofthisplace,"shesaid."Hecameclumpingdowntheboardwalk-hisbootswouldn’twearout,theywereengineerboots-withthechildrenanddogsbehindhim.Helookedlikewireclotheshangersallwrappedandtwirledtogether.Youcouldseeallthelightsofhellinhiseyes,buthewasgrinning,justlikethegrinsthechildrencarveintotheirpumpkinsonAll-SaintsEve.Youcouldsmellthedirtandtherotandtheweed.Itwasrunningdownfromthecornersofhismouthlikegreenblood.IthinkhemeanttocomeinandlistentoShebplaythepiano