Transcript for:
Summary of East of Eden Chapter 1

East of Eden by John Steinbeck retold by Mary Gladwin chapter 1 the new Americans the selenis valley is long and narrow and it lies between two mountain ranges in Northern California the selenous river twists and turns through the center until it falls at last into Monterey Bay I remember the gabilan mountains to the east of the valley they were light and sunny and lovely and they invited you to climb into their warm Foothills the Santa lucias stood up Darkly against the sky to the west and they were unfriendly and dangerous I always loved the East and feared the west but I don't know why maybe it was because the morning came over the peaks of the gabal lands and the night approach approached from the Santa luas the floor of the Selenas Valley was wide and flat after a rainy winter the valley was carpeted with spring flowers of all colors bright blue and white burning orange red and mustard yellow in the shade of the oak trees green plants grew and gave a good smell in June the grasses on the Hills turned gold and yellow and red the soil in the valley was deep and Rich but in the Foothills it was poor and thin there were good years when the rainfall was plentiful but there were also very bad years the water came in a 30 years cycle there would be five or six wet wonderful years followed by six or seven good years then came the dry years when the earth dried and cracked and the stream stopped the grass was scarce the cattle grew thin and a hot dry wind blew dust down the valley then the farmers and the ranchers hated the selenous valley some families would sell out for nearly nothing and move away during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years and when the wet years returned they lost all memory of the dry years it was always that way the first people who lived in the Selenas Valley were the Indians they lived on insects nuts and shellfish then came the soldiers and Priests sent by the king of Spain they explored the land greedily for gold and souls they made maps and named everything they saw buav Vista was a beautiful view Laguna sea was a dry lake and Selenas was white like salt after that came the Americans even greedier because there were more of them they occupied the valley land first then moved into the Foothills soon there were wooden farmhouses and growing families wherever there was water the farmers planted Square fields of corn and wheat and long lines of trees to protect the top soil from the wind the trails between the Farms became roads stores and workshops opened along the roads and little towns grew up around them Bradley King City Greenfield and this is the way the selenis valley was when my grandfather brought his wife and settled in the Foothills east of King City I must depend on stories old photographs and memories to tell you the story of The Hamiltons young Samuel Hamilton and his wife came from the north of Ireland in around 1870 he was the son of small farmers not rich but not poor they were well educated and well read and they were related to Great families as well as humble ones I did not know why Samuel left that green land he was not a political man so he surely was not a rebel he was perfectly honest so it was not the police in my family they whispered that he loved a woman who was not his wife Samuel was good-looking and Charming with very blue eyes he came to the selus Valley with his hard little Irish wife Liza who was as humorless as a chicken she had a strict moral code and she disapproved of everything that was pleasant we never knew how Samuel Med had married her he was a man full of love but his wife never showed her feelings when they arrived in the selenis valley all the good land was taken so they settled on the poor land in the Hills to the east of King City City Samuel took one piece of land for himself one for his wife and another for their unborn child over the years nine children were born four boys and five girls and more land was added to the ranch each time if the land had been good the Hamilton would have been rich but the soil was poor and there was no water so their cattle stayed thin even in good years Samuel was full of energy and invention he built a house and a barn and a blacksmith shop he was a good Carpenter and clever with his hands but he never made any money he built a machine for digging Wells and he found water on other men's land but not on his and he invented another machine that harvested other Farmers wheat other men took Samuel's ideas and made money from them but he never did men came from all over the valley to his blacksmith shop he repaired their tools and replaced their horseshoes but he was not a businessman his customers promised to pay him after the Harvest then after Christmas then they forgot and he did not know how to remind them men also came to the blacksmith's shop just to visit Samuel they loved to listen to his Rich deep voice as he talked about the world outside the selenous valley he had a gift for telling stories and there were always three or four men standing around him as he hammered they brought whiskey too and drank it away from Mrs Hamilton's watchful eye Samuel was a good listener and people trusted him with their secrets he had some knowledge of medicine as well and a gentle touch he delivered all of his own children and neighbors often called him to help with a difficult birth there were not many doctors at that time soon all the land was settled in the Foothills around the selenis valley it was given by the government to people who agreed to build on it many settlers took more land than they needed because in Europe land meant wealth in California though some men owned large Farms but they were still poor although many people arrived Ulus in the selenis valley others arrived with money to start a new life they bought the best land in the valley built fine houses and planted wheat Adam tras was one of these [Music] men chapter 2 brothers and Rivals Adam tras was born on a farm near a little town in Connecticut in 1862 6 months after his father Cyrus joined the army it was the time of the American Civil War Cyrus tras enjoyed his short training period and the drinking and gambling and women that were part of army life then he marched South with the Connecticut soldiers he first saw the enemy at 8:00 on a spring morning at 8:30 a bullet tore through his right leg and an army doctor cut the leg off below the knee it was painful but he recovered quickly and returned home 6 weeks after Adam's birth with a wooden leg that he'd made himself he also brought back a disease that a woman had given him in the army camp when his wife caught this disease she asked herself why she believed that it was the result of some forbidden dreams she had had during her husband's absence she then punished herself by holding her head under the shallow water of a muddy pool until she drowned Cyrus drowned his sorrow in whiskey and when baby Adam cried he gave him whiskey too after 3 days Cyrus bought a goat and the baby drank its milk Adam not only survived but was also strong and healthy Cyrus wanted a woman to look after Adam and himself so a month later he chose the 17-year-old daughter of a neighboring farmer two weeks after that they were married and she was pregnant the neighbors were not surprised men often had three or four wives in a normal lifetime Alice tras had many good qualities she kept the house clean and she never complained she never spoke unless someone spoke to her she never gave an opinion and when a man talked she listened for Cyrus these were Alice's finest assets these qualities helped him as he ran the farm and made up stories about his life as a soldier the first person he told about his time in the Army was Alice as she listened quietly his War experiences grew he read books and newspapers and studied Maps soon he knew the names of the battles and the officers who led them Alice and the two little boys sat silently and respectfully as he talked about the fighting he had seen at first he knew he was lying but soon he began to believe that he had been there and not only had private tras fought in every important battle in the Civil War he had also given advice to the generals and even President Lincoln himself in time he became a genuine military expert he wrote letters to the war department that criticized the Army and the way they had fought the War he wrote articles for magazines and the government consulted him about the organization of the army he later went to work for the Grand Army of the Republic and traveled all over the country to attend meetings and so he entered public life Cyrus tras organized a military life for his family Alice survived by staying quietly in the background but Adam and his half-brother Charles could not Escape his discipline Cyrus was sorry that he could not be a permanent Soldier because of his wooden leg but he decided that the Army was the only honorable profession for his sons he began their training early he made them do exercises and March for Miles carrying bags full of stones on their backs they practiced shooting for hours Adam hated their military life he realized that his father was not doing it for them but for himself he was not a great man at all Adam was an obedient child and he wanted to avoid trouble so he kept these thoughts to himself his brother Charles was a little more than a year younger than Adam he was more aggressive like his father more athletic and more competitive Charles beat Adam easily at any contest so he preferred to compete with other children he felt sorry for Adam because he was weak so he fought other boys who challenged his brother Adam admired his brother for his strength and intelligence but they were not close he never wanted to share his secret Thoughts with him he depended on his brother but there was no feeling of love as Adam grew up he was afraid of one thing in particular he feared the day he would be sent to the Army his father spoke of it often it'll make a man of you he repeated Charles was almost a man and a dangerous man even at 15 one evening Adam won a game he was playing with Charles and his brother beat him until he was unconscious after after that Adam made sure that he never wanted anything neither the boys nor Alice ever told Cyrus about the beating but he seemed to know in the months that followed he was gentle with Adam and he did not punish him anymore he spoke to him alone every night about the nature of a soldier and he did not permit Charles to listen there are so many things I want to tell you said Cyrus late one afternoon from the day a child is born he's taught to protect his own life but when he becomes a soldier he has to put his life in danger without going mad if you can face death then you'll never be afraid again that's the greatest reward of all think about that why don't you talk to Charles about it asked Adam he'll be a better Soldier than I will Charles won't be going into the army replied Cyrus he doesn't need to Charles isn't afraid of anything so he could never learn anything about courage and the Army would release things in him that should be controlled Adam complained you never punished him you let him live his own life you praised him you didn't hate him and now you let him stay out of the army he stopped frightened of his father's anger his father did not reply he walked to the kitchen door and stopped you want to know why don't you he said quietly well maybe I shouldn't tell you but I will you aren't clever you don't know what you want you let other people walk over you you're weak and sometimes I think you'll never do anything with your life but I love you better I always have and that's why I hurt you now shut your mouth and go into your supper I'll talk to you tomorrow night my leg aches there was no talk at supper Adam thought his brother watched him secretly he finished eating and pushed back his chair I'm going for a walk he said Charles stood up I'll go with you the two boys walked down the dark Road together what did he say to you this afternoon I saw you walking together he just talked about the Army like always Charles moved closer to his brother you're lying he said suspiciously he was talking to you the way he talks to his friends you're trying to take him away from me aren't you Adam backed away breathing deeply to control his fear Charles's voice Rose and what happened on his birthday I bought him a pocket knife with three blades and a pearl handle made in Germany it cost me 75 thanks he said just thanks and where is it now he never uses it did he give it to you Adam heard the cold anger in his voice and what did you do you picked up a little dog from the side of the road and you gave it to him he laughed like a fool and said it' make a good bird dog that dog sleeps in his room he plays with it while he's reading and where's the knife thanks he said that's all Charles spoke in a whisper and his eyes were cold there was a little smile on his face Adam jumped back desperately and guarded his face with his hands Charles drove his fist into Adam's stomach Adam dropped his hands his brother hid him methodically in the head the heart the nose the stomach then the head again Adam watched Charles Through Blood and Tears not understanding once he swung wildly at Charles but his brother avoided it easily and continued working like a machine pain flashed through Adam's Body he wondered why he was still standing and conscious suddenly the darkness came over him and he fell Charles stood over Adam breathing hard then he turned and walked quickly back toward the house as Consciousness came back quick and frightening to Adam he heard rapid footsteps on the road he pushed himself onto his knees crawled through the long grass at the side of the road then slid into the wet ditch the footsteps came close then stopped Charles lit a match and looked through the darkness in his right hand Shawn a long knife he moved on and struck another match and then another finally he gave up and went away he threw the knife far into a field Adam crawled out of the water and stood up he walked slowly back to the house almost fainting he stood in the doorway Cyrus looked at his bloody face in Surprise why did he do it he asked I don't know said Adam his father stood up angrily he grabbed Adam by the arm and squeezed it hard tell me and don't lie to me Adam searched for the answer through his pain he thinks you don't love him Cyrus picked up his shotgun from its place in the corner of the kitchen and checked that it was loaded Alice help Adam to bed he said quietly and went out the door Charles spent some time laughing and drinking with his friends in the hotel in town then they moved on but he heard about the shotgun so he hid for two weeks before returning home Adam stayed in bed for 4 days on the third day his father showed his power with the military he did this for his own pride and as a Ward for Adam an army captain and two sergeants in blue dress uniforms came to the house two privates waited outside with the horses Cyrus watched with tears in his eyes as Adam was enlisted in the Army you're going to Indian Country son he said proudly there's a lot of work to be done yes sir replied Adam Adam had always hated violence and during his five years as a soldier he learned to hate it even more at that time the Army was taking the Indians land for settlement when the Indians rebelled they were killed and the survivors were forced to live on the poorest land when Adam shot at a man he shot to miss he knew that he was not a good soldier but he did not care it was more important for him not to hurt anyone but he was not a coward he risked his life more than once to save wounded men and he volunteered to do extra work in the field Hospital Charles wrote regularly to his brother he told him about the farm about Alice's death and their father's move to Washington Charles wrote many things that he could never say and a closeness grew that neither of them could have imagined Adam kept one letter because he did not understand it Charles gave all the news then the handwriting changed I want to talk about something why didn't Our Father use that knife it was a good knife and he needed one if he'd even kept it in his pocket I wouldn't have gone after you but I had to I've never thought like this before now I feel like something's not finished I should be there and you should be here the letter was unsigned maybe Charles had not intended to send it Adam shivered every time he read it but he did not know why chapter 3 growing up up on the ranch the little Hamiltons began to grow up and every year there was a new one the first boy was George a tall handsome boy gentle and polite and the sinless boy grew to become a sinless man after him was Will short and heavy and full of energy he was a hard worker and he wanted to be like everyone else he was suspicious of new ideas maybe that was because his father was different from other men and Will was embarrassed when he was growing up the people of the selenis valley still did not trust Samuel he was not only a foreigner and an Irishman but he also had strange ideas he was interested in philosophy and music and poetry and art and he loved to read those things were only for the rich not for the poor in time time the selenous valley grew fond of Samuel but Will's ideas were already formed will made money easily when he started raising chickens the price of eggs went up he bought a share of a little store and soon he had stores in several different towns he bought a bicycle shop and before long he started selling Ford cars Tom the third son was full of energy and ideas when he was happy he was very happy but when his dog died the world ended Joe was the last son he was lazy and he preferred daydreaming to working on the farm when he had failed at every job his father asked him to look after their 60 sheep this was the least difficult job of all but he lost them lost 60 sheep in the Hills soon his family stopped asking him to work there were five Hamilton girls in the family Lizzy who was named after her mother was the oldest she married young and went away next came unaa a studious dark girl then there was desie who loved to laugh then Olive my mother and last was Molly who was a little beauty with lovely blonde hair and deep blue eyes Liza was a good woman and she raised good children year after year she produced them and fed them and baked bread made their clothes and clothed them in good manners and morals too she had no knowledge of the world except what she read in the Bible everyone respected her but they did not have warm feelings for her by the end of the century all of Samuel and Liza's children were nearly grown up UNO was a student and Samuel was proud of her Olive Was preparing to become a teacher this was a great honor for the family Joe was going to college because he was not good at anything else will was making a fortune Without Really Trying Tom was trying new ideas and sometimes failing desie was studying dress making and Molly pretty Molly would obviously marry a rich man it was a good well-balanced family and Samuel was pleased with them some liked to build and others like to dream some wanted the world to stay the same and others wanted it to change they were not rich and they were not poor and they all belong to the selenous valley after Adam joined the army and Cyrus moved to Washington Charles lived the life of a bachelor the house was dirty and quiet he talked about finding a wife but he was too shy to meet any girls when he wanted sex he paid for it he was lonely and he missed his brother he worked hard on the farm to keep busy one day in his third year alone he had an accident he was using an iron bar to move a big Stone out of a field when it did not move he became angry and pulled down on the bar with all his strength the bar slipped and the upper end crashed hard into his forehead after a few weeks his wound healed but it left a long dark scar that began at his hairline and ended between his eyebrows Charles hated did the scar it looks like somebody marked me like a cow he wrote to Adam and it's getting darker people are always staring at it and talking about it I don't even want to go to town anymore Adam left the Army in 1885 after 5 years service and began traveling home he arrived in Chicago stayed 2 days went to Buffalo then Niagara Falls he felt that he was sleepwalking he missed the daily routines that he hated when he was in the Army he missed the company of other men and he did not want to go home he went back to Chicago and reenlisted in the Army for five more years Adam was changing trains in Kansas when a soldier put a message into his hand it ordered him to report immediately to the Office of the Secretary of War in Washington his father found him there Adam hardly recognized him he looked and talked like a great man they walked to the hotel where Cyrus lived why are you going he asked Adam I didn't want to go home I have influence said Cyrus I can have you sent to Washington you can work for me Adam felt like a little boy again but he resisted the feeling I want to go back where I was he said quietly Adam saw the disappointment on his father's face and knew that he was lonely in Washington why don't you bring Charles here he suggested no he's better where he is replied cus Charles had looked forward to Adam's return he had hired a woman from the town to clean the house from top to bottom he waited and waited but his brother did not come Adam finally wrote A year later but Charles did not reply right away time had done its work and the brothers were strangers time passed quickly for Adam he followed the familiar routines of the army without thinking and he became a sergeant just before leaving the Army in 1890 he wrote to Charles this time I'm coming home Charles did not hear another word from him for three years Adam wandered from one town to another and by Spring he had no money he joined the army of restless men who were moving around the country in the '90s sometimes they worked and Sometimes They begged or stole they followed the Sun moving north and east in Spring then South and West in Fall they walked or hid on the trains and they camped outside the towns at night Adam became an expert he worked when he could or he knocked on doors and asked for food sometimes he stayed with a woman he spoke like the people around him him so he did not attract attention he learned how to avoid the police until one day when he was arrested for vagrancy he was in Florida on his way home the sheriff's men put him in jail and the judge sentenced him to six months on a road gang that is how the roads were built in those days the prisoners were guarded by men with shotguns by day and chained together at night the guards whipped a man if he resisted or rebelled Adam knew that they were afraid of the men he had learned from his days in the army that a frightened man is a dangerous man so he stayed calm at all times but as soon as they released him he was arrested again they gave him six more months during his second six months he completely hid his personality the guards were not afraid of him so they trusted him they put him to work cleaning the camp and filling the water buckets then 3 days before the end of his sentence he escaped by swimming down the river he broke into a store 5 days later and stole some clothes he traveled by night and ate vegetables and fruit from farms Charles received very few letters so when a thick letter arrived from a firm of attorneys in Washington he sat down at the kitchen table and read it carefully his father was dead the attorneys were sorry about his father's death but they were excited too there was more than $100,000 in Cyrus tr's bank account in his will he had left half to Adam and half to Charles Charles was puzzled he did not want to think about it he wanted Adam to come home he put the letter into a drawer in the kitchen table but he kept asking himself the same question where had his father got it a few weeks later a boy brought him a telegram from the train station urgent send $100 coming home Adam when Adam came walking out from the village Charles hurried up to him to him and shook hands father's dead said Charles I know replied Adam they told me at the station it was a big funeral said Charles vice president was there and the president sent flowers he went on talking but Adam was not listening he looked at his brother suddenly amazed I'm not afraid of him anymore more he thought why not was it the army or the Chain Gang or Father's death he smiled happily as he spoke Charles I know you want to tell me something so hurry up and say it Charles raised his head I can't beat him anymore he thought miserably I want to ask you one question first he said did you love our father Adam was surprised but he decided to answer no I didn't sometimes he scared me sometimes I respected him but most of the time I hated him now tell me why you want to know Charles shook his head I don't understand it he loved you he loved everything you gave him but he didn't love me remember that knife I gave him it's here in his desk he didn't even take it to Washington and that dog you gave him it was at his funeral a general was holding it it was blind couldn't walk they shot it after the funeral I don't understand Adam said what are you saying I loved him Charles replied he began to cry a little of the old fear came back so Adam did not go to him he walked to the open doorway when Charles spoke again his voice was tired tell me do you think our father could have been dishonest he asked I don't know Adam said quickly no one ever said it now tell me what's on your mind father made a will he left us over $100,000 Adam laughed you're crazy he said don't you mean $100 no said Charles I mean $100,000 I don't understand it his salary was $135 a month where did it come from maybe he invested it suggested Adam he knew some big men in Washington and there's more said Charles unhappily our father went into the Union Army in June 1862 he had three months training here in Connecticut he finished in September he marched South on October 12th he was hit in the leg and sent to the hospital he came home in January he wasn't at any of the battles he talked about Adam shook his head in disbelief what are we going to do Charles asked anxiously everyone will know that our father stole the money I don't believe that he stole it replied Adam and I believe that he fought in the War he thought for a minute anyway it doesn't matter we'll use the money well maybe we'll stay here and maybe we'll go to California I couldn't ever leave here said Charles we'll see said his brother there's no [Music] hurry chapter 4 an evil Beauty there was something wrong with Kathy Ames when she was born but nobody knew because it was invisible she was born without kindness or a conscience she was a pretty child with lovely golden hair and she became a pretty woman she had delicate arms and legs and tiny hands and feet she spoke softly and sweetly especially when she wanted something her small heart-shaped face and her wide apart blue eyes made her look innocent nobody could see the evil in her soul Kathy was a liar but she did not lie like other children do her lies were not Daydreams when a child imagines that something is real those lies are harmless she lied to escape punishment or work or responsibility she was a good liar because she stayed close enough to the truth that one could never be sure everyone in the world has hidden desires and vices that they are ashamed of most people control these feelings or satisfy them secretly Kathy knew how to recognize them in other people and she used this information for her own gain she was very young when she discovered that sex is is the most disturbing urge that humans have causing feelings of jealousy pain and helplessness and in those days the subject was unmentionable and unmentioned Cathy could use her sexual power to control almost anyone she never felt the blind helplessness of Love herself so she always kept her Advantage she coldly experimented on other people and so developed her power Kathy was 14 when she entered high school and she was an excellent student one of her teachers was a pale serious young man called James Gru who had had a religious education and little experience of the world then one day it was noticed that a flame leaped in him and some Force Shone in his eyes James grew became a man he walked on his toes and sang to himself he was never seen with Cathy and no relationship was even suspected and then the flame went out he was seen in church at night on his knees then James grew was found lying in the church one morning he had shot himself in the head he had left no letter and nobody knew why he had done it the whole town was talking about it at dinner Cathy sat silently smiling secretly to herself her mother turned to her you saw him every day at school Kathy has he seemed sad lately did you notice anything Kathy looked down at her plate and then up I thought he was sick she said yes he has looked bad and somebody at school I don't remember who said that he was in some kind of trouble in Boston I didn't hear what kind of trouble we all liked Mr Gru that was Cathy's method soon everyone knew that James Gru had been in trouble in Boston and nobody could imagine that Kathy had started the rumor even Mrs Ames had forgotten where she heard it soon after her 16th birthday a chain came over Kathy one morning she did not get up for school her mother went into her room and found her in bed staring at the ceiling hurry up she said you'll be late I'm not going to school Cathy said calmly I'm never going to school again her mother's mouth fell open what do you mean what are you going to do I don't know yet said Cathy I think I'll go away you wait until your father comes home Cathy turned her head very slowly and looked at her mother her eyes were expressionless and cold and suddenly Mrs Ames was afraid of her daughter she went out quietly and Clos the door that evening Mr Ames hating what he had to do gave a lecture to his daughter he spoke of her duty to her parents toward the end of his speech he noticed that she was not listening he became angry and began to threaten her he reminded her that she was under the authority of her parents and the state and God he had her attention then she stared straight into his eyes and he had to look away he threatened to whip her if she did not obey him at the end his threats weakened I want you to promise that you'll go to school tomorrow he said her face was expressionless all right she said in the morning she was gone her father put on his hat and walked quickly to the train station The Station Agent was certain Kathy had taken the early morning train to Boston Mr Ames brought her back and gave her the first whipping of her life now will you ever do that again he said no oh no forgive me Cathy said she turned away so her father could not see that there were no tears in her eyes there seemed no doubt that it was what Cathy needed even in school she was changed always she had been a good student but now she she began to make plans for the future she talked to the principal about taking the examinations for her teaching certificate a year early in the weeks that followed she helped her mother in the kitchen and offered to help more than was needed a childlike smile was constantly on her lips while she made her preparations she had all the time in the world she cleaned the basement and put newspaper in all the cracks where the air came in she fixed all the doors so they opened and closed quietly and put oil in the locks so they turned easily she filled the lamps from a big can of lamp oil she kept in the basement and it was not only at home either she went to the factory to visit her father and he was amazed at her questions about business she's smarter than some men I could name he thought proudly she might be right running the business one day he explained about the loans and the billing and the pay and he showed her how to open the safe one day when she returned home from school her mother met her at the front door Kathy I have to go out she said your father wondered if you would go to the bank pick up the pay for the workers and take it to the factory I'd like to said Kathy the fire broke out at about 3:00 the next morning the Ames house went up like a rocket by the time it was noticed there was nothing left when the volunteer firemen dug through the coals they found what remained of Mr and Mrs Ames but there was neither tooth nor bone where Cathy's room had been when the accountant went to the factory he found the safe open and paper ERS scattered all over the floor a broken window showed how the thief had entered he returned to the house with this news the fire wasn't an accident fear and anger spread through the crowd that had gathered and where was Kathy had she been taken away they searched the fields and lakes for her body but they found nothing they questioned the wandering men who are Trav traving by Road and by rail but soon they stopped looking what could they do they couldn't prove anything without a body I don't know how Kathy Ames heard about Mr Edwards but it was not very difficult for a girl to find him Mr Edwards was a successful businessman he lived in a big house in a good neighborhood of Boston with his wife and two children he was a large powerful man in his late 40s getting a little fat but then many successful men were he spent as much time as he could with his family although he had to travel a lot on business Mr Edward's business was women he supplied to small town hotels all over New England avoiding the cities because the police were greedier there he preferred stupid girls because the Smart Ones did not stay long they opened their own houses or married rich men he did not want very pretty girls either a local young man might fall in love with a pretty and there would be trouble he kept the girls in one place for two weeks then moved them on to the next town Mr Edwards was not feeling well when the girl who called herself Catherine Asbury came to see him if he had not been weak he would have sent her away a immediately she was much too pretty for his business her voice was low she was small almost delicate and her skin was lovely she was not Mr Edward's kind of girl at all he knew this in his mind but his body told him to let her stay he looked at her puzzled as she gave him a catlike smile he never mixed business and pleasure but he wanted this one for himself he fell into the Trap never never believe anything a tells you that was his rule but he believed every word she said I can't understand why a girl like you he began Catherine lowered her eyes my father's dead he borrowed a lot of money from the bank my mother can't pay it back so they're going to take away the farm I just want to help her Mr Edwards heard himself saying well now my dear maybe we can find some way for you to get the money Mr Edwards as coldblooded as any master that ever lived fell hopelessly miserably in love with Catherine Asbury he rented a sweet little brick house for her and then gave it to her he had never been so unhappy he wanted to trust her because he loved her but he knew from experience that he could not he tried to buy her love with presents and with money when he was away from her he was sick with jealousy was she seeing other men his business suffered Katherine knew how to make him jealous when she knew he was coming to visit she was was never there when she would return in the late afternoon and find him waiting for her she would explain I was shopping I have to go shopping you know she made it sound like a lie she let him know that she was not quite satisfied with their sexual relations he became nervous and unhappy she needed money so she stole it from him she sold the jewelry he had bought her then said she had lost it she could not sell the house so she mortgaged it Mr Edwards knew but said nothing he was too afraid of losing her one evening his key did not fit the lock she said she would give him the key but she never did when he went to see her he never knew if she was home or not Catherine was clever but she made one serious mistake one night Mr Edwards offered her a glass of champagne no thank you she said I can't drink it it makes me sick Mr Edward started thinking why doesn't she ever drink with me I don't know anything about her maybe if she has a drink she'll tell me about herself that's not very friendly he said just have one glass I can't she repeated his voice hardened drink it she took the glass and poured it down and stood still she poured another glass for herself and another her eyes became hard and cold and Mr Edwards felt afraid I didn't want to do it remember that she said softly you fat worm what do you know about me do you think I can't read every rotten thought you've ever had want me to tell you you wonder where a nice girl like me learned tricks you wanted me to talk and I'm talking I'll tell you I worked in wh houses all over the country for four years Catherine he protested you don't know what you're saying he watched her unable to move she walked slowly toward him drank the last of the champagne delicately broke the glass on the table and pushed it hard into his cheek as he finally ran away from the house he could hear her laughing Mr Edwards wanted to believe in Catherine's goodness but he could could not he had to find out the truth he had her followed he hired detectives and soon he knew where she hid her money one day he packed his suitcase as usual and rang Catherine's doorbell she answered it immediately I'm going out she told him no you're not he said pushing past her into the house he went down to the basement and returned carrying a small wooden box he put it into his suitcase that's my money she cried what are you doing you're coming with me on a trip he answered coldly we're going to a little town in Connecticut you told me once you wanted to work you're going to work I don't want to she cried you can't make me I'll call the police he smiled terribly maybe you'd rather go back to your your hometown they had a big fire there several years ago do you remember that fire she could think of only one plan she must go along with him and wait for a chance she thought about the knife in her purse in the small town they got off the train at dusk then walked down a dark Street and into the country Mr Edwards thought he knew what he intended to do you meant to whip her and put her in one of the rooms at the hotel whip her and move her to another town until she was of no use anymore then he would throw her out he grabbed the purse out of her hand and threw it over a wall he knew about the knife he was in love with Kathy but he was also afraid of her love and fear made him cruel he hit her twice with the whip but that was not enough he used his fists again and again as she lay on the ground but soon they too were not enough his hand found a stone and a red wave of Rage washed over him later he looked down at her beaten face and listened for her heartbeat but heard only his own he ran away crying leaving the whip the suitcase and the box of money Catherine was lucky to be alive she was a long time unconscious and a long time half conscious she realized her arm was broken and that she must find help if she wanted to live she dragged herself along the dark Road looking for help turned in at a gate and almost reached the steps before She fainted Adam and Charles tras were finding it difficult to live together as two men often do for the first few months after their father died they were busy investing his money they went to Washington to visit his grave then they did not talk about him anymore they followed the same routine every day Charles got up at 4:30 every morning and worked Outdoors Adam kept the house clean and did the accounts they talked about old times and the times when they were apart they argued about little things and lost their tempers there were long ugly silences then they were too polite to each other then their anger flashed again when Adam could not stand it anymore he would leave for some time 8 months in Boston two years in South America but he always returned and the brothers fell back into their old ways one day was the same as another and the years passed slowly but Adam was still Restless one morning he asked Charles why are we working so hard you've bought the farm next door and four buildings and the hotel in town did you ever think that we have enough money to do anything we want to do we could go to Europe we could walk around Paris Charles was not listening what's that noise he said he opened the kitchen door a dirty bundle of rags and mud was slowly trying to crawl up the steps there was a muddy face with cracked lips and eyes looking out of blackened and swollen eyelids there was a deep cut in the forehead and blood ran back into the knotted hair Adam kneeled beside the figure come on let's get her in he said here look out for that arm it looks broken She fainted When They carried her into the house put her in my bed said Adam now I think you'd better go for the doctor I'll stay here with her she was very badly hurt her arm was broken as well as several other bones her jaw was cracked and she had lost all the teeth on the left side the bone was also cracked under the cut on her forehead the doctor did what he could and gave her some drugs for the pain someone tried to kill her he said to Adam and Charles do you know her of course not said Charles angrily and she can't stay here now Adam was was angry yes she can this is my house too the two men looked at him in Surprise who's going to look after her asked the doctor I am said Adam I'll have to tell the sheriff the doctor warned do that said Adam but she can't talk to anyone until she's well Adam watched over Cathy day and night she was only partly conscious from shock and drugs but she was aware of the people around her very slowly she remembered the last days she had never been so afraid in her life one day she heard three men talking in the Next Room Adam I want to ask her some questions leave her alone Sheriff she can't talk her jaw is broken give her a pencil and paper suggested another voice she can write the answers Cathy's mind worked quickly why is the sheriff here she asked herself does he know about the fire the man called Adam wanted to protect her but the others were not on her side not yet they came into the room I'm the sheriff Miss said the tallest man I want to ask ask you some questions can you write on this paper Cathy painfully nodded yes what's your name she closed her eyes and wrote I don't know in huge letters the sheriff gave her a fresh piece of paper here now what do you remember Cathy's hand moved slowly across the page all black can't think her face became tragic help me she wrote you poor child I'll leave you alone now said the sheriff he's on my side now she thought but the other man isn't Charles was watching her and rubbing the dark scar on his forehead their eyes met you'll have one just like mine he said she smiled at him and he looked away Adam had never been so happy he did not know her name but it was not important call me Cathy she had said he cooked for her and soon she was recovering well one day she and Charles were alone in the house why don't you like me she asked him because I don't trust you Charles replied I don't believe you lost your memory I think you're a devil and I don't want you in the house anymore what are you going to do she asked if you don't leave I'll talk to the sheriff he replied I heard you talking in your sleep when you took all those drugs I know a lot about you now Kathy was frightened what could she do she had to find a plan Adam I'm alone and afraid she cried when he returned and your brother wants me to leave she smiled weakly she's so helpless Adam thought he felt a rush of love he took her hand will you marry me she held his hand tightly please let me think about it she whispered and please don't tell your brother Cathy had already thought about marrying Adam he's rich and he'll protect me she thought and I can control him but I must never lose control of myself she shivered as she thought of Mr Edwards I'll never do that again 5 days later Adam and Cathy went into town and were married by a judge I thought she was gone said Charles when they returned we got married said Adam what shouted Charles Cathy went into the bedroom you're crazy she's no good she's a Charles Adam said angrily don't talk about my wife like that why wife said Charles that's not a wife that's an alley cat I won't live under the same roof as her you won't have to replied Adam you can buy my half of the farm we're leaving Charles went out and banged the door behind him Kathy made two cups of tea and took them into the bedroom don't worry said Adam we're going to California I don't want to go to California said Cathy you're my wife said Adam softly I want you to come with me Cathy lowered Her Eyes Adam I can't really be your wife until I'm well I know he said I'll wait he finished his tea my tea has a funny taste does yours oh no she cried you took the wrong cup that one had my sleeping medicine in it Adam was fast asleep when his brother came home drunk Charles threw off his clothes got into bed and tried to get comfortable when he opened his eyes Kathy was standing by his bed what do you want he asked what do you think move over a little where's Adam he drank my sleeping medicine by mistake suddenly Charles laughed the poor bastard he said and he threw back the blanket to receive her chapter 5 new lives in 1900 the year of a fresh new century Adam tras was a new man all his life had been dull and gray full of disappointment and regret then a kind of Glory lit up his mind his spirit rose flying and released him from fear and bitter memories all the nerves in his body came alive colors were brighter and every breath was sweet and this Glory came to Adam through Kathy I have said said that Kathy was evil but that does not matter because we all have evil hidden away inside us but when Adam saw Cathy he saw an image of beauty and tenderness a sweet and holy girl and a clean and loving wife nothing she said or did could change his mind he could not see the anger in his brother's eyes or the way he looked at Cathy he sold his share of the farm to Charles took half his father's money and left for California with Kathy he had read the railroad company's advertisements for the beauty and richness of the West so they took the train across the continent to the selenis valley Adam wanted to put down roots and start a family so he took his time he bought a horse and carriage and drove happily from Farm to farm talking to the earlier settlers about Soil and Water climate and crops prices and Equipment the people of the valley listened to his plans and dreams and they were pleased that he had come to live there he had only one worry and that was for Kathy she was not well one morning she stayed at the hotel while Adam went out when he returned he found her almost dead from loss of blood when Dr Tilson arrived he examined K Cathy then he asked Adam to wait downstairs the doctor closed the door behind him and came back to the bed why did you do it Cathy's mouth was a thin tight line does your husband know you're pregnant her head moved slowly from side to side what did you do it with he looked around the room then picked up a knitting needle he shook it in her face you're a fool you've nearly killed yourself and you haven't lost your baby her eyes were as cold as glass he pulled a chair up beside her bed why don't you want to have the baby he asked softly you've got a good husband don't you love him her lips did not move and her eyes looked straight into his my dear he said can't you see you must not destroy life this woman puzzled him there was something inhuman about her all right he cried you won't speak you don't have to but I'm going to tell you your baby's safe and I'm telling you this you're going to have this baby what you did is against the law and if you lose it I'll make sure that you're punished and I'm mean it Cathy licked her lips with her little pointed tongue the cold went out of her eyes and a weak sadness took its place I'm sorry she said you don't understand there's a disease in my family and I don't don't want my baby to have it Dr tilson's anger disappeared my poor child he said softly your baby will probably be fine and healthy all right then I won't tell your husband what you did Adam was waiting anxiously downstairs how is she what is it the doctor made his standard joke your wife is sick but she has the only good sickness there is she's going to have a baby Adam ran past him up the stairs Adam's attention narrowed to the bordoni ranch a few miles south of King City rich green fields lay on both sides of the river and reached into the Foothills there was an old mud brick house that stood in a narrow opening in the foothills A tiny Valley Valley fed by a precious spring of Sweet Water huge Oaks shaded the valley and the Earth had a richness and a greenness foreign to this part of the country the old house seemed to have grown out of the earth and it was lovely bordon used it for a cowb barn he was a Swiss and he built a clean new wooden house some distance away Adam tras refused to buy in a h and bordon was asking a high price pretending not to care whether he sold or not bordon knew Adam was going to buy his land long before Adam knew it where Adam settled he intended to stay and to have his unborn children stay he drove and rode and walked over every foot of the land and picked up the soil in his hand he inquired about the small wild plants of field and Riverside and Hill in damp places he knelt down and examined the animal tracks in the mud Mr bordon watched him and poured him glasses of wine made from his own grapes over and over Adam asked Cathy's opinion of the place do you like it would you be happy there he did not notice that she did not reply he thought that she shared his enthusiasm he spoke about it to The Men Who gathered in the King City hotel it's water I'm thinking about he said one evening I want to farm this land I wonder how deep you'd have to dig to bring in a well ask Sam Hamilton said a Rancher he knows all about water I'll take you to see him tomorrow the two men drove the horse cart past the wooden house to the blacksmith shop Adam saw a big man with a white beard and laughing blue eyes he wore clean work clothes but his hands were black this is Mr Adam tras from the East said the Rancher he's come here to settle I'm glad said Samuel he's brought you a little present continued the Rancher Samuel looked quickly toward the house you can bring it into the shop but don't let the sun shine on it he said the three men sat down and passed around the bottle I want to ask you about water said Adam I can find water nearly everywhere except on my own land replied Samuel I'll come and look at it the next day Adam drove out and shook hands with bordon and the ranch was his Adam sat like a contented cat on his land he looked at the green line of trees along the river then over the Golden fields on the other side to the rounded Foothills The Gardener planted vegetables and channeled the spring to water it the workers were building a new barn for the animals he wanted to keep he had come to start a family and to stay and he wanted the best of everything in in the corner of his room there was a pile of advertisements for farm machinery seeds and fruit trees he was glad now that his father had left him a rich man when he remembered his father's house the farm the town and his brother's face everything was black he shook off the memories and planned for the future he was also happy in the present when he saw Cathy sitting in the sun her baby growing inside her he was filled with joy if Adam was like a contented cat Kathy was catlike too she knew how to wait she did not want to be married she did not want to be in California and her pregnancy was an accident she spoke when Adam spoke to her but she was not interested in his plans she did not intend to stay the Chinese cook Lee came near her chair under a tall oak tree Missy likey he asked politely yes she replied looking at him carefully she could read any man's mind but not his his face was lean and pleasant and he had a broad intelligent forehead his long black hair was tied back with a piece of black silk he wore narrow cotton pants flat black shoes and a blue Chinese jacket Kathy looked suspiciously at Lee as he left she was not afraid of him but he made her uncomfortable later that summer Adams sent Lee to the Hamilton Place with a note for Samuel Adam asked him to come and talk about digging a well for him Samuel sat in the carriage with Lee and his old horse followed behind them what's your name name Samuel asked Lee got more name Lee father's family name call Lee I've read a lot about China were you born in China born here Samuel was silent for a long time Lee why do you talk like that Lee grinned me talk Chinese talk Samuel shook his head you don't have to talk like that Lee maybe you have your reasons anyway it's not my business Lee smiled I talk like that because I'm Chinese and I'm a servant people don't expect me to speak good English but why are you a servant asked Samuel there's nothing wrong with being a servant replied Lee her servant is fed clothed and protected so he doesn't worry about anything and it's a position of power a good servant can control his master he can make him afraid or make him happy as they approached Adam's house Lee turned to Samuel please don't talk this way when other people are listening it would confuse them all right said Samuel but isn't it a lonely life yes it is replied Lee I'm thinking of moving to San Francisco I'd like to start a bookstore I probably won't do it though I've gotten used to being a servant Samuel and Adam rode over the land until they reached a flat place do you think there's water there asked Adam I don't know said Samuel I'll see he held a long thin y-shaped stick in his hands and walked forward with his arms straight in front of him Adam watched the end of the stick first it moved up and down just a little Samuel walked forward then back then turned then the stick seemed to be pulled down toward the ground I can get water here Samuel said and it isn't very deep good said Adam I want you to dig Wells for me and pump the water I want to make a garden here remember my name is Adam and I've never had an Eden that's a good reason said Samuel what does Eve think she'll be pleased with anything I do said Adam her name is Kathy I want the water so I can make a beautiful garden for her I want to repay her for making me so happy when they returned to the house Lee had prepared a cold supper they waited at a table outside under an oak tree until Cathy came out she looked at Samuel and Adam without speaking you haven't met Mr Hamilton dear said Adam how do you do said Kathy and shook his hand I glad to meet you replied Samuel Samuel looked into her eyes but they communicated nothing there was a heavy silence at the table as they ate Samuel made a few attempts at conversation but finally gave up something was wrong and he finished his supper quickly mom if you'll excuse me I'll ride off home he said thank you for your kindness Adam jumped to his feet please come back soon I want you to start the wells Kathy this will be the most beautiful place in the world that will be nice said Cathy but her face showed no emotion Samuel shivered when he saw it he said good night and quickly rode away after he left Cathy said Adam I didn't want to come here I am not going to stay here oh nonsense he laughed you'll get used to it and you'll love it everything will change when the baby is born you'll see Samuel Hamilton rode back home in the Moonlight there were shadows and the sounds of night creatures all around him and he felt a strange sadness he thought about Adam and Kathy do I envy them no it isn't that it's Kathy but what about her her eyes I've seen those eyes before but where Samuel went back in his mind to when he was a small boy in Ireland he was with his father in a big city a crowd had gathered where a man was going to be hanged the man looked into Samuel's eyes his eyes had no depth they were not like other eyes not like the eyes of a man they were like a goat's eye eyes now Samuel knew I've seen eyes like that only twice in my life he thought but then he felt guilty that he had such ugly thoughts about Kathy I'll do everything I can to help with the Selena Valley Eden he promised himself Cathy sat quietly in her chair under the oak tree waiting for her pregnancy to be over living on a farm she did not like with a man she did not love her stomach grew very big but the rest of her body was unchanged she spoke very little and her eyes were far away it was as if she had gone away leaving an empty shell in her place there was activity all around her Adam was happily planning his Eden Samuel and his sons Tom and Joe dug the first well to 40 feet and lined it with expensive new metal since Adam wanted the best they moved to another place and started another hole they slept in a tent beside the work and cooked over a campfire The Hamiltons had just finished their lunch of bread and cheese and coffee somebody's coming coming fast said Joe they could see a Horseman riding at full speed toward them when he came a Little Closer they saw that it was Lee he was breathing heavily Missy Adam say come Missy Kathy Bad come quick Missy scream Samuel rode back to the ranch with Lee he went upstairs tapped lightly at the bedroom door and went in the curtains were closed and blankets were hung over the windows he started to pull down a blanket but Adam stopped him Le leave it he said fiercely the light hurts her eyes Samuel pulled down the blanket and let in the golden afternoon light Adam he said firmly I'm going to ask you to go out of the room and stay out he turned the key in the lock he's upset he said to Cathy he loves you he had not looked closely at her until now and he saw true hatred in her eyes unforgiving murderous hatred he stared at her I did not come by choice except as a friend he said I don't know your trouble and I don't care maybe I can save you some pain who knows but if you look at me like that I'll leave you here alone she made a great effort it made him shiver to see her face change until it became young and innocent and bravely hurt it was like one person replacing another she said softly the water broke at dawn good replied Samuel have you had hard labor yes suddenly her eyes were unseeing and her body went stiff he waited for her cry but only a series of Lon noises came from her throat after a few seconds her body relaxed and the hatred was back in her face then she threw her head from side to side as the labor struck again good good my dear he said I think it won't be long until your baby's here he put his hand on her forehead where her scar showed dark and angry how did you get that hurt on your head he asked asked her head came up Suddenly and her sharp teeth closed on his hand he cried out in pain and tried to pull his hand away but her head twisted and turned he hid her across the cheek but it had no effect automatically he did what he would have done to stop a dog fight his left hand went to her throat and he cut off her breath she struggled and tore at his hand before her Jaws relaxed and he pulled his hand free the flesh was torn and bleeding he stepped back from the bed and looked at the damage he looked at her with fear and when he looked her face was calm again and young and innocent I'm sorry she said quickly it was the pain Samuel laughed shortly I had a dog that did that once he said the hatred came briefly back into her eyes I better put something on it humans are more poisonous than snakes have you got any Whiskey in the second drawer he splashed Whiskey on his bleeding hand and rubbed it in he was shaking and he felt sick and he was afraid to look back at the bed he took a swallow of whiskey to steady himself Samuel told Adam afterwards the birth happened before I was ready popped out like a seed I didn't have the water ready to wash him he pulled the door open called Lee and demanded warm water when he returned he pointed to a bundle in a laundry basket wash him Lee he said and don't let him get cold Samuel turned back to the bedow deary I'll get you cleaned up he saw something stared and went quickly to work my God it's another one like the first birth the second was very quick Lee took the second baby washed it wrapped it and put it in the basket you have two sons Samuel said two fine Sons they aren't alike each one was born separately I'll show them to you no Cathy said coldly I don't want them take them out of the room and send Adam in in a moment came the sound of tapping from the bedroom Adam was nailing the blankets over the windows again for a week Kathy rested and gathered her strength on Saturday she stayed in her bedroom all morning Adam tried the door and found it locked I'm busy she called and he went away in the late afternoon she sent Lee to King City to buy a baby bottle then she went back to her room as evening fell at 7:30 Adam knocked I've got you some supper dear he said the door opened as if she had been standing waiting she was dressed in her neat traveling dress with a jacket and big black buttons on her head was a wide black hat Adam's mouth dropped open she gave him no chance to speak I'm going away now Kathy what do you mean I told you before I'm going the babies throw them in one of your wells he cried in alarm Cathy you're sick you can't go not for me I can do anything to you you're a fool he heard the word through his confusion without warning his hands reached for her shoulders and pushed her backwards as she lost her balance he took the key from inside of the door shut the door and locked it he stood Breathing heavily with his ear close to the door and a sickness poisoned him a drawer opened and a thought leaped in him she's going to stay he jumped as her voice came through the door dear I didn't know you would feel that way I'm sorry Adam his hand trembled trying to turn the key and it fell out on the floor after he had turned it he pushed the door open she stood 3 feet away in her right hand she held hel his gun and it was pointed at him he took a step toward her and he saw it was ready to fire she shot him the heavy bullet struck him in the shoulder and tore out a piece of bone and he fell to the floor she moved slowly toward him cautiously as if he were a wounded animal he stared up into her eyes which inspected him without interest she threw the gun on the floor beside him and walked out of the house he heard her steps on the dry oak leaves on the path and then he could hear her no more but he could hear the Cry of the twins wanting their dinner he had forgotten to feed them Horus Quinn was the new deputy sheriff assigned to look after things around King City when he heard that Adam tras had been shot he left for the ranch right away there was no sound and no movement as he rode in Under The Oaks all the workers had been sent away Adam lay in the big bed where the twins had been born he was leaning against a big pile of pillows and a thick homemade bandage covered the left side of his chest and his shoulder the skin on his face was pulled tight over his bones and his eyes were shiny with sickness Horus said hello Mr tras heard you got hurt just wanted to see how you were doing how did happen an eager look came over Adam's face I was cleaning my gun and it went off I'm not very used to guns Horus looked away from Adam Mr tras you served in the United States State's Army their weapons are rifles and guns what happened Mr tras Adam's eyes seemed to grow larger and they were red around the edges it was an accident he whispered anybody see it was your wife with you when it happened Adam did not reply I'd like to talk to her Adam closed his eyes my wife is away on a visit that's interesting said Horus your wife had a baby two babies two weeks ago and now she's gone on a visit and she didn't take the babies Horus leaned over the bed Trask he said loudly this isn't just curiosity this is the law now you open your eyes and tell me what happened or or I'll take you into the sheriff even if you are hurt Adam opened his eyes and they were blank like a sleepwalker eyes my wife went away he said where did she go I don't know we'll have to find her how long have you been married nearly a year what was her name before you married her there was a long pause and then Adam said softly I won't tell I promised where did she come from I don't know Mr tras you're talking yourself right into the county jail let's have a description how tall was she Adam's eyes sha not tall little and delicate h that's just fine what color hair eyes she was beautiful was is any scars oh God no yes a scar on her forehead you don't know her name where she came from where she went and you can't describe her and you think I'm a fool Adam said she had a secret I promised I wouldn't ask her and without warning Adam began to cry his whole body Shook and his breath made little high sounds it was hopeless crying Horus went into the other room feeling miserable he did not know what to think he wondered if Adam tras was crazy and had he killed his wife the next morning Horus went to the Sheriff's Office and Selena's well sir he said I had to come up and get your advice and he told his story in great detail the sheriff listened with his eyes closed and made no comment well there I was Horus continued I couldn't find out what happened I couldn't even find out what the woman looked like I went to see Sam Hamilton the sheriff opened his eyes did Sam give you a description he asked he did and his wife did she went over to help at the tras place after the birth Horus took out a piece of paper from his pocket and read a detailed description of Kathy got any ideas well yes over across the tracks down by chinat town There's a row of whouses I know there's a woman called f who opened a nice quiet place about 3 months ago she sent me a note Sunday night she's got a new girl and she doesn't know what to think of her what puzzles Fay is that she looks like a runaway girl except she knows all the answers and all the tricks I went down there and looked her over and I can't find a thing wrong with her she's old enough nobody's made a complaint so what do we do about it you're pretty sure it's Mrs tras the sheriff said wide apart blue eyes yellow hair and a scar on her forehead and she came in Sunday afternoon Adam's tearful face was in horus's mind Sheriff you have to get somebody else to tell him that I can't do it the sheriff stared into space you see he didn't even know her name where she came from she really fooled him didn't she that poor bastard Horus said he's in love with her you listen to me Horus there are only three people in the world that know her and you and me I'm going to warn her that if she ever tells I'll run her out of the county and Horus before you tell anybody even your wife you think about those little boys finding out their mother is a Adam sat in his chair under the Big Oak Tree his left arm was expertly bandaged so that he could not move his shoulder Lee came out carrying the basket he set it on the ground beside Adam and went back inside the Twins were awake and they both looked up seriously at the wind moved leaves of the oak tree Adam did not hear Samuel's horse until it was almost in front of him Samuel sat down quietly and waited I thought I'd better get back to the Wells he said softly no Adam said I don't want any Wells I'll pay you for what you did let me give you some advice Adam said Samuel act out being alive like a play and after a while a long while it'll be true why should I Adam asked Samuel was looking at the twins for them they're going to grow Adam did not answer and Samuel stood up I'll be back he said I'll be back again and again behind the barn Lee held his horse while Sam got on there goes your bookstore Lee he said oh well said the Chinese maybe I didn't want it much [Music] anyway chapter six killing with kindness the girl Kate puzzled Fay she was so young and pretty so ladylike so well educated I hope you don't mind me asking dear fa said but why did you come here you could get a husband and a corner house in town no trouble Kate smiled shyly it's so hard to explain I hope you won't insist on knowing I'm sorry I can't talk about it Fay was a nice woman not very bright highly moral and easily shocked people trusted her and she trusted everyone she ran a fine house as the sheriff knew Fay soon became a solid and desirable citizen of the growing town of Selenas Kate went to work right away and she soon had her own group of regular customers there were two questions Fay asked about every new girl first will she work and second will the other girls like her Fay didn't have long to wonder about the second question Kate worked hard at being Pleasant to the other girls she helped them keep their rooms clean she served them when they were sick listened to their troubles answered them in matters of love and as soon as she had some loaned them money she became best friend to everyone in the house Fay realized she had a jewel people who don't know think it is easy to run a wh house just sit in a big chair and drink beer and take half the money the girls make they think but it is not like that at all you have to feed the girls that's groceries and a cook and send out the laundry and you have to keep the girls well and as happy as possible it isn't so easy when Kate offered to help with the shopping and planning of meals Fay was pleased well not only did the food improve but the grocery bills came down onethird the first month Kay took over Fay did not know how she ever managed without Kate the girls began to realize there were two bosses not one and they were glad because Kate was so friendly and they all said you watch she'll own this house one day gradually a perfectly natural thing happened Fay the most motherly of women began to think of Kate as her daughter and she did not want her daughter to be a after about a year had passed she said Kate I don't like you working here why not Fay shook her head trying to find words I just don't like it you're like a daughter to me and I don't like my daughter working don't be silly darling said Kate I have to here or somewhere else I told you I have to have the money no you don't said Fay you could manage the house I could give you as much as you make and more you could take care of things for me and not go upstairs I'm not always well you know I know you're not said Kate she shook her head sadly I'd like to do what you want but you need your little Reserve no I must go on working I don't want you to work I have to Mother the word did it Fay burst into tears and Kate sat on the arm of her chair and wiped her streaming eyes soon she was calm again now you're all right Kate said I'll go and get dressed Kate when you finish work you tap on my door said Fay I'll have a little surprise for you Kate kissed her what a dear you are mother that night the hall was dark but a line of light showed under fa's door Kate knocked softly and went in on the table with candles around it was a big white cake and a basket with a large bottle of champagne lying on crushed ice Fay wore her best dress and her eyes were shiny with emotion come in FA said I have a present for my dear daughter now Kate you open the bottle and pour two glasses when everything was ready Fay raised her glass to my daughter may you have long life and happiness and when they had drunk Kate replied to my mother you'll make me cry don't make me cry said Fay she pushed a polished wooden box toward Kate open it it's my gift to you in the Box lay a rolled white paper tied with a red ribbon Fay had written I leave everything I own without exception to Kate Alby because I regard her as my daughter Kate read it three times looked back at the date and studied the signature she looked deep into fa's eyes I'm trying not to cry mother I didn't know anyone could be so good they sat in the warmth for a long time before Fay moved Kate she said we're forgetting it's a party we've forgotten the champagne pour it child Kate said nervously do we need it mother I never have drunk much it's not good for me nonsense pour it darling Kate filled the glasses now drink it I won't touch mine until yours is empty she held her glass until Kate had emptied hers then drank it now another glass there you see how good it is Kate's body screamed against the wine she remembered and she was afraid but it was too late the change came to her almost immediately after the second glass all her barriers and defenses were gone and she did not care her voice became cold and her eyes grew watchful I'll bet you can't drink two without stopping don't bet me Kate you'd lose I can drink six without stopping I'll do it if you will the contest started and a pool of wine spread over the tabletop and the level went down in the bottle Fay laughed oh we're going to have such a good life why don't we sell the house and go to Europe no what do you mean no it's my house I can sell it did you forget I'm your daughter I don't like your tone Kate what's the matter with you Kate laughed softly Mother dear I'm going to show you how to run a wh house we'll fix those nasty little worms who come in here looking for pleasure for a dollar what are you talking about asked Fay I want you to be sweet I want you to be like you were well it's too late I didn't want to drink the wine you you nasty fat worm you made me do you think I'll give up working do you think my regular customers give me a mean little dollar no they give me $10 and the price is going up all the time they pay me to hurt them and that's the way this whole house is going to be and the price will be $20 Fay whispered I want you out of the house I want you out I run a good house without nastiness I want you out I can't go mother I can't leave you alone poor dear her voice became cold now I'm sick of you sick of you she took a wine glass from the table went to the dresser and poured sleeping medicine until the glass was half full here mother drink it it will be good for you she held the glass to Fay's lips Fay talked thickly for a while and then she relaxed in her chair and slept fear began to gather in the corners of Kate's mind she remembered the other time and a sick feeling came over her she dragged the sleeping woman over to the bed and undressed her the day was coming fast she opened a drawer and examined the medicine bottles that were there she carried a bottle of ammonia to the bed poured some onto a handkerchief and standing as far away as possible held the cloth over Fay's nose and mouth Fay took a deep burning breath and came coughing and fighting out of the blackness her eyes were wide with fear and she screamed and screamed [Music] again three sleepy girls and the cook looked in the doorway she's had a bad dream said Kate I'll stay with her she petted and babied her but the look of horror would not go out of fa's eyes a few days later Kate went into the kitchen before supper she took a small bottle from her her pocket and carefully squeezed a few drops into a glass using an eye dropper and went into fa's room here's your medicine Mother Dear she said at supper fa's face was red she stopped eating and seemed to be listening what's the matter mother Kate asked Fay was still listening I don't know she said suddenly I I felt afraid and my heart started pounding Kate said I don't like it I wish you'd go see Dr wild about it the next day Fay felt all right I was just out of breath she said I'm getting too fat well we're going to have some special food said Kate I've made some chicken soup for you and we'll have a a green bean salad the way you like it just oil and vinegar and a cup of tea in the kitchen Kate poured the oil and vinegar onto the bean salad then she used the eye dropper to squeeze two drops of poison onto the beans she went to her room and swallowed the contents of another small bottle and hurried back to the kitchen I made the salad especially for you said Kate see if you like it it's delicious said Fay it struck Kate first her forehead was covered with sweat as she bent over crying in pain fay ran to the hallway screaming for help the girls and a few Sunday customers crowded into the room Fay was wiping Kate's forehead with a towel when the pain struck her Fay and Kate were pale and weak when Dr wild arrived he noticed the salad what did you eat did you preserve these beans here he demanded yes said Ethel the other girls and I all helped Kate and the cook put them into jars go out and break every jar leave homemade beans alone buy canned ones what is it Kate asked food poisoning you're lucky we don't know much about it but few people people ever recover from it Fay was never really well again she had some bad days that winter and it took a long time for her to gain her strength Kate was exhausted and her small body had shrunk to Bones the girls tried to take her place with Fay but she would not leave one evening Dr wild listened to fa's heart for a long time her heart just can't stand the strain I'm afraid he said she's all torn up inside give her a little warm milk when he left Kate put a glass of milk on the bedside table then she took two little bottles from her pocket and sucked a little from each into the eye dropper open up mother this is a new kind of medicine now be brave dear this will taste bad she squeezed the liquid onto fa's tongue and held up her head so she could drink now you rest and I'll be back in a little while when Kate first heard the news they had to tie her down to keep her from hurting herself from violence she became depressed it was a long time before she regained her health and she forgot completely about the will it was Ethel who finally remembered chapter 7 new names old names on the tras place Adam withdrew into himself a gray cloud hung over him that slowed his movements and his thoughts he was aware of the twins because he heard them cry and laugh but he felt only a slight dislike for them to Adam they were symbols of his loss Lee tried to bring Adam back to awareness but Lee was a busy man he cooked and washed he bathed the Twins and fed them through his hard and constant work he grew fond of the two little boys one day Lee saw Samuel Hamilton in his son Will's new store in King City they sat together at a little round table in the barroom next door I've wanted to go and see you and Adam said Samuel but I didn't think I could do any good well you can't do any harm I thought he'd recover from it but he still walks around like a ghost it's over a year isn't it three months over what did he name the twins they don't have any names you're making a joke Lee what does he call them he calls them they I mean when speaks to them when he speaks to them he calls them you one or both this is nonsense Samuel said angrily no names I'll come tomorrow and I'll bring a horse whip Adam was thinner than Samuel remembered it took a little while for him to notice that Samuel was in front of him a look of displeasure pulled down his mouth what do you want he asked a kind of Joy lighted Samuel's eyes at the rudeness you don't deserve your children for a year you've lived with them and you haven't even given them names Adam said what I do is my business Samuel struck him with a work heavy Fist and Adam lay in the dust Samuel asked him to rise and when Adam accepted struck him again and this time Adam did not get up he looked stonily at the threatening old man the fire went out of Samuel's eyes and he said quietly your sons have no names Adam replied their mother left them motherless and you have left them fatherless he reached down and put his arms around Adam's shoulders and helped him to his feet we'll give them names he said Adam wore a far away look but his eyes were not dead as they had been he said it's hard to imagine I'd thank a man for insults but I'm grateful Lee carried out the twins one under each arm and put them on the ground beside the table and gave each boy a stick for his hand to shake and make shadows with the two men sat looking at the twins when suddenly Adam leaned forward these boys don't look alike he cried of course they don't they're not identical twins that one that one looks like my brother I just saw it I wonder if the other looks like me both of them do Lee came out with a plate of fried chicken a bowl of smoking boiled potatoes and a deep dish of vegetables I don't know how good it will be he said the hens are a little old he returned to the house to get a bottle of wine while he was gone Adam said it's strange to me he used to speak differently he trust you now Samuel said Lee joined them at the table and the men ate quietly we'd best get on with the naming Samuel said when they had finished names are a mystery I've never known whether the name is shaped by the child or the child changes to fit the name if you thought about your name Adam we could call him Cain and Abel Adam said oh no we can't do that I want them to start fresh I don't understand that story at all but I feel it Samuel said do you understand it Lee no but maybe I don't remember the details very well I haven't heard it since I was a child said Adam Samuel said Cain was the first born of Adam and his wife Eve then his brother Abel was born Abel was a keeper of sheep but Cain was a farmer after some time Cain brought part of his Harvest and offered it to the Lord and Abel brought a fat Young sheep the Lord was pleased with Abel's offering but not with Cain's and Cain was very angry the Lord said to Cain why are you angry if you do well you will be accepted and if you do not do well you will sin and your sin will try to rule over you but you will rule over it and Cain turned against his brother and killed him and the Lord said to Cain where is your brother and Cain said I do know am I My Brother's Keeper the Lord punished him by sending away from his home Cain was afraid that he would be killed for his crime but the Lord put a mark on him so everyone would recognize him he said that anyone who killed Cain would be punished and Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and lived in a land to the East of Eden Adam said I think Cain was treated unfairly maybe he was said Samuel but Cain lived and had children and Abel lives only in the story we're all Cain's children and we're all guilty said Adam we're all descended from Cain and his guilt is in all of us yes it's everybody's story said Lee that's why it's the best known story in the world I think it's the symbol story for the human soul I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection and with rejection comes anger and with anger some kind of crime in Revenge for the rejection and with the crime guilt and there is the story of mankind I think that if rejection could be ended there would be fewer crazy people I'll think about that when I'm alone said Samuel I drove over here today to help name the Twins and they're not named I'll have to be going home soon Adam said desperately name me some names from the Bible asked Samuel from any place well let's see of all the people who started out of Egypt only two came to the promised land Caleb and Joshua would you like them for a simple Joshua was a soldier a general Adam said I don't like soldiering I like Caleb though Caleb tras one of the twins woke up and began to cry Caleb's named said Samuel he's the smart one The Dark One see the other one's awake too well I've always liked Aaron but he didn't reach the promised land the second boy almost joyfully began to cry he's Aaron then said Adam yesterday I couldn't tell them apart Aaron and Caleb I'm Glad You Came Samuel there's a weight off me chapter eight goodbyes the Hamiltons were strange nervous people and some of them were too sensitive and they broke down this happens often in the world of all his daughters Uno was Samuel's greatest joy even as a little girl she hungered for learning una and her father shared a love of learning secret books were borrowed and read and their secrets communicated privately una met and married a dark serious man he was one of those men who live in poverty so that they can learn he studied photography he believed that the exterior world could be transferred to paper not in the ghost shadings of black and white but in the colors the human eye sees he he took unaa away to the north and it was black and lost where he went and they must have had a very hard life unaa wrote letters without Joy but also without self-pity and then she died and her body was shipped home Uno was dead before I remember but George Hamilton told me about it years later and his eyes were full of tears her nails were broken and her fingers were all cracked and worn out and her poor dear feet they had not worn shoes for a long time una's death struck Samuel like a silent earthquake he felt that he could have done more for her his young skin turned old his Clear Eyes dulled and his great shoulders bent he became an old man his other children were doing well George was in the insurance business will was getting rich Joe had gone East and was helping invent a new profession called advertising the girls were married all except desie and she had a successful dress making business in Selena only Tom had never got started Samuel told Adam that he came close to Greatness but he could not decide what to do sometimes Tom took me fishing we started before the sun came came up and drove the horse cart straight toward the mountains I can't remember the sound of his voice or the kind of words he used I can remember both about my grandfather but when I think of Tom it's a memory of a kind of warm silence maybe he didn't talk at all on Thanksgiving of 1911 the Hamilton family gathered at the ranch they arrived with presents and more food than even this family could eat their children filled up the place with noise Liza ordered and organized and Samuel stayed with the talk and the singing and the memories until suddenly he tired and he went to his bed when the mother and father were gone will brought the whiskey in from the blacksmith shop and the family had a meeting there were Tom and desie George and his pretty m Molly and William J Martin Olive and Ernest Steinbeck will and his dealer they all wanted to say the same thing all 10 of them Samuel was an old man it was a shocking Discovery for them all like suddenly seeing a ghost will Martin said life is too hard here why don't we get them to sell out and move to town Molly and I would like them to come and live with us they were silent after that the idea of not having the ranch the dry Stony desert of the heartbreaking Hillside was shocking to them will Hamilton said no he will never sell the ranch and if he did I don't think he'd live a weak but there's another way maybe he could come for a visit Tom could you run the ranch oh that's nothing said Tom it's no trouble to run the ranch because the ranch doesn't run never has but I can't talk to him about it he'd know why we were doing it George said we could write it in a letter the kind of invitation and when he got tired of one of us he could go to another and that is how they left it Tom brought Olive's letter from King City and gave it to Samuel Samuel went into the kitchen where Liza was cooking then came back outside where Tom was waiting Tom do you think you could look after the ranch if your mother and I took a little trip OE wants us to stay with her for a while in Selenas sure said Tom how long do you plan to be gone Samuel's blue eyes looked into his Tom my son if you have a secret with your brothers and sisters I don't mind I think that's good but don't tell the others I know I know where I'm going and why I'm going and I'm content having made up his mind Samuel made formal calls on all his neighbors the oldtimers who remembered how it used to be and when he drove away they knew they would not see him again although he did not say it he saved his visit to the tras place for last he had not been there for months Adam was not a young man now the boys were 11 years old how is Adam Samuel asked he's all right Lee said but he hasn't changed much and how are the boys you'll see when they come home from school they're like two sides of a coin cow is quick and dark and watchful and his brother well he's a boy you like before he speaks and like more afterward the dinner table was set in the House the twins came in silently and stood shyly staring at their guest it's a long time since I've seen you boys you're Caleb aren't you I'm Cal are you called Aaron yes sir Le laughed he spells it with one a the two A's seem a little fan fancy to his friends I've got 35 Belgian rabbits sir Aaron said would you like to see them I've got eight newborns just born yesterday I'd like to see them Aaron Samuel's mouth turned up a little at one corner Cal don't tell me you're a gardener Lee's head turned quickly and he inspected Samuel don't do that he said said nervously Cal said next year my father is going to let me have part of the flat land Ain said I have a male rabbit that weighs 15b I'm going to give it to my father for his birthday Adam joined them at the table and the boys ate quickly and quietly then excused themselves Lee brought the coffee pot to the table and filled the cups and sat down Mr Hamilton do you remember remember when we talked about the story of Cain and Abel I certainly do that was a long time ago 10 years nearly said Lee well the story affected me deeply and I read every word again then I compared the translations we have and they are fairly close there was only one place that bothered me it is when the Lord has asked Cain why he is angry the Lord says if you do well you will be accepted and if you do not do well you will sin and your sin will try to rule over you but you will rule over it in the English translation this was a promise that Cain would overcome sin then I got an American translation of the Bible it says rule over sin now this is very different this is not a promise it is an order and I began to worry about it I wonder what the original word of the original writer had been that these very different translations could be made Samuel leaned forward and the old young light came into his eyes Lee he said don't tell me you studied Hebrew I'm going to tell you I went to San Francisco to the headquarters of Our Family Association it's a center where any member of the Lee family can get help or give it I went there because in our family there are a number of ancient men who are great thinkers I respectfully told one of these wise men about my problem read him the story and told him what I understood from it the next night four of them met and called me in we discussed the story all night long Lee left laughed I guess it's funny he said can you imagine four old gentlemen the youngest is over 90 now beginning the study of Hebrew they hired a teacher exercise books grammar vocabulary simple sentences every two weeks I went to a meeting with them and in my room I covered pages with writing I bought every known Hebrew dictionary but the old gentlemen were always ahead of me after two years we felt we could approach the story of Cain and Abel my old gentleman thought that these words were very important too you will rule over sin and rule over sin and this was the gold from our mining you may Samuel said it's a wonderful story but why are these words so important don't you see Lee cried the American translation orders men to triumph over sin many millions of people obey this because it is an order the English translation makes a promise in you will meaning that men will surely triumph over sin and there are many millions who believe that they will overcome sin even without trying but the Hebrew word that translates as you may gives our choice a man can choose whether or not to fight against sin and to win and that choice makes a man great Adam said I don't see how you could cook and raise the boys and take care of me and still do all this neither do I said Lee but I feel that I am a man because of those two words you may it's my choice Lee and Adam walked out to the barn with Samuel to say goodbye Samuel said do you like your life Adam of course not if I had a medicine that might cure you and also might kill you should I give it to you Lee said said be careful Mr Hamilton be careful Adam do you want the medicine Samuel said yes I don't know what it is but give it to me Adam Kathy's ins selenous she owns a hor house the most vicious in this whole end of the country the worst things humans can think of are for sale there and the worst people come there for satisfaction but it's worse than that Kathy and she is now called Kate takes the fresh and The Young and the Beautiful and damages them so that they can never be healthy again now there's your medicine let's see what it does to you you're a liar Adam said no Adam I many things but I am not a liar Lee is this true yes it's true Adam stood for a moment and then he turned and ran they could hear his heavy steps running and tripping until he went over the hill your medicine is like poison said Lee I know but I chose to tell him and I forced him to choose to live or to die now it's time to go Lee goodbye Samuel Lee said he turned and looked after the cart and on the hill he saw Old Samuel against the sky his white hair shining with Starlight chapter nine Freedom it was a dirty windy evening and Castroville Street was deep in sticky mud Adam had his instructions he counted two houses and nearly missed the third so high were the bushes in front of it the paint had long disappeared from the walls and no work had ever been done on the garden he slowly opened the gate and went up the shaky steps onto the dark porch the front door opened and a soft voice said won't you come in the reception room was not well lit but Adam could see the shine of polished furniture and gold picture frames he had a quick impression of richness and order the soft voice said do we know you no you don't who sent you the girl was dressed in black and her face was sharp pretty and sharp a man at the hotel sit down over here you did come here for something didn't you if you tell me what you want I'll tell the right girl I want to see Kate Adam said awkwardly does she know you I don't know he felt his courage going would you tell her that Adam tras wants to see her she'll know then whether I know her or not I see well I'll tell her she moved silently to a door on the right and went in Kate sat in a chair behind a desk in her room she was still pretty and blonde her mouth was little and firm but her cheeks and shoulders had become round only her hands had aged and they were lean and spotted with brown her waist was narrow but her legs and feet had thickened she was dressed severely in a black dress with long sleeves and the only contrast was a cloud of white lace at her wrists and throat there's a new one a stranger said the girl in Black he says his name is Adam tras Kate sat still as if she held her breath bring him to me she said when the girl had gone Kate opened the right hand drawer of her desk and took out a gun she checked that it was loaded put it on her desk and put a piece of paper over it she turned off one of the lights and sat back in her chair a knock came on the door here he is said the girl and closed the door behind Adam he glanced quickly about before he saw Kate sitting so quietly behind the desk he stared at her and then he moved slowly toward her her eyes cold and expressionless remained on his eyes Adam saw her hair her scar the loose skin at her throat her arms and shoulders he sighed deeply Kate's hand shook a little she said what do you want Adam sat down in a straight chair beside the desk he wanted to shout with relief but he said nothing now I just wanted to see you Sam Hamilton said you were here the moment he sat down the shake went out of her hand hadn't you heard before no I hadn't heard I expected you for a long time and when you didn't come I guess I forgot you I didn't forget you he said but now I can her lips closed and straightened and her eyes narrowed with cruelty you think you can I know I can she changed her manner maybe you won't have to she said if you feel all right about everything maybe we could spend some time together I don't think so I have to go I just came up to Sam Hamilton's funeral I hated him she said I would have killed him if I could why he was a good man he pretended to be good but he was a liar that's what I hate the liars and they're all liars Adam's eyebrows went up you mean that in the whole world there's only evil and Madness that's exactly what I mean would you like me to prove it she took a pile of brown envelopes from her desk drawer take a look at these she said I don't want to I'll show you anyway she took out a photograph look there that's a state senator look at his fat stomach he likes whips look at the expression on his face he's got a wife and four kids look at this this piece of white fat is a counsilman this big red SED has a ranch out near Blanco look here this is a professor at Berkeley I don't want to see these said Adam well you have seen them and you don't believe it I'll make you beg to get in here she tried to force her will on him but she saw that he was free her rage turned to poison no one has ever escaped she said softly I have to go said Adam I don't understand I know but I can't believe but no it it can't be a bad dream no because I remember you are the mother of my sons you haven't asked me about them Kate smiled cruy your sons I am the mother but how do you know you are the father Adam's mouth dropped open Kathy what do you mean my name is Kate she said listen my darling and remember how many times did I let you come near enough to me to have children once you were hurt he said you were terribly hurt she smiled at him sweetly I wasn't too hurt for your brother my brother Charles you are a devil I don't believe it but it wouldn't matter even if it were true and suddenly he laughed because he knew that this was so he he moved slowly toward the door Kate screamed Adam he turned slowly he smiled at her as a man might smile at a memory then he went out and closed the door gently behind him Kate sat staring at the door her eyes were desperate Samuel's funeral and the talk with Kate should have made Adam sad and bitter but they didn't did not he felt young and free as he got off the train in King City on his drive back to the ranch he saw things he had not noticed for years he saw the wild flowers in the heavy grass and he saw the red cows against the hillsides moving up the paths and eating as they went suddenly he found himself saying aloud I'm free I'm free she's gone out of me Lee came out of the house to meet Adam how was a funeral lots of people Adam said he had lots of friends everything all right here he noticed that Lee was staring at him put the horse away Lee and then come in and make some tea I want to talk to you Adam St stir his tea and watched the sugar disappear he said I went down to see her I thought you might said Lee I don't know how a human man could have waited so long maybe I wasn't a human man I thought of that too how was she Adam said slowly I can't understand it I can't believe there is such a creature in the world are you all right now I am all right said Adam that is what I wanted to talk to you about I seem to have come out of a sleep in a strange way my eyes have cleared I'm free do you know what I'm saying yes I know and I can see it in your eyes and in the way your body stands Adam looking at him realized that Lee was not a young man anymore Lee studied the cup in his hand and his was a memory smile maybe if you're free you can free me what do you mean Lee aren't you happy here Lee said I don't think any man is happy when there are things undone that he wishes to do what do you want to do well one thing it's too late for I wanted to have a wife and sons of my own I talked to Mr Hamilton about the other I want to open a bookstore in Chinatown in San Francisco Adam sat silently stirring his tea I never thought of of you going Adam said could you wait a little while what for I want you to help me get to know my boys I want to organize this place or maybe sell or rent it please try not to hold me back because you need me that's the worst thing you can do to a lonely man Adam said a lonely man why didn't I know that Mr Hamilton knew said Lee I loved Mr Hamilton I would like to go to sinena to visit his grave tomorrow if you will permit it do anything you want said Adam God knows you've done enough for me chapter 10 truth and lies that year the rains had come so gently that the selenous river did not overflow a narrow stream Twisted from one side to the other of its broad bed of gray sand and the water was clear and pleasant it was very warm for March and the wind blew steadily from the south and turned up the silver undersides of the leaves Cal and Aaron climbed up out of the river bottom to the level land we are to start back said Aaron maybe father's back by now Aaron's eyes were very wide and he had a beautiful soft mouth the width between his blue eyes gave him an expression of Innocence his hair was fine and golden the sun seemed to light up the top of his head Cal looked more like Adam his hair was dark brown he was bigger than his brother bigger of bone heavier in the shoulder and his jaw had the squareness of Adam's jaw Cal's eyes were Brown and watchful and sometimes they looked black they walked along in silence for a time and then Cal said all this is our land all the way over to the river it's Father's yes when he dies it's going to be ours this was a new thought to Aaron what do you mean when he dies everybody dies said Cal I know that Aaron wanted to think of something else Cal said I know a secret where do you think our mother is she's dead no she isn't she ran away I heard some men talking I don't believe it said Aaron they were lying s father said she was in heaven Cal said quietly pretty soon I'm going to run away and find her I'll bring her back don't you think she's in heaven and when Cal did not answer why would she want to run away maybe because she didn't like us through his Gathering tears Aaron could see his brother's eyes hard and reasonable there were no tears in Cal's eyes Cal felt pleasantly excited he had found a secret tool to use for any purpose he needed he studied Aaron saw his Trembling Lips but he noticed in time the narrowed eyes Aaron would cry but sometimes pushed to tears Aaron would fight too and when Aaron cried and fought at the same time he was dangerous nothing could hurt him nothing nothing could stop him Cal put his new tool away he could bring it out anytime and he knew it was the sharpest weapon he had found he would inspect it at his leisure and judge when and how much to use it he made his decision almost too late Aaron leaped at him and hit him in the face with his open hand Cal jumped back and cried I was just joking honest Aaron was only a joke Aaron stopped pain and puzzlement were on his face I don't like that joke he said Cal came close to him and put his arm around him and kissed him on the cheek I won't do it anymore he said the boys walked silently for a while Aaron said did you really hear those men maybe I only thought I did Cal said quickly the twins came in sight of the ranch buildings in time to see Lee leading a strange horse and carriage toward the barn who's here said Cal just some people going by said Lee they were looking for the Long Ranch your father's back from serinus you'd better go in the two looked down shyly as they entered the living room there was a man in City clothes and a woman in the fanciest clothes they had ever seen her coat and hat lay on a chair beside her and she seemed to the boys to be entirely dressed in black Silk and Lace but that was not all beside the woman sat a girl a little younger maybe than the twins but not much she wore a wide blue sun hat with lace around the front and a flowery dress the boys could not see her face because of the sun head but her hands were folded in her lap and it was easy to see the little gold ring she wore on her third finger these are my boys their father said they're twins that's Aaron and this is Caleb boys shake hands with our guests Mr and Mrs bacon and their daughter Abra Aaron shyly held out his hand to the little girl with the hidden face but nothing happened her hand was held out but it did not move towards his there was a long silence then he heard his brother laugh Aaron reached out and grabbed her hand and pumped it up and down three times it was as soft as a handful of flowers he felt the pleasure that burned him children go outside and play Mrs bacon said Abra and Cal and Aaron went out and stood side by side on the small covered porch Cal demanded how old are you 10 almost 11 H said Cal we're 11 almost 12 Abra pushed her sun hat back she was pretty with long dark hair one day her nose would be sweet and turned up where now it was still like a button but two features would be with her always her chin was firm and her mouth was as sweet as a flower very wide and pink her green eyes were intelligent and completely Fearless you can come here and play if you like said Cal boldly I live in Selenas Abra said in such a tone that they knew they were dealing with a superior being who had no time for Rural pleasures Abra saw that she had crushed them and while she knew the weaknesses of men she still liked them and besides she was a lady sometimes when we are driving by I'll come and play with you a little she said kindly and both boys felt grateful to her now Abra felt warmer toward the boys she noticed their thin washed out clothes and remember the children's stories she had read you poor children she said does your father beat you they shook their heads they were interested but puzzled is your mother mean to you we don't have a mother said Aaron our mother's dead his words destroyed the story she was writing but immediately supplied her with another little motherless orphans she said sweetly I'll be your mother I'll hold you in my arms and tell you stories we're too big said Cal you'd fall over Abra turned away from his cruelty Aaron she saw was entering into her story and he seemed to be imagining that he was in her arms Abra looked at his Sunny hair and at his eyes that seemed so near to tears and she felt the beginning of love she put her hand on his arm and felt him shiver tell me she said pleasantly where is your mother buried you could put flowers on her grave we don't know said Aaron Cal's eyes Shone with a new interest I'll ask our father where it is so we can take flowers he said he was already planning his revenge on Aaron because Abra liked his brother better at that moment Lee came out leading the Bacon's horse and carriage Mrs bacon called hurry Abra we're going Lee and Adam and the twins watched them until they were out of sight at the supper table the boys discovered the change in their father the boys had never leared to tell him of their interests or discoveries or of their needs they were surprised and a little embarrassed to find that Adam listened to them and asked questions what did you think of Abra Adam asked is she a nice little girl girl oh yes said Aaron she's good and nice I wanted to marry her you did what about you Cal I guess I'll let Aaron have her Adam laughed and the boys could not recall ever having heard him laugh she's a real nice girl said Cal she said to ask you where our mother's grave is so we could take some flowers adamk mind raced he was not good at lying I wish we could do that but I have to tell you she's buried on the other side of the country where she came from Cal was disappointed by this answer but he was not sure why Adam quickly changed the subject Mr bacon made a suggestion this afternoon he began he said it would be better for you if we moved to Selenas where there would be lots of other children to play with the thought shocked the twins Cal asked how about here well we'd keep the ranch in case we want to come back said Adam Aaron said Abra lives in Selenas that was enough for him after the boys had gone to bed Adam said do they know anything I don't know no said Lee I wish there were some way you could tell them the truth that would Rob them of the good thoughts about their mother Lee but there's another danger what will we do if they find out the truth a lot of people know but that's not the worst danger what do you mean asked Adam it's the lie I'm thinking of said Lee if they ever found out you lied to them about this they wouldn't believe anything you'd ever said or done I'll think about what to tell them said Adam Lee if I wanted to take a trip East would you stay with the twins until I get back I'd like to see my brother Charles why don't you write and ask him to come out here that's a good idea Lee I didn't think of it how long does it take a letter to go East I don't know said Lee two weeks maybe chapter 11 bad news good news after his first letter to his brother in over 10 years was mailed Adam became impatient for an answer when it finally came the leftand corner of the envelope had printed on it Bellow and Harvey attorneys at law and their address was Adam's Hometown in Connecticut he read the letter very slowly then took a deep full breath and released it slowly my brother Charles is dead he said I'm sorry said Lee Cal said is he our uncle he was your Uncle Charles I wish I knew him before he was dead said Aaron a little sadly was he nice very nice said Adam he was my only brother just like Cal is your only brother Cal asked was he Rich Adam said firmly at a time of death it isn't a nice thing to talk about money we're sad because he died how can I be sad said Cal I never even saw him Lee covered his mouth with his hand to hide a smile Adam looked back at the letter as attorneys for your brother it is our Pleasant duty to inform you that he built up a large Fortune through hard work and judgment which in land and cash is in excess of $100,000 his will which was prepared and signed in this office will be sent to you at your request by its terms it leaves all money and property to be divided equally between you and your wife that evening after dinner Adam took the letter from his pocket and put it on the table Lee I want you to read this to read it carefully and then I want to talk about it Lee read the letter slowly then half closed his eyes Under the terms of the will your wife inherits over $50,000 that's a lot of money quite a lot of good or evil could be done with it would your brother if he knew where she is and what she is doing want her to have the money my brother would not want that said Adam and then he remembered the girls upstairs in the hotel and Charles's regular visits well consider this said Lee she couldn't claim the money without your help but maybe she'd do something good with with it Adam shivered as he thought of the brown envelopes in Kate's desk no she wouldn't he said she said she could destroy the reputations of many men in Selenas I don't know what to do I'll have to give it a lot of thought you don't have any choice do you said Lee you'll do what you were taught to do when you were young you'll give your wife the money because it's the right thing to do and the fact that she's a in Selenas won't change a thing Adam got to his feet his face was angry you are disrespectful now that you've decided to go away he cried I haven't decided what to do about the money Lee shook his head and went out Cal crept quietly down the Dark Hall and into the bedroom where his brother was sleeping he wished with all his heart that he had not stood listening at the hall door Adam stayed in his room all the next morning and then went to find Lee who was working in the garden I guess I was stupid he said Lee leaned on his shovel and regarded him quietly when are you going he asked I thought I would catch the 240 train then I can get the 8:00 back it was 4:15 when Adam climbed the Crooked steps and knocked on the weather-beaten door of Kate's Place Kate sat at the end of the dining room table with an account book open before her her dress was severe and she rolled a yellow pencil restlessly in her fingers she looked coldly at Adam as he stood in the doorway what do you want now she asked Adam did not reply he walked to the table and laid the letter in front of her Kate read the letter quickly what do you want me to do about it Adam pointed to the address on the letter why don't you write down the address and get in touch with them yourself what have you told them about me nothing said Adam I wrote to Charles and said you were living in another town nothing more he was dead when the letter got there the letter went to the lawyers you can't say we've been divorced we haven't been I don't intend to give me 45,000 in cash and you can keep the rest no what do you mean no you can't bargain I'm not bargaining you have the letter and you can do what you want Adam you're a fool if you'd kept your mouth shut nobody would would ever have known I was alive I know that you know it did you think I'd be afraid to claim the money Adam said Patiently I don't care what you do she smiled coldly at him you don't huh there's a permanent order in the Sheriff's Office left there by the old Sheriff that If Ever I use your name or admit I'm your wife I'll get sent out of the county and the state aren't you tempted to get me sent away and take all the money I brought you the letter Adam said and I want to know why she said I don't know what the trick is but I'm going to find out I'm not interested in what you think or what you think of me said Adam Charles left you the money in his will and he wanted you to have it isn't mine I'll find the trick I'll find it Adam said I guess you can't understand it there are so many things I don't understand I don't understand how you could shoot me and abandon our sons I don't understand how you or anyone else could live like this he stood up and walked toward the door you're changed Mr Mouse she called after him have you got a woman at last Adam stopped and turned and his eyes were thoughtful I just said I didn't understand you he said slowly just now it came to me what you don't understand you know about the ugliness in people you showed me the pictures but you don't know the rest Adam went on astonished at his own thoughts you don't believe I brought you the letter because I don't want your money you don't believe I loved you Kate laughed loudly at him what a sweet dreamer is Mr Mouse tell me how to live my life Mr Mouse no I won't because I know there's a part of you missing some men can't see the color green but they may never know they can't I wonder if you ever feel that something invisible is all around you it would be terrible if you knew it was there and couldn't see it or feel it Kate pushed back her chair and stood up she hid her tightly closed Fists in the folds of her skirt and tried to keep the anger out of her voice if there are things I can't see don't you think there dreams manufactured in your own sick mind no I don't said Adam no I don't and I don't think you do either he turned and went out and closed the door behind him Kate sat down and stared at the closed door she was not aware that her fists beat Softly on the white tablecloth but she did know that the square white door was softened by Tears and that her body shook was something that felt like rage and also felt like [Music] sorrow chapter 12 two sides of a coin a child may ask what's the world story about and a grown man or woman May wonder what way will the world go how does it end I believe there's one story in the world and only one that has inspired and frightened us humans are caught in their lives in their thoughts in their hungers and Ambitions in their greediness and cruelty and in their kindness and generosity too in a net of Good and Evil there is no other story a man will have only one question left at the end of his life was it good or was it evil and all novels all poetry are built on the NeverEnding contest in ourselves between good and evil Lee helped Adam and the two boys moved to Selenas unpacked and saw the family settled then one evening he waited until the boys had gone to bed to speak to Adam Adam understood his intentions and spoke first when do you want to go he asked as soon as possible I'm afraid I might lose my purpose if I don't go soon maybe I'd better go tomorrow 6 days later Lee came back on the 1040 train and let himself in with his own key Adam was in the kitchen cleaning a burnt black frying pan Lee he cried anything the matter what happened to you nothing happened to me said Lee I got lonely that's all isn't that enough how about your bookstore I don't want a bookstore I think I knew it before I got on the train then that's your last dream gone I'm glad he said Adam I am extraordinarily unbelievably glad to be home I've never been so lonely in my life Cal and Aaron were Amazed by the size of the West End School after their background in a one room country school but after a few days they could not remember ever having gone to any other school everyone who saw the twins remarked on their difference from each other and seemed puzzled Cal was growing up dark skinned darkhaired he was quick and sure and secretive even though he may have tried he could not hide his cleverness no one liked Cal very much but everyone feared and respected him although he had no friends he took up a position of leadership in the schoolyard Aaron was loved by all he seemed shy and delicate his pink and white skin golden hair and wide apart blue eyes caught attention in the schoolyard his prettiness caused some difficulty until the boys discovered that he was a completely Fearless fighter particularly when crying on the first day of school Aaron followed Abra to the White gate of her yard what do you want she said I guess it will be a long time before we can get married Aaron said not so long Abra said Aaron followed her as she walked to the end of the street and turned into a field on the edge of the field stood a tree with long thin branches that hung down nearly to the ground Abra parted the branches like a curtain and went into the house of leaves you could see out through the leaves but inside it was warm and safe we'll have a house together sometime said Aaron but that will be a long time don't worry about long times said Abra this is a kind of house we can play like we live here while we're waiting and you will be my husband and you can call me wife it'll be like practicing Aaron said suddenly while we're practicing maybe we could do something else what maybe we could pretend like you're my mother that's easy she said she put a soft tone in her voice and said come on my baby put your head in mother's lap come my little son mother will hold you she held his head and without warning Aaron began to cry and could not stop Abra stroked his cheek and wiped the flowing tears away with the edge of her skirt until very slowly he stopped Aaron sat up and said almost angrily I hardly ever cry unless I'm mad I don't know why I cried the sun was gone behind the trees come on hurry I bet my father's looking for me Abra turned and ran away toward home it was February of 1915 the trks were comfortable in Selena Lee after he had given up his dream of opening a bookstore built a home for himself he bought a bed and a desk and unpacked his books put a soft carpet on the floor and pictures on the walls he placed a big armchair under the best reading lamp he could find Lee also spent Adam's money and Adam gave him no opposition a gas stove came into the house and electric wires and a telephone he bought new carpets a gas water heater and a large ice box in a short time there was hardly a more comfortable house in Selena the new ice box fascinated Adam he bought a textbook on refrigeration and began to study it he visited the ice factory that made ice for the few houses in Selenas that had ice boxes and for the places that sold ice cream the truth was that Adam needed work he came out of his long sleep needing to do something Adam was walking back from the ice factory when he saw Will Hamilton I'd like to talk to you about an idea I had he said you might give me an opinion you're a businessman of course said well anything I can do the whole country's changing Adam said people aren't going to live the way they used to do you know where the biggest market for oranges in the winter is no where New York City now in the cold parts of the winter don't you think people want fresh vegetables in the winter like peas and lettuce and tomatoes in a big part of the country they don't have those things for months and months and right here in the selenis valley we can raise the them all year so what's your idea I was thinking of buying the ice factory here in Selenas then I could pack lettuce and Ice to keep it fresh and ship it to the east coast by rail that will cost a lot of money I have quite a lot of money stop right there Adam said will forget your idea people in the East aren't used to vegetables in the winter they wouldn't buy them you're trained could get stuck on a Sidetrack and you'd lose everything the market is controlled I know you don't want my advice but leave Refrigeration alone the war in Europe is going to go on a long time and when there's a war there are going to be hungry people if you plant beans on your bottom land your boys won't have to worry about the future beans are up to three cents now if we went into the War I wouldn't be surprised if they went up to 10 cents will went away feeling good he knew that he had given good advice how about the ice factory said Lee I think I'll buy it you might plant some beans too later in the year Adam made his great try and it was a sensation in a year of Sensations both locally and internationally as he got ready businessmen spoke of him as farseeing forward-looking progress minded the six cars full of lettuce packed in ice were decorated with big signs which said selenous Valley lettuce but no one wanted to invest in the project the idea looked good the lettuce would be sold to agents in New York at a fine price if it was a success many businessmen would put money in even will Hamilton wondered whether he had not been wrong with his advice if the series of events had been planned by an all powerful and unforgiving enemy it could not have had more effect as the train came into Sacramento a snowslide closed the sieras for two days and the six cars stood on a Sidetrack while their ice melted on the third day the train crossed the mountains and that was the time for unusually warm weather throughout the middle west in Chicago there was a confusion of orders no one's fault just one of those things that happen and Adam six cars of lettuce stood in the yard for six more days what arrived in New York was six car loads of terrible mess and it cost a lot just to get rid of it Adam read the telegram from the agents and settled back in his chair with a strange smile Cal and Aaron heard the reaction in Selena's Adam was a fool it took experience to be a businessman people who inherited their money always got into trouble the twins felt Adam's failure very deeply they were 15 years old and they had known so long that they were sons of a wealthy man that the feeling was hard to lose on the high school group cruy began to refer to the boys as Aaron and cow lettuce or simply lettuce head Aaron still had Abra to comfort him but Cal was alone for a very short time he tried to join them but they did not want him he was jealous and tried to attract the girl to himself and failed Cal felt restless and began to walk the streets late at night on his walks he often recalled the conversation between Lee and Adam he had heard on the ranch he knew that his mother was not dead and he wanted to dig out the truth one night Cal ran into rabbit Holman who lived near the ranch he had sold a piece of his land at a fine price and he was celebrating in Selenas by getting drunk he drank whiskey from a bottle as they walked along together and soon he had forgotten not only who Cal was but also how old he was and he said Harry I'll tell you what we'll do we'll go to Kate's place you remember who Kate is don't you she's Adam tr's wife the mother of those twins I'll never forget the time she shot him in the shoulder and ran off they went through the dusty yard and up on the unpainted porch the guard at the door did not look closely at Cal as they joined the nervous waiting men one night Lee heard a quiet knock at his door and he left let Cal in Cal spoke softly and rapidly I know where my mother is and what she's doing I saw her what do you want to know Lee asked softly does my father know yes why did he say she was dead to save you from Pain did she shoot him yes why because he didn't want her to go away he loved her with his whole mind and body he gave her everything Lee why did she do it I don't know it seems to me that she is not like other people she was full of hatred and her hatred was unhealthy it wasn't angry it was heartless tell me Cal do you hate your mother yes said Cal I hate her because I know why she went away I know because I've got her in me his head was down and his voice was heartbroken Lee jumped up you stop that he said sharply of course you may have that in you everybody has you've got your father in you too so don't use the excuse that you inherited it from your mother whatever you do it will be you who does it not your mother Cal was growing toward manhood and his Discovery sharpened all his emotions he saw Adam's sadness and loneliness and there grew in him a great love for his father and a wish to protect him Baron was changing too but his feelings took a religious Direction he joined the church and spent many hours with the minister Mr Ral a young man with no experience of the world Aaron's religion inevitably took a sexual turn he spoke to ABRA about his decision to become a minister and never to marry Abra in her wisdom agreed with him feeling and hoping that this phase would pass she wanted to marry Aaron but for the moment she did not speak of it Aaron naturally tried to work on Cal first he prayed for him silently then tried to persuade him to change his ways Cal thought he was unbearably full of his own goodness and told him so it was a relief to both of them when Aaron stopped trying to save his brother's Soul chapter 13 sons and brothers Cal gave himself the task of learning all he could about Kate so that he could protect his father he reasoned that what she could do before she could do again a known enemy is less dangerous less able to surprise sometimes in the afternoon he lay hidden in The Tall Grass across the street watching Kate's place he found that she came out every Monday at 1:30 one Monday she turned in at her gate as usual Cal waited a moment then walked past the house Kate was waiting in the yard she said to him coldly this isn't the first time you followed me what do you want Cal froze in his steps and stared at her and he realized that Aaron had the same wi apart blue eyes and the same color of hair he lowered his head nothing ma'am you won't tell me will you Cal heard his own speech with amazement you're my mother and I wanted to see what you're like what what is this who are you I'm Cal tras she looked at him closely and a faintly remembered picture of Charles leaped into her mind suddenly she said come with me Cal followed her into the house down a hall and into her room then she opened a new door cut in the wall at the end of her room and went into a box of a room with no windows and no decorations its walls were painted a dark gray and there was a solid gray carpet on the floor The Only Furniture was a huge armchair and a covered floor lamp that gave out a weak circle of light come in and bring that chair with you she said close the door Kate sat down in the armchair and carefully removed her gloves the fingers of both hands were bandaged don't stare she said angrily it's arthritis oh so you want to see do you she un wrapped the bandage from her right hand and held her crooked fingers under the low light there look she cried out in pain as she wrapped the bandage Loosely you'll probably get it my grandmother had it and my mother was just beginning to get it she stopped the room was very silent I saw you looking at this room she went on the light hurts my eyes I come here to to rest she settled back in her chair how's your father I don't want to talk about him oh no you like him then I love him said Cal why' you shoot my father and run away from us Kate looked at him and her eyes were cold and shallow because he tried to stop me from going when I was hurt all broken up he took me in and he looked after me cooked for me he tried to tie me down by making me grateful but nobody can hold me I waited until I was strong and then I broke out a kind of realization came over her maybe you're like me why wouldn't you be Cal shook his head I'm going he said happily what Lee said is true I was afraid I had you in me you have said Kate no I haven't I'm my own person if I'm mean it's my own meanness and I don't think the light hurts your eyes I think you're afraid get out she cried go on get out I'm going he walked to the door I don't hate you he said but I'm glad you're afraid he went out and bang the door behind him Kate sat back in her chair and thought suddenly of the only person who had ever made her feel this fear and hatred it was Samuel Hamilton with his white beard and his laughing eyes that looked underneath her skin Cal's words kept repeating themselves over and over in her head I think you're afraid with her bandaged hand she pulled out a fine chain which hung around her neck inside her dress on the Chain were two safe deposit box Keys a gold watch with to see with all my heart from a on the back and a little steel tube with a ring on the top very carefully she unscrewed the top from the tube and shook out a capsule she held the capsule under the light and saw the white powder inside six grains of morphine more than enough very gently she slid the capsule into its tube screwed on the cap and dropped the chain inside her dress the nation moved little by little toward War business improved and prices began to rise little groups of British purchasing agents traveled around the country in their uniforms buying food and cloth and metals and chemicals one of the things they bought was beans because beans are easy to transport and they do not spoil and a man can live on them beans were 12.2 cents a pound and hard to find and Farmers wished they had not agreed to sell their beans for 5 cents a pound 6 months ago Cal walked to school with Aaron how would you like to leave school and go back to the ranch said Cal what for we can make some money for father I'm going to college I wish I could go now everybody is laughing at us because of the lettuce I want to get out of town but I don't know if there's enough money for college Cal said if you worked hard you could take entrance examinations next summer and go in the fall Aaron swung around I couldn't do it I think you could said Cal Mr Ralph could help you Cal thought for a moment tell you what I'm going to try and make some money if you pass your examinations a year early I'll help you through college you will I'll go and see the principal right away after supper that night Cal said father would you mind if I went down to the ranch Friday afternoon Adam turned in his chair what for you just want to see just want to look around thinking seriously of going into farming asked Lee I might if you'd let me take it over I'd Farm it father well we'll see said Adam you might want to go to college when Cal started for the front door Lee followed and walked out with him Cal he called I've got $5,000 if you ever need it why would I need it I don't know said ly one Saturday morning Cal came into will Hamilton's office in his car showroom seeing Will's puzzled look he said I'm Cal tras oh sure you're getting to be a big boy I suppose you'll be going into business soon yes sir I thought I might run the ranch when I get out of high school well there's no money in that said will Farmers don't make money it's the man who buys from him and sells would you give me some advice Cal asked will felt pleased he looked at the dark-faced boy and he liked him if I can I'll be glad to what do you want to know Cal said I want to make a lot of money I want you to tell me how everybody wants that will said what do you mean by a lot of money 20 or $30,000 will smiled kindly can you tell me why you want to make so much my father lost a lot of money I want to make enough money to give him back what he lost will looked at him in Surprise why because I love him will felt a sudden warmth toward this boy will understood him felt him sensed him recognized him this was the son he should have had or the brother listen you have a brother does your father like him better than you everybody loves Aaron said Cal cly one more question he said and I won't mind if you don't answer it is it possible that you're trying to buy your father's love yes sir it is that's all I want to ask said will he looked Straight Ahead Cal do you want to be partners with me yes sir I don't like to take a partner without money I can get $5,000 said Cal where will you get it I won't tell you sir will shook his head and laughed I believe you now I want you to listen we're going to be in this war any time do you know the present price of beans I'm not sure I think around three and a half cents a pound right but you don't want to farm you're too smart the man who rented your Father's Farm is called rant Tanny he's a good farmer if we offer him 5 cents a pound and give give him a seed loan he'll plant beans so will every other farmer around here Cal said what are we going to do with 5-cent beans in a 3-cent market will said are we Partners yes sir they shook hands seriously I have a contact with the British purchasing agency will said I bet we can sell all the dried beans we can find at 10 cents a pound or more now would you like to go up to the old place and talk to rant Tanny yes sir said Cal one late summer day when Lee came back from the market he found Adam leaning back in his chair and smiling at the ceiling today I met Mr Kil Kenny from the high school do you know what Aaron is doing no said Lee he's covered all next year's work he's going to take examinations for college and save a year what do you think of that remarkable said Lee but why does he want to save a year because he's ambitious said Adam I didn't know anything about it I'm proud of him Lee I wish Cal had some ambition maybe he has said Lee maybe he has some kind of a secret too just think said Adam when Aaron tells us we ought to have a present for him a gold watch said Lee that's right I'm going to get one and have it ready Adam waited impatiently for Aaron to bring news of his examinations the gold watch lay in his drawer and Lee had his instructions on the evening of the day of the announcement he would cook a turkey and bake a cake one evening Cal came in and asked Adam where's Aaron his teacher asked him to have dinner with him said Adam I guess they want to celebrate said Cal celebrate the exams didn't he tell you he passed them when Aaron came home Lee was waiting for him on the porch sit down I want to talk to you why didn't you tell your father you pass the tests he wouldn't understand stand Aaron can't you tell me what's the matter with you you always used to suddenly Aaron broke down I want to go away I don't belong here I wish we hadn't ever come here Lee put his arm around his shoulder to comfort him you're growing up he said maybe that's it wait a little while and it will be over go to bed now and in the morning get up early and tell your father about the tests make it exciting he's lonelier than you are because he has no lovely future to dream about and Aaron your father left a present on your pillow Kate was feeling better the new medicine seemed to be doing her some good her hands were less painful and she had had a good night's sleep the first in a long time the difference in her rested face was amazing she looked 10 years younger as she looked in the mirror her thoughts jumped to that other face so like hers what was his name Alec she laughed mother of two sons and she looked like one and if anyone had seen her with the blonde one could they have any doubt but what would Aaron that was his name what would he do if he knew his brother knew suddenly she knew that she did not want Aaron to know about her maybe he could come to her when she started a new life in New York she would take him to the theater to the Opera and people would see them together and wonder at their loveliness and recognize that they were either brother and sister or mother and son chapter 14 jealousy and revenge we did not have many soldiers in France the first winter of the war but we had millions in training ready to go in the tras house Lee and Adam put up a map of Europe with lines of colored pins marking where our soldiers were and this gave them a feeling of taking part in the war then Adam was appointed to the draft board choosing the young men who would be sent away to fight he was a logical man for the job the ice factory did not take up much of his time and he had a good service record Adam worked hard and honestly and sadly he knew that the young men he passed to the Army were under sentence of death and because he also knew he was weak he was less likely to accept an excuse or a minor disability Adam looked forward to Thanksgiving when Aaron would come home from college Aaron was terribly homesick he realized that he had made a mistake he had decided that at Thanksgiving he would go home and then he would be sure Aaron tapped softly at his brother's bedroom door and went in Cal sat at his desk working with tissue paper and red ribbon he quickly covered it up as Aaron came in Aaron smiled presents yes said Cal but did not explain Aaron sat on the bed he was silent so long that Cal asked what's the matter you got trouble no not trouble I just wanted to talk to you I don't want to go on at College Cal looked up quickly you don't father will be disappointed what do you want to do I thought about taking over the ranch Abra told me a long time ago that's what she'd like I want to talk to father about it tomorrow Cal suddenly felt angry Aaron was trying to take the day away from him it was not Aaron's day it was Cal's day he had planned this day for himself and he wouldn't give it it up then he looked at his brother at the light hair and the wide apart eyes and suddenly he knew why his father loved Aaron knew it Beyond doubt he looked like her then he was bitterly ashamed he thought it's just jealousy I'm jealous he asked himself why am I giving this money to my father will Hamilton said it I'm trying to buy his love there's not one decent thing about me then a new voice came into his mind just give it and forget it don't expect anything when Aaron had gone back to his room Cal uncovered his present he counted the 15 new bills once more then wrapped them up and hid them in a drawer under his shirts but he could not sleep he was excited and at the at the same time shy he wished the day were over and the gift given after the turkey dinner and dessert they sat at the table and drank to each other's Health Adam said I guess we never have had such a good Thanksgiving Cal reached in his jacket pocket took out the red ribboned package and pushed it over in front of his father what's this Adam asked a present Cal's eyes were full of joy Adam unfolded the tissue paper and stared down at the money he picked up the notes very slowly what is it Cal swallowed it's I made it to give to you to make up for losing the lettuce Adam raised his head slowly you made it how Mr Hamilton we made it on beans we agreed to pay the farmers 5 cents then the price jumped it's for you $115,000 Cal caught a feeling of disaster in the air and he felt sick he heard his father say you'll have to give it back give it back the British purchasing agency can't take it back they're paying 12.2 cents for beans all over the country then give it back to the farmers you robbed robbed Cal cried we paid them 2 cents a pound more than the market price we didn't Rob them his father took a long time to answer I send boys out he said I sign my name and they go out and some will die and some will lie helpless without arms or legs son do you think I can make a profit on that I did it for you Cal said I wanted you to have the money to make up for your loss I don't want the money Cal I thank you for the thought but I would have been happy if you could have given me well what your brother has if you want to give me a present give me a good life Cal stood up Suddenly and his chair fell over he ran from the room holding his breath Adam called after him don't be angry son Adam and Lee left him alone he thought he would cry but he did not he felt hate spread through his body poisoning every nerve Cal went out to find Aaron as he returned turned from walking Abra home I want you to come with me Cal said I want to show you something what is it it's a surprise but you'll be interested the next day Kate sat still and stared Straight Ahead hour after hour she saw the face of the blonde and beautiful boy his eyes mad with shock she heard his ugly words words aimed not so much at her as at himself and she saw his dark brother leaning against the door and laughing cruy why had he brought his brother what did he want the pain was creeping in her hands again and now her right leg achd angrily when she moved she thought about when she was a small girl with a face as fresh as her son's most of the time she knew she was smarter and prettier than anyone else but now and then a lonely fear would fall upon her so that she seemed surrounded by a Treet tall Forest of enemies then every thought and word was aimed to hurt her and she had no place to run and no place to hide then one day she was reading a book Alice in Wonderland in the story Alice had a little bottle that said drink me when she drank from it she became very small Kathy too had a little bottle of sugar water that she drank from and became smaller and smaller let her enemies look for her then Cathy would be under a leaf or looking out of a spider hole laughing and always there was Alice to play with all this was so good but there was one more thing always held in reserve she had only to drink the whole bottle and she would shrink and disappear and cease to exist now Kate was cold and alone but she was ready and she knew she had been ready for a long time she sat up and forced her hand in spite of the pain to write plainly I leave everything I have to my son Aaron tras she dated the sheet and signed it C tras at the table she poured cold tea into her cup and went into the gray room and closed the door she arranged the pillows on the gray chair and sat down gently she pulled the chain out from her dress unscrewed the little tube and shook the little capsule into her hand eat me she said and put the capsule in her mouth she picked up the teacup up drink me she said and swallowed the bitter cold tea her eyes closed and her heartbeat and her breathing slowed as she grew smaller and smaller and then disappeared and she had never been the next morning Sheriff Horus Quinn sat in the dead woman's office and looked through her papers he read the two-line hand written will then he opened a packet of brown envelopes and removed some photographs on the back of each one in Kate's neat sharp handwriting was a name and address and a title councilman judge he sighed deeply as he called a number half an hour later a nameless man stood beside him in the front office of the old County Jail Quinn wrote a list of names on a sheet of paper then he walked over to the wood burning stove against the north wall of his office he put a folded newspaper into the stove and lighted it and dropped the brown envelopes onto the Flames she's dead now so you're safe he said these are the only copies and the negatives were in there thank you horse said the visitor Horus picked up the list from his desk here's a list tell everyone on the list that I've burned the pictures later that afternoon Sheriff Quinn climbed up the steps of the tras house Lee brought two cups of coffee into the living room and went out Adam asked is there anything wrong Horus no I don't think so Adam was that that woman still married to you Adam went white yes he said what's the matter she killed herself last night Adam's face twisted and he put his face down in his hands and cried oh my poor darling he said Horus sat quietly and waited after a time he took the folded will from his pocket and held it out there's over $100,000 in her safe deposit boxes Adam read the two lines and went right on Staring at the paper and Beyond it he doesn't know she's his mother you never told him no what should I do I can only tell you what I'd do Sheriff Quinn said I'd tell him everything I'd even tell him why you didn't tell him before Lee Adam called tell Aaron I want him he has come home hasn't he not yet said Lee maybe he went back to school I'll ask Cal Cal's face was tired and closed and mean when he came in Adam asked where's your brother he hasn't been home for two nights how do I know said Cal am I supposed to look after him Adam's Body shook as a tiny sharp blue light flashed at the back of his eyes he said thickly maybe he went back to college Sheriff Quinn stood up you you get AR rest Adam you've had a shock in his room Cal sat at his desk holding his aching head Cal had never drunk before and had never needed to but going to Kate's had been no relief from pain and his revenge had been no Victory coming out of Kate's he had touched his tearful brother and Aaron had cut him down with a fist like a whip Aaron had stood over him in the dark and then suddenly turned and ran screaming like a brokenhearted child Cal drank all night then he was back in his room his guilt struck him and he had no weapon to fight it off a feeling of worry for Aaron Rose in him because Aaron could not take care of himself Cal knew he had to find him and bring him back even if he sacrificed himself then the idea of sacrifice took hold of him the way it does does with a guilty feeling man Cal took out a flat package from under his handkerchiefs in the drawer he looked around the room and brought a small dish to his desk he folded one of the bills in the middle and lighted it with a match when six were burnt Lee came in without knocking and stood silently waiting cow lighted one bill after another until all were burned at last Cal said go ahead you want to talk to me go ahead where's Aaron asked Lee I don't know he ran away then Cal cried why did I do it don't make it complicated Lee said you were mad at him because your father hurt your feelings you were just mean I guess that's what I wonder why I'm mean Lee I don't want to be mean just a second said Lee I thought I heard your father come in Cal he doesn't look well he looks like he's in shock oh I forgot you don't know your mother killed herself last night Cal said did she I hope it hurt and then no I don't want to say that I don't want to think like that Lee found Adam leaning against the wall his hat low over his eyes Lee helped him into the living room and he fell heavily into his chair his eyes were strange and his speech had the sound of a dream talker slow and coming from a distance he put his hand into into his pocket and slowly brought out a yellow government postcard Lee I guess I'll have to get glasses I can't read it letters jump around you read it and Lee Read dear father I'm in the Army I told him I was 18 I'll be all right don't worry about me Aaron chapter 15 The only son the winter of 1917 to 18 was a dark and frightened time the Germans smashed everything in front of them and the war seemed hopeless Adam was more puzzled than sad he was released from the draft board as a result of his poor health almost daily he spoke of Aaron I can understand why a young man might want to enlist he said if Aaron had talked to me I might have tried to persuade him against it but I wouldn't have forbidden it you know that Lee I know it that's what I can't understand why did he run away why doesn't he write has he written to Abra I'll ask her that evening Lee said Cal have you seen Abra sure I see her she walks away I don't understand why she hasn't been here something's wrong there will you ask her to come and see me I'll try but I told you she walks away Cal tried all the next day to find ABRA alone and it was only after school that he saw her ahead of him walking home Lee wants to see you he said he asked me to tell you she was pleased does he tell him I'll come they walked along in silence until Cal couldn't stand it anymore you know about Aaron yes she held out a book look next to the first page a penny postcard was inside dear Abra it said I don't feel clean I'm not good enough for you don't be sorry I'm in the Army Don't Go Near my father goodbye Aaron Cal closed the book angrily do you know why he went away I guess I could figure it out do you want to tell me Abra I've hurt you more than you know but I'll tell you said Cal bitterly her mother was a she ran a house here in town Thanksgiving night I took Aaron down and showed her to him Abra broke in excitedly what did he do he went mad just crazy he shouted at her outside he knocked me down and ran away our dear Mother killed herself my father he's there's something wrong with him now you know about me now you have some reason to walk away from me Cal she said I've known about your mother for a long long time and there's something else I want to tell you I don't love Aaron anymore why not I've tried to figure it out when we were children we lived in a story that we made up then when I grew up the story was wasn't enough but Aaron didn't grow up he wanted to believe that his mother was dead and that I was perfect but I'm not tell Lee I'll come I feel free now I think I love you Cal I'm not good because you're not good Adam often slept until late in the morning Lee helped him get up I had a dream very real Adam said I dreamed about my father a great Old Gentleman from all I hear said Lee I read all the newspaper articles your brother's lawyer sent Adam looked calmly at Lee did you know he was a thief you must have dreamed that too said Lee he was a thief said Adam I didn't think so once but I do now he stole from the Army Le changed the subject do you know who cow saw yesterday Abra Adam said Abra and then oh sure Abra she's a nice girl Lee wondered what Adam meant saying his father was a thief maybe it was true Adam the most honest man it was possible to find living all his life on stolen money Lee laughed to himself now this second will an Aaron who tried to be so Pure Living all his life on the profits of a wh house was this some kind of joke or did one thing balance another on May 28th 198 American soldiers carried out their first important assignment of the first World War War the first division General Bullard commanding was ordered to capture the village of Cantini on The High Ground overlooking the avra river valley the attack was a complete success and the French government congratulated them spring was late that year in the selenis Valley Cal and Abra went on a picnic in the gabilan mountains to gather wild flowers at the end of May when Cal returned all of the lights were on in the tras house Adam's door was open and the sound of voices came from his room what's going on asked Cal Lee looked at him and swung his head toward the table where the open telegram lay your brother is dead he said your father has had a stroke Dr Murphy came out carrying his bag how is he C demanded I'll tell you all we know you're the head of the family Now cal do you know what a stroke is this one is a leakage of blood in the brain certain areas of the brain are affected he can't move his left side and the right side only a little in other words your father is nearly helpless can he talk a little with difficulty don't Tire him Cal struggled for words is he going to die we don't know he might live for a week a month a year even two years he might die tonight Cal walked into his father's room and sat down beside the bed Adam eyes were calm aware but not interested Cal said I'm sorry Father can you understand me Adam's eyes did not change or move I did Cal cried I'm responsible for Aaron's death and your sickness I took him to Kate's I showed him his mother I don't want to do bad things but I do them he put his head down on the side of the bed to escape the terrible eyes and he could still see them he knew they would be with him a part of him all of his life Lee came into the bedroom Cal what do you want go to ABRA Cal and Abra walked slowly down the street together Cal said Abra I've killed my brother and my father has had a stroke because of me she took his arm and held it tightly with both hands Cal said didn't you hear me I heard you Abram my mother was a I've got her blood don't you understand what shall I do we're going back to your father's house said Abra Lee and Cal and Abra went to into the bedroom together Adam can you hear me asked Lee the blue eyes closed slowly then opened Lee said Thank you Adam I know how hard it is I'm going to ask you to do a much harder thing here is your son Caleb your only son look at him Adam the pale eyes looked until they found Cal Lee's voice continued I don't know how long you will live Adam but your son will live he will marry and his children will be all that remains of you he acted in Anger Adam because he thought you had rejected him the result of that anger is that his brother and your son is dead your son is marked with guilt almost more than he can stand Adam please forgive him don't leave him alone with his guilt Adam can you hear me forgive him a terrible brightness Shone in Adam's eyes and he closed them Lee said help him give him his chance as Adam's breath came quick with the effort and then slowly his right hand lifted lifted an inch and then fell back Lee whispered thank you my friend Adam's eyes opened and he tried to speak his whispered words seemed to hang in the air he has the choice his eyes closed and he slept