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hesitant to divulge the deal he had struck with the woman from the village of Sixkill. ''I told her what had happened," he began, "told her about not being able to see my father before he died, told her there had been a lifelong rift between us. Then I told her I was desperate to reach across the years to try one last time to establish contact with him." He allowed his voice to fade to a whisper and in the darkness wiped away an imaginary tear. Very good, Charlie. He applauded himself. You're getting better at this all the time. |
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"And that's what this jar is supposed to do? Bring him back to life so you can talk to him?" |
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"Whatever is in it," Charlie lied, "and the witch didn't tell me, it will let Father know how I really felt and how much I cared." |
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Theodore shook his head. "I can't believe you're telling me this. You actually went to this witch and paid her for some potion that's supposed to . . . " |
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"I didn't pay her," Charlie protested. "She gave me one year to judge for myself how it worked, then she wants me to go back and settle up." |
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"Then she didn't try to sell you some cock-and-bull story about how this stuff is going to bring him back to life?" |
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Charlie was doing his best to look slightly wounded that his brother would think him a fool for believing in such potions. "I don't |
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