“Who did kill them?”

He slapped her hard. “I told you to shut up.”

The blow had a strange effect on Annie. It served to quiet her spirit even more. “Forgiveness is possible,” she said.

“For what?”

“What you’ve already done and what you’re thinking of doing.”

“You have no idea what I’m thinking.”

“I believe I do. You want to kill my nephew. I believe it must be because he has a gift that’s complicated your life.”

“Complicated? He’s fucking ruined it.”

“Did he really do that? Or was it someone else a long time ago?”

When he hit her again, this time with the butt of his rifle, she went down. She lay on the path for a few moments while her head cleared. She touched the side of her face where the blow had landed. Her hand came away bloodied. She looked up at him. The rifle was leveled on her.

“All right,” she said. “I’ll walk.”

They came out of the woods onto Crow Point. A thread of woodsmoke rose from the stovepipe of the cabin that Jenny and Waaboo were sharing. Annie stopped.

“What are you waiting for?” he snapped.

“Don’t you feel it?” Annie said.

“What?”

“The power of this place.”

“I’m sick of your talk. Just shut up.”

Annie turned to the man. It was late afternoon now, the sun at her back, and her shadow fell across him. “Who was it?” she asked.

“Who was it who what?”

“Hurt you.”

“Goddamn, I won’t say it again. Just keep walking or I swear I’ll shoot you.”

“It will alert them that we’re here. Anyway, I’m already dead.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You can shoot me if you want, but I’m already dead.”

He looked at her as if she were the crazy one.

“Cancer,” she said. “Here.” She pointed to her head. “I’ll be gone in a few months. Killing me now will just speed things up. So, who hurt you when you were a kid?”

“What are you, a goddamned psychiatrist?”

“A nun. Or I almost was.” She smiled then. “Do you know what an epiphany is?”

“I don’t care.”

“It’s a realization. For me a spiritual one. I’ve had an epiphany, and I have you to thank.”

“Lewis should have killed you.”

“But he didn’t. And I think I know why.”

“Yeah? Why?”

“You.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I think this was meant to be, our meeting.”

“You’re nuts, bitch.”

“No, I think I’m finally clearheaded. I’m going to die and that’s the truth and there’s no why about it that I’m going to understand. You’re going to die, too, and you’ll never understand the why of it either, no more than you can understand the why of the sun coming up. Acceptance. Embrace. Giving over to the Great Mystery without struggle.” Her smiled broadened, but it was not meant for this man. “Giving over completely, that’s the whole point. It makes it all so much easier.”

“I’ve had enough of your bullshit. Go now or you’re dead.” The hollow black eye at the end of his gun barrel stared her in the face.

“I told you,” she said, still smiling. “I’m already dead.”

He stepped forward so that the barrel of his gun was less than a foot from her forehead.

The shot that came next shattered the stillness of the afternoon and sent a covey of grouse flapping noisily up from the meadow grass.

CHAPTER 43

Mathias Paavola began to descend the stairs.

“Hands on the top of your head!” Monte Bonhomme ordered.

Paavola laced his fingers over his scalp.

“Where’s your weapon?” Monte demanded.

“I left it upstairs. I have a permit,” he said.

“Don’t move your hands from your head.”

“I understand.”