@@@@@ 674 "Your paintingsare they on the
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674
"Your paintingsare they
on the mainland? At the gallery?"
Wireman and I exchanged a lookEverything
else can waituntil after you have your show
Your moment in the sunAre you selling them? The
ship pictures?"
Wireman and I exchanged another look, and the
message in his eyes was very clear: Don't upset
her
"They're marked NFS, ElizabethThat means-"
"I know what it means, Edgar, I didn't fall out of
an orange tree yesterday Inside their deep
pockets of wrinkles, caught in a face that was
receding toward death, her eyes flashedHowever many there are, you must sell them
And however hard it is for youBreak them up,
send them to the four windsDo you understand
me?"
"Yes
"Will you do it?"
I didn't know if I would or not, but I recognized
her signs of growing agitation from my own not-so675
distant past At that point, I would have
promised her to jump to the moon in seven-league
boots, if it would have eased her mind
"Even then they may not be safe," she mused in an
almost-horrified voice
"Stop, now," I said, and patted her hand"Stop
thinking about thisWe'll talk more after your showand
you, Edgar, will be able to pay attentionDo you
have daughters? I seem to remember that you do
"Yes, and they're staying on the mainland with
their motherThat's already
arranged
She smiled, but the corners drooped almost at once
It was as if her mouth were melt