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“Keep talking, maybe you’ll make sense.”
“No, the more talk the less sense. She was lost for a long time. Now, maybe, she’s found. A lot of bull, a lot of malarkey, I don’t know. I promised her if she swam out with all those names, she might swim back in as just one. Promises, promises. We’ll know when she comes ashore.”
“Shut up. You know I love you, don’t you, you dumb bastard?”
“I know.”
“In spite of all this, you rat, I still love you, God help me. Is this what all women put up with?”
“Most,” I said. “Most. No explanations. No reason. Awful truths. The dog wanders. The dog comes home. The dog smiles. You hit him. He forgives you for forgiving him. And it’s back home to the kennel or a lonely life. I don’t want a lonely life. Do you?”
“Jesus help me, no I don’t. Wipe your nose.”
I wiped it. More blood.
“I’m sorry,” she cried.
“Don’t be. That’s the last thing for you to be. Don’t.”
“Hold it!” said Henry. “Listen.”
“What?” said everyone at once.
“Feel it?” said Henry.
“What, what, dammit?”
“The big surf, the biggest wave, coming in, now,” murmured Henry. “And bringing something with it.”
Way out, the seals barked.
Way out, a huge wave curled.
Crumley, Fritz, Henry, Maggie, and I held our breath.
And the wave came in.
