Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

"Oh, Wally, you gave me a big jump!" Gena stepped out of the shadows at the edge of the theater, took a small step, and the figure of Wally Heard appeared.It wasn't too dark, but due to the strange and blurred lights in the theater, the surrounding objects were unrealistic and appeared like phantoms in nightmares. "What are you doing here? You never come here, not near the theater." "Maybe I was looking for you, Gena. This is usually the best place to find you, isn't it?" Wally's soft drawl suggested nothing in particular, but Gena took a step back.

"It's a job and I love it. I love the paint and the vibe of the sets, and backstage in general." "Yes, it means a lot to you. I saw it. Tell me, Gena, how long do you think it's going to take to get this thing over?" "A fortnight or so after the interrogation. At least, according to Inspector Currie." "Two weeks," Wally said thoughtfully, "get it, maybe three weeks. After that—we'll be free. I'm going back to America then." "Oh! But I can't go in such a hurry," Gena said aloud, "I can't leave Granny. And we've got two new plays—"

"I didn't say 'we', I just said I'm leaving." Gina stopped and looked up at her husband.He was very tall because of the shadow.A big, big figure—maybe it looked tall to her, but it was a little scary... He stood there majestically.Threatening—what? "You mean"—she hesitated—"won't you let me go?" "Well, no—I didn't say that." "You don't care if I go or not? Do you?" She was suddenly very angry. "Listen, Gena. We've got to talk about it now. We didn't know each other when we got married--no backgrounds, family. We didn't think it mattered, we didn't think it mattered anything but being happy together. Hey , the first act is over. Your family didn't and still don't take the mirror seriously. Maybe they're right. I'm not one of their kind. But if you think I should stay here, wait here , do something that I consider to be chores in a crazy system, then think again! I want to live in my own country, do what I want to do, what I can do. My view of my wife is traditional and Wives like the wives of the ancestors, they can suffer anything, hard life, strange country, danger, strange environment... Maybe that's asking too much of you, but it's either that or nothing! Maybe I'll marry you So hasty. If that's the case, you better get rid of me and start over, it's all up to you. If you prefer some arty young man here, it's your life, you have a choice, but I'm going home .”

"I think you're a stupid pig," Gena said, "I'm having a good time here." "Really? Well, I'm not happy. I suppose you even think murder is fun?" Gena took a sharp breath. "That's cruel to say. I like Uncle Christina. Don't you know someone has been secretly poisoning Granny for months? It's horrible!" "I told you I didn't like it here and the things about it. I'm leaving." "I'm afraid you can't go! Don't you know you might be arrested for Uncle Christina's murder? I hate the way Inspector Currie looks at you. He's like a cat with sharp front paws. Staring at a mouse. Just because you went out from the hall to fix those lights, because you're not British, I'm sure they'll take action against you."

"They need evidence first." Gena complained, "I'm scared for you, Wally. I've always been scared." "Don't be afraid. I tell you they won't do anything to me!" They walked home in silence, neither of them speaking. Gena said, "I don't think you really want me to go to America with you..." Walter Hurd did not answer. Gena Hurd was so angry that she stomped her feet. "I hate you, I hate you. You're horrible—a beast—a heartless beast. After all I've done for you! You're going to get rid of me! You don't care, do you? You Never see me again. Well. I don't care if I never see you again! I'm such a fool to marry you, I'm going to get divorced as soon as possible and marry Stephen or Alex, I'll be better than You're happier when you're together. I want you to go back to America and marry a bad girl and let her make you miserable!"

"Okay!" Wally said. "Now we all know each other!" Miss Marple saw Gena and Wally enter the room together. She stood where Inspector Curry had been experimenting with the Dodge SWAT earlier in the afternoon. Miss Bellevue said something behind her that startled her. "You're going to catch a cold, Miss Marple, you're still here after the sun goes down" Miss Marple returned obediently with her, and they entered the room with ease. "I was thinking of a magic trick," said Miss Marple, "it's so fascinating to watch them do it, and so easy to explain. (I still can't figure out how magicians work, though. Conjure pots of goldfish!) You've seen girls sawed in half—it's such a thrilling trick. I was obsessed with it when I was eleven, and I couldn't figure out what it was all about. But then There was an article in the paper one day that told all about the trick. I don't think the paper should do that, do you? Looks like there's not one girl but two, one's head and the other's feet. The reverse is just as interesting—you think it's one and it's two, and it's the same thing, right?"

Miss Bellevue looked at her with some surprise. Miss Marple had seldom babbled so incoherently. "The old lady must be overwhelmed by what's going on," she thought. "When you look at one side of things, you only pay attention to a part of it," Miss Marple went on, "but if you can see what is reality and what is illusion, everything will be very clear." Suddenly she added, "Ka Is Lee Louise all right?" "Well," said Miss Bellevue, "she's all right, but frightened, you know,—to find out that she's being murdered, I mean, especially to her, it's an accident, she's not at all Know what violence is."

"There are things Cary Louise understands that we don't," said Miss Marple thoughtfully. "She always does." "I understand what you're saying—but she doesn't live in the real world." "Isn't that so?" Miss Bellevue looked at her in surprise. "No one else, less world-savvy than Kara—" "Maybe you don't see it that way, maybe—" Miss Marple stopped, and Edgar Lawson strode past them, flashing past them.He nodded shyly at them both, then turned quickly away. "I remember now what he looked like," said Miss Marple. "I've just had a sudden realization that he reminds me of a young man named Leonard Willie. His father was a dentist, but The father is old and blind and his hands are shaking, so people always go to find his son teething. The old man becomes very miserable and morose because of this, saying that he is old and useless. Leonard is soft-hearted and stupid. and he began to pretend that he had drunk too much. He always smelled of whiskey, and when he was sick he pretended to be drunk, thinking that people would think young people were bad and would go back to his father."

"Is that right?" "Of course not," said Miss Marple. "It turns out that any sensible person should have told him what people would do, but no one did! The patients went to Mr. Raleigh, their rival Dentist. A lot of good people don't really make sense. Also, Leonard Wiley is so un- Spilling wine on clothes, you know, it's overdone." They entered through the side door.