LastnighttheseherefriendseroundtomyhouseandsaythatBusterwerehomeandhadsomethingtotellmeaboutWillie.Irunallthewayandthishereiswhathesaid.’

    Yes.’

    Therewerethreeofthem.WillieandBusterandthisotherboy.Theywerefriends.Thenthisheretroubleeup.Portiahalted.Shewetherfihhertohenmoistenedherdrylipswithherfiweresomethingtodowiththewaythisherewhiteguardpickedonthemallthetime.TheywereoutonroadworkonedayandBusterhesassedbadtheherboyhetrytorunoffinthewoods.Theytakenallthreeofthem.Theytakenallthreeofthemtothecampandputtheminthishereice-coldroom.’

    Hesaidyesagain.Buthisheadquaveredandthewordsoundedlikearattleinhisthroat.

    Itwereaboutsixweeksago,Portiasaid.YourememberthatcoldspelltheWillieandthemboysinthisroomlikeice.’

    Portiaspokeinalowvoidsheherpausedbetweenwordsnordidthegriefinherfacesoften.Itwaslikealowsong.Shespokeandhecouldnotuand.Thesoundsweredistinhisearbuttheyhadnoshapeormeaning.Itwasasthoughhisheadweretheprowofaboatandthesoundswerewaterthatbrokeonhimandthenflowedpast.Hefelthehadtolookbehindtofindthewordsalreadysaid.

    ...andtheirfeetsswolledupandtheylaythereandstruggleonthefloorandhollerout.Andnobodye.Theyholleredthereforthreedaysandthreenightsandnobodye.’

    Iamdeaf,saidDoctorCopeland.Iotuand.’

    TheyputourWillieandthemboysinthishereice-coldroom.

    Thereehangingdownfromtheceiling.Theytakentheirshoesoffaheirbarefeetstothisrope.Willieandthemboyslaytherewiththeirbathefloorandtheirfeetsintheair.Andtheir,feetsswolleduparuggleonthefloor