Better to Eat You

by Charlotte Armstrong

  “I will,” she said. “All right, David.”

  Moon burst out of the kitchen, jabbering.

  David was over the wall already. “Malvina, get a rope. Sarah, telephone.” He was gone.

  Sarah said, “Grandfather! Don’t let him see!” She ran into the kitchen to the phone there.

  Moon was at her shoulder, repeating one series of syllables over and over again.

  Sarah made the call. She leaned on the kitchen counter to peer out and down. She could see people on the rocks now, some of them struggling in the water. She could see Malvina in her black pajamas kneeling on a rock. She couldn’t go. Sarah could not help. Her arms were not healed enough. Sarah began to draw deep breaths.

  “I must stay with Grandfather and be sure he is calm,” she told herself out loud. “I must be perfectly calm myself, or Grandfather might die.”

  The Chinaman said that phrase again. “Yes, yes, I’ll be careful,” Sarah answered, and thrust out of her mind all that she could of wonder and of fear.

  She moved quickly through the house toward Grandfather’s room. Mrs. Monteeth was in the living room. Sarah warned her to make no sound. Told her quickly what had happened.

  “Mr. Fox is having his early coffee.”

  “His bedroom? Good. I’ll go keep him on the west side of the house. I’ll be with him. Watch from the study, Mrs. Monteeth. And be quiet.”

  “Are you all right, Miss Sarah?”

  “I’ve got to be.”

  She drew one more deep breath and tapped and when he answered, entered smiling.

  Chapter 12

  Grandfather’s bedroom was vast. The carpeting was crimson, thick and soft. The walls were gray. Across the western windows the draperies of crimson and gray had been half opened to the day. His huge bed had a fringed canopy of heavy white stuff and on his pillows the old man was enthroned. Music was playing softly.

  “Ah, Sarah. Good morning. Are your arms better today, dearie?”

  “Much better.” She came near him and spoke lovingly. “Grandfather, are you feeling strong?”

  He flicked his lids wider.

  “There is a thing that has happened. It may not be too bad.” She sat on the bed and took his small plump dry hand.

  “Tell me, Sarah,” Grandfather said, sinking upon his pillows. “I am strong.”

  So, as carefully as she could, she told him.

  “Edgar’s car?” he said frowning. “But Gust has Edgar’s car in San Diego.”

  “It was gray,” said Sarah. “Why, I suppose it was my carl” She beat down the jumping heart. She saw the cord of his neck, the bulge of his eye. She stroked his hand. “It didn’t drop so far. They will pull him out,” she said soothingly. “Whatever happens, we cannot grieve for everyone, or so you said, Grandfather. Do you remember?” She watched him, dedicated to his welfare.

  The old man drew his lips back from his teeth. “Where is Malvina?”

  “Malvina has gone to help. And David, too. But I will stay with you, Grandfather.”

  “I must get up,” he said petulantly. His eyes turned toward the door to his study.

  “Better … not the study,” Sarah said gently.

  The old man plucked the blanket.

  “Mrs. Monteeth is in the study, Grandfather, and from there she can see. People are doing all they can.”

  “I know. I know,” he said restlessly.

  “Moon will bring your full breakfast here. I will take a cup of coffee with you.”

  The old man’s lids hid the eyes. “Thank you, Sarah,” he said and over his face passed a wry look, almost as if … Sarah thought, wondering, watching him so carefully … almost as if something bitterly amused him.

  The car had rolled and was now more or less upright. David threshed through the water. The door would not open but the glass had broken. He was holding the man’s head high within the car when other hands came to help him pull Edgar out.

  Mrs. Monteeth, from Grandfather’s study, could see all these efforts. But Sarah remained within the quiet bedroom, holding herself from running to see, cut off from the news. Still, the old man was calmer. The bulging look of the eye had receded.

  Grandfather was even rather curious and prying as if he enjoyed the gossip. “They were quarreling?” asked Grandfather. “Whatever for?”

  “I thought they were,” said Sarah. “Edgar said he wouldn’t be quiet. He wouldn’t let her do any more.”

  “Do any more,” said Grandfather slowly. “Is that all he said, Sarah?”

  “All that I heard.” She flushed. “There was something about love.”

  “Eh? Oh yes, love. Yes. Of course.”

  “Grandfather, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask you. It’s about your will that you made.”

  “Why, Sarah? Why do you ask about the will? You and Malvina will have my money, of course. You don’t mind, Sarah? You know that Malvina was good to me. We were so close in our sorrow when my dear old Lupino died.”

  “She is a Lupino,” said Sarah under her breath.

  “Eh? Sarah?”

  “I don’t know, Grandfather. I don’t want to upset you, but I wonder …”

  “Never fear,” said Fox craftily. “Tell me, Sarah—” He seemed to snuggle toward gossip. His eyes were bright. “Has David asked about my will? Eh?”

  “He … thinks I may have an enemy. Because of the money.”

  “Does he, indeed? My dear little Sarah. What nonsense, eh?”

  “I just wonder,” said Sarah. “It worries me, Grandfather. Because, you see, whoever it is may be your enemy, too.” She gulped. “Oh, have I frightened you, shocked you?” She watched the narrowing of his eyes. “I am not being good for you.”

  “You are good for me, a good sweet child,” he said. “And I am such an ancient man. Do you know, I wouldn’t mind an enemy.” He cocked his head and the tough and ancient dimples appeared on his hard cheeks. “Do you believe it?” he asked, twinkling as if this were a delight.

  “Since Malvina lied to me, it makes me wonder …”

  But he sighed. “Some people tell these stupid well-meant lies. Malvina is sometimes a little stupid, Sarah.”

  “Perhaps, Grandfather.”

  “But now you fear for me?”

  She ducked her head, unable to speak.

  “Well, then,” said Grandfather softly, “you and I must never lie to one another. Dear Sarah, you must always tell me what you are thinking.”

  “Oh, I will,” she promised. “I do.”

  But Sarah did not tell him. She did not cry out what she might have cried. In anger or in fear. Isn’t it strange, isn’t it odd, isn’t it ghostly … that this has happened to my car!

  About nine o’clock, Mrs. Monteeth tapped on the door. She entered the bedroom. “Gust has come back,” she announced, nodding as if she knew good news. “He has picked up Miss Malvina. Miss Malvina is here.”

  “Send Miss Malvina to talk to me,” said Grandfather at once. “Sarah, go dress. Do as I say, dearie. I am calm.”

  “Mrs. Monteeth, you stay.” Sarah flew out the door to the corridor. Malvina was standing at her bedroom door. Her black pajamas were soaked and plastered to her body. Her hair was wild, the knot loosened and falling out of its moorings. Her eyes looked stricken.

  “Edgar is in the hospital,” Malvina said hoarsely and wearily. “David got him out.”

  “Oh good! Oh good for David! Don’t go to Grandfather like that.”

  Malvina’s face tightened. “Do you think I don’t know?” she said contemptuously and yanked her door open. Sarah followed her in.

  “Malvina, what were you and Edgar quarreling about?”

  “We were not quarreling.”

  “I heard you.” Sarah thought. She is trying to lie.

  “What did you hear?” Malvina had gone into her bathroom and the black pajamas fell on the floor soddenly.

  “What was it he said you wouldn’t do any more?”

  Malvina came out of the bathroom
with her yellow robe held around her. She was toweling her long black hair. “He was jealous, Sarah,” Malvina said.

  “I know. I know. Of you and David. But what was it he said he wouldn’t let you do any more?”

  Malvina’s eyes flickered. “He said I wouldn’t make him suffer any more.” Malvina raised her head and shook it. She whacked her hair with a brush rapidly. Then, arms raised, she began to roll up the hair. “And I thought I had talked him out of it,” she said bitterly.

  “Out of what, Malvina?” Sarah leaned on the wall.

  “Don’t you know?” Malvina turned and her face pitied Sarah’s ignorance. “Didn’t you realize? Edgar ran the car off the road.”

  “Oh … oh, you mean he wanted to … He tried to …”

  “He was terribly upset.”

  Sarah was silent, tasting the credibility of the idea that Edgar had tried suicide.

  Malvina said, “Don’t worry. I won’t tell Grandfather.”

  “Oh no! Oh no! You mustn’t!”

  “I’ll tell him it was an accident,” Malvina said, and then angrily. “Get out. I’ve got to dress. I must see Grandfather. Things to do.…”

  “Yes,” Sarah said. “Yes, all right, Malvina. But be careful.”

  Sarah went to her own room and dressed herself quickly. She put on a cotton shirt and a pair of brown corduroy slacks. She left her feet in the Chinese slippers. She was numb with all this news. A stray thought came to her. “Be careful.” Why, she had understood Moon this morning. How was that? Now she knew he had been saying to her, over and over again, “Be careful.” Perhaps, after having been in Japan, some of his syllables were familiar to her. Certainly she had understood that little bit. How strange. He had said to her “Be careful,” and she had understood. Sarah’s mind went to the news.

  David, strong and quick, had saved Edgar’s life. But Edgar had tried suicide. Sarah thought, No. Wait a minute. Edgar meant to be heard. He said he wouldn’t be quiet. But to die is to be very quiet indeed. It’s all lies, thought Sarah.

  Fox said in his chirruping happy voice, “Then our dear Edgar will be all right again? Ah, good news. Eh? Mrs. Monteeth, dear ma’am, quickly. Find flowers,” he commanded. “Tell Gust he must take these girls to the hospital. Quickly. Ah yes. We must make a great fuss of Edgar. Poor chap. Poor fellow. Try to find roses,” Grandfather cried.

  Mrs. Monteeth went beaming and bustling.

  To the angry old face on the pillow, when she had gone, Malvina spoke flatly. “Edgar was going to the police. To save my soul. So I did it. But David was too damned quick. Now Edgar is going to tell them everything.” She looked beaten and sullen.

  “Then hurry,” Fox said. “To the hospital.”

  “He won’t be quiet,” she scoffed.

  “He’ll see you,” Fox said. And he clambered out of the huge bed and threw his brocaded dressing gown around him. “In the study. Come. I told you. I have some poison.”

  “Grandfather …” She stumbled after him.

  “You have been stupid, Malvina. And now you will have to manage.”

  “How … can I? They will know if I do.”

  “That’s why Sarah is going too.”

  “Sarah?”

  “Yes. Yes, and hurry.”

  They whispered furiously together.

  “I can’t do it, Grandfather.”

  “For me?” he said. “What is there to lose, Malvina?”

  “Nothing, I suppose. Your life and mine.” She shrugged and looked around her. “You’d better hide the rest of it. Be a search here.”

  “Yes,” he said. “That is discerning of you, my dear. I will hide it well. Come now, I am not angry, Malvina. I see that you acted quickly. I only want you to finish what you meant to do.”

  She shrugged again, but her mind had taken hold and went in the coils, the twists, the turnings of its habit.

  “If you are bold,” he said, “and quick. There now, Malvina. You are calm. You are clever, after all. You will manage.”

  The look of defeat was gone from her face. He seemed to have brought to life again whatever there was of Malvina.

  Sarah found them in the living room.

  “Come, Sarah,” said Grandfather, in high spirits. “Take the flowers, dearie. Gust is going to drive you.”

  “Where am I going?” she gasped.

  “To the hospital of course, dearie. To see poor Edgar.”

  “Yes,” said Sarah loudly. “Yes, I do very much want to see Edgar.”

  “And she’d better get those arms dressed,” said Malvina, “now that Edgar isn’t here to do it.”

  “Now, she must,” beamed Grandfather. “There. Give him my love, dears, and off with you. Quickly.”

  So it was no later than nine-thirty when Gust took them gingerly down the road in Malvina’s car. Sarah saw people still on the rocks below. She couldn’t spot David among them although she knew he was there. They were trying to figure out a way to raise the car.

  She thought she must talk to David, to many people. But she asked no more questions of Malvina, who would only lie. They rode in silence, sitting apart.

  At the small hospital a nurse said that Dr. Perrott could have no visitors, not just yet.

  “Tell him my-name,” purred Malvina, her eyes glistening. “Tell him Malvina is here. Please. And can someone tend to Miss Shepherd’s arms?”

  “Of course,” the nurse said. “If she’ll come with me.”

  “Go on.” Malvina gave Sarah a little shove. “We’ll wait. We won’t go until they let us see Edgar.”

  So Sarah found herself in a treatment room. The young doctor was encouraging. He said the arms were already healing nicely. “Had a lot of bad luck up at your place lately,” he remarked cheerfully.

  “Yes, it does seem so,” Sarah said steadily.

  Edgar was not even badly hurt, a rib or two broken, and the shock. He said without opening his eyes, “Malvina?” His voice was completely tragic.

  She slipped into the room and crouched with her face close to his. “Grandfather,” she said. “Edgar, take me away from him.”

  “I?” His eyes opened.

  “So … dreadful.… He … blundering.… Trying to hurt Sarah.… Hurt you.… Edgar, marry me?”

  The man’s chest rose and fell rapidly.

  “Here. Now,” she whispered. “So I needn’t go back. I never want to go back.”

  “Has to be time …” His head moved. He looked astonished and a little wild.

  “Then let me get the licenses … whatever it is. Blood tests. And stay in the village. I have a little money, Edgar. Enough. We can go away when you are better.”

  “Malvina … Malvina …” He thrust her away so that he could see her.

  “You were right. I see now. Now that this has happened. He is evil.” Her lips showed her strong beautiful teeth.

  “It’s horrible, Malvina,” burst Edgar. “Blundering … bumbling around with his hideous plots. Old and cruel and careless. Listening to nobody … He’s like an evil baby playing with murder instead of a rattle.”

  “Yes,” she said. “Yes, he is.”

  “He’ll come to his punishment. Oh, leave him, Malvina. Now that you know.”

  “I didn’t know,” she sobbed on his pillow. “I didn’t know about the car. He told me to give Sarah those keys. It was for Sarah.”

  “Yes,” he said with satisfaction. “Yes, it must have been for Sarah.”

  “Marry me. Save me.” Her face touched his. Malvina could weep real tears. The moisture on his cheek convinced him. “You are not going to die,” she wept. “We can go away together. Money doesn’t matter.”

  “Mexico,” he said.

  “Anywhere …”

  “Somehow,” he said and now she knew she had convinced him by the purpose gathering in his body, by the rapidity of his heart.

  “Don’t say anything to Sarah,” she whispered. “She is here. She’s coming to see you. Tell David Wakeley,” said Malvina. “Don’t you see? He
will get Sarah away from there.”

  “We … can’t … leave Sarah … with the old man.” Edgar looked dazed.

  “No, no. But Sarah believes in him. And she will talk to him. And I’m afraid, Edgar. Until we are married. He can stop us, Edgar, if we are not careful. And he will not want me to get away. Oh, let us get away together.…”

  “Get a message to Wakeley,” said Edgar with sudden vigor. “Tell him to come here. Don’t you go back to the Nest.” His vigor failed and he added weakly, “Nor Sarah either.”

  “I’ll send her to David. Let them do as they please. I won’t go back. I will always be with you. If you had died, Edgar, I would have died.”

  “Malvina,” he said and took her left hand and put it against his face and closed his eyes.

  Therefore, Malvina’s right hand was free to do what she had come to do.

  “I hear somebody, darling,” she said softly in a moment. “Oh, look at the flowers. How we have crushed them!”

  “Malvina …”

  “Do I look as if I’ve been crying?” She was smiling.

  A nurse and Sarah came in. The nurse said, “Not much longer, please.”

  “How are you feeling, Edgar?” asked Sarah gently. She tried to read in his face whether he had meant to die. He looked excited, Sarah thought. Pleased and excited.

  “Well enough …”

  “He’s fine,” said Malvina with a catch in her voice. “Thank heavens. Nurse, may I use that vase?” She seemed tense and keyed up, too.

  Sarah said, drawing closer to the bed, “We are so glad you got out of that. Grandfather sends his love.”

  “Does he?” said Edgar. “How are you, Sarah?” He watched Malvina, who took the water pitcher and filled the vase and put the flowers in it.

  The nurse, who remained at the door, said, “Only a minute more, I’m afraid. Dr. Perrott needs to be quiet.”

  “Oh yes, we’ll be going,” Malvina said brightly. “I’ve so much to do.” Her eyes exchanged secrets with Edgar. “Sarah, move that glass, won’t you, so I can put the flowers there.”

  Sarah took the water glass, which was two-thirds full, away from the small table beside the bed on which Malvina was setting the vase of flowers. She held it, wondering what to do with it, wondering what to say to Edgar.