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.Heremembered the photographs she left in the Colorado house to burn,and wondered, for all her denying of the past, if some part of her yetdwelled on those photographs. All right, Pemberton. Frizzell slid the negative plate from his last photograph into its pro-tective metal sleeve and placed a new one in the camera. We ll need a less dreary backdrop, so I ll have to move my equip-ment, Frizzell said irritably. No, Pemberton said. The backdrop is fine as it is.As Mrs.Pem-berton says, we re pleased with what we ve done here. Very well, Frizzell said, turning to Serena, but surely you re notstaying on your horse? Yes, Serena said. I am. Well, Frizzell said with utter exasperation, if the photograph isblurred you ll only have yourselves to blame. Frizzell disappeared under his shawl, and the photograph was taken.The photographer began packing his equipment as Galloway gave a longblast of his car horn. I ll have one of my men pick it up in Waynesville tomorrow, Pem-berton said, lingering beside Serena. You need to go, Pemberton, Serena said.She leaned in the saddle and pressed her hand against his face.Pem-berton took her hand and pressed it to his lips a moment. I love you, he said.Serena nodded and turned away.She rode off toward Noland Moun-tain, black puffs of lingering ash rising around the horse s hooves.Pem-berton watched her a few moments and then walked to the car, but hepaused before opening the passenger door. What is it? Galloway asked. Just trying to think if there s anything else I may need. I got us food, Galloway said. Got your hunting knife too.The Mis-sus had me fetch it.It s in my tote sack. 354 ron rashAs they left camp, Pemberton glanced up the ridge at Galloway sstringhouse, one of the few that hadn t yet been hauled to the new site.The old woman wasn t on the porch, was probably inside sitting at thetable.Pemberton smiled as he thought of her prophecy, the way they dall been taken in by her performance.They rode north, Galloway usinghis stub to guide the wheel when he shifted gears.Pemberton closed hiseyes and waited for the aspirin to ease his headache.After a while the Packard slowed and turned.Pemberton opened hiseyes.Trees closed in around them.They bumped down into Ivy Gap, aswathe of private land just east of the park holdings.The car passed overa wooden plank bridge, and the automobile s vibration caused Pember-ton s latent headache to return. Why don t you get a damn fender brace for this thing, Pembertonsaid, that or slow down. Maybe it ll shake that hang over out of your head, Galloway said,swerving to avoid a washout.They passed a harvested cornfield where a scarecrow rose, wide-armedas if forsaken.A pair of doves fluttered up amid the tatter of brokenstalks and shucks, resettled.Pemberton knew men hunted them butcould not imagine what satisfaction came from killing something hardlylarger than the shell you shot with.The woods thickened until the roaddid not so much end as give up, surrendering to scrub oaks and broomsedge.Galloway stopped and jerked the handbrake. We ll have to hoof it the rest of the way. They got out and Galloway took a tote sack from the back seat.Pem-berton retrieved his rifle and opened the box of bullets, lifted out ahandful and stuffed them in a jacket pocket.Galloway swung the totesack over his shoulder. Anything else? Pemberton asked. No, Galloway said, starting down the hint of road that remained. All we need s in this tote sack. You have the car keys? Got them, Galloway said, patting his right pants pocket. Serena 355 Give me my knife. Galloway opened the tote sack and handed Pemberton the knife. Where s the sheath? I reckon it s still in that drawer, Galloway said.Pemberton cursed softly at Galloway s oversight, placed the huntingknife in the jacket s side pocket.Pemberton and Galloway moved deeper into the gorge, crossing aspring bog and then a creek.They moved through a stand of tulip poplarswhose yellow leaves shimmered the forest floor with new-fallen bright-ness.The land made a last steep drop, and they entered the meadow, tuftsof broom sedge giving the open landscape a luster to rival the surroundingtrees.A deer lay in the meadow s center, little left but rags of fur andbones.Galloway opened the tote sack and removed a dozen ears of corn,placed them in a full circle as if to enclose the carcass
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