dead woman’s grove 109

Night had fallen when they all decided to end the feast, and they took down the doll from the pole to which they had attached it in the morning; it was brought to me in procession. I greeted them at the window of the dining-room, outside which there was a stone bench where they sat the doll. After thanking me repeatedly they left me alone, or rather in the company of the ‘doll’, on whose head someone had placed my hat. It looked as though it was resting after the day’s events, and its mask was turned towards the house, its eyes never leaving me. Its shoulders leaned against the window-sill, and the light of the indoor lamp shone towards its head. I used to spend hours on that bench, sitting in just that position, nodding off or perhaps reading, and when Emília brought me supper, she actually remarked that she had thought the ‘doll’ was me. She wanted to speak about Marta, but I told her she should get to bed: we would talk the following day.

I sat at the table, but was unable to eat anything, and so opened a book, wanting to read to take my mind off things (to escape from myself), and did manage to; even now I can remember the pages I read, and can repeat whole sentences from them. At the same time, though, my mind was receptive to so many thoughts that reading could not quell my fears as to what might happen to Julia, and indeed what might happen to me should the madness which had assailed me continue. Not that I really believed in death threats or gunshots…

Just at this point in my musings, I heard gunfire. ‘Who in God’s name would be shooting at this hour of the night?’ I thought, annoyed, but never thinking that it might have anything to do with Julia. I went on reading and pondering: Run off with her? And then what? Wasn’t José Cravo the type to come to some agreement if I were to give him money?… This last idea made me a little happier. He can’t be as bad as he’s made out to be…

Another shot; this time very close to the Convent, and at the same time the doll’s head moved, and the pitcher of cool water on the sideboard rang out, while water spurted from its