76
PARTISAN REVIEW
Only Kohoutek's parents persevered with the search. But for the
moment tbey were in the attic. From above could be heard the shifting
of furniture, the creak of cupboards being opened and drawers being
pulled out-the inimitable sounds that accompanied the revelation of
the most secret hiding places. Knowing how thorough his old folks
were, Kohoutek was well aware that they were hardly likely to raise
their heads and look out the window. Either way, though, there was no
more time to lose.
Kohoutek's current woman was walking across the lawn that had
once been the courtyard of the great slaughterhouse. On her back she
carried the backpack filled with her belongings, while behind her she
dragged the suitcase full of books.
Kohoutek ran downstairs, silently crossed the hallway, pulled aside a
piece of the wainscoting and, taking a secret shortcut he had last used
thirty years before during illicit childhood games, passed onto the
veranda. The smell of apples had the intensity of autumn thunder.
Kohoutek opened the door of the veranda with its orange-tinted glass
panels, and his feet stood upon the weary grass of November. Round–
ing the house, he began to run to meet his current woman. Led by some–
thing other than himself, he was headed for the most apocalyptic assig–
nation of his life.
• ••
HE
RAN AROUND THE HOUSE
and saw his current woman passing in
front of the huge dining room window. The light was on inside, the table
was being laid for supper, and the drapes had not been closed. She
walked straight ahead; she didn't yield to the most natural impulse in
the world, she didn't turn her head toward the light that flooded over
her, and she didn't look into the illuminated interior.
Damn her, she knows I'm not there so she doesn't even look, thought
Kohoutek to himself as he lurked behind the corner of the building.
Dear God, I'm not taking Your name in vain, but how is it that that
woman knows everything, always, everywhere? How does she know
I'm not in the dining room?
When he finally caught up with her, he stepped forward and took
hold of her hand. He didn 't put his arms around her, he didn't say a
word, he simply took her by the hand and, turning about, led her to a
safe place.
They zigzagged across the checkerboard that the shapes of lighted
windows marked out on the grass, keeping
to
the darkened squares.
