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" 'Forever and a long tio,' she said 'I'm surprised you never heard it Watch your step, Little Boss ' Off she went, helping Aunt Queen up the slope, the two of theether

"I don't knohy I was so afraid Everybody knew I'd told the truth about the existence of the island Everybody had seen the olden chair Everybody had seen the strange inscription on the mausoleum

"Had I not gloried in those first few ues caloried in the moment of shock when everyone crowded onto the second floor of the Here to see the evil rusted chains and the blackened morass on the floor? Yes, I had

"But what did it mean now?

"It was four o'clock The sun was lowering The property, for all its vain nificence, looked forlorn

"I went low, very low

"I stood out front, beyond Pops' close and beautiful flower beds, staring at the big columns of the house until Aunt Queen ca for ht to answer her but it seemed difficult for me to break the silence that surrounded me

"I knew on soenial, sweet face was just what I needed in ht of theinto theon ure who had stood at ht on hand, on forehead, on cheek Terror I felt mystery, yes, but cold panic

"Aunt Queen came near to me She said words but I didn't hear the about ency in New Orleans, excellent security men

"Cerebrally I knew these words ood, and I for at the doors, and sitting in the parlor, the kitchen, the dining rooister, I picture I listened

"But nothing could touch the cold panic I felt, and my only recourse seemed a motionlessness

" 'Quinn!' she said She put her hand onwill it be before she dies? And ht I couldn't speak

"Finally I came to the surface I took her hand and

kissed it, and I said, 'Let me help you up the steps, you alear these impossible shoes, look at you, and what if you fall and you break a hip, what then, o to Katmandu or Timbuktu or Iceland ¡¯

"She tookher to her roouard who sat in the far corner of the dining room, I went up the stairs