He came close, too close, and stuck his face in mine. I tried not to pull away and give him the satisfaction, but he reeked of stale pancake makeup and something sweet I couldn’t name, and it took all I had to stay still. The razor burned like a hot coal just beyond my sight.
“What gave you and her the right to turn Mink against me and take my little boys away?” he demanded. “Not good enough to be in charge of children, am I?” His breath was rank, and several of his teeth were gray and dead. “She didn’t interfere with the brats and me before you came. Do you think it was good for her to do that? Are you happy you encouraged her?”
I was stunned. He was actually placing the blame for Bess’s death on me.
“You force me to do things I don’t want to, Dandy,” he whined. “That pains me. Dr. Mink never raised his voice to me before you arrived. I was like a son to him. What sort of person comes between a father and son?” His eyes were wet, but it could have been sickness, not tears. This sentiment had not prevented him from stealing Willie from his father, I noted.
“Don’t sleep, Dandy,” he whispered. “Don’t dare sleep. Or I might give you a good-night kiss.” He waved the razor in front of my terror-stricken eyes, then poked out his tongue and wiggled it like a pale slug. I cringed, and he pulled back, laughing.
He left, and the heat of the day came crashing back as if into a vacuum.
I bent over, feeling sick to my stomach. I was on the verge of vomiting when Apollo marched up to me. “That ugly lady won’t speak,” he said. “Bertha and Moses are laughing at me. If you want my troupe to help, you’d better show the brats I’m not a liar.”
“You shouldn’t have told them,” I snapped.
“They have to know she’s a person, else they’ll believe you a thief, running off with Dr. Mink’s exhibit.”
“Minnie knows she’s a person,” I said. The way Apollo frowned told me she hadn’t informed him of that fact.
I took a deep breath and slowly straightened, and the nausea subsided. Apollo allowed the children much higher moral indignation than was realistic. I considered letting him stew, but a shared secret like this might give the children a reason to keep quiet and pull together as a team. We had to get out of here. I glanced around to make sure Ceecee had truly gone. “All right,” I said. “But quickly.”
As soon as I touched Tauseret’s face, a blush like sunrise rose up her cheeks and her eyes fluttered open. I almost gasped with the children.
“It’s alive,” squeaked Willie with delight.
“Knew that,” said Minnie, earning me a shocked glance from Apollo.
Tauseret didn’t waste time in finding her voice. “You neglect me,” she accused in tones more smoky now than raspy.
Moses bugged his froggy eyes and uttered an oath I didn’t think one so young should know, let alone speak in front of girls. Bertha must have agreed, because she smacked his head.
“Ah, the frog boy,” said Tauseret. “I saw you with my ka and it was a good omen. The frog is a sign of rebirth.”
“Lady T.,” piped Minnie. “You’re speaking with your outside mouth.”
“Yes, indeed, little priestess,” said Tauseret. I could sense her affection for the lone soul who knew she had a voice, before I came.
Willie tilted his mottled face up at me. “Is it a trick?”
“A trick of the universe, perhaps,” I answered, and then pitied his puzzled look. “Not a trick,” I said. “A miracle.”
“Will you take them bandages off now?” asked Moses.
“Soon,” said Tauseret, and an unexpected thrill ran through me.
“Show Earle,” said Willie, tugging at my waistband. “She’s better than a newspaper story.”
“Earle can’t come in here,” chided Bertha. “He’s too big.”
“Take her in there,” suggested Moses.
All joined in a round of excited agreement.
Lord Almighty, this had to be the worstkept secret in the universe. I began to explain why that was impossible, when a husky voice interrupted.
“I have seen the fat man’s heart,” Tauseret said. “He will keep faith. Carry me.”
Willie cheered, and Minnie joined in, jumping up and down until her large head wobbled and I feared she’d fall over.