Thomas Tryon - The Night of the Moonbow

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an auto motor, and he recognized the expensive purr of Dagmar’s Pierce-Arrow. He straightened up and, looking across the turf, saw the car tooling toward him. Augie behind the wheel, Dagmar peering out the window. In a moment it pulled up; Augie helped Dagmar out, and, giving Leo a wave, she made her way toward him.

“There you are,” she called agreeably. “Ma said we’d find you here. May I join you?”

Without waiting for his response, she seated herself on the grass. “What a pretty spot. I haven’t been here for years. Knute used to fish in this pond, I remember. Do you come here often?”

“Sometimes.”

“I was very sorry to hear of what has happened to the model village. A terrible thing, I have been talking with Ma and Fritz about it. That young man must be taught a lesson! He can’t go around behaving like some thug simply because he’s big and strong or because he’s Rolfe Hartsig’s son.” She had a good deal more to say on the subject of Reece’s recent behavior, none of it flattering. “I say he had better change his ways and quickly,” she concluded. “When he flies from the nest next year he won’t find the world half so well-feathered as it is at home.”

She paused expectantly, but when Leo said nothing, went on. “Fritz also told me about these Mingoes, or whatever they please to call themselves-”

“They’re out to get me, I know they are,” Leo cried, unable to stop himself.

“Don’t be a blubberer,” said Dagmar starchily. “I’m sure Pa will put a stop to them.”

“He won’t. He never does. Fritz told him!”

“Then someone will have to talk to Dr Dunbar. Perhaps I’ll ring him myself.”

She jerked her chin firmly for emphasis. “But Leo,” she went on, “in any case, you must not think it was wrong, your coming here. I am not a superstitious woman, but somehow I know, I am certain, that you were meant to come here to Moonbow, that it would – will – lead to very important things. Things that will change your whole life.” She regarded him long and a trifle wistfully. “Leo, you are young and do not see it; but if you did…”

“See what?”

“See that you are standing upon the golden threshold. You are waiting just outside the door, nearly ready to step through. Into a world so glorious not even you can imagine it. But if you could see, you would realize it is there, for you to grasp and make the most of. If only you will do it. If only you will make the most of your talent. Yes! You cannot appreciate this – not yet – what it means to be an artist, how hard you must work and struggle for it, how hard you must fight against those who cannot understand. And you must make up your mind to it, that as an artist you will always be apart, always different. That is what helps make you an artist, that difference.”

Her eyes held an urgency as she spoke, talked on, trying to reach him with her words. Leo listened, knowing they were meaningful things she was trying to express, but he felt uncomfortable nevertheless. Even while they sat beside the water the dusk was gathering around them, and as she talked her face grew pale in the purple light, the wrinkles in her skin more pronounced.

She changed her position to bring herself closer to him, forcing him to attend more closely to her words. “What I am trying to say is that you have displayed your talents to me on two different occasions. Both times things were amiss and the performance was interrupted, but that fact takes nothing away from your God-given abilities. Professor Pinero agrees. Yours is a rare gift, a gift that requires nourishment. It seems to us that if you were given the opportunity to pursue your studies as your mother wanted you to, you could go farther than even she dreamed.” This mention of Emily caused him to drop his head. Using her thumb, Dagmar raised it again. “Leo?”

“Yes?”

“Why did you tell me your mother and father had died in a train accident?”

“Did I?”

“Yes. Don’t you remember?”

He shook his head. “It’s true,” he said. “They did! It’s true!” But even as he spoke he knew she had found out the truth.

“Leo, my dear, listen to me, please,” she went on. “You needn’t be ashamed. I have spoken with Ma. She told me. You mustn’t think I am being a nosy Parker, but I believed you would wish me to know. Isn’t that so? Aren’t these things we should speak of, you and I, if we are to be friends?”

“I suppose so.” He feigned a profound interest in the spider. “But what if someone else finds out?”

“Who? The campers, do you mean? Or Reece? They won’t, never fear.”

But Leo was remembering the village. Suddenly he looked up at her. “Can we talk at the Castle?”

“Why there, please?”

“Because I want to come.”

“And you shall,” she replied. “We’ll have a nice visit before you leave.”

“No. Not a visit. To stay.”

“To stay?”

“Yes. Then you can ask me anything you want. And I’ll play for you. But you must promise to keep me. Forever and ever.”

“Oh, my dear, how can I do that?”

“Tell Mr Poe and Miss Meekum you want me,” he said eagerly. “Say I’m to come and stay with you.”

“That’s a very nice idea. Perhaps you can come for Christmas vacation. But I’m afraid a longer visit would be out of the question.”

“Why?”

“Leo, I am an old woman, I cannot have the responsibility of a boy to look after. What would happen if I became ill-?”

“Augie! Augie will take care of me.”

“Nonsense! That’s ridiculous. Augie is older than I. He’s not well. I wouldn’t think of burdening him.”

She consulted her watch, then stubbed out her cigarette and dropped her Camels into her bag. “My stomach’s rumbling,” she said. “I must get home for supper.” She stood and brushed off her seat, then put out a hand and wiggled her fingers coaxingly. “Come. Augie will drive you back to camp.”

She reached for his arm but he pulled away abruptly.

“I don’t want to.”

“I thought you liked riding in my automobile.”

“No, I don’t want to,” he said again.

She laughed her robust laugh. “What do you want, then?”

“I told you. I want to come with you and live in your castle.”

“But I have explained that is not possible. You must go back, of course.” She smiled encouragement. “Before the summer’s over we’ll play duets again, how will that be?” He stiffened and spoke coldly. “That’s okay. You don’t have to be polite.”

“But I am not being polite. I mean what I say. I want you to come. I hope you will visit me many times in future.” He turned a little away. “I’m liable to be pretty busy.” A faint line of dissatisfaction drew itself between her brows. “Come now, please don’t scowl so. I may be an old woman, but I know what I’m talking about.” She smiled and touched a finger to the back of his hand. “Be a good boy, Leo, won’t you? Aren’t we friends, you and I? I hoped we were…” She tried to force his chin up, but he ducked his head and stubbornly refused to look at her.

She sighed. “I had not thought to find you so ill-mannered. I fear I have mistaken myself in you.” She sighed. “Very well, then, let us part, not as I hoped we would, but as we must. Good-bye.”

He only half-watched her as she marched away, her back stiffened with affront, bits of leaf and straw attached to her skirt. He wanted to run after her and say he was sorry, but his feet wouldn’t obey his brain. He pretended not to notice as Augie helped her into the car, shut the doors, turned the car around, and drove away down the lane. She never even looked around once. Leo felt tears sting his eyes.