“Oh, he did, did he?” remarked Hamilton, thinking of a certain flop-eared buck.
“Yes indeed. Went limp on us. I’d as leave try to stuff a snake down a hole.”
“Well, we’ll try another day. Meanwhile I’ll attend to him.”
“I’d enjoy helping you,” Jake said wistfully.
Theobald was just sitting, doing less than nothing, when Felix came in. “Hello, sport. Ready to go home?”
“Yes.”
Felix waited until they were in the family car and the pilot set on home before bracing him. “Ray tells me you didn’t help him very well.”
Theobald twisted a string around his finger. He concentrated on it.
“Well, how about it? Did you, or didn’t you?”
“He wanted me to play some stupid games,” the child stated. “No sense to them.”
“So you quit?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought you told me you would help?”
“I didn’t say I would.”
Felix thought back. The child was probably right-he could not remember. But he had had a feeling of contract, the “meeting of minds.”
“Seems to me there was mention of a flop-eared rabbit.”
“But,” Theobald pointed out, “you said I could have it anyhow. You told me so!”
The rest of the trip home was mostly silence.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Quick and the Dead
MADAME ESPARTERO CARVALA called again, unexpectedly and with no ceremony. She simply called by telephone and announced that she was coming to see them. She had informed Phyllis on the previous occasion that she expected to come back and see the baby. But more than four years had passed with no word from her; Phyllis had given up expecting her. After all, one does not thrust oneself on a member of the cosmically remote Board of Policy!
They had seen references to her in the news: Madame Espartero re-confirmed without opposition. Madame Espartero offers her resignation. The Grand Old Lady of the Board in failing health. Madame Espartero’s alternate selected by special election. Carvala rallies in her fight for life. Planners honor sixtieth year of service of the Oldest Member. Stereo stories and news bits-she had become an institution.
Felix had thought when he saw her last that she looked older than any human being could. He realized when he saw her this time that he had been mistaken. She was still more incredibly frail and shrunken and she seemed to move with great effort. She compressed her lips tightly with each movement.
But her eye was still bright, her voice was still firm. She dominated her surroundings.
Phyllis came forward. “We are delighted. I never expected to see you again.”
“I told you I was coming back to see the boy.”
“Yes, I remember, but it has been a long time and you did not come.”
“No sense in looking a child over until he has shaped up and can speak for himself! Where is he? Fetch him in.”
“Felix, will you find him?”
“Certainly, my dear.” Felix departed, wondering how it was that he, a grown man and in full possession of his powers, could permit a little old woman, ripe for cremation, to get him so on edge. It was childish of him!
Theobald did not want to leave his rabbits. “I’m busy.”
Felix considered the plan of returning to the lounge and announcing that Theobald would receive Madame Espartero, if at all, at the rabbit run. But he decided that he could not do such a thing to Phyllis. “Look, son, there is a lady in there who wants to see you.”
No answer.
“Make up your mind,” Felix announced cheerfully. “Will you walk or do you prefer to be dragged? It makes no difference to me.”
Theobald looked slowly up his father’s sheer two meters and, without further comment, started for the house.
“Madame Espartero, this is Theobald.”
“So I see. Come to me, Theobald.” Theobald stood fast.
“Go to her, Theobald.” Phyllis spoke briskly; the boy complied at once. Felix wondered why it was that the child obeyed his mother so much more readily than his father. Damn it, he was good to the child and just with him. There must have been a thousand times when he had refrained from losing his temper with him.