Chapter 19

Nick tossed and turned in bed, scrunching the pillow into a more comfortable shape. His mind ran through a collage of images. He punched his pillow in frustration. He needed sleep and not to think about the exorcism or Jean Claude. Finally blackness closed over him, and he slept and dreamed.

“Wake up, you lout. We’ve got work to do.”

My childhood pal Louis was my partner. The only two boys from Montreuil-Bellay to be at the Cadre, we were the envy of the town. We both worked extra hard to earn a spot at the school.

“We are to clean the barn,” Louis said.

“Bah! I hate cleaning horse shit!”

“You are horse shit!” Louis said.

We both laughed, heading for the barns.

“I have a message from Gretchen for you.” Louis fished a crumpled paper from his pocket.

“When did she give you this?”

“I was in town for supplies, and she stopped me.”

“Oh? What does she want?”

“I don’t know!” Louis snorted. “I didn’t read your note!”

I quickly read her message. She wanted to see me tonight. But I wanted to see the Gypsy girl Chaton, not Gretchen.

“Are you sneaking out later to see her?” Louis asked.

“No!” My face flushed.

“I see you sneak away.”

“The pub.” Did Louis guess the real reason I left? Chaton was so much more fun than proper and careful Gretchen.