Bearing an Hourglass Read Online Free PDF

challenge her. “You refuse to believe I can see a ghost, but you expect me to believe you see a glow? When the ghost and the glow say the same thing?”
    She smiled wanly. “I suppose it is inconsistent. But so many men have come with stories about the ghost of my husband, I know it’s a crude male game. I would like to believe you are different.”
    Somehow Norton felt rather small. “I did see the ghost—but I don’t necessarily agree with what he said.”
    “I do see the glow,” she said. “But I don’t—” She smiled. “Good night, Norton.”
    “Good night, Orlene.”
    She retreated and closed the door.
    Gawain reappeared. “I see the problem,” he said. “Neither of you is a dragon slayer; you don’t like to go at it directly. But if she says you glow, she’ll accept you. It’s just a matter of time. All you need to do is stay here and—”
    “And be supported by a woman,” Norton finished. “I find that hard to accept.”
    “It’s my estate, damn it!” Gawain swore. “She doesn’t have a thing of her own. It’s all mine. She won’t inherit; only the son she bears will. She knows that.”
    “Suppose it’s a daughter?”
    The ghost looked blank. “A what?”
    Norton was beginning to appreciate the fact that Gawain’s purpose did not align perfectly with Orlene’s purpose. He wanted to preserve the estate; she wanted a proper personal situation. He wanted a son to inherit and carry on the line; the personality of that son was not a concern. She surely wanted a fine child who would be a joy to her and to Gawain’s family and to the world and a credit to the estate. He was concerned about money and power, she about quality and love. She would prefer to have an attractive, intelligent, and sweet girl—like herself—while he would be outraged by anything less than a strapping, bold boy—like himself. Norton’s sympathy was sliding toward the woman’s view.
    But he was here at the ghost’s behest, and there was merit in Gawain’s position. “I’ll try to accomplish your purpose. But I won’t rush it. It’s not that I want to sponge off your estate, it’s that I think you have a better wife than you appreciate, and I want it to be right.”
    “I want it to be right, too,” Gawain said, sounding aggrieved. “I want my son to have the best of everything.”
    Norton didn’t comment. As he came to understand the forces operating here, he did not feel more at ease. But there seemed to be no better way through this than to remain here, get to know Orlene, and do what the ghost wanted when the occasion was propitious. Then move on quickly, lest he become too much attached. How much easier this would have been if the girl had been a gold digger or a slut!
    He closed his eyes, and Gawain did not speak again. Soon Norton was asleep, drowned in the comfort of the mudbath bed.
    He dreamed he was back at the puzzle-window, trying to place a piece. As he stared at it, assessing its contours, those contours changed, coming to resemble the outlineof a nude woman—and the woman had hair like honey, and breasts the same. He tried to avert his eyes from that ineffable sweetness, embarrassed. It was not that he had any aversion to such a body; it was that he felt he was violating Orlene’s modesty.
    But the shape expanded to life size, showing more detail, becoming the living, breathing woman, naked and appallingly desirable. He tried to set her down—for his hand was still on the piece, grasping it where he had no right to grasp—but found himself drawn in toward her. In a moment he would fall through the piece, into the world of the puzzle—and where would he be then? Desperately he pushed her away—and she fell to the floor and broke into a thousand puzzle fragments, and he knew these could never be reassembled, no matter how hard he tried to fit every bit together.
    He woke—and Orlene was there, her arm about his shoulders as she sat on the bed. Her warm breast pressed against his