Page 74 - Where the Dream Ends ebook

Marc Erdrich

“Who is that man?” Harry whispered, leaning closer as he
helped his aunt to a seat. The elderly gentleman sat down op-
posite Harry.

“How do you do,” Harry said, holding out his hand. “I’m
Harry, Ceil’s nephew. And you are…?

“Don’t ask,” the man replied. “She’s been driving me crazy
ever since I met her.”
“Where’s Charlie?” Harry asked. Charlie died several years
before Ceil.

“Charlie?” The old man stared blankly at Harry. “Who’s
Charlie?”

“Charlie. Ceil’s husband. My uncle. Ceil, what’s going on?”
Harry insisted, turning to his aunt. “Who is this man?”
“Oy, Harry, you’re always getting yourself worked up over
nothing.” She fumbled through her purse. “I have something
here I want to show you.” After emptying the contents of her
purse on the table, she retrieved a newspaper clipping that had
been folded in half four times. She unfolded it carefully to re-
veal a full-sized page from a national tabloid. “Here, look at
this.” She handed him the paper.

Harry glanced at the headline:

MAN EATS OWN HAND;
NEW ONE GROWS BACK

Two photographs accompanied the macabre headline. One
was a shot of a grizzled hand, sliced at the wrist. The other was
a picture of a menacing looking man with shoulder length hair,

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