Long walk to forever by Kurt Vonnegut, Bryan Harnetiaux Read Free Book Online Page B

are good about Henry! Yes," she said, "and many, many, many things
    are probably bad, too. But that isn't any of your business. I love Henry, and I don't have to argue
    his merits with you!"
    "Sorry," said Newt.
    "Honestly!" said Catharine.
    Newt kissed her again. He kissed her again because she wanted him to. They were now in a large orchard.
    "How did we get so far from home, Newt?" said Catharine.
    "One foot in front of the other--through leaves, over bridges," said Newt.
    "They add up--the steps," she said. Bells rang in the tower of the school for the blind nearby.
    "School for the blind," said Newt.
    "School for the blind," said Catharine. She shook her head in drowsy wonder. "I've got to go
    back now," she said.
    "Say good-by," said Newt.
    "Every time I do," said Catharine, "I seem to get kissed." Newt sat down on the close-cropped grass under an apple tree. "Sit down," he said.
    "No," she said.
    "I won't touch you," he said.
    "I don't believe you," she said.
    She sat down under another tree, twenty feet away from him. She closed her eyes.
    "Dream of Henry Stewart Chasens," he said.
    "What?" she said.
    "Dream of your wonderful husband-to-be," he said.
    "All right, I will," she said. She closed her eyes tighter, caught glimpses of her
    husband-to-be.
    Newt yawned.
    The bees were humming in the trees, and Catharine almost fell asleep. When she opened
    her eyes she saw that Newt really was asleep.
    He began to snore softly.
    Catharine let him sleep for an hour, and while he slept she adored him with all her heart.
    The shadows of the apple trees grew to the east. The bells in the tower of the school for the
    blind rang again.
    "*chick-a-dee-dee-dee*," went a chickadee. Somewhere far away an automobile started nagged and failed, nagged and failed, fell still.
    Catharine came out from under her tree, knelt by Newt.
    "Newt?" she said.
    "H'm?" he said. He opened his eyes.
    "Late," she said.
    "Hello, Catharine," he said.
    "Hello, Newt," she said.
    "I love you," he said.
    "I know," she said.
    "Too late," he said.
    "Too late," she said.
    He stood, stretched groaningly. "A very nice walk," he said.
    "I thought so," she said.
    "Part company here?" he said.
    "Where will you go?" she said.
    "Hitch into town, turn myself in," he said.
    "Good luck," she said.
    "You too," he said. "Marry me, Catharine?"
    "No," she said.
    He smiled, stared at her hard for a moment, then walked away quickly. Catharine watched him grow smaller in the long perspective of shadows and trees, knew
    that if he stopped and turned now, if he called to her, she would run to him. She would have no
    choice.
    Newt did stop. He did turn. He did call. "Catharine," he called. She ran to him, put her arms aroud him, could not speak. Last-modified: Sat, 09 Aug 1997 09:23:43 GMT
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