Zeely by Virginia Hamilton Read Free Book Online Page B

right for not letting Zeely lead,” Geeder said. “Can’t you just see the street packed with folks and those animals and Nat and all those boys trying to get through?”
    On Leadback Road, some of Nat Tayber’s hogs got going in the wrong direction; others lay down by Uncle Ross’ hedge to rest. The boys he had hired rushed to the hedge, hitting the tired animals with their poles. When the first blow was struck, Geeder held her breath. Finally, she had to turn her face away.
    “That’s no way to treat hogs,” Uncle Ross hollered. “Those are prize animals—that’s no way!”
    Nat Tayber ignored him. “Hit them! Hit them!” he yelled to the boys. “That will make them move!”
    The animals rose, squealing frantically, and lumbered away down the road toward the village. The rest of the hogs followed as fast as their great bulk would let them. Nat and the boys ran after the hogs.
    Through it all, Geeder had watched silently. She felt sick when the animals were hit so hard and sorry when they were forced to run down Leadback Road. And now, she was left with a sour taste on her tongue.
    “Goodness knows, animals shouldn’t be hurt by anyone,” she whispered to herself.
    She felt like not going into town, fearing to see the animals beaten again. Then, Zeely passed by the tree. She did not seem to be a part of what had happened, nor to be aware of the press of smelling, dirty animals around her. Geeder whistled so Zeely would look up and see her.
    Once she sees me, Geeder thought, I know she’ll want me to help.
    Zeely Tayber paused. But then she went on, as silent and serene as ever. Toeboy and Geeder watched her disappear into the mist.
    Geeder guessed Zeely hadn’t heard her. “Maybe when she gets into town and sees me there. . .,” she whispered, not quite able to finish the wish, even to herself. She and Toeboy climbed down the tree and raced for the catalpa trees. There was a shorter route through the forest to town.
    They were more than halfway along, running fast, when Toeboy thought about seeing Zeely Tayber.
    “I saw Miss Zeely last night,” he began. “And Geeder, it was very late, I know it was because I was so sleepy. She looked just as funny, like she didn’t have any arms or anything. That was because the night was so dark.”
    Geeder stopped dead in her tracks. She was panting hard and her eyes were too wide, as though she hadn’t enough light to see. “What did you say?” she whispered.
    “I just said that Miss Zeely came down the road last night,” Toeboy said, catching his breath.
    Geeder stared at him and slowly nodded her head. “The other part,” she said softly, “how did you say she looked?”
    “She looked funny, that’s all,” Toeboy said. He fidgeted uncomfortably under Geeder’s gaze. “See, she had on that long dress she was wearing today and it made her seem to glide. I couldn’t see her face. And that bucket she carried floated with her.” He laughed. “That was because I couldn’t see her arms.”
    “Bucket?” Geeder said. Her voice made hardly a sound.
    “The feed pail,” Toeboy said. “I guess she was coming from feeding the hogs. Geeder, what’s the matter?”
    Geeder sat down, hard, on the ground. “Oh, Toeboy!” she said. She covered her face with her hands and rocked back and forth. “Oh, my goodness, Toeboy! That wasn’t Zeely Tayber you saw. That was the night traveller!”
    As soon as she said the words, Geeder had a clear vision of the night traveller, the time she had seen it. It had had no arms or legs, no head. It was a thing that moved right on the air and Toeboy had seen it. A shiver ran up her spine.
    “Toeboy!” she said, “You saw a night traveller and no one is ever supposed to see one!”
    Geeder looked so terrified that all of a sudden Toeboy was aware of the wet, misty trees surrounding them. The catalpas were so dense they could have been a solid wall. Anything could hide within them, just there, where it was as dark as