Starved Beast. Part 24

Later, much later, I think, I found her by the pool, deep in thought and looking at the water. It seeps from the rocks and trickles across the limestone. It oozes from the walls and drips from the roof. From where it's come and to where it's going I have little idea, but it's everywhere. Many years ago, as a young man, I diverted its flow and created a body of water about ten feet across and nine inches deep.

I told Christine to bathe in it, suggesting that a bath would help her to feel better. However, the water was icy and her skin was quickly covered in goose bumps. She stayed in the water just long enough to get wet and then she jumped out, reaching for her clothes. But I stayed her hand.

I handed her my jacket. It was dirty and threadbare and running with maggots and she was clean and the icy water was dripping from her skin. She glanced at the jacket in disgust but since she was too cold to argue, she wrapped herself in it, and I liked that. It covered her female e