"Why not? I think it's a very delicate bit of artistry, myself.
Imagine it. You will make a lovely couple, both male, and your wife
will be such a good mother to the children. Will be rather strange for
them to have to call a man Mother, but I presume they will get used to
it--or will they? How would you explain it to them? That their mother
has suddenly become a man? And you, think of your position. You love
your wife dearly, I know. And what an interesting situation as you take
her into your arms and kiss her tenderly, and...."
"Stop!" roared Joe, leaping forward. "I'll tear you limb from limb
first! I killed you once before, and by Heaven, I'll do it again!"
* * * * *
But before he could make another move, little Jimmy raced forward, and
clutching the Devil by the leg bit hard into the calf. The Devil yelped
in pain, but then he recovered and grinned. "The lad has possibilities.
And who am I to deny him an occasional bite out of his mother's leg."
He disengaged the boy's grasp from his leg and pushed him gently aside.
His grandmother reached out and pulled him to her, and the youngster
stood with her arms protectively around him, glaring at the Devil.
"You've got your horns back again," he said accusingly.
"You just keep your eyes on those horns, son," advised the Devil. "In
a moment you'll see them again, and in an interesting place...." He
turned to stare at Pearl, and his gaze became penetrating.
Joe took another step forward, his face livid, but the Devil waved an
arm, and Joe stood rooted to the spot, overcome by a strange paralysis.
Pearl went white. "No ..." she gasped.
"But, yes," said the Devil. "I have frequently been a beautiful woman,
but I must admit, never one quite so beautiful. I believe I will enjoy
using your body for the next twenty or thirty years. Believe me, I'll
take good care of it. It won't grow old and fade as it would if you
were using it. I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually became somebody
very important, perhaps even a queen, or the wife of a president. Some
position where I can control the world politically as well as morally
and anti-ecclesiastically."
He advanced slowly toward Pearl, his gaze boring into her eyes. "Don't
resist, girl," he said. "It won't take but a second, and you'll be rid
of me. I promise I won't bother you and your family again. You'll be
free to live out your lives in whatever happiness you choose to make of
them...."
Pearl stood stiffly now, her face a mask of utter horror. Joe felt
a wave of blackness engulfing him, a wave of sheer hate that almost
consumed him, but he could not move a muscle. Then, as Pearl seemed to
wilt for a moment, seemed about to fall, there came the rush of bare
feet and a childish scream as Sally flung herself into the room and
raced straight toward the Devil.
Her slim arms were extended, and she hit the Devil full in the back. He
staggered forward, tripped on the rug, and crashed headlong against the
refrigerator. He dropped like a poled ox and lay there, unconscious.
Joe, released from the paralysis that held him, leaped forward and
hurled himself upon the Devil's body. Granddad, too, swung into action,
and between them they both knelt on an arm of the prone Devil, and then
Joe barked: "Mother, fetch a clothesline. We've got to tie him up. Once
we've done that, you go and get a log chain, Dad, and we'll chain him
up out in the old storm cellar."
"You bet," said Dad. "And then we'll bulldoze enough dirt over it so
he'll never get out!"
"Now you're talking," said Joe. "Not even a mouse must get into that
cellar...."
He clamped a hand on the Devil's throat and held it in readiness.
"Don't look at him, anybody," he warned. "He's coming to. Hurry with
that clothesline, Mother!"
* * * * *
The Devil's eyes opened, and he looked up dazedly. There was no
recognition in them. He looked up at Joe. "What's happened?" he asked,
then groaned. He closed his eyes a moment as a wave of dizziness
obviously swept over him. Then he opened them again. "Who are you?" he
asked.
"Don't you know?" asked Joe, puzzled by something he saw, or rather
didn't see, in the eyes that looked up at him.
The man stared at him with a dazed air of incomprehension.
"I'm afraid I don't."
"Who are you?" asked Joe.
"I...." A look of surprise flitted over the man's face. "I ... don't
know. I can't seem to remember a thing."
"Don't believe him, son," said Dad. "He's trying to pull a fast one."
Joe looked at Pearl's father in startlement. "You've been looking at
him ..." his voice trailed off.
Pearl came over and looked, too. "He ... doesn't look like the Devil,"
she said hesitantly.
"I feel like the devil," said the young man. "And you two are sure hard
on my arms. They're getting numb."
* * * * *
Joe eased up, then slid his knees off to the floor, "I guess I can hold
him if he tries anything, Dad. You can get off him now."
Dad got to his feet and stood aside, watchfully.
"Got that rope, Mother?" he asked. She handed it to him.
"You going to tie me up?" asked the young man in dazed tones. "What's
going on here?"
"I believe he's got amnesia from hitting his head on the refrigerator,"
said Pearl.
Joe looked undecided. "You don't remember who you are?" he asked.
The young man shook his head. "I don't remember a thing. All I know is
that I'm lying here and you two are apparently bent on strangling me.
Can you tell me why?"
"I can tell you why, but if you've got amnesia, I don't think I should.
In fact, if you aren't faking, you'll never know why, believe me!"
"Joe," said Pearl. "I think he's gone."
"He can't be," said Joe positively.
"But why?"
"I'll tell you later," said Joe. He turned to Jimmy. "Come over here,
son. I want to whisper in your ear." He handed Pearl the poker. "Clout
him over the head if he makes a move," he directed.
Then he leaned over and whispered in his son's ear. Jimmy listened,
then he stared at the young man. He nodded.
Joe whispered some more, and Jimmy nodded again, a look of importance
spreading over his face.
"Okay," said Joe. "Now you and Sally go and get dressed. I want to take
you both over to the barn and we'll have a go at milking that cow."
With expressions of delight, both children raced off.
Joe turned to Pearl's mother. "How about those pancakes?" he asked.
"I'm hungry, and I think our friend is, too. After what we have done to
him, I think we owe him a breakfast, at least."