Read The Exorcist for Free Online Page B

him."
     
    "Oh, well, sure I like him, honey; don't you?"
     
    She made no answer.
     
    "Baby, what's going on?" Chris prodded her daughter.
     
    "You're going to many him, Mommy, aren't you." It wasn't a question, but a sullen statement.
     
    Chris exploded into a laugh. "Oh, my baby, of course not! What on earth are you talking about? Mr. Dennings? Where'd you get that idea?"
     
    "But you like him."
     
    "I like pizzas, but I wouldn't ever marry one! Honey, he's a friend, just a crazy old friend!"
     
    "You don't like him like Daddy?"
     
    "I love your daddy, honey; I'll always love your daddy. Mr. Dennings comes by here a lot 'cause he's lonely, that's all; he's a friend."
     
    "Well, I heard..."
     
    "You heard what? Heard from who?"
     
    Whirling slivers of doubt in the eyes; hesitation; then a shrug of dismissal "I don't know. I just thought."
     
    "Well, it's silly, so forget it."
     
    "Okay."
     
    "Now go to sleep."
     
    "Can I read? I'm not sleepy."
     
    "Sure. Read your new book, hon, until you get tired."
     
    "Thanks, Mommy."
     
    "Good night, hon."
     
    "Good night."
     
    Chris blew her a kiss from the door and them closed it. She walked down the stairs. Kids! Where do they get their ideas! She wondered if Regan connected Dennings to her filing for divorce. Oh, come on, that's dumb. Regan knew only that Chris had filed. Yet Howard had wanted it. Long separations. Erosion of ego as the husband of a star. He'd found someone else. Regan didn't know that. Oh, quit all this amateur psychoanalyzing and try to spend a little more time with her!
     
    Back to the study. The script. Chris read. Halfway through, she saw Regan coming toward her.
     
    "Hi, honey. What's wrong?"
     
    "There's these real funny noises, Mom."
     
    "In your room?"
     
    "It's like knocking. I can't go to sleep."
     
    Where the hell are those traps!
     
    "Honey, sleep in my bedroom and I'll see what it is."
     
    Chris led her to the bedroom and tucked her in.
     
    "Can I watch TV for a while till I sleep?"
     
    "Where's your book?"
     
    "l can't find it. Can I watch?"
     
    "Sure; okay." Chris tuned in a channel on the bedroom portable. "Loud enough?"
     
    "Yes, Mom."
     
    "Try to sleep."
     
    Chris turned out the light and went down the hall. She climbed the narrow, carpeted stairs that led to the attic. She opened the door and felt for the light switch; found it; flicked it, stooping as she entered.
     
    She glanced around. Cartons of clippings and correspondence on the pinewood floor. Nothing else, except the traps. Six of them. Baited. The room was spotless. Even the air smelled clean and cool. The attic was unheated. No pipe. No radiator. No little holes in the roof.
     
    "There is nothing."
     
    Chris jumped from her skin. "0h, good Jesus!" she gasped, turning quickly with her hand to a fluttering heart. "Jesus Christ, Karl, don't do that!"
     
    He was standing on the steps.
     
    "Very sorry. But you see? It is clean."
     
    "Yeah, it's clean. Thanks a lot."
     
    "Maybe cat better."
     
    "What?"
     
    "To catch rats."
     
    Without Waiting for an answer, he nodded and left.
     
    For a moment, Chris stared at the doorway. Either Karl hadn't any sense of humor whatever, or he had one so sly it escaped her detection. She couldn't decide which one it was.
     
    She considered the rappings again, then glanced at the angled roof. The street was shaded by various trees, most of them gnarled and interwined with vines; and the branches of a mushrooming, massive basswood umbrellaed the entire front third of the house. Was it squirrels after all? It must be. Or branches. Right. Could be branches. The nights had been windy."
     
    "Maybe cat better."
     
    Chris glanced at the doorway again. Pretty smartass? Abruptly she smiled, looking pertly mischievous.
     
    She went downstairs to Regan's bedroom, picked something up, brought it back to the attic, and then after a minute went back to her bedroon. Regan was sleeping. She returned her to her room, tucked her