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elbows on the table.
    â€œHe demanded that the guard let us into the cell,” Locke said. “The doctor walked right up and held out his hand to him. ‘Be still,’ he said. The doctor looked into the demoniac’s eyes and the afflicted man could not take his eyes off the doctor’s face, though he twitched and blinked.
    â€œâ€˜You will come out!’ the doctor said, like a sergeant giving an order. ‘You will come out and leave this man in peace. You will come out and leave him forever.’ And the look on the prisoner’s face changed. He seemed like a different person. When he opened his eyes he smiled at the doctor and didn’t seem afraid at all. He shook hands with the doctor and he shook hands with me. But do you know what was the strangest thing?”
    â€œHe decided to join the army?” Florrie said.
    â€œHe couldn’t speak a word of English, or understand anything we said. Once the evil spirit left him we couldn’t understand what he said. The guard had to interpret for the doctor. But the man was smiling and happy when we left him. I heard later he slept for three days he was so exhausted from the possession.”
    â€œWhat denomination was the doctor?” Pa said.
    â€œI never asked him,” Locke said.
    â€œThe Lord can heal anybody,” I said.
    â€œWas there any swine for the demon to go in?” Florrie said.
    The whippoorwill was louder now. It had come closer to the house with its mournful croak and screech.
    â€œThat’s supposed to be the voice of the dead,” Locke said.
    â€œWho are they talking to?” Lily said.
    â€œMaybe us,” Locke said. “Maybe they’re telling us something.”
    â€œWhat tommy-rot,” Florrie said.
    â€œWhippoorwills love graveyards,” Tom said. “I’ve noticed that.”
    â€œThat’s b-b-b-because it’s peaceful there,” Joe said.
    â€œSpirits could be anywhere,” Locke said. “Haints, if there are haints, don’t have to live in one place.”
    â€œI thought you wanted to be a d-d-doctor?” Joe said.
    â€œI do,” Locke said. “But maybe not a regular kind of doctor.”
    â€œYou could be a doctor like your uncle,” Pa said. Pa had always got on well with his brother-in-law, Dr. Johns.
    â€œAll you have to do is learn to drink more,” Florrie said.
    â€œHis pharmacopeia is simple,” Locke said. “Whatever liquor is available.” We all laughed, even Pa.
    â€œHe picks herbs and simples just like Mama used to,” I said.
    â€œAnd then soaks them in liquor,” Florrie said.
    â€œThat’s how you make a tincture,” Pa said.
    â€œThat’s how you make a hangover,” Florrie said.
    Locke turned to Tom. “Where are your folks from?” he said.
    â€œFrom over near the line,” Tom said. His face turned red. I could tell he did not like to be questioned.
    â€œHis folks come from South Carolina before the war,” I said.
    â€œEverybody’s folks come from South Carolina before the war,” Locke said.
    â€œWe lived over near the Lewis place,” Tom said. Everybody was looking at him.
    â€œOur grandma Richards was a Lewis,” Locke said.
    â€œBut she married a Richards,” Florrie said.
    â€œHow did the Richardses get to North Carolina?” Tom said, like he wanted to start Locke talking again so nobody would ask him more questions.
    â€œThe Richardses have been here a long time,” Pa said, “longer than the Peaces or the Johnses.”
    â€œThey come from down in Rutherford County,” Florrie said. “But that was a long time ago. Who knows what happened that long ago?”
    â€œBefore that they come from Pennsylvania, and way back yonder they come from Wales,” Locke said.
    â€œI thought they went first to Saluda,” Florrie said.
    â€œNo no, they come to Saluda from Mountain Creek in Rutherford