Each Man Kills | Page 9

supermen and our bodies and
our very souls revolted against this monstrous thing.

"Let us finish, my son," the priest said slowly, after a time, his face the
color of ashes. "We must bury these dead, that they may sleep in
consecrated ground."
I couldn't. I had to see her again before it was done. She lay, small and
fragile as ever, her face calm, only there was no trace of life now. She
was still and white, as only the dead--the truly dead--are. Tod's arm was
flung across her chest, as if to protect her. I made myself move the arm,
resting her head upon his shoulder, where it belonged. Then, as I
looked, there was just Maria. Tod was gone and only a handful of dust
lay piled up around the stake. It was enough. I slammed the lid shut.
* * * * *
Looking back now, I can see it was all for the best. Ria was
different--apart from other women. A dreamer, a mystic, too easily
influenced by the bizarre and un-normal. I, on the other hand, am
practical almost to a fault. Had she married me I might have crushed in
her the very thing that drew me to her. In time she might have grown to
hate me.
Hunter, on the other hand, was a student. Introspective, given to
romanticizing. Susceptible to suggestion. Had I been confronted with
an Eve, I should have run like hell. To him, though, she was cloaked in
mystery; hence, more desirable. What better choice for him ultimately
than Ria? That Ria had to die to achieve her happiness is of no real
importance. Life is a transitory thing anyway.
Sometimes, though, when I look at Ria's picture, it's hard to be practical.
She was everything I shall ever want.
I had never been to Europe before the summer of 1947. I went to find
Maria, to marry her. Instead, I found and murdered her, and I will never
go back again.

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