Crab Orchard Review Vol. 12, No. 2, our

138 ◆ Crab Orchard Review
Terez Rose
circles. One woman slows down, moving to a rhythm only she seems
to hear.
The villagers crowd in closer, making everything seem too warm,
too noisy to Kate. She looks around. Everyone else is enjoying the
performance. Kate tells herself it is just that—a show, a New Year’s
Eve performance. She enjoys performances as well. She loves getting
swept up in other dancers’ power and talent. Watching these women
however, is another story. The looks on their faces tell her in no
uncertain terms that they have gone Somewhere Else. Where, she
wonders? Where, precisely, is Somewhere Else?
“This is getting interesting,” Carmen murmurs, and the leader
swings around to face them. Through the crowd of women dancing,
she catches Kate’s eye. She feels the force of the woman’s gaze pulling
her in like an undertow. She clutches Carmen’s arm.
“Kate? What is it?” Carmen asks.
Her words come out choked. “She’s looking at me.”
“Who?”
“The woman in charge.”
Carmen pats Kate’s arm. “She’s in a trance. She’s not looking at
you—she doesn’t even see you.”
“No, she’s looking right at me.” Kate’s voice rises. “She won’t let
me go.”
Carmen cocks her head. “Maybe you should sit down for a few
minutes. Go sip some water, or something.”
Without replying, Kate staggers back from the circle. She can
still feel the leader’s eyes on her. She pushes past spectators clapping
and jiggling to the music. Once she clears the group, she runs, past
the corps de garde and onto the path that leads toward Henry’s house.
The drums recede, replaced by the slap-slap of her sandals on the dirt
path and her ragged breath. Invisible branches scratch at her arms,
snag her hair.
But the path soon narrows and grows obscured by brush. Even
with the moonlight, Kate can go no further without a flashlight. She
will have to return. She sinks to the ground and resorts to a more
primal solution—she cries.
Happy New Year. Last year, on New Year’s Day, Mom had to be
rushed to the hospital after vomiting blood and collapsing. Everyone
tried to play it down, but that relapse signaled the return of the battle.
The leukemia was too tenacious. Mom finally lost the war one sunny,
warm day in late February. The very same day Kate received her