Doppelganger: Anamorphosis

Chapter thirteen. The Hospitality

On the way back, Judy caught up with the belated continuation.

"...I'm worried. And it's really annoying."

She reread the text several times, doubting that she had interpreted the essence correctly. She didn't rule out that some other part of the message had been lost, where all the venom she had been exposed to was concentrated.

Even Nathan's conventionally friendly message had played a cruel trick on her.

Judy wondered why her tormentor had suddenly turned from anger to mercy. She had been the last to get out of the boat, and she had been so absorbed in her theories that she had miscalculated the step between the side of the boat and the wooden planking. The sole of her sneaker slanted across the rotted planks, and without a firm footing, she toppled into the sludge.

Judy didn't like water. She was content to watch the current from the shore.

But Sandy insisted on going to the pool. She knew just the right pressure points to get her daughter to cooperate. All Mrs. Davis had to do was hint that swimming would help her gain the missing inches of height, and Judy was obsession.

The girl not only regularly attended the hated section, but also fearlessly climbed into any body of water that came to hand. Every morning she checked her pencil marks on the doorjamb. By summer, Judy had stretched out pretty well. She was no longer the smallest in her class.

It was a sweltering day. The girl stripped down to her tank top and panties. She pulled her long hair into a tight knot, and with the grace of a penguin, started down the slippery rocks.

Judy touched the water with her fingers and shuddered at how cold it was. It was okay. It'll do. The brave swimmer was not deterred, not even by the current.

She held her breath before jumping in, but not before diving in.

Ethan appeared from somewhere.

- Baby, are you out of your mind? - He was indignant. He unceremoniously dragged Judy back to the pile of her things on the grass.

- Are you tired of living?

She'd realized long ago that Ethan wasn't a fan of the water-they'd spent countless hot summer days on the island-but he'd never expressed any desire to go in the river. He never even touched the water, because it disgusted him.

That was his business. Judy wasn't going to deny herself the pleasure! She really loved swimming.

- What's wrong with that? - She grumbled as she hurriedly pulled on her shorts, - I just wanted to freshen up! Aren't you hot at all?

She glanced at the boy, noting that he was dressed for the weather: heavy boots, jeans, a warm flannel shirt, a fall jacket with fur lapels. Ethan clearly hadn't bothered to look at the thermometer before leaving the house.

This year, August had been pleasant with clear weather.

Doesn't he ever go outside? - Judy marveled. Her friend's pale skin had taken on an unhealthy tint, as if he had avoided any contact with the sun all summer.

- I'm sorry, - Ethan said, - it's just... there's a strong current and a lot of rocks. Your little corpse is going to get swept out into the bay.

Small corpse - repeated the girl resentfully.

- Oh, come on, - Judy grumbled and assured her, - I'm a very good swimmer! I can swim to the other side of the river...