Demon Child

like?”
        Everyone turned to look at Jenny, making her feel uneasy. But, as succinctly as she could, she told them what she had witnessed in the library that previous Monday afternoon. She tried to convey the horrible conviction with which Freya had spoken of the hours that her soul had inhabited a large, black wolf.
        “And it has been like that every session since,” Walter told them. “Now and then, I find a chink in her facade that I manage to delve into a little ways. But I am very far behind schedule with her. She's the toughest patient I've had, bar none.”
        “Do you want to call in other psychiatrists?” Richard asked.
        “I don't believe that is necessary or that it would help,” Walter said. “Too many cooks spoil the soup, you know, and the same goes for headshrinkers.” He was amused at his own use of the slang.
        “Whatever you think is best,” Cora said.
        “I'm not ruling out other doctors. If you would feel better having a second man on the case, it's all right by me. I'm no prima donna who's going to throw a temper tantrum on you. If you know of someone whose opinion you would respect, call him in. Or, I can recommend three or four excellent men in the field who would be willing to consult with me on the case.”
        “That's not necessary,” Cora said.
        “Very well,” Hobarth said. “Then on to my advice -and I hope you don't find it too bitter a medicine.”
        A puff at the pipe again.
        Smoke exhaled.
        He continued: “In the curse, as I have read and understood it, there is mention made that the spell can only be broken if and when this estate and house pass out of Brucker hands. It is said that Sarah Maryanna's father was too jealous of his property and that it was Sarah's special way of punishing him-letting him know that the curse would reign until that precious land was separated from the Bruckers.”
        Cora nodded in agreement with his interpretation of the story in the old books he had read.
        “But how does this have bearing on anything?” Richard asked. “We said the curse was silly; we agreed on that.”
        “Just this. Freya has heard or read that part of it too, and she sincerely believes that she will be cursed so long as house and land are in the family name. It will be the hardest block of her delusion to break down, since it is one, if not the, major underpinning of her developing schizoid personality.”
        “Sell the house and land?” Richard asked. “That's absolutely preposterous!”
        “No, no, you misunderstand me!” Walter said, laying his pipe on a breadplate which was now empty of bread.
        Richard had come forward in his chair, as if he would seize the table and overturn it in his anger. His previous dark, glowering mood had returned. Now, he settled back a bit, though he did not relax completely, his entire manner one of a man wary for surprises.
        “What did you mean, then?” he asked.
        “It would help Freya's case enormously if Cora were to take a house in town and move there with the children. A permanent residence could be established, and the children could be told that the estate had been sold. You would keep the estate, of course. Then, if Freya holds true to her delusion, she must realize the curse is broken. She'll lose a grip on her fantasies, and give me room to sneak in and carry them away in further analysis.”
        “How long would Cora have to live away from the estate?” Richard asked.
        “A year. Perhaps two. Then we'll let the child become slowly aware of the fact that the family has never sold the land at all. By then, her hold on the world should be confident enough to let her accept the fact without a trauma.”
        Richard looked at his stepmother. “What do you think?” he asked. “Would you do it if it's necessary?”
        “I don't like the idea of lying to the child,” Cora said. “In two years, when she finds out we've lied, she'll not trust us again.”
        “She'll understand that we did it for her health,” Richard said. “Isn't that so, doctor?”
        “Essentially, yes. She shouldn't be too upset with you.”
        “She will be,” Cora said flatly.
        “Cora-” Richard began.
        “I know children. She'll not trust us after that. And what chance, Walter, is there of a relapse if she discovers we've lied to her?”
        He hemmed and hawed, obviously reluctant to