Read Online Girl in Landscape by Jonathan Lethem - Free Book Online

away from his brother.
    “Tell me what’s the matter,” she said.
    “
What Raymond said,
” David howled.
    “What did Raymond tell you?” Pella asked.
    David controlled his crying enough to speak. “The potato fish were going to grow up into Archbuilders, like that one,” he said, squeaking. “In the middle of the night. In the house.”
    “You know he’s lying,” said Pella. “I can tell you know.”
    David sniffed and nodded.
    “The Archbuilders are okay,” she said. “This one’s a dork, anyway.” She didn’t care if Hiding Kneel heard. She couldn’t be expected to go around protecting Archbuilders’ feelings, on top of everything else.
    “Raymond, don’t confuse your brother,” said Clement. “There’s enough to get used to.”
    Hearing Clement talk in pallid euphemism, the very word
confuse
letting Raymond off the hook, made Pella yearn for Caitlin. She wouldn’t have let the presence of an Archbuilder keep her from disciplining her children.
    “You heard him, he knew I was kidding,” said Raymond.
    Pella kicked Raymond. Her contribution to his upbringing.
    “There you go, kid,” said Ben Barth to David. “Kneel’s nothing to be afraid of. Archbuilders don’t scare anyone for very long. I was just telling it how your dad is going to be running this place sooner or later. You’re probably the most important family around here. The Archbuilders ought to be afraid of
you
, kid. Except they don’t care.”
    “Nobody wants to do anything that conflicts with the Archbuilders,” said Clement. “Quite the opposite—”
    “I’m sure, I’m sure,” said Ben. “Archbuilders aren’t the problem. That’s exactly what I was saying.”
    “We just want to live here, in a way that’s in accord with the place.” Pella could hear her father squirming, trying to slip off the podium Ben Barth was building for him. “Nothing needs running.”
    “See,
accord
,” said Ben. He turned to the alien. “That’s a word I can appreciate, Kneel. Used in its rightful place, not strewn around in any goddamn sentence.”
    The Archbuilder was moving toward the table again, its interest wandering. Pella walked quickly over, brushing past the Archbuilder, feeling its fur against her arm. She felt her face redden. Avoiding the Archbuilder’s gaze, she picked up the jar of potato fish and handed it to David. “Put this in your room,” she said. “It doesn’t belong on the table.”
    “I should get going,” said Ben Barth. “Come on, Kneel, give these people some time to get settled in here.”
    The Archbuilder turned, thoughtfully. It seemed oblivious to Pella. “My purpose is recalled,” said the alien. “I wish to challenge you to a renewed tournament of backgammon, Ben.”
    “Not now,” said Ben. “I’ve got to get the farm cleaned up. Efram’s coming back in a day or two.”
    “Tonight will be fine—”
    Ben winced. “You can’t be coming around so much, Kneel. You know Efram doesn’t want you around his place.”
    “Bruce Kincaid says Efram makes you work on his farm,” said Raymond in one impetuous breath. “Why’s that?”
    “Who’s Efram?” said Clement.
    “He doesn’t make me, kid,” said Ben Barth.
    “Why don’t you have your own farm?” said Raymond.
    “Because I wouldn’t know what to do with my own farm, and because Efram needs someone to look after his, that’s why.”
    “On your own farm backgammon could be played,” said Hiding Kneel.
    “That’s enough out of you, Kneel,” said Ben. “Come on, we’re overstaying our welcome.” He herded the Archbuilder toward the door. Pella saw household deer skittering out of their path. “See you, Mr. Marsh. You kids be good.”
    “Clement, call me Clement,” said Clement. “Thanks for your help.”
    He waited a minute after they were gone, then said again, “Who’s Efram?”
    Pella and Raymond couldn’t answer. They knew that Efram didn’t like underground food, children who didn’t take drugs to