There was a new patient on the ward. Jerome’s right eye was swollen shut. He wore a large gauze bandage over his eyebrow. Another black inmate had grabbed Jerome’s head like a melon and drove a knee into his forehead. Jerome arrived on the ward while Eddie was in therapy.

Dewey filled him in. “It was two years ago. Eddie was in the yard, sitting as he does in a corner by himself. You know Trayton?”

“Dude with the glass eye?”

“That’s him. Though he didn’t have the glass eye then. Eddie was sitting in the corner like I said, and Trayton and two others stand over him. Next thing, all three are pounding on Eddie. What was weird, Eddie didn’t defend himself.”

“He a pacifist?”

“No. I mean they’re hitting and kicking and he doesn’t notice. Eddie is only interested in the one he’s trying to kill. When he’s finished with that guy, Eddie starts in on Trayton. He gouged out Trayton’s eye. Then whapped a palm into an ear.” Dewey drew an imaginary arc with a finger from his ear to the far wall. “Blood spurted like a hose. Eddie would have killed the third guy except guards are all over him. They handcuffed his wrists and ankles. Then they pound on him. Eddie doesn’t seem to notice. He’s looking over at Trayton. Sees he’s still alive. Looking at him real calm, like he’s unfinished business. Those eyes were crazy. Don’t ever mess with him.” Dewey heard the scuff of heavy soles on tile. He held a finger against his lips. “He’s back.”

Elroy and Floyd left Eddie sitting on his bed. Eddie’s blue ward shirt was dark and clinging with sweat. Eddie lay down. His right arm flopped and hung lifeless over the side of the bed. Eddie appeared to fall asleep.

“He sure tuckered,” Jerome whispered to Dewey. “What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s dying.”

“And you still afraid?”

“Yes!”

Eddie woke just before dinner. He opened a book and began to read. Jerome tried to make out the title but was too far away. He moved closer, looked again and saw: Confessions, by St. Augustine.

“Hey, Dooley.”

“Don’t,” Dewey said.

“Leave me be, old man!” Jerome took another step toward Eddie. “Who’s this Augustine guy?” He pronounced the name like the Florida city. Jerome smiled, showing teeth and gums.

He reminded Eddie of Willie Clark. Eddie’s eyes softened. “Augustine is a Catholic bishop.”

“From around here?”

“Algeria.” Eddie said. “In Africa.”

“A Brother!”

“I’ve read he had dark skin.”

“He must know Desmond Tutu.”

“Don’t think so. Augustine lived in the fourth century.”

“Oh. What he write about?”

“How often he sinned.”

“You get the book from the religion section in the library? I bet Pastor Wilson asked you to read it. He’s always trying to get me to read the Bible.”

“I got it on my own. I’ve read it before.”

“Must be an interesting then.”

“Especially the part about Augustine’s childhood.”

“What he do, burn down a house, kill some cats?”

“He stole some pears.”

“That’s it? Was swiping pears a big deal back then?”

“Not really.”

“Kids do that kind of stuff,” Jerome said. “He shouldn’t have felt so bad.”

“Augustine didn’t look at it as kid stuff. He didn’t think children are innocent. Not even little babies. They are evil.”

“Baby ain’t evil,” Jerome said, pretty sure he was right.

“You ever see a baby scream and thrash when it can’t get what it wants?”

“My sister has a baby like that. Cries all night.”

“What if your sister gave the baby a magic pill that turned it into a giant?”

“Ain’t no pill like that.”

“It’s a hypothesis. A what-if thing.”

“Oh.”

“Well, what do you think would happen?”

Jerome thought. A minute passed.

“Suppose the baby cried and your sister didn’t pay attention?”

“I guess that giant baby would get up and beat the crap out of her.”

“Good, Jerome.”

Jerome did not get many compliments. He wondered if Cronk was wrong about Eddie. He didn’t seem crazy.

“Augustine believed even a baby has evil desires. If a baby had the power, it might kill people. It wants fed now. It wants to be held now. It wants its diaper changed now. When it screams it’s saying I want to kill you.”

“That’s deep. Say, can I read the book when you’re finished?”