Home > Work > Psycho (Psycho #1)
41 " As she reached the landing, the thunder came. The whole house seemed to shake with it. "
― Robert Bloch , Psycho (Psycho #1)
42 " Mother had wandered off—where? Was she out on the highway, ready to be picked up by anyone who might come driving by? Was she still suffering a hysterical reaction, would the shock of what she had done cause her to blurt out the truth to whoever came along and found her? Had she actually run away, or was she merely in a daze? Maybe she’d gone down past the woods back of the house, along the narrow ten-acre strip of their land which stretched off into the swamp. Wouldn’t it be better to search for her first? Norman sighed and shook "
43 " No trouble at all. Mother’s gone back to bed, and she won’t be doing any cooking—I was only going to set out some cold cuts and make some coffee. If that’s all right with you.” “Well—— "
44 " The sun surrendered its splendor—why, it was like poetry; he was a poet; Norman smiled. He was many things. If they only knew—— But "
45 " You make yourself sick. "
46 " You didn't really forget. It's just that you don't want anyone to come, you hope they don't come. "
47 " He winced at the realization, then took a deep breath. This was no time to be self-conscious or self-critical. One had to be prctical. Very practical, very careful, very calm. "
48 " Norman sighed and shook his head. He couldn't afford the risk. Not while that thing still sprawled in the shower stall back at the motel. Leaving it there was even more risky. "
49 " That was the most important thing. He had to stop talking to himself. He had to get back that calm feeling agan. He had to face reality. And what was reality? "
50 " The car was in the swamp. And the hamper was in the trunk. And the body was in the hamper. The twisted torso and the bloody head. But he couldn't think about that. He mustn't. There were other things to do. "
51 " Lowery would half kill himself to make an extra dollar, and he’d be perfectly willing to kill any of his employees for another fifty cents. But "
52 " But she didn't listen, she was in the bathroom, she was getting dressed, she was putting on make-up, she was getting ready. Getting ready. "
53 " Besides, that thing was waiting for him. Waiting for him— "
54 " A week ago, Norman would never have dared. But this wasn't a week ago, it was now, and things were different. It was now, and he had to face the truth. "
55 " She was afrad of him, now. Yes, she must be. Because not once, all through this, had she called him "son". "
56 " Yes, Norman, I suppose you're right. That's where I'd probably be. But I wouldn't be there alone." Norman slammed the door, locked it, and turned away. He wasn't quite sure, but as he ran up the cellar steps he thought he could still hear her chuckling gently in the dark. "
57 " But meanwhile he had to do something about the way his heart pounded. "
58 " If she sat there without moving, they wouldn't punish her. If she sar there without moving, they'd know that she was sane, sane, sane. "
59 " But who are you to say a person should be put away? I think perhaps all of us go a little crazy at times. "
60 " He wanted to shout at her that she was wrong, but he couldn't. Because the things she was saying were the things he had told himself, over and over again, all through the years. It was true. She'd always laid down the law to him, but that didn't mean he always had to obey. Mothers sometimes are overly possessive, but not all children allow themselves to be possessed. There had been other widows, other only sons, and not all of them became enmeshed in this sort of relationship. It was really his fault as much as hers. Because he didn't have any gumption. "