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Page 44
The breeze, dampened further by the river, blew into her face. She could imagine how wild her hair must look. She tried to find a comfortable position on the narrow wooden logs that comprised the bateau's base, finally settling on crossing her legs beneath the voluminous folds of her skirtnot particularly ladylike in pioneer times, she suspected, unless one happened to be a Native American.
Pioneer times. The fear had begun to niggle in her mind that the only one acting was she. Was it possible she had traveled back in time?
Of course not.
If she hadn't, though, someone was playing an elaborate trick on her. Pierce?
If he had sent her back in time, that would have been the most terrible trick of all.
Ridiculous. No one could travel in time, let alone engineer such a trip for someone else.
She found it easier to believe that she was lying somewhere in a coma. She had to pull herself out of it. Soon.
She saw no sign of cities or other people as they made their way downriver. Both banks were heavily forested, sometimes with evergreens but mostly with deciduous trees in a variety of shades of green. Her head began to clear as she inhaled air that smelled fresh and verdant.
Water lapped noisily at the sides of the bateau. Ducks bobbed in the river here and there, and other birds flew about the tops of the trees, calling raucously. Sometimes, a hawk or other bird of prey swooped and glided overhead in the wind, large wings outstretched. Forests as thick as those must also shelter other kinds of wildlife, Mariah imagined. How lovely this untamed area seemed.
Maybe she should sink into a coma more often!
She untied the bag nearest her and pulled its cloth edges apart, but all she could see were some unfamiliar clothes. She'd need more room to explore them thoroughly. That would have to wait until later.
She retied the string and relaxed, lulled by the boat's soothing motion. Neither John nor Samuel said much except to direct one another how to maneuver the boat.

 
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