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"Not good." Holly's voice cracked, and Thorn saw her bury her face against René's strong shoulder. They, at least, had each other for comfort. |
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Without Mariah, Thorn had nothing. |
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"Did you find the moldy bread, like Mariah wanted?" |
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René thrust out the towels he held. "Absolument, but" |
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"Good!" She took the towels from him, unwrapping their contents as she carried the bundle to the bed. Thorn looked at the bread covered in a layer of green and white. "Good thing the Indians scared us away just after baking bread, it was," Holly said. "There was plenty left, and it grew this horrible stuff while we went for help." She took Mariah's hands and patted them till she stirred. "Dearie, we've the moldy bread now. What're we to do with it?'' |
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At first, Mariah didn't waken. "Wait," Thorn said, not wanting to disturb her. But Holly rubbed her hands more briskly, till Mariah tossed her head from side to side, then opened her eyes. "Ohhh," she moaned. |
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The sound was welcome, for it showed she was alive. But it pierced Thorn's heart, for it reflected her pain. |
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Holly repeated her question. Muzziness faded a bit from Mariah's face. "Yes," she whispered. "Mold. I never paid attention. So common. No big deal." |
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"What does she mean?" Thorn asked. |
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"I don't know for certain," Holly said. Then, to Mariah, she insisted softly, "You have to tell us how to use this stuff." |
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"Not sure." Mariah's voice was weaker again. Her next word sounded something like "penny-shilling," but that couldn't be right. Pen-a-sill-in? Then she rambled for a minute. "Drink it, maybe. Put it on wound, too. No pills or needles here. Don't know. No time. Try anything. May not work." |
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"I don't understand," said Thorn. |
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"The mademoiselle, is she, how you say, out of her head?" René broke in. |
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"No," Thorn stated. "Do whatever she says. She'll have the answer." Maybe she'd learned something in the future that could help her. |
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