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Ian found a wet cloth and began wiping Walter's shining face
?I'm not good at? at deception,? I whispered, watching Walter's mumbling lips to make sure
he wasn't listening to me?I don't want to upset him
?You don't have to say anything,? Ian reassured me?He's not lucid enough to care
?Do I look like her??
?Not a bit?I've seen her picture
?Here, let me do that
Ian gave me the rag, and I cleaned the sweat off Walter's neckBusy hands always made me
feel more comfortableWalter continued to mumbleI thought I heard him say, ?Thanks,
Gladdie, that's nice
I didn't notice that Doc's snores had stoppedHis familiar voice was suddenly there behind me,
too gentle to startle
?How is he??
?Delusional,? Ian whispered?Is that the brandy or the pain??
?More the pain, I would thinkI'd trade my right arm for some morphine
?Maybe Jared will produce another miracle,? Ian suggested
I wiped absently at Walter's pallid face, listening more intently now, but they rolex watch replica didn't speak of
Jared again
Not here,Melanie whispered
Looking for help for Walter,I agreed
I thought about the last time I'd seen him?the kiss, the belief?He probably wanted some time
to himself
I hope he isn't out there convincing himself that you're a very talented actress-slash-Seeker
again
That's possible, of course
Melanie groaned silently
Ian and Doc murmured in quiet voices about inconsequential things, mostly Ian catching Doc
up on what was going on in the caves
?What happened to Wanda's face?? Doc whispered, but I could still hear him easily
?More of the same,? Ian said in a tight voice
Doc made an unhappy noise under his breath and then clicked his tongue
Ian told him a bit about tonight's awkward class, about Geoffrey's questions
?It would have been convenient if Melanie had been possessed by a Healer,? Doc mused
I flinched, but they were behind me and probably didn't notice
?We're lucky it was Wanda,? Ian murmured in my defense?No one else omega constellation lady watch ??
?I know,? Doc interrupted, good-natured as always?I guess I should say, it's too bad Wanda
didn't have more of an interest in medicine
?I'm sorry,? I murmuredIwas careless to reap the benefits of perfect health without ever being
curious about the cause
A hand touched my shoulder?You have nothing to apologize for,? Ian said
Jamie was being very quietI looked around and saw that he was curled up on the cot where
Doc had been napping
?It's late,? Doc noted?Walter's not going anywhere tonightYou should get some sleep
?We'll be back,? Ian promised?Let us know what we can bring, for either of you
I laid Walter's hand down, patting it cautiouslyHis eyes snapped open, focusing with more
awareness than before
?Are you leaving?? he wheezed?Do you have to go so soon??
I took his hand again quickly?No, I don't have to leave
He smiled and closed his eyes againHis fingers locked around mine with brittle strength
?You can go,? I told himTake Jamie back to his new rolex watches bed
Ian glanced around the room?Hold on a sec,? he said, and then he grabbed the cot closest to
himIt wasn't heavy?he lifted it easily and slid it into place next to Walter'sI stretched my arm
to the limit, trying not to jostle Walter, so that Ian could arrange the cot under itThen he
grabbed me up just as easily and set me on the cot beside WalterWalter's eyes never flutteredI
gasped quietly, caught off guard by the casual way Ian was able to put his hands on me?as
though I were human
Ian jerked his chin toward Walter's hand clasped around mine?Do you think you can sleep like
that??
?Yes, I'm sure I can He smiled at me, then turned and lifted Jamie from the other cot?Let's go,
kid,? he muttered, carrying the boy with no more effort than if he were an infantIan's quiet
footsteps faded into the distance until I couldn't hear them anymore
Doc yawned and went to sit behind the desk he'd constructed out of wooden crates and an
aluminum door, taking the black chanel quilted bag celeb dim lamp with himWalter's face was too dark to see, and that made
me nervousIt was like he was already goneI took comfort in his fingers, still curled stiffly
around mine
Doc began to shuffle through some papers, humming almost inaudibly to himselfI drifted off
to the sound of the gentle rustling
Walter recognized me in the morning
He didn't wake until Ian showed up to escort me back; the cornfield was due to be cleared of
the old stalksI promised Doc I would bring him breakfast before I got to workThe very last
thing I did was to carefully loosen my numb fingers, freeing them from Walter's grasp?Wanda,? he whispered
?Walter?? I wasn't sure how long he would know me, or if he would remember last nightHis
hand clutched at the empty air, so I gave him my left, the one that wasn't deadI know? with the others back? must be hard? for
you? Your face??
He seemed to be having a difficult time making his lips form the words, and his eyes went in
and out of discount chanel quilted handbag focu |
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