| 3:07a |
@@@@@Yet was it not
the very worst form of
@@@@@Yet was it not
the very worst form of cruelty to prolong my life for the reasons he had?
I rocked unsteadilyI couldn't feel my legs very well–just prickles like needle points as the
blood flowed down
There was a hiss of disapproval behind himIt came from more than one mouth
“Okay, whoever you are,” he said to me, his voice still kind“Let's get out of here before it
heats up
The one who must have been Kyle's brother put his hand on Jeb's arm
“You can't just show it where we live, Jeb
“I suppose it doesn't matter,” Maggie said harshly“It won't get a chance to tell tales
Jeb sighed and pulled a bandanna–all but hidden by his beard–from around his neck
“This is silly,” he muttered, but he rolled the dirty fabric, stiff with dry sweat, into a blindfold
I kept perfectly still as he tied it over my eyes, fighting the panic that increased when I couldn't
see my enemies
I couldn't see, but I knew it was Jeb who put one hand on my back and guided me; none of the
others would have been so gentle
We started forward, toward the north, I thoughtNo one spoke at first–there was just the sound
of sand grinding under many feetThe ground was even, but I stumbled on my numb legs again
and againJeb was patient; his guiding hand was almost chivalrous
I felt the sun rise as we walkedSome of the footsteps were faster than othersThey moved
ahead of us until they were hard to hearIt sounded like it was the minority that stayed with Jeb
and meI must not have looked like I needed many guards–I was faint with hunger, and I
swayed with every step; my head felt dizzy and hollow
“You aren't planning to tell him, are you?”
It was Maggie's voice; it came from a few feet behind me, and it sounded like an accusation
“He's got a right to know,” Jeb rep |