North Child by Edith Pattou Read Free Book Online Page B

her eyes, and I knew she would not leave the matter as it stood.
    I went for a shawl for Sonja, who was trembling, then I crossed to Rose. She had seated herself in a chair by the fire, and I sat beside her. She was not shivering, though her skin felt cold to the touch when I took her hand. And she, too, had an expression in her eyes that frightened me. It was not hope but excitement, mingled with traces of confusion and fear.
    â€œWhat can it mean, Neddy?” she said in wonder.
    I shook my head.
    â€œWhen I was little, Mother told me stories about animals that could speak. I didn’t believe her, not really, but now…”
    I remained silent.
    â€œDid you see how his fur glowed?”
    â€œIt was wet from the rain,” I said abstractedly.
    â€œA white bear,” she breathed. “Just like the one I had as an imaginary companion when I was a child.”
    I leaned over to poke the fire.
    â€œAnd did you see his eyes? Oh, Neddy, do you think he can be the same bear I saw the other day? I think it is.”
    I shook my head, for some reason wanting to discourage the idea. But then Father came up, interrupting us. “There are still dishes to be cleaned, and I think then we had all better go to bed.”
    We both stood up, obediently. Then Father caught Rose’s hand. “I will not let any wild beast take you, Rose,” he said to her. “You know that. I will always keep you safe.”
    â€œBut Father, what of Sara?”
    â€œWe will care for her. She will get better.”
    Rose shook her head. “We should at least have listened to—”
    â€œNo,” Father broke in decisively.
    Later, as we made our way to our beds, Rose whispered, “Why does the white bear want me, Neddy?”
    I shook my head. I could not guess, except that somehow I felt sure it had something to do with the sadness in the animal’s eyes. Some great need.

During the days that followed, I felt nervy, jangled. I jumped at the slightest noise and could not concentrate on anything for longer than a minute or two.
    We were all on edge.
    Father forbade any discussion of the white bear and his request. I could hear him quarrelling about it at night with Mother. They tried to keep their voices low, but one night I could not help overhearing what they said.
    â€œI will not sacrifice one daughter for another,” Father said.
    â€œâ€™Tis not a matter of that,” Mother replied. “And if we do nothing, Sara will surely die.”
    â€œWhat makes you so certain that this white bear will heal Sara?”
    Mother spoke softly in reply and I could not make out the words.
    But then Father cut into the low rumble of her voice. “Are you truly willing to put Rose’s life in the hands of a wild creature of the north for a questionable promise of miracles? It is folly. If Rose goes with the white bear, we will surely never see her again. To barter her life for Sara’s health – well, it is not even a matter for debate.”
    As the seven days passed, Sara got no worse, but neither did she get better. The local healer said there was nothing more we could do other than continue the herbal infusions we had been giving her. We went about the business of readying ourselves for the move to neighbour Torsk’s farm until such time as we would hear from Father’s family.
    I thought mostly of the white bear; I could think of little else. And I had made up my mind that despite my father’s objections, I must accept the bear’s offer.
    I tried speaking about it with Neddy one afternoon as we folded our meagre supply of linens into a trunk.
    â€œI will go with the white bear,” I blurted out.
    Neddy looked at me with horror.
    â€œI cannot stand by and let Sara die,” I continued, my words spilling over one another in my haste to make Neddy understand, “not when there is something I can do to prevent it.”
    â€œRose,” Neddy implored,