Stormspell by Anne Mather Read Free Book Online Page B

Celeste, as if Ruth hadn't spoken. 'I seen it all before. You remember that time little Bobby was bitten by his pet mongoose? Your daddy thought his leg was going to be all right, and what happened? Day after, it swell up like a balloon—'
    'Celeste, please!' Ruth took hold of the other woman's arm and shook it. i know about secondary infection. And I'm not interested in what happened to little Bobby! I want to know what we ought to do now. Shouldn't we get him back on to the bed?'
    Celeste looked as though she might take umbrage from the irritation in Ruth's voice, but the desperation in the younger girl's face won her compassion. 'Help me lift him,' she directed, taking charge of Dominic's shoulders, and with a struggle they managed to lever him back on to the mattress.
    Ruth was panting with exertion by the time Celeste was satisfied, and she stood looking down at their patient with troubled eyes. The hectic flush which had coloured his face earlier had now drained away, and his pallor was frightening. His skin had an unhealthy grey sheen, and when Celeste put her thumb against his eyelid the pupil rolled sightlessly upward.
    'What can we do?' Ruth appealed again. 'Oh. Celeste, he's not going to die. is he?'
    Celeste looked at her curiously. 'You care?' she probed sardonically, and Ruth gave her an indignant stare.
    'Of course I care,' she declared, aware of Celeste's interpretation of her flaming cheeks. 'I'd care about anybody in the same circumstances. I care about human life. Celeste. Don't you?'
    'Perhaps not so passionately.' retorted the black woman dryly, making her own assessment. 'But if you feel so strongly about it. I guess you better wake your daddy. We need a doctor here, and ain't no way you and me's going to conjure one.'
    The rest of the night passed in a blur of anxious speculation, of restlessness and impatience, and helpless impotence. Once her father was awakened, he took charge of the situation, and in no time at all Ruth found herself banished to his bed. there to remain until she was summoned.
    'But I can help.' she protested, only to come up against an implacable opposition.
    'Try to get some sleep,' her father told her firmly, and she had no choice but to do as he asked. Arguing would have proved time-wasting and futile, she knew that, and besides, her father could ill afford to waste his energies.
    In consequence, she spent the night pacing the floor of Professor Jason's bedroom, not knowing what was going on. unable to do anything but wait in fretful impatience for the morning. She knew Celeste and her father would do everything they could, but that didn't help her. and frustration drew dark circles around her eyes as the hours passed. Had they sent for Doctor Francis? Would he come in time? Had Dominic regained consciousness? Had they succeeded in lowering his temperature? Her mind buzzed with questions, and despite her weariness she could not relax.
    Nevertheless, towards morning exhaustion drove her to lie down on the bed. She would just rest for a while, she thought drowsily, and knew nothing more until the fingers of sunlight, creeping through the shutters, probed her heavy eyelids.
    She rose hurriedly, and opening the bedroom door, peered down the hall. All was quiet. Her bedroom door was closed, and there was no sign of either her father or Celeste.
    Feeling rather like the sole survivor of some awful disaster, she stole along the hall to the kitchen, then expelled her breath in some relief when she saw Celeste busy at the stove. The black woman was dressed now. her buxom form exaggerated by a dress with gaudy red and white flowers all over it, and Ruth felt guiltily aware that she had contributed nothing to the previous night's activities.
    'Hi.' she said, supporting herself in the doorway. 'Where's Daddy?'
    Celeste turned with a start, snorting impatiently when she saw Ruth's uneasy expression. 'So there you are at last.' she declared, placing her hands squarely on her hips. 'Some nurse