 XVI. Thamur 6:00 AM As the Baron killed the engine, the boat bumped against the pier at the base of the plateau that held Ira’s house. The boat rocked and the water sloshed against the sides. Instinctively, Reine reached into her pocket to hold her pouch of stones, which felt oddly warm. The astrologer, wrapped in blankets moaned quietly. Hadrian and Marcus lifted the woman’s prone body out of the boat and quickly carried her up the plateau. The Baron and Reine stayed behind to drag all the equipment back into the shelter of the boathouse before trailing the others. They caught up with Hadrian, Marcus, and Xanthia. At the house, the front door was already open, the housekeeper, Mary Wolfe, waving them inside as if she was afraid all the heat from inside would escape if she left the door open long enough. The butler, Palwick, quietly instructed them to place the astrologer on the couch in front of the fireplace in the living room. The doctor, a tall distinguished looking gentleman with graying hair, stood by the couch, stethoscope already hanging onto his ears. He made a sound of disapproval in the back of his throat as he watched Hadrian and Marcus lay the astrologer onto the couch. The doctor’s gaze first fell on Hadrian. “What did you do to her, dump her in the lake?” “No,” said Hadrian, hurt. “Apparently she wandered out of the campground in the middle of the night and never came back. We were lucky we found her on the pier on the island.” “If she was so eager to not camp with us, she could have taken the boat,” said Marcus. “And left us stranded?” said the Baron, horrified. “I don’t think Xanthia is that cruel hearted. Besides, I seriously doubt that she knows how to pilot a motorboat without grounding herself into the next state.” “Whatever the case may be, please stand back so I can examine the patient,” said the doctor.” “Sorry,” came a chorus of male voices. “I shouldn’t have let her wander off to the outhouse by herself,” said Reine, “Although taking the sleeping bag with her was rather odd. I remember offering her my flashlight to help her way, but she didn’t take it. She said she had good night vision.” “She must have been right,” mused Marcus. “Otherwise, how on earth would she have found her way back to the pier? The easiest way for her to have done that would be to follow the trail back there.” A shriek suddenly pierced the air. “Xanthia!” Everyone looked toward the horrendous sound. The astrologer’s cousin, Diana, stood at the entrance of the living room with a hand to her mouth as she stared at her unconscious cousin on the sofa. “What happened to her?” Diana quickly rushed to her cousin’s side. Xanthia moaned, unaware that everyone’s attention was riveted to her. “What did you do to her?” She gave the campers, the Baron, Hadrian, Marcus, and Reine, an accusing stare. “It was not their fault,” said the Baroness who had drawn her husband down to sit with her on another couch. “Xanthia wandered out by herself to sleep outside.” “If that was true,” said Diana slowly, “then my cousin is a fool to think she could do everything, including camping.” She watched her cousin as the doctor took her pulse. “Hypothermia,” the doctor finally announced. Reine rolled her eyes. “An idiot could have figured that out,” she muttered under her breath. Unaware of any skeptics of his ability, the doctor continued, “Just keep her warm and give her warm liquids when she wakes. There’s just nothing to do but keep her in bed until she recovered. However, if things to take a turn for the worse, don’t hesitate to call me and bring her into the clinic in town.” Tuesday yowled loudly when the doctor left. Diana sharply turned her head toward the cat that was sitting in Reine’s lap. “Keep that animal quiet. Xanthia needs rest.” “Of course,” Reine replied smoothly as she got up. “Tuesday is just making a ruckus because this morning’s grave events caused him to miss breakfast.” “Which reminds me,” Mary piped up. “I was just about to start breakfast for the early risers.” “Meanwhile, I’ll stay here in case my help is needed,” said Palwick gravely. Mary shook her head. “You just want to avoid the kitchen.” “I’ll help,” volunteered Reine. “I think I’m too wired to go back to sleep.” “I’m never too wired to go back to sleep,” announced Hadrian. With that he quickly exited the living room to go back to his bedroom upstairs. At his rather hasty departure, the rest of the guests slowly agreed that the mystery editor had the right of it. Six o’clock in the morning was indeed too early for anyone in their right minds who were on vacation. But before Marcus left, he took Reine aside, pressing a piece of cloth into her hands. It was bright orange like the waterproof material on life jackets and traffic director vests. “I found this,” he murmured in her ear, pretending he was whispering an endearment instead. “Where did you find it? What is it?” she asked. She looked down briefly at the scrap of cloth and closed her fingers around it to hide it from prying eyes although everyone else’s eyes were mostly on Xanthia and Diana. “I found it clutched in Xanthia’s hand as Hadrian and I were lifting her into the boat to transport back here. It doesn’t look like anything that she would wear.” “No. An astrologer would pick something darker and brooding. Where did she get it though? The life jackets on out boat, as I recall were yellow.” “I don’t know either, but I have suspicions. I’m going to catch a few hours of sleep and check up on my hunch later.” He gave her a half grin and followed the others back upstairs. Reine and Tuesday instead followed Mary back into the kitchen as the housekeeper rattled off a list of things she would like prepared. © 2002, S. Y. Affolee |