"Red Fever," whispered Zagarolo, "look at her skin."
Marge's skin was surely reddening. Zagarolo muttered some other things in his doctor's tongue that Wes could neither here to well or understand.
"Can something be done, Zag?" asked Wes, "Please tell me there is."
"As you told me, Seymon was not incorrect," admitted Zagarolo, "this child obtaining the Red Fever is unfortunate. So rare it is that men of my profession rarely have experience in treating it."
At this, Wes broke down and fell to his knees, his hopes shattered. He gripped his shoulders, tearing at his threadbare tunic's sleeves.
"Great Father above," he snarled through clenched teeth, "Great Father, take me. Kill me instead. Let my daughter live."
"Oh, my friend Wes," Zagarolo said with pity as she rocked Marge gently in his arms, "do not despair."
"Why?" questioned Wes, "She is doomed, is she not?"
"Not quite," said Zagarolo.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39C4GrCaym
"Do not toy with me, Zag. I beg of you. I am not strong."279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwKz4eU5UP
"Never, you are too great a man, and only a fool would mistreat you. You are my friend, besides."279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJjsjmnn3D
"Then tell me, Zag, what is it that you offer."
"You remember your reward, yes? You have not given me your answer."
"Will this reward save her?"
"As the receiver of it," Zag said slowly, "I believe you will be able to."
Wes thought for a moment. If I release him then he will save her. Well, I will according to him. What does he mean? It was a strange deal. Yet Wes had no reason to distrust the old man. He was wise and a doctor after all. There is no proof of his crime even to this day, and Tans deprives him of water and taunts him.
When heard Marge giggle as Zagarolo smiled at her, Wes made his decision.
He walked to the post and took the iron ring, which held two keys, off of the large, crooked, nail.
Before Wes could turn the key in the lock, Zag spoke to him.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" asked Zag
"I will not lose my daughter, old friend," Wes said as he swung the door open, "you have my trust."
With the smallest amount of regret in his heart, he expected Zag to toss Marge into his arms and run like a mad man out of the prison and into the night, crying in joy for his freedom and his stupidity.
But Zag stepped out quietly and handed Marge over to him.
"Then let us make haste," said Zag in a strange formal tone, "master Wes."
Master? Wes told himself it was a mistake on Zag's part and that his mind wandered with age and being cluttered with too much wisdom. Wes stuck his head out of the doorway and looked around, checking to see if anyone was around. Garth halted several feet from him.
"Garth?" asked Wes, "You are awake?"
Wes could hear the faint backward steps of the old man, most likely trying to keep hidden in the shadows.
"Yes," said Garth, "I wanted to see how you faired." He saw Marge in his arms, "Oh, Marge ... "279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph5t4ZoBNf
"I needed to hold her," said Wes, "to see her."279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ai97tQFBb
"Let me take over, Wes," Garth said as he placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "You can keep all the reeds Ham gave you, just be with Rose and sleep."279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeF75Bzoja
"No," said Wes, "I am feeling well, please ... "
"It is not a problem with me," insisted Garth, "you know how much I don't sleep, don't your remember? Who do you think it was that carried you and Freddy on that raft and sent you out to wake up in the middle of the lake."
"You hated it when we slept through one of your late-night stories." Wes could not help but smile at the memories. "We could have drowned you fool!"
"Bah! Lyndon was there. I swear he was a merman. Out swam and caught that goldergill, with his feet!"
"Thought mermen did not have feet, Gar."
"You see, that is why you never enjoy my stories," laughed Garth, "too sharp and asked too many questions."
Somewhere out in the forest's hills, a lone wolf howled. Above their heads, a full moon shone brightly and beautifully, lighting up Marge's little face.
"Give me an hour, at least, Garth," Wes said smiling, "let me earn some of my pay, you know how I am."
"Half an hour," acquiesced Garth as he walked away into the darkness of the night.
Wes turned around and saw Zagarolo hiding in a corner.
"We must go," Wes told him.
Zagarolo nodded and both of them left the stone house behind. They did not light any torches, so they used the star and moon's light to their advantage.
"You know where to go, Zag?" asked Wes.
"Yes, yes," he answered, looking up and searching the stars, "allow me to take the lead, Master Wes."279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZ9OXfqmvM
Again, thought Wes, he calls me master. But he did not ask him why he said this, for he wanted him to focus on finding his home.
After walking for several miles, they came upon Abal's Wood. For a moment, Wes hesitated in walking past the trees. The haunted woods, thought Wes as he shivered, despite the summer air's warmth. Zagarolo was quick to notice and stopped.
"Something amiss? Is there a change with the little one?" asked the old man.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPQyTguBJC
"No," Wes responded quickly, "it is nothing."
He would feel like quite the fool to show such childish fear to a wise man. He stepped into the woods, holding Marge close to his chest.
"Follow close, Master Wes," warned Zag, "these woods can be quite as dangerous as the legends say."
"Will we survive long enough to reach your manor?" asked Wes.
"Of course." As Zag said this, he produced something long and thin from his sleeve. He appeared to sigh on one end. What is he doing?
The tip of the shape, of what Wes now saw was a candle of black wax, lit up with a blue flame that seemed to paint everything it lit with the same hue. The flame began to claw and spit wildly as if it wanted to escape the wick. Parts of it did. one flame floated above old Zag's pate and divided into four pieces and circled around above him. The candle's flame also birthed a second child. This one drifted above Wes's head, divided into four fragments, and also danced above his head.
What illusions are these? Wes feared the little flames would sear him or Marge, but Zag, somehow sensing his fear, spoke to him.
"They are harmless, Master Wes," comforted Zagarolo, "have no fear, we are almost there."
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