Читать книгу Sundancer - Shelley Peterson - Страница 9

5

EVA

I have everything I need here. A salt lick. Water. Hay. Grazing land.

Bird floated above her white bed in the white room with white lights and people in white gowns. Nothing hurt as they twisted her limbs this way and that. Nothing bothered her as they moved her through big, hollow machines, and rolled her through bright rooms and down long halls. She felt nothing except a pleasant dislocation. She was out of time and place.

She’d had a special glimpse into Sundancer’s mind. Fear. Flight. There was much more to see when he was ready to let her in.

She floated above Sundancer as he stood in the dark field. He was alone. He was eating something he liked very much from a bucket.

Sundancer, can you hear me?

Bird. Are you dead?

No. I’ll be fine.

Good. I’m sorry. Come home.

Bird smiled sleepily. They’d made a connection. It was a good start.

HANNAH, PAUL, AND ALEC sat quietly in Bird’s room. She had heard them come in, had heard their whispered words as they wondered when she would open her eyes. She was feeling better now, but she wasn’t ready yet. It was nice to sit quietly in the dark, letting her thoughts wander their way through her head. But how exactly did she get here? Bird struggled to remember. Hannah had come with her in the ambulance, she remembered that. And there had been many strangers looking at her; feeling and moving parts of her around. She’d slept. At some point, she’d heard Stuart Gilmore’s voice, but maybe she had been dreaming. She’d slept again for a while. For how long, she didn’t know.

Bird was flattered that Alec had come. Bird tried to focus. Alec. Where did he come from? He hadn’t been at the farm when Sundancer dropped her in the field. Dr. Daniels must have brought him from home. He must have wanted to come, or he wouldn’t be here. Bird felt a small thrill. But … maybe he didn’t want to be at home. The thrill in her chest subsided. She knew the situation. Alec’s mother had left a few years ago. At first, everyone had assumed that it was a typical divorce, but it was more than that. Mrs. Daniels had left more than her husband, she’d left her son as well. No one had seen or heard from her since. Bird knew exactly how Alec must feel. Why stay at home if there was no one there?

The door to the room opened again, and this time Bird decided to look.

“Bird!” Hannah jumped up from her seat to hug her niece before turning her attention to the doctor.

“Mrs. Simms?”

“No. I’m Hannah Bradley, Bird’s aunt. Alberta, that is. Simms.” The doctor looked puzzled. “Say that again?”

“I’m sorry. I’m not very coherent.” Hannah held Bird’s hand tightly as she spoke. “Alberta Simms is my niece, and I’m her guardian. My name is Hannah Bradley.”

He nodded, then smiled. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Dr. Jonathon Molesworth. May I speak in front of this gentleman?”

“Yes. Sorry again. This is my friend, Paul Daniels.”

“Good evening Mr. Daniels, Ms. Bradley, the good news is that Alberta has no fractures. We did all the tests, particularly for spine, neck, and skull. She has suffered a concussion, as you’re aware. But there might be a serious problem. Although she has shown signs of awareness, she’s not speaking.”

“She doesn’t speak.”

“Excuse me?”

“Bird, or Alberta, hasn’t spoken since she was six years old. She spoke normally before that.”

The doctor nodded, thinking it over. “Has she been diagnosed?”

“Her family doctor believes she’s an elective mute.”

“Well.” Dr. Molesworth looked intrigued. “You don’t run across that very often. If that’s the case, then she might be recovered enough to go home tonight. We can use the bed. You must keep a close eye on her, though, waking her every two to three hours.”

“Of course.” Hannah sounded relieved. Bird looked around the room, catching Alec’s eye. He smiled and held up an envelope. He’d bought her a card. Bird tried to smile back.

The doctor was still talking. “If she cannot fully waken at any time, or appears disoriented, you’ll bring her back here immediately and ask for me. I’m on call all night.”

“Thank you, Dr. Molesworth. Very much.”

Hannah reached down and ruffled Bird’s hair as the doctor left the room. “You gave us quite a fright, young lady. I don’t think I’ve ever been that scared before.”

I’m sorry, Bird thought. But I’m not the one you should be worried about. Sundancer’s more scared than you or me.

Soon, a nurse arrived to wheel Bird down to Paul’s car. Paul and Alec drove them home and helped Hannah get Bird to the door. “Thanks. I’m very grateful,” said Hannah, holding Bird by the waist to steady her.

“My pleasure entirely,” said Paul. “We’re happy to be of assistance. I hope you feel better soon, Bird.”

“Me, too,” mumbled Alec. He looked awkward.

Bird smiled feebly and nodded. She needed her bed. “Call me if you need me, Hannah. Promise?”

Hannah smiled wearily. “I promise. It’s good to have friends at times like this. Good night, folks.” They waved goodbye and drove away.

Hector had slipped into the house when he thought no one was looking. Now he was curled up as small as possible on the dog bed in the kitchen. Bird pretended not to see and hoped that Hannah wouldn’t notice. Hector used to be an outside dog, but he was getting old, and Bird was happy to have him in the house.

Hannah gently tucked Bird into bed. “I’ll be waking you every couple of hours, Bird. You’re going to hate me, but we have to do it. What signal do you want to make so I know you’re totally awake?” Bird sleepily placed her two thumbs on either side of her head and wiggled her fingers. She laughed silently, along with Hannah.

“Well, you haven’t lost your sense of humour. Now get some sleep, and I’ll call your mother,” said Hannah as she turned off the bedside lamp and made her way to the door. “I spoke to her earlier and she’s worried sick.”

Yeah, right, thought Bird.