Part 5. Downhill.
Quick rasping breathing often broken by short, sharp groans drew Roxton into the land of the living. He'd thought that the sounds were part of his dream but than as he woke up he realized that it was no dream.
Forcing his eyes to adjust to the darkness, Roxton fumbled with the hurricane lamp sitting beside him on the bedside table.
"Damn". He hissed as the lamp refused to light. The sounds, which he now knew were coming from Marguerite, continued.
Time dragged, feeling more like hours than mere seconds, until finally the lamp burst into controlled flame.
Now Roxton was able to look at the lady lying before him in the light.
Marguerite was soaked with sweat. Even without touching her, Roxton could feel the heat radiating from her. Her groans indicated that she was in pain.
"It's okay, Marguerite. You'll be okay". Roxton told her, more to reassure himself. He was shocked to see how much Marguerite had gone downhill since he'd fallen asleep.
Roxton was relieved to see that she was conscious. Quickly he pulled back the sheet-covering Marguerite. Her restlessness had tangled her legs in it and he knew that if she felt herself trapped, surely Marguerite would panic.
"Mmm Rrrrr". Marguerite tried to say something but the words wouldn't form.
"Shhh". Roxton hushed her gently as he wiped her face, neck and arms down with a wet cloth.
Marguerite lay still for a moment before beginning to thrash about in the bed.
"I'll get help". Roxton told her as he bolted for the door.
~*~
"Veronica, wake up".
Veronica awoke to Roxton shaking her. She was sleeping in Marguerites room.
"Roxton, huh?" Veronica asked sleepily.
"Marguerite's really bad". Roxton managed to tell her before bolting back to where his love lay.
That instantly woke Veronica completely. In an instant she was on her feet and running to where Marguerite lay.
"Get Challenger". Veronica ordered as soon as she took one look at Marguerite. Roxton didn't want to leave the room but when he saw the worried look in Veronica's eyes he quickly exited.
Veronica did a quick examination of Marguerite before doing as Roxton had been. Expertly she held the cool wet cloth on the back of Marguerite's neck even with her relentless tossing and turning.
"Holy crackers"
Hearing Malone's voice, Veronica knew that Roxton was back with the others.
"Her fever's skyrocketed. Roxton, you and Malone go down to the lake and bring back as much water as you can. The deep end is the coldest...you're the strongest Roxton so go". Veronica didn't break her speech as she told Roxton why he had to go before he could even object. "Mix up more Willowbark tea". Veronica added to Challenger as soon as Roxton and Malone had left.
Quick rasping breathing often broken by short, sharp groans drew Roxton into the land of the living. He'd thought that the sounds were part of his dream but than as he woke up he realized that it was no dream.
Forcing his eyes to adjust to the darkness, Roxton fumbled with the hurricane lamp sitting beside him on the bedside table.
"Damn". He hissed as the lamp refused to light. The sounds, which he now knew were coming from Marguerite, continued.
Time dragged, feeling more like hours than mere seconds, until finally the lamp burst into controlled flame.
Now Roxton was able to look at the lady lying before him in the light.
Marguerite was soaked with sweat. Even without touching her, Roxton could feel the heat radiating from her. Her groans indicated that she was in pain.
"It's okay, Marguerite. You'll be okay". Roxton told her, more to reassure himself. He was shocked to see how much Marguerite had gone downhill since he'd fallen asleep.
Roxton was relieved to see that she was conscious. Quickly he pulled back the sheet-covering Marguerite. Her restlessness had tangled her legs in it and he knew that if she felt herself trapped, surely Marguerite would panic.
"Mmm Rrrrr". Marguerite tried to say something but the words wouldn't form.
"Shhh". Roxton hushed her gently as he wiped her face, neck and arms down with a wet cloth.
Marguerite lay still for a moment before beginning to thrash about in the bed.
"I'll get help". Roxton told her as he bolted for the door.
~*~
"Veronica, wake up".
Veronica awoke to Roxton shaking her. She was sleeping in Marguerites room.
"Roxton, huh?" Veronica asked sleepily.
"Marguerite's really bad". Roxton managed to tell her before bolting back to where his love lay.
That instantly woke Veronica completely. In an instant she was on her feet and running to where Marguerite lay.
"Get Challenger". Veronica ordered as soon as she took one look at Marguerite. Roxton didn't want to leave the room but when he saw the worried look in Veronica's eyes he quickly exited.
Veronica did a quick examination of Marguerite before doing as Roxton had been. Expertly she held the cool wet cloth on the back of Marguerite's neck even with her relentless tossing and turning.
"Holy crackers"
Hearing Malone's voice, Veronica knew that Roxton was back with the others.
"Her fever's skyrocketed. Roxton, you and Malone go down to the lake and bring back as much water as you can. The deep end is the coldest...you're the strongest Roxton so go". Veronica didn't break her speech as she told Roxton why he had to go before he could even object. "Mix up more Willowbark tea". Veronica added to Challenger as soon as Roxton and Malone had left.