Part thirteen
Jonathan and Evelyn didn't know how long they had been waiting for news, but it had been long enough that the professor's re-emergence from the cabin was an emotional relief in itself; though neither sibling was bolstered by the look on the older man's face.
"How is he?" Evelyn asked after the fallen Med-jai.
"As I explained to your husband, and now I say the same to you, Mrs. O'Connell, you can't expect miracles onboard a ship two days from land."
"You're not saying…" Jonathan couldn't let himself finish the question.
"No, I'm not saying that your friend will…" Glancing down at the child that stood listening attentively to his every word, Marsden refrained from elaborating on that particular detail, "What I 'am' saying is that whatever has infected your 'friend' is serious. I have done what I can, and left medicines I think will help, and instructions with Mr. O'Connell for the Med-jai's care. If he should get any worse, please call me, but I warn you now, I believe I have done all I can here onboard. If he does get any worse, we can only hope that he holds out until we reach Cairo."
"Mommm," Alex whimpered as his mother's grip on his shoulder tightened uncomfortably with growing apprehension caused by the doctor's words.
"Sorry Alex," Evelyn apologized with a soothing rub to the affected area, before focusing again on the Professor. "Can we see him?"
Glancing back over his shoulder, Marsden shrugged, "If you can get passed your husband, Mrs. O'Connell, you are welcome to visit for a short time."
Nodding her thanks, Evelyn glanced down to her son, before deciding that the concerned child also needed the reassurance of a visit with their stricken friend.
With a gentle prod to her son's back, they made their way into the cabin. Their focus centered on pale-faced man that lay deathly still on the cabin bunk.
Evelyn's eyes trailed to the slumped features of her husband, who sat just as unmoving, his elbows resting on his knees as if in prayer, on a chair at his friend's side.
Looking to Jonathan to again to care of Alex, Evelyn moved quickly to Rick's side. Her concern split equally between her ill friend, and the effect that illness was having on her husband.
"Rick?"
When her husband didn't acknowledge her voice, Evelyn reached out with a gentle touch to his shoulder.
The familiar contact seemed to bring Rick out of the semi-
daze he seemed to have drifted into, and slowly stretching
to his full height, he turned and pulled his wife into his
arms.
"Oh Evy," He sighed as he sought comfort in the arms of the one person that always seemed to be able to bring him the consolation he sought.
The only other time Evelyn had seen such desolation on Rick's face had been when their son had been kidnapped by Imhotep and their child had been close to losing his life.
Reaching up to clasp her hands on each side of her husband's face, Evelyn looked deeply into his eyes, trying to find the reason behind her husband seemingly utter despair.
"Rick, what is it? I know Ardeth is gravely ill, but there is more to this isn't there?"
Turning to stare down at the unconscious Med-jai, Rick shook his head, at a loss to explain to himself, let alone to his wife what was happening. All he knew for certain, was that he could not leave Ardeth while the warrior could not protect himself. "All I know Evy, is that I no longer have a choice. Here is where I have to stay until Ardeth is well."
"And if he doesn't recover?" Evy whispered, so Alex would not hear.
"He will," Rick replied, refusing to believe the worst. "He's a part of me, I know that now. He's a part of who I am, who I meant to be?"
Confused by her husband's riddles, she looked down at the leather band that covered the mysterious tattoo. "So you now believe that you are this 'Wahid' that Ardeth spoke of?"
"No," Rick voiced assuredly denied, "definitely not, but I am part of whatever this is, and for all our sakes I have to find out who that part of me is." His eyes scanned all his family before focusing back on the man in the bed. "If Ardeth is ill because of me, I have to know, why?"
TBC