Another Pennsylvania: A Parallel Multiverse Novel by Wagher Ward

Author:Wagher, Ward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Mrs. Feather refused to allow me out of bed for nearly a week. For the first several days I couldn’t function well anyway. Various village women sat at my bedside so that I was never alone. Revna spent the most time with me, and I had no complaints about that. After four days, I was able to convince my minders that I could manage the jakes on my own. They walked with me down the hall but no longer felt obliged to be present while I took care of my business. I was glad about that.

After six days, I made my way down the stairs and outside for the first time since the battle. I felt weak and was glad Revna guided me down the stairs. There was no railing, and a fall would have been disastrous.

“You surely should not be outside,” she said. “You are only getting well now.”

“The fresh air will help,” I replied. “Besides, I could not make myself stay in bed.”

“The air is bad for you,” she insisted. “You might get a chill.”

I reminded myself that the medical knowledge of these people was limited. I needed to talk to Grant and Mrs. Feather about how to introduce basic sanitation and germ theory.

“It’s hot again today, Revna, I won’t get a chill.”

“Then why not just sit next to the door?” she persisted.

“I want to walk over and see what Bragi is doing.”

She sighed deeply as though the world was crashing down around her. I was careful not to show that I thought it was funny. I had discovered that Revna had a temper, particularly if she thought I was laughing at her. I looked straight ahead as we walked.

“You are laughing at me again!”

She was also perceptive. And she seemed to enjoy backing me into a corner.

“Come on, Revna,” I said. “You must learn not to crowd me like that. I’m a big boy.”

“What is this big boy?” she asked.

“It means I am an adult. I am smart enough to come in out of the rain.”

“But it is not raining today,” she protested.

I shook my head, realizing I had just dug myself in deeper.

“I’m sorry. What I mean is that at this stage of my life, I usually know what I am doing.”

“I am not convinced of that, Mr. Smart.”

She had heard Mrs. Feather addressing me as Mr. Smart and had started using it in an attempt to make me listen to reason – in her view. To give credit where it was due, Revna was observant.

“It’s perfectly healthy out here,” I replied. “If I get tired, I’ll go back and lie down again.”

She sniffed as if to say I was digging my own grave. We were edging closer to formalizing our relationship if that was the best way to express it. So, she would need to learn where the guard rails were located. And I reminded myself that she was an intelligent girl… young woman who was entitled to my attention and respect.

Bragi looked up with a grin as I approached the smithy.

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