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section7mfuApril noticed that Mildred was rarely still for long. Shortly after she had told them when they would be eating, she came around carrying a large wicker basket filled with neatly folded clothing. It seemed that sometime during the night, she had not only laundered their clothing, but ironed them as well. Thrilled that she would be back in real clothes again, April took the basket from Mildred with a smile.
"When did you have time to do all of this? You should have let me help you,"
Mildred smiled back and brushed back her bangs again. Not for the first time, April thought how odd it was that someone who dressed as old-fashioned as Mildred did painted her nails with bright red polish.
"It was no trouble at all. I just added them to my own wash. You were all so exhausted when you arrived that I wouldn't have wanted to wake you over such a little thing. I'm sure you'll all feel better with your clothes back on. By the time you're dressed, food will be on the table."
April thanked her again, then took the boys' clothing to them before retreating back to her room to get dressed herself. Mildred was right, she did feel much better now that she was back in her own clothing. Napoleon and Mark also looked far more at ease as they helped Illya to the table. Illya was far more alert, but his continuing weakness had Napoleon concerned.
When Mildred began to carry the food in, Mark moved off to help her as Napoleon settled Illya in a chair. In no time, the table was piled with a platter of rabbit, a basket of warm bread and a bowl filled with a mixture of green beans and potatoes. A pitcher of cold water was the last thing added to the table and Mildred began filling the glasses.
"I'm sorry I don't have anything else to offer, but I rarely drink anything but water myself. The well here is so cold and refreshing."
Everyone immediately assured their hostess that water was perfect and began to fill their plates. Napoleon filled one for Illya first and felt a little better as he saw that Illya seemed to have a good appetite. It gave him an appetite to try his own food which was plain, but warm and filling.
April and Napoleon were on either side of Illya and had most of their focus on him, but Mark found himself watching Mildred. She ate the rabbit, but didn't bother with any of the other food on the table. then her hands drew his attention. He'd never seen anyone before whose index finger was the same length as her middle finger. He filed that away as unusual, but really no more unusual than the fact that some people were born with too many fingers or birthmarks.
The sound of rain hitting the roof and rumbles of thunder accompanied the meal, but it an odd bird call that had Mildred rising from the table and hurrying to a window. Mark recovered first and questioned her.
"Mildred? Is something wrong?"
Wrapping her arms around herself as if she were cold, Mildred turned partly away from the window to look at Mark.
"That bird that called. It never does that unless there is someone in the woods that doesn't belong there."
All four agents looked at one another when she said that. April whispered under her breath.
"THRUSH?"
Mildred had already turned back to face the window.
"No, not a thrush. That was a raven."
Shocked that Mildred had heard her, April was glad she hadn't said more than the one word. She decided she must have spoken louder than she'd realized and returned to the worry that they might have led THRUSH toward the little house.
Finally returning to the table, Mildred ate only a little more before getting back up.
"Don't rush your own meals - I guess I nibbled more while I was cooking that I thought I did. I'm going to go check on the fire in the main room. The dampness seems to be trying to creep in."
Once alone, the agents quietly conferred with each other about the likelihood that THRUSH was in the area. They quickly decided that one of them would be up at all times, just in case. Illya protested, but was firmly excluded from the guard duty by the other three. He would keep resting and save his strength to join in if it came down to a fight. They didn't want Mildred to be harmed for givig them shelter.
All of them were restless, but the day eventually faded into night. They used the leftover rabbit and bread, making sandwiches to eat in front of the fire, then encouraged Illya to settle down in the parlor to sleep. The rest of them headed to bed as well - or at least pretended to. April claimed the first watch. She'd wake Mark at midnight and he'd wake Napoleon at 3am.
April and Mark's watches both passed without incident. Napoleon was standing with his back to the remaining embers in the fireplace to ward off a chill when a scream from outside made him reach for his gun. From the sound upstairs, the scream had woken Mark - both he and April were by Napoleon's side within minutes.
When neither Illya nor Mildred emerged, Napoleon went to check on his partner and was alarmed to find Illya was even worse than he'd been the previous day. His breathing was so shallow, he could barely detect it and this time, his pulse was more sluggish as well.
Standing in the doorway, watching Napoleon tend to Illya, April and Mark spun around as a loud howl shattered the quiet. Backing into the parlor, they glanced at one another, then moved to flank the couch Illya was on.
None of the three agents slept again that night as they kept a vigil over their sick friend.
"When did you have time to do all of this? You should have let me help you,"
Mildred smiled back and brushed back her bangs again. Not for the first time, April thought how odd it was that someone who dressed as old-fashioned as Mildred did painted her nails with bright red polish.
"It was no trouble at all. I just added them to my own wash. You were all so exhausted when you arrived that I wouldn't have wanted to wake you over such a little thing. I'm sure you'll all feel better with your clothes back on. By the time you're dressed, food will be on the table."
April thanked her again, then took the boys' clothing to them before retreating back to her room to get dressed herself. Mildred was right, she did feel much better now that she was back in her own clothing. Napoleon and Mark also looked far more at ease as they helped Illya to the table. Illya was far more alert, but his continuing weakness had Napoleon concerned.
When Mildred began to carry the food in, Mark moved off to help her as Napoleon settled Illya in a chair. In no time, the table was piled with a platter of rabbit, a basket of warm bread and a bowl filled with a mixture of green beans and potatoes. A pitcher of cold water was the last thing added to the table and Mildred began filling the glasses.
"I'm sorry I don't have anything else to offer, but I rarely drink anything but water myself. The well here is so cold and refreshing."
Everyone immediately assured their hostess that water was perfect and began to fill their plates. Napoleon filled one for Illya first and felt a little better as he saw that Illya seemed to have a good appetite. It gave him an appetite to try his own food which was plain, but warm and filling.
April and Napoleon were on either side of Illya and had most of their focus on him, but Mark found himself watching Mildred. She ate the rabbit, but didn't bother with any of the other food on the table. then her hands drew his attention. He'd never seen anyone before whose index finger was the same length as her middle finger. He filed that away as unusual, but really no more unusual than the fact that some people were born with too many fingers or birthmarks.
The sound of rain hitting the roof and rumbles of thunder accompanied the meal, but it an odd bird call that had Mildred rising from the table and hurrying to a window. Mark recovered first and questioned her.
"Mildred? Is something wrong?"
Wrapping her arms around herself as if she were cold, Mildred turned partly away from the window to look at Mark.
"That bird that called. It never does that unless there is someone in the woods that doesn't belong there."
All four agents looked at one another when she said that. April whispered under her breath.
"THRUSH?"
Mildred had already turned back to face the window.
"No, not a thrush. That was a raven."
Shocked that Mildred had heard her, April was glad she hadn't said more than the one word. She decided she must have spoken louder than she'd realized and returned to the worry that they might have led THRUSH toward the little house.
Finally returning to the table, Mildred ate only a little more before getting back up.
"Don't rush your own meals - I guess I nibbled more while I was cooking that I thought I did. I'm going to go check on the fire in the main room. The dampness seems to be trying to creep in."
Once alone, the agents quietly conferred with each other about the likelihood that THRUSH was in the area. They quickly decided that one of them would be up at all times, just in case. Illya protested, but was firmly excluded from the guard duty by the other three. He would keep resting and save his strength to join in if it came down to a fight. They didn't want Mildred to be harmed for givig them shelter.
All of them were restless, but the day eventually faded into night. They used the leftover rabbit and bread, making sandwiches to eat in front of the fire, then encouraged Illya to settle down in the parlor to sleep. The rest of them headed to bed as well - or at least pretended to. April claimed the first watch. She'd wake Mark at midnight and he'd wake Napoleon at 3am.
April and Mark's watches both passed without incident. Napoleon was standing with his back to the remaining embers in the fireplace to ward off a chill when a scream from outside made him reach for his gun. From the sound upstairs, the scream had woken Mark - both he and April were by Napoleon's side within minutes.
When neither Illya nor Mildred emerged, Napoleon went to check on his partner and was alarmed to find Illya was even worse than he'd been the previous day. His breathing was so shallow, he could barely detect it and this time, his pulse was more sluggish as well.
Standing in the doorway, watching Napoleon tend to Illya, April and Mark spun around as a loud howl shattered the quiet. Backing into the parlor, they glanced at one another, then moved to flank the couch Illya was on.
None of the three agents slept again that night as they kept a vigil over their sick friend.
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Date: 2014-10-26 05:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-10-26 06:15 pm (UTC)