raised its head and yawned. It pried itself out of Kirstiâs arms, stretched, and then jumped lightly to the floor and came to Annemarie. It rubbed itself against her leg and purred.
Kirsti sighed and turned in her sleep; one arm, free now of the kittenâs warmth and comfort, flung itself across the pillow.
There was no one else in the wide bed.
Annemarie moved quickly to the window, which overlooked the clearing that led to the pathâs entrance. The light outside was still very dim, and she peered through the dimness, trying to see, looking for the opening in the trees where the path began, looking for Mama hurrying home.
After a second she saw a shape there: something unfamiliar, something that had not been there the day before. A dark shape, no more than a blurred heap, at the beginning of the path. Annemarie squinted, forcing her eyes to understand, needing to understand, not wanting to understand.
The shape moved. And she knew. It was her mother, lying on the earth.
13
Run! As Fast As You Can!
Still moving quietly so as not to wake her sister, Annemarie sped down the stairs and through the kitchen door. Her foot caught the loose step and she faltered for a moment, righting herself, then dashed across the ground to the place where her mother lay.
âMama!â she called desperately, âMama!â
âShhh,â Mama said, raising her head. âIâm all right!â
âBut, Mama,â Annemarie asked, kneeling beside her, âwhatâs wrong? What happened?â
Her mother pulled herself to a sitting position. She winced in pain. âIâm all right, really. Donât worry. And the Rosens are with Henrik. Thatâs the important thing.â
She smiled a little, though her face was drawn with pain and she bit her lip, the smile fading. âWe got there quite quickly, even though it was still so dark and it was difficult for the Rosens, not knowing the path. Henrik was there waiting, on the boat, and he took them aboard and down below so quickly to the cabin that they were invisible in an instant. He said the others were already there; Peter got them there safely, too.
âSo I turned and hurried home. I was so anxious to get back to you girls. I should have been more careful.â Talking softly, she brushed some grass and dirt from her hands.
âCan you believe it? I was very nearly hereâwell, maybe just halfwayâwhen I tripped over a root and went sprawling.â
Mama sighed. âSo clumsy,â she said, as if she were scolding herself. âIâm afraid my ankle is broken, Annemarie. Thank goodness it is nothing worse. An ankle mends. And I am home, and the Rosens are with Henrik.
âYou should have seen me, Annemarie,â she said, shaking her head with a wry look. âYour proper mama, crawling inch by inch! I probably looked like a drunkard!â
She reached for Annemarieâs arm. âHere, let me lean on you. I think if you support me on this side, I can make my way up to the house. Goodness, what a clumsy fool I am! Here, let me put my arm over your shoulders. Youâre such a good, strong, brave girl. Nowâvery slowly. There.â
Mamaâs face was white with pain. Annemarie could see it even through the faint light of the approaching dawn. She hobbled, leaning heavily on her daughter, pausing again and again, toward the house.
âWhen we get inside, Iâll have a cup of tea and then weâll call the doctor. Iâll tell him that I fell on the stairs. Youâll have to help me wash away the grass and twigs. Here, Annemarie, let me rest for a minute.â
They had reached the house, and Mama sank down to the steps and sat. She took several deep breaths.
Annemarie sat beside her and held her hand. âMama, I was so worried when you didnât come back.â
Mama nodded. âI knew you would be. I thought of you, worrying, as I dragged myself along. But here I amâsafe with
Neal Shusterman, Michelle Knowlden