[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

However, he used to have Faerwald and Lairgan mount me while he watched. They
would tie me up and beat me first."
Lyncoln refilled her glass, and spilled whiskey on the table as Berneen
unlaced her bodice and pulled it down. Long scars that could only have been
made by silver crisscrossed her breasts.  Ungodly foul sodomite. Filthy piece
of regurgitated goat-shite. Lyncoln continued to curse in colorful, inventive
language for several breaths.
Mary moved to Berneen's side, hugged her, and pulled her bodice up.  Let's
take this to my office where I see patients."
Lyncoln tucked the bottle under his arm, gathered the glasses, and followed
after them. Mary walked with a protective arm around Berneen.
Myn paused to stare, but no one tried to stop them until they turned the
corner. Russa stood talking to Trevor in the hallway. He wore a bandage around
his head where he had taken a long shallow gash during the fighting around the
scaffolds.
Russa stopped talking and intercepted them glaring.  What's she doing here?"
Mary gave her a quelling look.  Clennan abused her. There's silver scars all
over her. Help me get her to my office."
"Oh, my gods, what a beastly mon he was. Russa went from outraged to shocked.
 Don't you worry, Berneen. You're safe now."
Together, Russa and Mary rallied their family around Berneen as they proceeded
through the hallways. Phoebe joined them.
"What's going on? Trevor fell into step beside Lyncoln.
Lyncoln rotated his neck as if he had a crick in it.  I hate having to repeat
this, Trevor. Kindly share it with those who need to know, will you? Berneen
was held against her will by Clennan. He destroyed her family's livelihood,
and abused her. She's been living in terror for months, and now she's ready to
collapse."
Trevor's eyes went distant and considering.  I'll get the word around so folks
don't keep asking."
Mary's office had a desk, chairs, and sofas on the left and a folding screen
and examination table on the other.
"Sit down over there, Lyncoln. Mary pointed at the chairs as Russa extended
the screen.
"No. Berneen clutched at him.  Don't leave me."
"I'll be back presently. Don't you worry. Lyncoln gestured for Mary to step
outside with him.  She is in very bad shape. Been on the edge of hysteria ever
since I found her. Hadn't eaten since yesterday morning."
"I understand. Why has she come to me?"
"Tansy. I think it'd be better if you let her ask for it."
"How much liquor has she had?"
"Just the two in the kitchen."
Mary calculated for a moment.  I think it's safe to give her a quarter dose of
Narcantha. That will settle her."
When they returned, Russa and Phoebe had gotten Berneen out of her dress and
Page 118
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
into a comfortable robe. She lay on the table with the robe open. The lycans
had no nudity taboos; such things did not work well when a full change to wolf
required disrobing. Nonetheless there was a time and a place for such things;
and a time and a place where nudity felt inappropriate.
Seeing the massive scars on Berneen's young body sent a wave of discomfort
through Lyncoln as he recalled all the playful spankings he had given Terry,
which never left a lasting mark on her. She grabbed at him and he caught her
hand, holding it with gentle firmness.  It's alright, Berneen. They're going
to help you."
Mary swabbed Berneen's arm and injected her with the Narcantha. Russa and
Phoebe continued to pat, stroke, and murmur words of comfort to Berneen.
Berneen's eyes grew heavily lidded and she reclined against a pile of pillows
that supported her back.  I want a dose of tansy..."
"You'll need to stay here overnight. We'll take care of you. Won't we, Russa?"
"Of course we will. Russa's voice carried a hard edge.  If he weren't already
dead, I'd go over and kill him myself. These scars are the worst thing I've
ever seen."
Tears crept into Phoebe's eyes.  Except for what they did to Grandfather."
Lyncoln remained quiet, feeling out of place before their grief. If Berneen
had not kept holding onto his hand, he would have slipped out the door. He
pitied her. He had never seen a bitch so broken and destroyed.
"Do you feel like telling me about it, now? Mary asked, her healer's voice
filled with compassion.
"Yes. Berneen's tongue felt thick and awkward in her mouth, making her slur
her words.  Tansy. But I've ... wondered for so many weeks ... so many
weeks..."
She started to drift and Mary brought her back with an encouraging question.
 What have you wondered?"
"Whose stick it was ... got me up. Berneen giggled, deep in the hollows of
whiskey and Narcantha.  Curses in the night ... and bad language. Whose seed I
punished with death."
Mary searched the faces around her and the answer came from Russa, who was
unusually serious.  Closure, Mary. You can give her closure."
"How many were there? Mary returned her attention to Berneen.
"Faerwald, Lairgan, and Clennan. Only those three rump stickers. Berneen
released Lyncoln and placed her hand over her mouth to stifle another round of
giggles.
"Narcantha's odd stuff, observed Lyncoln.
Mary nodded.  Especially mixed with whiskey."
"Can you do it for her? Give her peace of mind?"
"Probably. Sha has tissue samples from each of the three that I can use to
make the comparison."
Mary sent for the crystalled samples. Holding one in her hand, she grasped
Berneen's wrist and Read her.  It's not Clennan's."
One by one, she went through the three crystals.  It's Faerwald's."
A giddy smile lit Berneen's face.  A pox upon the silly blighter ... ding dong
all gone ... Faerwald is fairly walled in his coffin ... and his stick's in a
jar. His nastiness we'll flush from my barrel."
"And now the tansy? Lyncoln stroked Berneen's hair.  Poor little flower."
A gesture from Mary sent Russa for it.
"We'll want to keep her here over night in case there's a problem. She's close
to three months. The farther into a pregnancy that you abort, the greater the
chance of complications."
"I understand."
Berneen smiled into the glass she held in her hand.  Thank you, Mary."
Berneen's legs were too wobbly to walk, so Mary put her in a wheel-chair and
left it for Russa and Phoebe to move Berneen into one of the many extra
bedrooms.
Lyncoln retrieved the whiskey and glasses before following Mary to a drawing
room on the third floor.
Page 119
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]