Thursday's Child (Out of Time #5) (31 page)

“Which way is that landing?” he asked.

“Birch's?” Eli said. He looked around and nodded. “That way.”

“That way be de swamp,” Jacob said, looking nervous.

“What of it?” Eli said, as he helped Rose continue on.

Jacob shook his head. Simon was confused by his sudden change. Jacob had been a stalwart so far.

“Osay's swamp?” Elizabeth asked.

Jacob nodded, his frightened eyes never leaving the horizon. Simon remembered the legend Abraham had told them of the slave who led a rebellion and drowned his people to escape, but there wasn't time for superstitions now.

“Come on,” Simon said, and he and Elizabeth hurried as best they could to catch up and overtake Eli and Rose.

“Lord protect me,” Jacob said behind them as he whispered a prayer.

They continued through the woods, the ground getting soggier and muddier beneath their feet, slowing them down even further. Every step was an effort now, and with each one Simon's feet would sink deeper into the mud.

Suddenly, Elizabeth laid her hand on his arm. “Shhh.”

She waved her hands for the others to stop. “Quiet.”

They all froze where they were and listened. Simon didn't hear anything at first, but clearly Elizabeth did. Her eyes widened and a second later, Simon heard it too. It was faint, carried from somewhere in the distance. But the sound was unmistakable - a child crying.

Rose covered her mouth with her hands. “Louisa,” she whispered.

It was difficult to tell exactly what direction the sound was coming from. The rain falling on the leaves and pelting the muddy earth was white noise. Simon could just make out an occasional sob and his heart raced faster.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and turned her head to listen. After a moment, she opened them again. “This way.”

Simon stayed at Elizabeth's side, his gun drawn. Rose and Eli were right behind them with Jacob bringing up the rear.

They had to stop once more to listen, but this time the sound was clear. The girl couldn't be far now. They all scanned the darkness. Simon didn't see anything, but Rose did.

“Louisa!” she suddenly cried out and ran forward, stumbling as she went. Eli hurried to her side. Simon and Jacob raised their guns and scanned for any sign of the doctor. Rose got to her feet and her daughter turned and saw her.

The girl had been huddled on the edge of the swamp. She was filthy and soaked to the bone, but unhurt, and ran to her mother's arms.

“Thank God,” Simon said.

Rose fell to her knees and hugged Louisa, wrapping both arms protectively around her. “Oh, baby,” she said. “Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?”

Louisa cried and buried her head in her mother's chest. Eli knelt down and ran his hands over the girl. “She's all right, I think.”

Rose kissed her daughter's tear stained cheeks. “You're safe now.”

Simon only wished that were true. As long as the doctor was out there, none of them were safe. He looked back into the wilderness, searching for some sign of the doctor, when he noticed Elizabeth walk to the water's edge.

“Simon, look.”

He joined her and followed her gaze. The pool of water had a mossy green layer that covered the top of it like a blanket. The canopy of trees above had kept it mostly undisturbed from the falling rain, but there was a clear path cut through it now. The blanket of algae had been split down the middle and a trail of dark water marked where the doctor had waded into the water and deeper into the swamp.

Simon knew she would bristle at the suggestion, but they'd pressed their luck with every step so far. He unhooked his watch chain from his vest button and then reached into his vest pocket.

He held the watch and key out to Elizabeth. “You should stay here with Rose.”

Elizabeth stared down at the watch and then glared up at him. “And let you have all the fun?”

She was trying to make light of it, but he heard the tension in her voice.

“Elizabeth—”

“Jacob can stay with her.”

“I stay,” Jacob offered quickly, casting uneasy glances at the swamp. “I be glad to stay.”

Simon ground his teeth.

“It's settled then,” Elizabeth said as she took the watch and key from his hand and walked over to Jacob. “Keep an eye on these for us?”

Jacob nodded and reached for the watch.

“Just don't…open it,” Elizabeth cautioned him wisely before handing it over.

Jacob took the watch and key, and carefully slipped them into his pants pocket.

“There,” Elizabeth said as she strode back in front of Simon.

He knew it was no use arguing with her, but he did anyway. “Elizabeth, you can't.” She was about to protest when he added, “Not in that.”

She frowned down at her dress and then looked back up at him with narrowed eyes. She began unbuttoning her dress. “Fine.”

“For God's sake,” Simon said and he put his gun away and knelt in front of her. He gripped the edge of her skirt and started to rip it off. Her dress had been badly torn by the thorns and sharp branches they'd already journeyed through and it was easily removed. He tossed her skirt to the side and stood.

Her chemise and drawers were already soaked and dark with mud, but if she noticed, she didn't care. She turned back to Eli. “Are you coming?”

Eli turned to Rose.

“Be careful,” Rose said, still clinging to Louisa.

Eli nodded and then came to Simon's side.

Simon took out his gun and waded into the murky water. He held his gun up to keep it dry and turned back as Elizabeth followed and then Eli, his shotgun held over his head.

Thankfully, the water never got above his waist. If it were much higher, Elizabeth would be swimming instead of walking. Although, walking might have been a generous characterization. With each step, their feet sank into the soft bottom. But that was hardly the worst of it. Fallen branches, snags and submerged logs and rocks made each step treacherous. God only knew what sort of snakes and creatures called this place home. They stumbled their way through the water following the narrowing path left in the doctor's wake.

Simon heard a gasp and turned in time to see Elizabeth nearly disappear under the water. Simon tried to grab her, but he was too far away. Eli was closer and grabbed her arm, helping her right herself. She swept her hair from her face and spit out the fetid water that had gotten into her mouth. “I'm all right,” she said and they pushed on.

Eli frowned and shook his head. In his haste to help Elizabeth he'd let his shotgun dip into the water. Long green slime hung off the barrel. He looked at Simon in apology. They both knew the gun was likely useless now. That left them with only Simon's pistol.

It was exhausting work, pushing through the heavy water, having to yank each foot up out of the mud as the mire sucked it down. Simon's legs burned with the effort. Worse yet, the trail they were following was disappearing. The swath the doctor had cut through the algae was reforming, the two sides rejoining. Just as it was nearly completely impossible to see, they reached a bank.

Simon managed to get himself halfway up it before turning back and helping Elizabeth climb the short, but steep slope that led to what passed for dry land in a swamp. Once she was safely up, Simon followed, Eli close behind.

The rain had mercifully stopped, but it was of little comfort now. It was good to be out of the water, but it also meant the end of the trail they'd followed. They tried to find some sign to follow, some path, but it was no use.

They stood helpless until the clouds above parted, and a pale haze of light from the moon shone down through a break in the trees. Simon could hear the river in the distance. Birch's landing couldn't be far.

“There!” Eli said. Simon turned and saw a dark figure in the distance, no more than twenty yards away. Eli ran forward and raised his shotgun. Simon heard the hammer fall, but there was no spark, no fire. With a frustrated grunt, Eli tossed the gun aside.

They hurried after him. Simon could just make out the doctor as he weaved his way between the trees. The doctor stumbled, swore and regained his footing. They were close now. The doctor turned back and saw them. He made a sharp turn and waded into another pool of water.

Simon raised his gun and called out, “That's far enough!”

The doctor stopped. His back heaved with the effort of his flight. His gun dangled from his right hand as he stood in water up to his thighs.

Elizabeth moved between Simon and Eli. They stood on the shore of the little island as the doctor slowly turned around.

“Drop your gun!” Simon said and pulled back the hammer on his pistol.

The doctor ignored him and continued his slow turn.

Simon squeezed the trigger.

Nothing.

The doctor laughed and raised his gun as he faced them. “You've got to keep your powder dry,” he said.

He trained his gun on Elizabeth. Simon could tell that the doctor knew what he was thinking, that he was calculating the odds of the doctor's gun working after what they'd been through. “Is it worth her life to find out?” he asked.

Simon's silence was answer enough. The doctor smiled. “Good. You just stay right where you are and old Doc Walker is going down the river.”

The doctor took a step backward and shook his head.

Simon was about to say something, but stopped when he heard something he couldn't quite identify. In his periphery he could tell that the others had clearly heard it too, including Doctor Walker.

It started out as a whisper that floated all around them. It grew in intensity as voice after voice joined it until it was a chorus of voices whispering in the dark.

“The water will take you home.”

They all turned, trying to see where the voices were coming from, but they were coming from everywhere. Simon reached for Elizabeth's hand and gripped it firmly in his.

“The water will take you home.”

Doctor Walker took another stumbling step, up to his waist now. He glanced back at them, frightened, but determined. And then, suddenly, a hand shot up out of the water and grabbed his arm. He struggled against it, but the grip was as iron as the manacle around its black wrist.

The hand squeezed his arm until it trembled and the gun fell into the water.

Another hand reached out from the murky water, and then another.

“Help me!” the doctor cried, but none of them could or would come to his aid.

All Simon could do was watch in awe and terror and disbelief, as more hands with iron shackles and thick black chains reached up out of the water and grabbed at the doctor. They clutched at his clothing and gripped his arms and legs. And pulled.

He began to sink down into the mud, the water coming up to his chest now. He gasped and his eyes shot wide open, the whites caught in the now bright moonlight. “Help me.”

Simon watched as the hands dragged him down into the water. The whispering voices surged as they took him completely under. As the surface of the water stilled, the voices faded.

A final burst of bubbles disturbed the water and then all was still and silent.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Elizabeth's everything hurt. She was cold and tired and muddy. She was also fairly certain there were leeches involved, but she didn't want to think about that. She shivered at the memory of the doctor's last call for help. Despite his, what she could only describe as evil, it was still shocking to have watched him die. It was justice and she was glad for that, but it wouldn't help Mary. Not now.

They found Jacob, Louisa and Rose exactly where they'd left them. Jacob lifted the musket and waved it in their general direction as they approached. “Who dere?”

“Easy there. It's us,” Eli said as they came out of the woods.

Thankfully, they'd managed to find a path back that didn't involve wading through the swamp again. The adrenaline of the chase was wearing off and the exertion from the day started to take its toll.

Jacob came to Simon and handed him the watch and key. “I didn't touch it.”

“Thank you, Jacob.”

Elizabeth leaned into Simon's side and he wrapped an arm around her and she laid her hand on it. He gave a slight groan and she pulled her hand away. His bandaged arm was filthy, and she could see red seeping through the dirty gauze.

She stepped away and held up his arm. “Oh, Simon.” He hadn't said a word about it. Who knows when he'd torn his stitches?

“It's all right,” he said and pulled her back to his side.

For a moment, they watched as Rose and Eli embraced, then awkwardly separated.

“It's over,” Eli assured her. “He won't bother you again.”

Rose smiled and knelt down in front of Louisa. She pulled her daughter to her and there in the darkness, just behind the child, was Mary. She was barely visible now, just the faintest image of who she'd once been.

Rose saw her and her eyes widened and then spilled over with tears. She held Louisa in her arms, but she spoke to both of her children. “It's time to take you home.”

Rose reached out to Mary, who raised her ghostly hand.

“My darling child.”

Their fingers touched and Mary glowed brightly for the briefest moment.

Mary turned her head and looked at Simon and Elizabeth and smiled.

And then, she was gone.

Elizabeth drew in a sharp breath and felt Simon's arm tighten around her shoulder. She didn't bother to wipe away the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

Rose gasped and hugged Louisa tightly with both arms.

“Are you all right?” Eli asked in confusion.

Rose stood and took Louisa's hand. She looked at Elizabeth and then back to Eli. “We will be,” she said. “We will be.”

~~~

When they arrived back at River Run, the fire had been put out. Between the hard work of the slaves, the neighbors and the heaven's rains, most of the house had been spared. The damage had been limited to the upper floor. It would take time to rebuild, but it would be whole again.

They'd all cleaned up as best they could and spent the night at the Millers'. By then, Doctor Parish had come to see to James. His injuries were serious, but he would live. Where and how, would be up to Rose. Elizabeth knew what she'd do with James if he'd been her husband, but he wasn't and his fate was not up to her.