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She was glad to have found not only a place to hide, but also one where there might be something to eat.
In the next moment she stifled a scream behind a hand as a mouse scampered from hiding. It fled through the door, just past Dorey’s feet.
Grateful that she had had the sense to cover her mouth when she screamed, and relieved that the mouse had disappeared, Dorey crept further into the house. She found herself staring down at various kinds of melons stored among other foods there.
The sight made her belly growl, and without any more thought of being afraid, Dorey sat down on the wooden floor and reached for a delicious-looking golden melon.
She broke it open and gobbled up big bites of the juicy fruit. She thought she had never tasted anything so wonderfully delicious. But then again, never had she been so hungry either.
She felt blessed to have found this place.
Once her hunger was sated, Dorey realized just how much today’s adventure had taken out of her. She was absolutely worn out.
In her exhaustion, her fear was forgotten.
She felt safe here, at least until tomorrow when the people of this village would begin their dailychores, which might include bringing crops up into their storage house.
But she would worry about that later.
Now she needed sleep.
She wouldn’t even worry about mice. Usually mice were more afraid of humans than humans were afraid of them.
She searched around and found a pile of pelts and blankets.
She closed the door, then curled up in the blankets and fell asleep as the moon poured its light down through the cracks in the ceiling.
She would worry about tomorrow…tomorrow!
Chapter Thirteen
Man’s love is of man’s life
A thing apart,
’Tis woman’s whole existence.
—Lord Byron
Lavinia was downhearted that she had found no trace of Dorey anywhere. And the hour was getting later and later.
She had traveled much farther from her home than she knew was safe. She paused in her paddling and hung her head.
The light from the lantern that Twila held revealed to the girl the despair on Lavinia’s face. It matched the feeling of hopelessness that Twila, too, was feeling at having not found Dorey.
“She’s gone, Twila,” Lavinia said, her voice breaking. “She seems to have disappeared into thin air.”
“Watch out, ma’am!” Twila suddenly screamed.
But it was already too late. A snake had uncoiled itself from an overhead limb and tumbled down onto Lavinia.
It quickly bit her on the arm, then slid away over the side of the canoe and into the water.
By the light of the lamp reflecting in the water, Twila watched, stunned, as the snake slithered away.
Then she turned and stared disbelievingly at Lavinia. Her mistress was clutching her arm where the snake had bitten her.
“Take the knife from my sheath, Twila,” Lavinia said, already feeling dizzy from the poison spreading through her bloodstream. “Do…what…you’ve been…taught to do in case of a snakebite.”
