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"Good, not to worry, we won't let anything happen to her." Ferg promised.
Chapter Nineteen
The mountains were cool and trekking them wasn't unpleasant for anyone except maybe Raz. He still wasn't acting right, everyone was worried about him. He began by becoming upset about the rain. The water bothered him. Ferg looked around at the boys and shook his head, "This isn't good."
No one said anything, but they decided since Raz was overexcited about the water they should tie his hands and feet to the travois and keep him from hurting himself. It wasn't something any of them wanted to do to him, but it was a necessity.
Snow Bird glanced at Matt, "He has the rabies…" she mumbled under her breath.
Matt stared at her a long time. Facing that fact was difficult for them all, but Snow Bird was really upset.
But three days into the travel it rained hard, and the land was dangerous in wet weather. Raz got so bad they had to stop often to readjust the ties. He was out of his head and the fever had come back.
Snow Bird did everything to doctor him, but he seemed ill tempered and not himself at all. When she offered him a drink, he refused.
Her stomach roiled, as hot tears rolled down her cheeks. "My people have cures for many things, but this…is beyond any help." She muttered miserably.
He too her in his arms and kissed the top of her head.
"Sometimes, there's nothing that can be done." Ferg assured her. "It's up to God, now."
Matt took the water from her and shook his head. His lightly timbered voice broke as he tried to console her. How could he console her, when his own anguish was so visible?
Ferg looked at Matt and Coon, "I don't think he's going to make it, boys. We must prepare. Maybe we should stay in this place for a bit."
"You gonna tell him?"
Ferg's face screwed up in a tide of emotions. "Maybe later, not yet I'm not sure he'll understand at this point. I've waited too long. Not much we can do but wait it out now."
"Sure, do hate to see this happen," Matt shook his head.
"How do you tell a man he's gonna die, a death that is not befitting any man?" Ferg shook his head.
Matt shook his head, "I don't know…I just don't know. Maybe reading from the bible at this point might help him."
"Coon's got a bible. He can read it to him. Might comfort him some."
Coon came up, hearing them talk. "I'll do it."
Ferg looked at Coon and knew he was right. Coon went to get the bible and came to sit beside the travois. His voice lulled Raz immediately, immeasurably patient, infallibly resonant. Strangely, a calm settled over everyone now as the words penetrated through the silent forest.
A loon echoed from far away.
Coon nodded slowly as he glanced at Ferg and managed a tight smile.
It was three days later, and Raz was totally out of his head. So much so they had to restrain him from breaking free.
Snow Bird turned her head away as tears clouded her vision. "I do not want him to die," she cried.
"I know sweetheart, none of us do. But there's nothing we can do at this point."
"It seems so cruel the way he has to die…"
He was foaming at the mouth now, it wouldn't be long Ferg had told them.
"Yeah, it does." Matt firmed his lips and pushed back a lump in his throat.
Coon sat with Raz that night, waiting for the right moment to speak with him. There were a few moments of clarity before the end, Margaret had told Ferg. He encouraged Coon to tell him the truth now.
