Page 66 (1/2)

Myin my throat Wait Come back Tell me you won’t vanish theto lose you

"Don’t go far," I call instead, and silently curse my oardice

She doesn’t co the cold, windy e to ht that she probably won’t break an ankle, but I wish I kne to call her back

In the end I unroll the blankets and stretch out on them--I’m too weak, too tired to sit up and wait for her When she returns to lie down beside e of the blanket, as far froet worse overnight I reach insidethe unwilling through all kinds of uncohter tone "Stop that, will you come over here? I’et my ar it doesn’t seem like she’ll reply at all When she finally does, her voice is hoarse and hostile "You’ll survive"

"Probably," I agree "But I’d rather be comfortable"

She keeps her back to me, spine curved as she curls in on herself "Tarver" Now she sounds like she’s the one talking through gritted teeth "I’oing and get rescued, and then this will be over Just leave ht now"

"Lilac--"

She curls up away froh she can block outfor her to roll over and join me I lie on ht, blue-white mirror overhead, and wait for sleep

It’s bitterly cold without her

She wakes up beforedead, which is what I get for trying a forced march so soon after I’ve been laid up

We eat a ration bar each in silence I’ it is her version of looking afterto be civilized about what happened last night It’s not as though we have the luxury of finding so the whispers again--she shakes like a leaf whenever they show up But they’ve declined to let , she doesn’t share it withon her--or targeting her

I shoulder the pack and we set off in silence, but we dowears on It’s not much, but the content of the conversation isn’t the point It’s the gesture thateach other that we’re going to find a way to keep working together

Seventeen days ago I’d have pulled outher out for conversation Now I’ to shut each other out completely