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They walked back toward the house As they approached, Pim appeared in the doorway Her eyes were very wide

Soned

--

The roo; the rest was covered by boiled clothes

"Mrs Tatum," Kate said, "can you hear , the woe had occurred Re The harsh appearance of the burns on her face had softened Their color was now pinkish, almost dewy; in other patches, her skin hite as talc Dory shifted slightly in her bed, exposing her left hand and forearruesonizable huone, charred bits flaked off to reveal skin of rosy newness beneath

Kate looked up at Pi has she been awake?

She wasn’t That just happened

"Mrs Tatuly, "I’m a doctor You’ve been in a fire You’re at the Jaxons’ farm; Caleb and Piaze, wandering the room in a desultory fashion, located Kate’s face

"Fire?" she ht, there was a fire at your house"

"Ask her if she knohat started it," Caleb said

"Fire," Dory repeated "Fire"

"Yes, what do you remember about the fire?"

Piently lifted Dory’s exposed hand, placed the tip of her index finger in the woan to forht in her eyes faded She closed the to examine her," Kate said Then, to Pim: Stay and help

Caleb waited in the kitchen The children, mercifully, were still asleep A few estured to the back door Let’s talk outside

The light had shifted toward evening "What’s happening to her?" Caleb asked, signing si better, that’s what"

"How is that possible?"

"If I knew, I’d bottle it The burns are still bad--she’s not out of the woods yet But I’ve never seen anybody heal so fast I thought the shock alone would kill her"

"What about her waking up like that?"

"It’s a good sign, her recognizing Pih She may never"