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"Why me?"

There were lots of reasons; he ith the si"

"And now part of the end," Sara said grimly

"Let’s hope not"

She fell silent, then said, "A woes, we ht have just sent her home, but she and her husband were there when the horn went off Along about three AM she decides to have her baby A baby, in the middle of all this" Sara looked at Peter squarely "Knohat I wanted to tell her?"

He shook his head

"Don’t"

--

The bedroom door was ajar; Peter paused at the threshold The drapes were shut, bathing the rooht Amy was turned on her side--eyes closed, face relaxed, one arm tucked beneath the pillow He was about to retreat when her eyes fluttered open

"Hey" Her voice was very soft

"It’s okay, go back to sleep I just wanted to check on you"

"No, stay" She cast her eyes groggily around the room "What time is it?"

"I’m not sure Early"

"Sara was here"

"I know I saw her leave How are you feeling?"

She frowned pensively "I don’t…know" Then, eyes widening as if the idea surprised her: "Hungry?"

Such an ordinary want; Peter nodded "I’ll see what I can do"

In the kitchen he lit the kerosene stove--he hadn’t used it in months--then went outside to tell the soldiers what he needed While he waited, he washed up; by the ti a ss, a potato, a loaf of dense, dark bread, and mixed-berry jam in a jar sealed ax He set to work, happy to have this ss In a cast-iron pan he fried the potatoes and then the eggs; the bread he cut into thick slices and s since he’d cooked a meal for another person? Probably for Caleb, as a boy Years ago

He arranged Alass of buttermilk, and carried it all to the bedrooain in his absence; instead he found her alert and sitting up She had pulled the drapes aside; evidently the light had ceased to trouble her A s in the doorway like a waiter with his tray