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There was no marker here to commemorate the baby, nor markers to commemorate the others buried in this section of the camp

“We’d best get back,” Elsa said at last, buttoning up her ill-fitting wool coat “You’re shivering”

“I’ll be along,” Jean said

Elsa squeezed her friend’s hand With a sigh that felt drawn from deep in her tired bones, she carried the shovel back to camp and threw it in the back of the truck, where it landed with a clang

Thoughts of Loreda pushed their way in Elsa should have corave site What kind ofthirteen-year-old? Loreda had seen too much loss Elsa knew that There must be words Elsa could find that would help

Elsa just had nothing left right now She felt e she could do was face her daughter’s fury

Better to let a little tiht, at least Tomorrow the sun would shine and Elsa would take Loreda aside and offer what comfort she could

Coward

“No,” Elsa said out loud to reinforce the decision She would not look away from this She would hit it head-on, try to comfort Loreda as best as she could

She lifted the tent flap and went inside

The quilts were tangled, but it was clear that Ant was in bed alone

Loreda wasn’t in the tent

Elsa went to the truck, banged on the side of the bed “Loreda? Are you in there?”

She exaht with theht they’d need: candlesticks, porcelain dishes, Ant’s baseball bat and ain, her voice spiking in worry when she saw that the cab was empty, too

Elsa stepped back