Your Trail of Blood in the Snow

Chapter 14

"What are you doing?" Lucas asked Larry. It had been a few days and he was showing some improvement.

"It's a surprise, so you'll have to be patient," Larry replied, calmly. In his hands he was holding a piece of cloth that he was sewing with dexterity and unusual expertise. He was absorbed in this task.

From a distance Ron and Richie's chatter could be heard, their constant laughter and spontaneous running around.

"Gotcha!" Lucas heard. No doubt, thought the bat, they're playing catch.

Montimer was not to be found, for he had left in the morning to get food and firewood. It was just past noon and the reverberation of the white snow could come in through the skylight. He was still not used to the bustle of Larry's family, their constant laughter and aimless conversations. It all seemed cozy and warm to him.

On the bed where he sat, lying on the back and covered with a fur from the waist down, were three stuffed animals. Very often the children would come and play with him, so Larry made up an extra one for Lucas to join in without difficulty in the misadventures and antics of Ron and Richie who made up all sorts of things, sometimes crazy, sometimes sad and sometimes amazing to make the time go by faster.

Lucas saw again Larry who was sitting on the wooden spool, still absorbed in his work, stretching the thread and needle as far as his arm would allow him. Lucas knew that he was already better, for Larry's minor wounds healed much faster than his own and that gave him a lot of relief.

"Don't you think today is a nice day?" asked Lucas.

Larry paused. He put the cloth in his lap and sighed, replied that yes, it was indeed a nice day, and looked up at the skylight. Outside the tree a gentle wind was blowing feebly.

Ronnie and Richie came bursting into the room, giggling. They were going to play with Lucas.

"Be careful children! Lu is not yet fully recovered."

"Yes, we'll be careful," Ron replied excitedly.

Richie took the three stuffed animals on the bed with his hands. They started to play, moving the stuffed animals as if they were characters saying this one here is going to be a wolf that wants to eat a poor bunny but then Lucas comes, who is this one here, and saves the bunny and the wolf at the end was scared away by the white angel.

Lucas played along and as he did he remembered his father who made up all kinds of games and stories so that he would not get bored during the long and heavy hours of his childhood. When the two kids got bored they went out the same way they came in.

"They have a lot of energy," Lucas said aloud.

"You don't say. Sometimes I get tired and they keep playing."

Larry resumed his work. He looked enthusiastic.

The hours passed slowly. The sun was setting on the horizon when Montimer returned. He brought with him some firewood that would last for two or three days if well managed. He placed the bundle on the ground to embrace Ron and Richie who ran to him with outstretched arms. Larry walked slowly and reaching Montimer, he kissed him.

"You took a little longer than usual," said Larry. Lucas could see them in the distance now the curtain that used to divide the living room from his room was pulled back a little so he wouldn't feel closed in and could see who was coming in and who was going out. Although the truth was that no one was coming in.

Montimer told Larry that getting supplies became more difficult. Places where there used to be enough food for everyone were now empty, or already running low. He pulled out everything in his bag: winter fruits, water that was plentiful, and a few more medicinal herbs that Larry had requested for Lucas.