Loving Katrina

Twelve

The terrified shouts and painful cries from Suzette kept Katrina frozen with fear. The same chilling sound she'd heard in her premonition. Katrina saw no face in her vision, just raised red welts on someone's dark skin, and of course, the unforgettable screech of their cry.

Men rushed past her, following Felix, as they charged toward the other woman. Manuel stood near his wife with a torch, trying to set fire to something. Between Felix and three other men, they were able to pull Suzette away from the bank of water toward drier land.

I'd been at that section of water. Fear pierced through Katrina again.

Katrina gingerly approached Suzette. Red welts—the same as in Katrina's vision—covered the woman's arms and face. Her nose and lips appeared larger than normal.

As the men lay her on the ground, Manuel rushed to his wife and cautiously began to remove her clothes. Murmurs grew from the other men, and the words fire ants were heard. Katrina sucked in a quick breath, watching as each layer of clothes was removed, and in the process, more red welts were revealed on Suzette's arms and legs.

Katrina's stomach leapt and she placed a hand over her mouth to keep from losing what little food she'd eaten today. That could have been me!

Suzette's sobs were unlike anything Katrina had ever heard, and she felt helpless just standing and watching. She didn't want to get too close, because the men were still finding ants hidden in Suzette's clothes. Once the insects were freed, the men torched the ants to kill them.

Shivering, Katrina rubbed her hands up and down her arms, grateful that hadn't happened to her.

Another man with a medical handbag knelt beside Suzette. Katrina uttered a prayer of relief that Felix had brought a physician with them on the trek. The man's skin was darker than the others, and a few gray strands streaked his black hair, but his body was just as robust as the rest.

"We must leave this area immediately," Felix said to the doctor. "But is she well enough to travel?"

Worried lines creased the man's face as he shook his head. "We should not move her, but I agree, we cannot stay here, either. Have the others quickly make a stretcher to carry her on."

Before Felix could issue orders, his men were already searching the area for branches or anything useful to make the stretcher. The doctor smeared cream on Suzette's welts, making her cry out again.

Katrina stepped beside Felix and touched his shoulder. His head swung around, and he locked gazes with her. His expression was filled with concern, and her stomach twisted tighter.

"What can I do to help?"

He motioned his head toward his crew scurrying around and scavenging the area. "Help them carry the branches. You will be more use to them than to Suzette right now."

"All right, I will." Katrina glanced at Suzette one last time. The pain written on her expression brought tears to Katrina's eyes. Silently, she said another prayer that Suzette would not become any worse and the doctor could heal her quickly.

In less than twenty minutes, a makeshift stretcher was fashioned, and Manuel gently laid his wife upon it. Moaning in pain, tears slid from the corner of Suzette's eyes. Once again, Katrina felt an overwhelming helplessness sweep through her, and she wished she could do more to assist her new friend.

Why hadn't she done anything about the forewarning she'd seen? Katrina should have left Felix's side and gone in search of... Frowning, she shook her head. She hadn't seen enough in her vision to stop it from happening.

As they resumed their hike, the group moved slower than before. The men carrying the stretcher took careful steps, but Suzette still bounced causing her to cry out.