Doctor Abbott

Untitled Part 30

Lúta and Genevieve walked arm and arm to the boats with Jocelyn trying to navigate the rocks on her wobbly feet in front of them. Mâvis passed the two of them with an arm full of animal skins, and plucked the little girl off the rocks. He hoisted her high above his head in one hand. Waiting for her to squeal with delight before snatching her back down and to his lips for a kiss and then a ride on his shoulder.

Ben trailed behind them with another pile of skins for the women and a basket of food. As they settled into the boat Ben took his seat to row and Mâvis shoved him off. "You will mind my daughter in case she takes ill again."

He huddled up between the women and pulled Jocelyn onto his lap. After a couple hours of playing with her she snuggled up and dozed off. Ben covered her and pulled Lúta closer to lie on his shoulder.

Several hours later he woke to Mâvis slapping his cheek, "Come, it is a long hike to the village. You will go ahead with the women, I have more to do here. King William should be there already."

They had arrived on the beach in the morning and it was practically nightfall by the time they made it to the village. There was a feast waiting for them and plenty of ale. Lúta and Genie made right for Olivia as she sat at the table. King William entered the hall a short time later with an adolescent boy in hand. The kid was petrified and Ben's heart broke for him.

He had to be about seven or eight years old with dark brown, wavy hair. He had some freckles on his face and for his age he was a bit tall and very skinny. Ben walked over to the Boy and knelt down smiling warmly, "Hello there. I am Doctor Abbott. What's your name?" Ben's eyes were bright and encouraging.

The boy immediately wrapped his arms around him for a hug as he burst into tears and spoke in French, "My parents are both dead and I am stuck with these monsters. Can you take me home?"

Ben nearly choked on his own breath. The child doesn't speak english. He must be so scared, not to even know what these beasts are saying. Ben answered in the boy's language, "Well, these people want to help you too, that's why they brought me here. What happened to your parents?"

King William interrupted, "I cannot for the life of me figure out what he is saying. "

Ben stood after a brief hesitation, "He is speaking French. He doesn't understand English. I just happen to speak a few langauges, as my work has brought me all over the world. I don't suspect he will have a hard time learning yours but being that he is fresh from an accident and our people look so different from yours, he is petrified."

King William grunted, "The cub has spent most of his time with my wife, he is terrified of me. I am surprised I was able to even bring him out here."

"Well, I will need a room to examine him in." Ben turned to the boy and directed him back down the hall King William had brought him from. He muttered a few words in French and the boy immediately perked up and followed.

The examination was quick and Ben did as much as he could to try and figure out how the boy and his mother ended up on the shore. Then he tried translating for the king and the boy. It lead to instant tears when the child realized there was no way out of this world. He explained that King William and Queen Olivia wish to care for him as their own. The child immediately panicked and Ben found himself having to pry the boy off just to make it out into the hall to contiue his discussion with King William.

"I have done all I can, sir. It is just a matter of him warming up to you and learning your laungage at this point. He is in good standing health as far as I can tell. What happened to his mother if I may ask?"

"She was badly injured and starving. I am sure that she gave up her food for the cub. Did he say where he came from?"

"He says he was on a family yacht and they were hit with a storm. He said they may have been adrift for nearly a month. Absolutely heart breaking." Ben replied.