Miracle Boy

Chapter Twenty-four: Refugees

    Link spread the thick blankets over the floor and fluffed out the spare pillows nearby. He had to get the blanket off of his bed to have enough, as Mallory was expecting a lot of people.

     "I think you can go and assist your lovely sister in the kitchen, Link," Mallory directed. "Maybe take over for her for a minute and tell her to start fetching as much water as possible."

     Link nodded and replied, "y-yes ma'am." He wheeled into the kitchen, where Malon was pounding a thick dough into a loaf of bread.

     "M-M-Mam says to f-fetch as m-m-m-much w-water as yyyyyou c-c-can. I'll take over f-f-for you in hhhere un-t-t-til you g-g-get back," Link informed her. Malon nodded quickly and snatched a jar from the corner.

     "Keep kneading it until it's mixed, then put it in the oven. Careful not to burn your fingers when you take out the first loaf, okay? And for the goat's sake, wash your hands!" Malon ordered, heading out the door.

     "Yes, m-mother," Link teased.

     "Goofball," she sniffed, and left with her pottery. 

     Link pulled out a shorter extension from the countertop and moved the dough from the higher counter to the lower one. Beetle had made it when Link began to help out in the kitchen, so he could reach the countertop easier. He beat the dough until he was satisfied and wheeled over to the oven, where the first loaf sat baking in the hot coals. He gingerly removed the baked bread and replaced it with the unbaked dough, setting the finished loaf on the counter. Malon returned and handed one jar off to Link, who set it by the door. Malon stirred her soup silently, her lips pressed into a thin line.

     "Did you stir this while I was gone?" she asked him.

     "N-n-no, but I took out one l-l-loaf of brrread," he replied.

     "Good," she answered tersely.

     Link frowned, realizing that Malon was even more worried than he was. "They'll b-b-be alright Malon. They'll b-b-be back before yyyyyyou k-k-k-know it," he comforted her. She smiled and some of the color returned to her suntanned cheeks.

     "I know you're right, Link. I just can't help but wonder what's going on down there and worry that someone will get hurt," she admitted.

     "It's j-j-j-just a b-bunch of s-s-s-s-stupid goblins. They're n-n-n-not known f-for their intelligence," Link pointed out.

     "Yes, but they are known for their massive numbers and trained boar-riders. Goblins are dangerous, Link. People are always killed in goblin raids." Tears sprung up in her eyes. It was moments like this that Link wished he could walk most of all. He wheeled up beside her and squeezed her hand.

     "Not p-p-p-papa. N-n-n-not Beetle or Tim. Not Pumm o-o-o-or Pipit or N-N-N-Navi. They'll c-c-c-come h-home s-s-safe and sssssound." He smiled at her. "They'll w-w-w-want to stay a-a-a-alive s-s-so they c-c-c-can c-c-c-come back for yyyyyour delicious s-soup. It s-smells divine."

     Malon made a face at him and turned back to her soup, but Link could tell that she felt better. He smiled and reported back to Mallory for another task. He helped roll bandages and repair a couple of older blankets. The night wore on and on, but there was still no sign of the other's return.

Finally, at dawn, a blue light whizzed through an open window.

     "Navi!" Link cried in relief.

     "We've got some wounded ones with us! Make as much room as possible!" Navi directed, then zipped back outside.

     "Link, go fetch Malon. I'm going to help them outside." She touched his shoulder. "There could be a lot of seriously hurt people. Are you up to it?"