Mein Vögelchen

Twenty Eight

"Here we are."
Matthew had been lying on the floor of that car for three hours and had only now stopped.
How did Matthias deal with driving this long?
"Can I lift my head now?"
"Nobody's tailing us. It should be safe."
Matthew crawled up onto the seat and looked out the side window.
They were parked outside a pristine log cabin. Smoke danced out of the chimney and Matthew could see a small garden in the back.
"There's already people here, so at least you won't be alone."
"People?"
"Ja. Another dude escaping from the same agency as you and this British guy and his son."
"Is he French?" Matthew asked, praying that this person was who he thought it was.
"Ja."
"Is his name Francis?"
"I think so."
Matthew rocketed out of the car before Matthias could say another word. He pounded on the door and was greeted with a familiar face.
"Peter! Is Francis here?"
Peter blinked at him, shaking his head.
"Then where is he?"
"Peter? Who's at zhe door?" Another voice called out. Matthew waited a few seconds until the Frenchman appeared.
"Matthieu?!"
"Francis!" Matthew leapt at Francis, pulling him into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry. I told Peter not to let anybody in."
"It's fine." Matthew knew this would be easier to bear having a friend around. If he had to do all this alone, waiting for Gilbert and fending for himself, he didn't know what kind of mental state he would end up in.
"You were really good wizh zhe medical lessons, non?" Francis let go of him, looking into his eyes with the most serious and sombre expression.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Arzhur is sick." Francis bit his lip.
"How?"
"I don't know. 'E ate somezhing at a restaurant. Zhere are a lot of people trying to kill 'im so I guess e' might 'ave been poisoned."
"Where is he?" Matthew asked.
"In zhe back room. Come on."
Francis took his hand and lead him through the cozy cabin to a heavy wooden door which he opened slowly.
Arthur was covered in blankets and had a cold compress on his head. 
"I gave 'im salt water but 'e doesn't look any better."
"You might have acted too late." Matthew knelt at he bedside, placing his hand on the Brit's wrist. "His pulse is really weak."
"'E can't keep food down eizher."
"I'll keep an eye on him." Matthew promised. "How did you end up here?"
"I worked up zhe nerve to tell Arzhur what I was and zhat 'e was in danger." Francis pet the Brit's hair fondly. "'E was friends wizh Matthias so 'e smuggled us over 'ere."
"Francis!!!!! I'm hungryyyyy!" Peter poked his head into the room.
"Is Matthias still out there?" Matthew asked the boy.
"He drove away. Can I have some sweets?"
"No sweets. But I can make you lunch." Francis gave Arthur's head a parting kiss before standing and making his way to the door.
"Take care of 'im, you two."
"We will." Matthew promised as Peter climbed into his lap.
"I'll be right back. I'm sure you're 'ungry."