THIRTY-FIVE

Note: (odd & even-numbered chapters’ time spans – merge continue)

This is the last I see of G-4ce. The panel van races down the street, around the square. Away!

I walk slowly back to the guest house. Totally rattled. There are more people on the street now. They just look at me, at my broken face, and torn clothes. Blood. One woman wants to help, "Leave me!" I screamed, yanking my arm out of her hands.

My mother is alone in the guest house room. She looked up from a magazine, and turned pale when she saw me, "Erick!"

"Where's dad?" I ask

"What happened?"

"Dad. Where is he?" Harder.

"He went to look for cigarettes before he drove."

"Row?"

"To Bergville. Doctor Paterson..."

Of course. Suddenly I wonder if my father left all his business interests for my sake or if he came to help Doc.

"I have to go see him," I said and turned back to close the door.

"You can't! Not like that. My child, what is the matter with you?" Panic in my mother's eyes. Only now I think about it: how will mother ta