83. THE MATTER?

ADAM.

I was confused. I thought I was dreaming, but it felt and looked too real. I tried to shake Binta up but decided against it, fearing the damage it might cause. I couldn't understand what was happening. She wasn't ill, nor did she exhibit funny behaviour before going to bed. I knew I had to gather myself and act fast, so I called the doctor.

The ambulance arrived in half an hour. By then, I had turned the house upside down. I lined up the kitchen staff to question them. They were all clueless. Binta did not have a special plate, cutlery or cup that was assigned to her and our food was served from the same bowl. It couldn't have been poison, or could it?

"What's the matter with her?" I asked the paramedic, and he just shook his head.

"Right now, we need to get her to the hospital as quickly as possible," one of the paramedics said as they were strapping Binta onto a gurney. It was as if she was already dead. The only thing that gave me hope was her chest, which gently rose and