The Reunion--Chapter 4 Date: 1/12/02 11:56:29 AM Central Standard Time From: Peggy Boone (at house by the sea) For three days, Julia sat at Barnabas' bedside. He slept unmoving. The pan of water had been emptied and refilled twice. She still tried to get the high temperature to go down, but it still remained at 102 degrees. Adam sat in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in front of him. He was worried about both Barnabas and Julia. Barnabas was still as ill as he had been since the morning Adam had gone to the Old House to get Julia. Julia had gone without sleep since she had been there taking care of Barnabas. Adam wondered what Julia would do if Barnabas died. (the Old House) Willie sat wondering how Barnabas was feeling. He had remained at the Old House since he had returned. He was thinking about driving back to Adam's, but decided to wait. It didn't matter that Julia sent him back home. He always felt nervous when he was around Adam. (at Collinwood) Amy wondered if Barnabas had been found and had gone back to the Old House. She was thinking about going to the Old House to see, but she didn't think that Willie was there. She hadn't seen him since he had gone home after the three of them had found the footprints in the cave. She wished she could do something to help. (at the house by the sea) When Adam went back into the bedroom, he found Julia had fallen asleep. Her hand was in Barnabas'. Adam reached down and put his hand against Barnabas' face. The flesh was still hot. He found the pan of water and rag where Julia had left them. He dipped the rag into the water. wrung it out and bathed Barnabas' face. Barnabas opened his eyes. His pajamas were sticking to him. He looked around for Willie, but he didn't see him. Julia was asleep with her hand in his. He lightly squeezed her hand. When she opened her eyes, she saw Barnabas looking at her. "Where's Willie?" "I sent him back to the Old House." "How long have I been here?" "I don't know. A few days maybe." "Was Adam here?" "He's in the kitchen." Julia heard Adam coming back. When he arrived in the bedroom, he had clean bedclothes in his hands. Barnabas was laying in bed with the thermometer in his mouth. When Julia read it, she saw that it was 98.6 degrees. When Barnabas and Adam looked at where Julia was sitting, she was asleep again. "How long has she been here?" "Four or five days. If you want to take a shower, there are clean towels out in the bathroom." Barnabas stumbled into the bathroom and Adam heard the shower running. When Julia woke up, Barnabas was gone. She saw Adam changing the bed. When he turned to face her, she spoke. "Where's Barnabas?" "In the bathroom taking a shower." Several minutes later, they saw him come out of the bathroom. They could tell he was feeling better. Julia was asleep in the chair. Adam picked her up and laid her on the bed. Barnabas found a blanket and spread it over her. As Barnabas and Adam sat and talked, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Adam crept down the stairs and answered it. He found Willie on the porch. "How's Barnabas?" "He's awake. Julia's asleep upstairs." The two of them heard footsteps. When they looked toward the top of the stairs, they saw Barnabas coming down the stairs. Willie hurried over to him. "How do you feel?" "Alot better." "I want to ask you something." "What, Willie?" "After you left the Old House, did you stay in a cave?" "Yes, how did you know?" "David, Amy and I found a set of footprints in the cave." "How did you know which cave?" "Amy said she saw it in a dream she had."
