Darkness

Gregor

Stephen has come prepared with detailed notes, listing his observations regarding Marcus’ symptoms, as well as the dosage of mineral water he has been given over the course of the last few weeks. It seems clear that the boy is improving, but of course they have no idea of the primary cause of this.

I can’t tell them that Ayola is trying her hardest to heal him. She is a remarkably gifted healer. It has taken me centuries to come around to a vague understanding of my abilities, but she already displays a natural inclination to exercise hers at every opportunity. She certainly has had plenty of chances, but when I reflect I realize that with her mother, and Zadoc, and even me, she was guided by others into using her touch to heal.

Her enterprise with Marcus is entirely of her own volition, though. She takes every conceivable opportunity to touch him, and it is having an effect. She has even gotten me to touch him once or twice. Her method is simple, just to make physical contact. I have been refining mine, trying to concentrate and focus more effectively, and even using my Guardian to assist and direct the healing energy. It is very interesting to watch Ayola develop. I suspect that before long she will be quite as effective a healer as my other Seer friend Yosh had been, long, long ago.

I am pleased, though, that Stephen is invested in helping guide his slave to better health. The mineral water is actually a good idea, and even without Ayola’s efforts might be able to provide some relief to the pain and weakness caused by the blood disorder that Marcus was born with.

“Well, Stephen,” Samuel is saying, “this is very encouraging. The mineral water seems to be beneficial. What about the improved diet, have you been keeping track of that as well?”

“Not specifically,” Stephen says, “I am letting Moses and Margaret coordinate the provision of garden produce to all the slaves, not just Marcus. It would be too involved to monitor his diet as well as the intake of mineral water. However, his symptoms have definitely improved.”

He suddenly chuckles and shakes his head, and Samuel asks, “What?”

“I’m not the only one tracking his progress, it seems,” Stephen says. “On the way here in the carriage, the little slave, Ayola, was opining about her views on the matter.”

Samuel’s eyebrows lift and he smirks. “Is that so?”

“She seems quite opinionated on the topic,” Stephen replies. “I have to admit, though, she also seems strangely knowledgeable. She made observations I had not known of. I knew the sore on his leg had healed, but I was not aware that he was now able to lift her, whereas apparently before he did not have the strength.” He pauses, then says, “She even told me she thought that the problem is that his blood is ‘wrong’.”

“Huh,” Samuel says. “Well, she’s right, isn’t she?”

Before they start speculating about how strange this is, I break in. “I have always been perfectly aware of how brilliant Ayola is,” I say with a smile. “Just because the two of you might not have noticed, doesn’t mean others haven’t.”

Stephen smiles and shakes his head. “Listen, ‘Woosh’, we all know how fond you two are of each other. I guess I just didn’t realize the extent of her awareness.” He starts gathering his notes. “Margaret said the same thing, though. Apparently I’m the last to realize that we have a little budding genius under our roof. It will work out well for us, actually. Margaret intends to have Ayola assist the nursemaid in caring for our baby when it is born.”

I knew that, and I can’t disagree that Ayola will perform her task very well, but it still makes me unhappy to hear the casual manner in which my friend intends to assign her duties as his slave. I believe he is making progress in seeing his slaves as true human beings, and that Moses is helping in this effort, but he has a long way to go.

Once Stephen has his notes tucked away in the small valise he brought them in, he stands. Samuel asks, “Are you heading home right away?”

“No,” Stephen says, “Moses needs to buy some supplies, and that will probably take a while. Also, Margaret was hoping to have a visit at Uncle Samuel’s house. Want to come to the bank with me, so we can invite ourselves to dinner?”

Samuel grins. “Of course. Although poor Uncle Samuel will be bereft of any gossip from the club if he dines at home tonight.”

“Well, good,” Stephen replies. “He should pay more attention to poor Aunt Ann. Let’s shame him into staying home tonight.” He looks over at me. “Want to come to the bank, Gregor? Uncle Samuel is always very pleased to see you.”

“No thanks,” I say. Samuel Postlethwaite is one of the people who has seemed unable to interact with me normally for the last week, and I don’t want to make him uncomfortable. “I’ll head home and see how the ladies are doing. If Moses has errands to run, how about I send Ben with him?”

Stephen nods. “I’d appreciate that. After what happened last time,” he pauses and looks at me significantly, but I ignore this, “I want to make sure things go smoothly.” I heartily agree, I think to myself. Wolk gives me a little smirk. Nobody could want a different outcome more than I.

We walk up the street to the bank, where they enter to visit with their uncle. No doubt my absence will provide them with plenty of opportunity to gossip about me. At least the interaction with the Duncan brothers seemed to be fairly normal. Maybe people are beginning to forget about the whole ugly incident. Maybe they’ll start feeling more comfortable with me again.

I look over at Wolk to see what he thinks. He remains resolutely silent.

Ben

I hope that Sam is enjoying his conversation with his brother. I’m glad he’ll have the chance to talk about the mineral water in detail. I know how much he loves me, but I am uneducated and sometimes I worry that my level of conversation might be too simplistic for him. Speaking with another doctor I am sure is a nice change of pace.

I’m taking this opportunity to ask Moses a few questions I’ve had about the garden. The stakes with the names identifying the plants have been so helpful, but I still have a lot to learn. He helps me pick some of the vegetables Nadine asked for, and gives me some tips about how to tell which are ready, and which still need a little more time before they are picked. When we get back into the kitchen, Nadine checks over our offerings and nods with satisfaction.

Moses seems both incredibly happy, due to how well things are working out with Dalila, and deeply sad, over how guilty he feels about what happened to Gregor. I have tried to assure him that Gregor recovered very quickly from the whipping, and has said that he just wishes everyone would forget about it. But it doesn’t look like Moses will be able to.

I’m glad when the back door to the kitchen opens and Gregor comes in. Hopefully he’ll be able to talk some sense into Moses.

“Hey folks,” he says casually, looking around at all of us gathered here in the kitchen. Ayola leaps up from where she is sitting on Dalila’s lap, trying to help her mother sort through the beans we picked for Nadine. In half a second she has jumped up into Gregor’s arms, and their faces both flash with a subtle joy as soon as they are together again. Their love for each other is baffling but adorable.

“How’re things going around here?” he asks.

“Rosy and Margaret are in the parlor. Sarah is upstairs with the baby. Jake’s off playing with Jack,” Nadine reports, “and I’m starting supper. How many guests should we expect?”

“Just the usual crowd,” he says. “Stephen and Samuel are planning to have dinner at their uncle’s house.”

Ah. Sam almost always eats with his Uncle Samuel, but normally it is at the gentlemen’s club. I can’t really go in there, so I usually stay here and eat dinner with Gregor’s family, then meet Sam in our rooms later.

Moses says, “I’m about to go into town to get the supplies I need for Homochitto.” He has been delaying leaving, spending time here in the homey kitchen with the rest of us, seeming almost reluctant to go.

Gregor looks at him with sympathy, and it suddenly occurs to me. Of course Moses is reluctant to go shopping, considering what happened last time. I’m surprised he’s willing to do it at all.

“Er,” I say, and they look over at me. “Um, how about I go with you, Moses? Help out with any heavy lifting you might need?”

Gregor’s lips twitch in a smile, and I get the sudden impression that he was about to suggest that exact thing. “That sounds like a good idea,” he says. “Moses, will you be able to fit whatever you are getting on the carriage you came in? Or do you need a wagon?”

Moses hesitates before answering the question. He looks down at his hands, then back up at Gregor. “Gregor, I didn’t get the chance to apologize to you after….” Gregor starts waving his hands as though that is entirely unnecessary, but when Ayola looks up into his face, he lets Moses go on. Moses continues, “It was my fault you were hurt, I should have just gone with them, it would have been over a lot sooner. I am so, so sorry for everything.” He clenches his lips, his face full of emotion, obviously unable to continue speaking. I know exactly how that feels.

Gregor moves over to him, Ayola still clasped in one arm, and puts his other hand on Moses’ shoulder. He stands there silently for a moment, then says, “My friend, it wasn’t your fault at all. I was completely sincere when I told them that I was to blame. I didn’t think our little reading groups would end in such a way, but I haven’t forgotten that you were reluctant to participate at the beginning, for this exact reason. You were more clear-eyed than I was. And as you see, I’m perfectly fine now. Please don’t trouble yourself about it any further.” Moses seems to feel a sense of calm, and he relaxes, and nods.

“So about that wagon?” Gregor asks, clearly wanting to change the subject.

“Yes, I’ll need a wagon, I am planning to rent one from the stables.”

“Why don’t you just rent a horse, you can use one of the crew wagons from Under-the-Hill. You and Ben can fetch it before you go do the shopping.” He clenches his teeth for a moment, then says, “And if there are any lists that need reading, I guess it would be best to let Ben do it.”

I know that Gregor wishes that we could all just forget about everything that happened, but how can we, when we keep being reminded like this?