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Chapter 19

I cannot begin to describe how wonderful it was to have a fire. I don’t think I realized how cold and stiff I was until I started to really warm up and loosen up.

We took the mattress off the cot and put it in front of the fireplace. Pendergast brought in another bucket of snow and we lay on our stomachs facing the fire, eating snow and basking in the warmth. He’d brought some of the wood he’d collected inside and now he put it closer to the fire, so it could be drying out and we could keep the fire going. Before long the cabin had warmed up nicely and I had to pee for the first time since our little adventure started. I must’ve been dehydrated.

Our clothes were finally dry, but I hated to get dressed just to go pee. How best to go about it? The longjohns had no trap doors, so I pulled them down to my waist and then put on my blouse, jeans, and boots. He insisted I wear his suit jacket, which seemed very heavy, probably from all the pockets and paraphernalia. So much trouble to go to just to pee! I resolved to slow down on eating the snow. I opened the door and Pendergast was right behind me, wearing his suit pants and holding the blanket around his shoulders.

I stopped and closed the door, looking at him. “Wait a minute, where are you going?”

“I’m going with you. You have no business out there alone.”

“But I’m going to pee.”

“Maybe I have to pee, as you so colloquially put it, also. We might as well go together. It is very dark and very cold out there, doctor. I suggest you stay on the porch.”

How romantic.

I opened the door and the wind hit me and I decided the porch was a good idea. I went left. Pendergast went right. The porch was not enclosed but only roofed, and snow had blown in almost everywhere. I squatted and glanced his way. He was not peeing, but keeping an eye on the woods. I glanced into the darkness and put it in high gear, relieved to finish and hurry back inside.

We both stripped back down to the longjohns, hanging our clothes back on wall nails to dry again. Wet snow had been blowing onto the porch and, let’s face it, the longjohns were just way more comfortable.

Pendergast put more wood on the fire and settled back in front of it. I started to sit down beside him and a dizzy spell hit me. If he hadn’t caught me, I would’ve fallen on my ass. He guided me to the floor and looked at me closely. “You need nourishment, Cat, but I’m afraid it will be hard to come by until morning, and maybe not then if this snow keeps up. Unfortunately, I believe it’s dangerous for you to wait that long.”

“Looks like I have no choice. I’ll be okay.”

“You do have a choice, but before I tell you what it is, I want you to consider this. The time may come soon for us to leave here. We need to do so as soon as possible. We may have to do so under attack. If you are too weak to walk, I’ll have to carry you, and we have no idea how far it is to civilization.”

I nodded, not knowing what to say. I felt bad enough that he’d had to carry me so far already.

“There’s a chance,” he went on, “that morning may find the snow gone, the sun out, and plenty of food to be had. But that is far from certain. Even if we do eat tomorrow, it would behoove you to get something in your stomach tonight and start rebuilding your strength as soon as possible.”

“Okay,” I said. “But I warn you, if you’re thinking of digging up worms or something, I know there’s no way I can get ’em down.”

“No, no worms. A far more natural and nutritious medium, something you have every day already if you eat animal products. A medium that the people of some cultures imbibe on a daily basis and credit for their well-being.”

I looked at him blankly.

“Blood, Cat. I’m talking about blood.”

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