44. Chapter 35
Chapter 35
D awdi stood in front of the barn, arms upraised to the dark sky. The wind blew his long hair and beard, and icy rain struck his face, his hands. Lightning forked like the lashing tongue of a sky-bound dragon, enormous and intent on destruction.
"Elijah!" Dawdi called, his voice dim over the storm's cackle. "Elijah!" In condemnation. In despair. "Wie konntest du mich verlassen!"
How could you leave me?
Lightning forked again and then, to Elijah's horror, it struck Dawdi. His body arced like a doll on a string, then smoked, then burst into flame.
"Dawdi! Dawdi!"
Elijah woke up still calling out. He panted, his head whipping around his bedroom. All he saw was the familiar gray shapes of the foot of his bed, the window with its glaze of moonlight, the door.
He pushed back the covers and jumped out of bed. The old alarm clock was too dark to see so he fumbled for his phone. It was one in the morning.
I have to get to Dawdi.
He hurriedly dressed, selecting his old Amish clothes from his closet by instinct. But when he reached the hall, he hesitated. He needed a ride. Last time, Jon had driven him home, but he wouldn't bother Jon now. Besides, he couldn't drive with the cast on his foot. He'd have to ask Eddie.
He tapped on their door. He hated to ask for such a favor, but fear overran his reluctance.
Samuel opened the door, eyes bleary. "What's wrong?"
"My grandfather's in trouble. I have to go to him. I'm sorry, but I need a ride. Right away!"
Samuel didn't ask. He just turned to Eddie, who came to the door buttoning his jeans.
"I'll take you," Eddie said.
"I'll go too," said Samuel.
But Eddie put a hand on his arm. "We don't both need to go. Stay here in case there's an emergency or Jon needs you or something. Okay?"
Samuel reluctantly nodded. "Okay. But call me and let me know what's goin' on."
"I will." Eddie kissed Samuel's cheek. "Love you."
"Love you," Samuel said.
Elijah headed for the stairs. He had the feeling there was no time to spare.
It took them thirty minutes to get to Ronks and another five or six before they were on the road where Elijah had grown up. Eddie hadn't said a word, just followed Elijah's directions until Elijah told him to slow down.
"What can I do to help?" Eddie asked. "Want me to go in with you?"
"No. It's comin' up on the right. Just stop at the end of the next driveway."
Eddie stopped the truck. "You shouldn't do this alone, Elijah."
Elijah held up a hand to silence Eddie and peered out the window at the farm. The golden light of oil lamps shone dimly in the downstairs window—that was the kitchen, and in the second-floor window—Dawdi's room. People were up. They'd only be up at this hour if someone was very ill or dying.
His gaze ran over the garden, the yard, the barn. The night was bright with the full moon but not here. It was as if a miasma lay over the place. The snow had melted, and the grass looked black, though it could just be a trick of the light. There was nothing visible in the garden. Even in the winter, there should be something sticking up above the fence line, but there wasn't. The barn felt empty. Haunted.
A door banged somewhere, maybe the one at the side of the barn. But there was no wind.
It felt bad. And wrong. And Elijah knew.
The bad brauchers. They've done something. To Dawdi. To this whole place.
"Elijah, want me to—" Eddie repeated, louder.
"No." Elijah gripped the handle of the door and opened it. He didn't want Eddie infected by this. He'd done nothing to deserve that. "Go home. I got my phone. I'll text you if I need a ride."
"Elijah." Eddie looked perplexed. "You don't even know if they'll let you in. I'll wait here to make sure you're all right."
Elijah paused outside the door and gave Eddie a glare. "They will let me in. I don't want them to see you. Go home, Eddie. I'll call you later." He slammed the door shut.
He didn't miss the hurt look on Eddie's face, and Elijah felt bad for it. But he couldn't risk Eddie getting caught up in this. Besides, it would likely be worse if he came in with a strange English man.
Elijah made his way up the driveway toward the house. He waited near the garden and stared at the truck until Eddie pulled out and slowly drove off. Then Elijah peered over the garden fence. Yes, the entire garden was nothing but black, slimy leaves laid low to the ground. It was as if some disease had come in and killed off every plant.
He felt a prickle of fear. Up to now, his only urge had been to get to Dawdi. But now, standing here, alone, with the sense of foreboding that hung over the place, he was afraid.
How did the bad brauchers have this much power? They hadn't seemed all that impressive when he'd met them. Had they found others to join their circle? Why did they want to hurt Dawdi?
"Psst!"
Elijah looked around but didn't see anyone.
"Psst! Elijah!"
He spotted her. Peeking around the side of the barn was a slim figure in a bonnet. It was his sister, Sarah. He went to her.
Sarah was younger than him by two years, but now, at seventeen, she was a grown woman. Her face was pretty but very narrow. Her big dark eyes seemed to take up her whole face.
"What are you doin' here?" she whispered.
"I'm worried about Dawdi."
"Well, you oughta be." She looked upset. "Dawdi is dyin'. Someone placed a hex on him. His garden died, then his horses and goat. Now he's laid low, and no one can say what's wrong with him. He's not gonna make it." She sounded accusatory, like it was Elijah's fault.
"Did he say who's hexed him?" Elijah asked.
She shook her head. "Not for sure so. But he had an apprentice after you left. Name of Amos. He was Amish and real eager for the braucherei, but I never liked him. Gave me the willies. He disappeared just before this started. Bet you anythin' he has somethin' to do with it." She crossed her arms and hugged herself tight. Her thin knit shawl wouldn't be much warmth in the cold air.
"What are you doin' out here?" he asked.
"I was sittin' up at home and saw the truck pull up. I had to know who it was."
Sarah had always been more curious than the rest of them.
"It's evil, Elijah," Sarah said, shivering. "Bad braucherei for sure."
"It's okay, Sarah. I'm here to help."
"But Dawdi won't want you to! He won't let you."
"Well, that's just too bad." It didn't sound like Dawdi would be in much of a state to complain.
It was good to see Sarah, though they'd never been particularly close. But he had bigger fish to fry. "You shouldn't be here, on Dawdi's property," he told her. "It's not safe here. Go home, Sarah."
He walked to the farmhouse, opened the back door, and went inside.