Silence
Anonymous Me
With the winter now here Anna noticed that Kato was gone more. There must have been a lot of sickness in the different sectors if Kato had to be gone soo much. The boys had started to complain to her about the game and Anna finally gave up and just told them to stay in the house. If they were complaining to her then it wasn't going to be a good thing down the road. A few more soldiers had come to the border and she needed to be outside to ensure that the path was clear. "I'm going out to check ruins again. You two stay in here."
Anna set foot outside the door and she walked along the edge where they would be appearing today before she went to the house and sent her message. "All clear to make the drop." They had to be getting ready to make the move soon. When she finished Anna picked around in the house for a long while. Everything felt long in the cold though and she stamped her feet while rubbing her hands. Even with the gloves that Kato had gotten for her she was feeling the cold. Finally it had been long enough and she started out along the streets to head home. Part way there she slipped on the street and her heels went up in the air and she hit her head on the cement. Everything spun for a few moments and she tried to sit up only to fall back again.
A gradual pool of blood began to form around her head and she tried to stay awake. Instead her short blonde hair stuck to the broken ground and froze. At least in the cold her head didn't bleed quite so much as it would have if she had been out in the sun. Darkness began to fall and Anna didn't wake till she felt a rough pair of hands pull at her. "Ugh...Help me to my house."
Most of her felt numb and instead of taking her home she found herself in a miserable hospital ward with doctors all over the place. Most of them were treating other patients and Anna groaned slightly. "I need Doctor Jones. You know that good looking guy." None of them seemed to know or care what she was talking about and Anna tried to push herself up into a sitting position. "Let me go home." One of the nurses kindly came up to her and said that they were going to have to keep her in the bed overnight because she had a concussion. "Well he's supposed to come home tonight and I don't need to be here." Obviously they didn't know that Kato was her husband and perhaps he hadn't told them that he was for good reason. Finally she settled back into the bed and sighed. "Alright, but I'm leaving as soon as you let me in the morning."
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With the passing months it grew colder and Killian's cough got worse. Star was working at least 1 day every week for him so he could try and get some rest. He didn't want her to get the same cough. It wasn't good for anyone and while he held it off longer he wasn't so sure how long she would be able to keep it away. She had some Chippeqouti blood and that helped. Still there was a concern of what the children would do if both of them got sick. It was Killian's morning to work again and he got up for the beginning of his week. Slipping the coat on he started out the door.
Inside the mine he stripped his coat off and dropped it into his box before heading for his work station. The one Gillick always watched him as if it was waiting for him to drop and he hated it. Swinging the pick ax and chipping the rock deep in the mine he watched the minerals crumble from the wall and hit the ground. Finally after he had a good bit he leaned over to pick them up. Killian had started to cough consistently for most of the day and he slowed down quite a bit because of it. Many of the other men were far sicker and he still managed to keep better production than the others. As he pushed his cart to the front of the mine the Gillick came up behind him and hissed in his ear. "Your tamer is at producing than you are these days. She's much smoother and her hips...Mmm."
Eyes snapping to where the Gillick was Killian loosed his hold on the cart and gave the creature a good sharp hit. "She's my wife, not some toy for you to stare at." Almost immediately he felt the sting of the electric prods and then the heavy blows of several clubs. They acted as if they had to subdue him and Killian curled against the beating. It was mostly minor, but he didn't bother to try killing the Gillick. Killing one of them would only make it worse. Hopefully it was enough that this thing would leave his wife and himself alone. Heading home he coughed almost the entire way and he felt sick. Killian practically drug himself through the door and he heard the excited cheers of the kids. They wanted to play like usual so he set out the stones and helped them arrange them to play checkers. "Claire you move that guy." He didn't tell her the move she should make, but he would tell the kids which one to move so it made all things fair.
While the kids were busy playing he ate what Star served onto a plate and then went to their bed. Lately the cough had gotten bad enough that he could barely get through the night without waking from a coughing fit. Over the course of the week it got worse and then he had his two days off. Still he coughed most of the night. Star wanted to take his first shift and Killian shook his head. "I'll be fine in the morning. Just need a little more sleep."
During the night he tossed and turned as he coughed and at one point he started to wheeze between coughs in his attempt to get air. Pulling himself out of the bed he shook his head at Star. "You can't go back into the mines. One of the Gillicks...." Coughing into his arm he shook his head a little and started for the door. All the way to the mines he coughed until he had to stop part way and he stood still for a moment while he tried to catch his breath.
*****
A dirty faced woman came to the door and she knocked while waiting for Star to answer. She glanced about the place. This home was nice compared to some. Not quite fancy, but she could feel it was warm. That amounted for much more than many thought.
"How do I know you have medicine that'll work?" Star questioned.
The woman shrugged. "It is the only medicine the Gillicks give for the cough. My husband died and many others have. I've traded what I had left of food for all the other medicine from the other women. Your husband is different. He's a Chippeqouti and wouldn't you be willing to try it? Obviously whatever you're doing isn't enough. Won't be long before he starts to cough blood. Mine choked on his own blood in the end and perhaps that was as peaceful as it could get."
"I'm so sorry." Star frowned at her sympathetically. There was barely enough food for her, Killian and the children...but if it meant saving his life. Star took a step back so she could enter and extended a hand. "I'm Star."
"My name is Mary." The woman took Star's hand and shook it. Handing Star one of the bottle she nodded to her. "You give him two drops under the tongue in the morning and at night. Maybe 3 since he's bigger. Just start with this bottle and see how it works for him." She didn't want to give it all up just now. Mary wanted to ensure that this woman would hold her end of the deal up.
Star took the bottle in her scarred hands, closing the door behind Mary. She didn't have much hope that it would work, but anything was better than nothing. Three little faces huddled around a black labrador and a fire pit stared up at Mary. "Mary, this is my family. Zach, Claire and Mikey. My husband is Killian. We don't have much food or space, but we'll do what we can for you. Kids, this is Mary. She'll be staying with us for a while, so...be nice."
The woman glanced around at the children and she smiled. "Shouldn't be long before he comes home then." She didn't much care for children, but this arrangement would be helpful if it kept her alive and so she would bear with whatever life threw her way.
Killian came home about an hour later and the coughing heralded his arrival. At least Star had managed to help the children understand he needed a few minutes of rest before he played any kind of game with them. Tonight he wasn't even sure he could accomplish that much. "I uh..." Coughing more he looked up and saw the strange woman. "Wha... Star what is she doing here?"
"Killian, this is Mary. She has medicine that may help you. She's given it to us in exchange for staying with us for a while." Star put a gentle hand on his shoulder and showed him the bottle.
Seemed that whatever the deal was it had already been made. "You might have talked to me about it." Grumbling he limped his way over to a place near the fire and hacked and coughed a little more while he tried to warm up. Not that he would have done any different. He was starting to get sick enough that he would gladly exchange a few morsels of food if he could just get to the point that he could breath easily again.
Star already had hot compresses for his chest ready and she handed him the drops. "Put 3 or 4 drops under your tongue 3 times a day." She pulled out the damp hot cloth she'd heated over the fire and put it on his chest as he lay down to rest. "No playing with daddy tonight kids." She ushered them to the other end of the room and began serving up dinner. It was painful watching Killian slowly waste away. She hoped the drops would help him recover. It was their last hope. She passed a plate to Mary. "Sorry about your husband. Do you have any other family?"
Laying down on the floor Killian let Star put the cloth on his chest. Sometimes it made the cough a little better. While he laid on the floor he opened the bottle and took a few drops. Mary watched the Chip take it. Somehow she had always thought that they were horrible and rumor had it this one was the beast. He hardly seemed to be that kind of man. In fact he was quite mild in many ways. It may have been part of the fact that he was sick too. Looking to Star she shrugged. "None that survived the bombing. We were it. My sister and her family were blown to bits I imagine or maybe they were put in different compound housing. Never saw your family or yourself till I started to look around for someone to take the medicine."
Anna set foot outside the door and she walked along the edge where they would be appearing today before she went to the house and sent her message. "All clear to make the drop." They had to be getting ready to make the move soon. When she finished Anna picked around in the house for a long while. Everything felt long in the cold though and she stamped her feet while rubbing her hands. Even with the gloves that Kato had gotten for her she was feeling the cold. Finally it had been long enough and she started out along the streets to head home. Part way there she slipped on the street and her heels went up in the air and she hit her head on the cement. Everything spun for a few moments and she tried to sit up only to fall back again.
A gradual pool of blood began to form around her head and she tried to stay awake. Instead her short blonde hair stuck to the broken ground and froze. At least in the cold her head didn't bleed quite so much as it would have if she had been out in the sun. Darkness began to fall and Anna didn't wake till she felt a rough pair of hands pull at her. "Ugh...Help me to my house."
Most of her felt numb and instead of taking her home she found herself in a miserable hospital ward with doctors all over the place. Most of them were treating other patients and Anna groaned slightly. "I need Doctor Jones. You know that good looking guy." None of them seemed to know or care what she was talking about and Anna tried to push herself up into a sitting position. "Let me go home." One of the nurses kindly came up to her and said that they were going to have to keep her in the bed overnight because she had a concussion. "Well he's supposed to come home tonight and I don't need to be here." Obviously they didn't know that Kato was her husband and perhaps he hadn't told them that he was for good reason. Finally she settled back into the bed and sighed. "Alright, but I'm leaving as soon as you let me in the morning."
**********************************************************************
With the passing months it grew colder and Killian's cough got worse. Star was working at least 1 day every week for him so he could try and get some rest. He didn't want her to get the same cough. It wasn't good for anyone and while he held it off longer he wasn't so sure how long she would be able to keep it away. She had some Chippeqouti blood and that helped. Still there was a concern of what the children would do if both of them got sick. It was Killian's morning to work again and he got up for the beginning of his week. Slipping the coat on he started out the door.
Inside the mine he stripped his coat off and dropped it into his box before heading for his work station. The one Gillick always watched him as if it was waiting for him to drop and he hated it. Swinging the pick ax and chipping the rock deep in the mine he watched the minerals crumble from the wall and hit the ground. Finally after he had a good bit he leaned over to pick them up. Killian had started to cough consistently for most of the day and he slowed down quite a bit because of it. Many of the other men were far sicker and he still managed to keep better production than the others. As he pushed his cart to the front of the mine the Gillick came up behind him and hissed in his ear. "Your tamer is at producing than you are these days. She's much smoother and her hips...Mmm."
Eyes snapping to where the Gillick was Killian loosed his hold on the cart and gave the creature a good sharp hit. "She's my wife, not some toy for you to stare at." Almost immediately he felt the sting of the electric prods and then the heavy blows of several clubs. They acted as if they had to subdue him and Killian curled against the beating. It was mostly minor, but he didn't bother to try killing the Gillick. Killing one of them would only make it worse. Hopefully it was enough that this thing would leave his wife and himself alone. Heading home he coughed almost the entire way and he felt sick. Killian practically drug himself through the door and he heard the excited cheers of the kids. They wanted to play like usual so he set out the stones and helped them arrange them to play checkers. "Claire you move that guy." He didn't tell her the move she should make, but he would tell the kids which one to move so it made all things fair.
While the kids were busy playing he ate what Star served onto a plate and then went to their bed. Lately the cough had gotten bad enough that he could barely get through the night without waking from a coughing fit. Over the course of the week it got worse and then he had his two days off. Still he coughed most of the night. Star wanted to take his first shift and Killian shook his head. "I'll be fine in the morning. Just need a little more sleep."
During the night he tossed and turned as he coughed and at one point he started to wheeze between coughs in his attempt to get air. Pulling himself out of the bed he shook his head at Star. "You can't go back into the mines. One of the Gillicks...." Coughing into his arm he shook his head a little and started for the door. All the way to the mines he coughed until he had to stop part way and he stood still for a moment while he tried to catch his breath.
*****
A dirty faced woman came to the door and she knocked while waiting for Star to answer. She glanced about the place. This home was nice compared to some. Not quite fancy, but she could feel it was warm. That amounted for much more than many thought.
"How do I know you have medicine that'll work?" Star questioned.
The woman shrugged. "It is the only medicine the Gillicks give for the cough. My husband died and many others have. I've traded what I had left of food for all the other medicine from the other women. Your husband is different. He's a Chippeqouti and wouldn't you be willing to try it? Obviously whatever you're doing isn't enough. Won't be long before he starts to cough blood. Mine choked on his own blood in the end and perhaps that was as peaceful as it could get."
"I'm so sorry." Star frowned at her sympathetically. There was barely enough food for her, Killian and the children...but if it meant saving his life. Star took a step back so she could enter and extended a hand. "I'm Star."
"My name is Mary." The woman took Star's hand and shook it. Handing Star one of the bottle she nodded to her. "You give him two drops under the tongue in the morning and at night. Maybe 3 since he's bigger. Just start with this bottle and see how it works for him." She didn't want to give it all up just now. Mary wanted to ensure that this woman would hold her end of the deal up.
Star took the bottle in her scarred hands, closing the door behind Mary. She didn't have much hope that it would work, but anything was better than nothing. Three little faces huddled around a black labrador and a fire pit stared up at Mary. "Mary, this is my family. Zach, Claire and Mikey. My husband is Killian. We don't have much food or space, but we'll do what we can for you. Kids, this is Mary. She'll be staying with us for a while, so...be nice."
The woman glanced around at the children and she smiled. "Shouldn't be long before he comes home then." She didn't much care for children, but this arrangement would be helpful if it kept her alive and so she would bear with whatever life threw her way.
Killian came home about an hour later and the coughing heralded his arrival. At least Star had managed to help the children understand he needed a few minutes of rest before he played any kind of game with them. Tonight he wasn't even sure he could accomplish that much. "I uh..." Coughing more he looked up and saw the strange woman. "Wha... Star what is she doing here?"
"Killian, this is Mary. She has medicine that may help you. She's given it to us in exchange for staying with us for a while." Star put a gentle hand on his shoulder and showed him the bottle.
Seemed that whatever the deal was it had already been made. "You might have talked to me about it." Grumbling he limped his way over to a place near the fire and hacked and coughed a little more while he tried to warm up. Not that he would have done any different. He was starting to get sick enough that he would gladly exchange a few morsels of food if he could just get to the point that he could breath easily again.
Star already had hot compresses for his chest ready and she handed him the drops. "Put 3 or 4 drops under your tongue 3 times a day." She pulled out the damp hot cloth she'd heated over the fire and put it on his chest as he lay down to rest. "No playing with daddy tonight kids." She ushered them to the other end of the room and began serving up dinner. It was painful watching Killian slowly waste away. She hoped the drops would help him recover. It was their last hope. She passed a plate to Mary. "Sorry about your husband. Do you have any other family?"
Laying down on the floor Killian let Star put the cloth on his chest. Sometimes it made the cough a little better. While he laid on the floor he opened the bottle and took a few drops. Mary watched the Chip take it. Somehow she had always thought that they were horrible and rumor had it this one was the beast. He hardly seemed to be that kind of man. In fact he was quite mild in many ways. It may have been part of the fact that he was sick too. Looking to Star she shrugged. "None that survived the bombing. We were it. My sister and her family were blown to bits I imagine or maybe they were put in different compound housing. Never saw your family or yourself till I started to look around for someone to take the medicine."