Page 59 of Stay Buried

We searched all day for Clarice, Emile, and the knackerman, but had no luck. The tracks meandered through the town and woods, then up the hill, blending with our own footprints. The day had warmed, turning the snow soft and slushy, making the tracks more difficult to read.

Boone’s Ferry is surrounded by hills covered in dense woods for miles in all directions—the three of them could have gone anywhere. Or perhaps they had succumbed to their illness and were lying dead in the snow.

Throughout the day, more offerings appeared on front steps: bottles of rum and hard cider, cakes and pies. And women hung horseshoes and little bundles of dried herbs over their front doors: charms to ward off evil. Some painted sigils or eyes on their doors. My uncle shook his head at the foolishness while I felt for my own secret charm hidden beneath my shirts.

The knackerman’s dog had followed me all day, and unsure of what to do with her, I’d dropped her off with Aunt Margaret, whoseemed delighted.

“Aife!” she’d cried.

I’d given her a puzzled look.

“Is that her name?”

Aunt Margaret nodded. “He told us. When we visited with Reverend Davies. The dog greeted us, took far more interest in us than the knackerman did.” She’d turned to the dog. “Poor thing’s soaked.”

“Hungry too,” I told her.

My aunt clasped her hands at the bottom of her belly, twisting the ring on her finger. “I’ll make her a bed in front of the kitchen stove. I’ve got some meat scraps and a bit of broth for her,” she’d said, leading the dog into the warm house.

Benjamin was having an increasingly difficult time as the day wore on. At last Uncle Thomas insisted the three of us go back to the Stoddards’ house. Other search parties continued on with lanterns in the growing darkness. Uncle Thomas, Benjamin, and I arrived back at the house exhausted and soaked. Benjamin Stoddard was sweating profusely and shivering with fever. I could smell the sweet, cloying odor coming from his breath and skin.

“How are you feeling?” Uncle Thomas asked, trying to keep the rising panic from his voice.

“Fine. I feel fine. Let me change my clothes, then we can go out again and look for Clarice.” He went to open his front door and found it locked. He patted his pocket for a key and discovered he didn’t have one. Looking frustrated, he knocked on his own door, and when there was no immediate answer, he pounded with his fist. The door swung open, Chauncey greeting us with the rifle in his hands.

“Mr. Stoddard,” he exclaimed. “You’re back.”

“Pearl?” Benjamin asked as he took a staggering step inside, leaning hard against the wall.

“She’s fine. Resting. I insisted she lie down for a while—she’s exhausted.”

Uncle Thomas nodded. “As are we all,” he said. And just as hespoke the words, Benjamin Stoddard collapsed onto the floor. I was first to him, and he swiped my hand away when I reached for him, glared at me like I meant to harm him.

“I’m fine,” he said, grimacing. The rotten fruit smell was horrid up close, burning my nostrils, making me feel queer-headed, as if I’d been drinking a bad batch of homemade apple brandy.

Uncle Thomas and Chauncey helped Benjamin up. “Let’s get you to bed,” Uncle Thomas said.

“I’m going back out,” Benjamin said. “I’ve got to find Clarice.”

“You’re in no shape to go back out there,” Uncle Thomas said.

“I’ll go, sir,” Chauncey said.

“Let go of me!” Benjamin snapped, jerking himself free of the two men. His one unbandaged eye was yellow and frantic. His teeth bared.

“Benjamin!” Uncle Thomas yelled sharply.

The factory owner seemed to snap out of his agitated state. He let out a great sigh, and his shoulders slumped. “I know. It’s time. I can feel it coming on. The sickness.”

Chauncey said, “You’ll be fine, sir. The doctor will fix you up.” He looked at Thomas. “Won’t you?”

“Let’s get you upstairs,” Uncle Thomas said. The two men half carried Benjamin upstairs, as I followed.

“Frankie,” Uncle Thomas said once we were in Mr. Stoddard’s room, “I need dry nightclothes for Mr. Stoddard.” I nodded and turned to the dresser, began looking through the drawers.

“Chauncey, I need you to find extra blankets and rope.”

“Rope?”