The Bairn of Brianag

"Robbie," I said, "Oh, Robbie, my love."

He did not respond. My heart stopped; I thought for one appalling moment that he was dead. I put my ear to his lips and felt his breath; I reached beneath the skins which covered him and felt his heartbeat, rapid and thin, beneath his burning skin. My tears flowed swiftly, dropping onto his face, as I kissed him over and over. "Oh, Robbie, my love, my only love," I whispered. "Oh, Robbie, Robbie."

I saw at once that his condition was perilous. He was dreadfully emaciated; his face was like a death's head. In the firelight I could see the deep hollows in his jaw, his sunken eyes, his pallid complexion. His hair and beard were dirty and the place smelled sickening. I turned to the old woman.

"Will he live?" I said, wiping my tears with my gloves.

"It is six suns he has been here at the village," she said. "He is very bad."

"But-" I turned back to Robbie, touching his hair, "please, will he live?"

"It is for the spirits to know," she said.

"God shall spare him," I said. "I shall pray and God will answer me."

He moaned, and turned his head side to side. "Jessie."

"Yes, Robbie, it is I. I have come to take you home."

"Jessie," he said again. "Jessie, lass," and his voice was broken with tears.

"I am here, Robbie!" I said, but he did not hear me.

The old woman pulled the covers away from him; I could see that he had a dark wound in his side. She shook leaves over him and mumbled incantations and dribbled liquid into his mouth. I held tightly to his hand and prayed my own prayers. I could feel the bones in his hand.

Throughout the night I did not leave his side. From time to time he would grow still and quiet; the old woman brought a pallet for me and when I could stay awake no longer, I lay down and covered with my cloak. But in only a short while he began to moan again, and sob, and call my name. I roused to hold his hand while the old woman repeated her ministrations.

At last I woke to the sounds of people moving about outside; and Robbie was sleeping peacefully, his fever broken, his heart beats slow and steady. I went outside. The cold air, heavy with moisture, collided with my face. The morning was gray and cold and mist hung in white wisps between the mountains. I drew my cloak close about me and went away from the village to find a place to relieve myself.