Page 31 of Burning Escape

“Sat phone is over there on the counter. But it isn’t working. I was waiting for Cameron to get back and look at it. It won’t charge.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Orion walked over to the counter. Kitri left the room. He checked it over.

“Anything?” Tori stood next to him.

He tried pressing buttons. Nothing happened. He checked the battery on the back, removed it, and tried the extra battery sitting on the counter. “Still nothing. Not sure what’s wrong with it.”

Joann spoke up from the table. “Should we be worried about whatever that spray was? Do you think it’s still in the air?” She held the baby closer, patting his back and rocking.

“I don’t know. But if it killed the chickens out there and knocked Kitri out, it can’t be good.” Tori fiddled with her ring.

“Maybe we should bring one of the chickens with us to test for chemicals.” Orion set the useless phone down.

“Do you really want to expose all of us if whatever is on them is still active? We can always tell the authorities and send them back here. The important thing is we get Kitri and Josiah some medical attention.” Tori refrained from shivering. The thought of something dangerous in the air was downright terrifying. An enemy she could see was an enemy she could fight. But who knew what had been sprayed? Or why. “We should leave as soon as possible.”

“I’ll go see what vehicles are available.” Orion left out the front door.

“Josiah?” Joann gently lifted the baby out of the sling. He didn’t stir or cry. She tried dripping water on his feet. “He’s not responding. And he hasn’t had a wet diaper all day.” She looked up at Tori, panic in her eyes.

“Can you get him to drink anything? Maybe he’s dehydrated.”

“My milk in the bottle probably isn’t good anymore.”

“Let’s try a little sugar water.” Tori ransacked the cupboards until she found sugar. She mixed some with water and brought it to Joann. Together they dripped a few dropperfuls down his tiny mouth. He wriggled but didn’t open his eyes.

“He’s getting weaker.” Joann’s voice wobbled.

Orion came in. “What’s wrong?”

“We need to get Josiah to the clinic ASAP.”

Orion dangled keys in the air. “There’s a truck ready to go. All the animals have water. So far it looks like just the chickens were affected.”

Kitri stumbled into the room from the hall.

“You okay?” Tori asked her.

Her dark hair dripped water and was a little tangled, but at least she had clean clothes on. The T-shirt showed the rash up and down both arms.

“Dizzy, but—” She looked at Tori, rolled her eyes. Not in an attitude kind of way though. They rolled back and forth rather than focusing on Tori, who stood right in front of her. She didn’t finish her thought.

“There must’ve been some sort of neurotoxin in that spray. We’re going to get you to an emergency room.”

Kitri’s gaze settled on Tori for a moment, and she nodded. She allowed them to escort her to the truck, where Orion already had Joann and Josiah settled.

It was a long, bumpy ride on the dirt road that probably only the Brinks used, but no one complained. No one said much of anything. Thick forest lined the road, letting in little sunlight in this area. Joann hummed a song, maybe a hymn—it sounded familiar. Tori wouldn’t begrudge her finding some comfort wherever she could with her baby suffering.

But this was why she didn’t buy into the whole God-and-grace thing.

Then again, she’d heard a little here and there but never actually tried to pray herself. And the way Orion, and even Abraham, had prayed today hadn’t been a bunch of religious words. It was like they’d simply been talking to God.

Couldn’t hurt to try.

You say to pray, so fine. Why should Josiah suffer? He’s an innocent baby. And Kitri? She didn’t do anything to deserve an attack. Please, just save Josiah and heal Kitri. If You really do care, get them back home safely like Abraham prayed.

Oh, and I will never take for granted a hot shower or indoor plumbing again!

Tori breathed easier when Orion turned the truck onto a familiar paved road.

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