< previous page page_26 next page >

Page 26
or two, she remained unmarried. Abby, two years younger, was sure she would never marry. Certainly no man had ever shown any interest in her, and she understood why. Although her healing skills might be useful, who would want a wife who saw things that weren't there or had strange feelings that came true? She could not even hide her visions; how could she have kept silent and let little Mary Woolcott die?
The sandy ground was uneven, so Abby had to pick her way carefully. She stooped to see the low-growing plants, but had to use caution not to trip on her long skirt. She straightened frequently to avoid stiffness, tugging in irritation at her bonnet ribbons. When she found a plant she sought, she cut off sprigs or seeds with her knife and put them into her basket. Now and then she discovered plants that were interesting but that she did not recognize. She took along samples for Hunwet to identify later.
She saw little in the way of animal lifea scorpion, which she avoided; the winding trail made by a snake. There were many insects, though, and she had to keep swatting them from her damp skin.
The sun beat relentlessly. Its fierce glare reflecting on the sand hurt her eyes. Her skin burned, and the heat made it difficult for her to breathe. She craved a drink. Occasionally she thought she saw distant pools of water but realized they were illusions caused by the heat rising from the desert.
After about an hour, Abby looked behind her.

 
< previous page page_26 next page >