Paul went numb. He quickly sat Larene down and treated her wound as he would any animal bite. He stood up, bent over, and picked her up in his arms.
She sniffled, "I can walk."
He wasn't listening. He carried her all the way upstairs to their bed. He gently laid her down. He took off her shoes and opened the window all the way. He knelt on the floor beside her.
"Honey, we need to keep you cool. It takes opossums much longer to show symptoms than other mammals. I think it might be because their body temperature is lower, which slows the progression of the virus. I'll go down stairs and get you some cool water." He propped her up with pillows, and headed for the kitchen. She could hear him crying.
Larene woke up in the bed, by herself. She went to the bathroom, cleaned herself up and changed her clothes. She looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't look any different. She didn't feel sick. Nevertheless, she knew a deadly disease was slowly infecting her body, invisible for now, until it decides to consume her in a death she couldn't bring herself to think about. Just the thought of it set her off trembling with fear. Tears rolled down her cheeks and the anguish of the situation tormented her deeply.
She looked for Paul in all the usual places, but couldn't find him. She finally found him in his treatment room, staring at the wall. She walked in to see what he was looking at. She put her hands on his shoulders. He was looking at his framed medical degree and two photographs of them together. One picture was when they weren't much more than kids. The other was when he had gotten out of medical school, and they moved into the house together. In both pictures, they looked very happy together. Larene pulled up a stool next to where Paul was sitting. She took his hands.
"Paul, look at me." He turned to look at her, his face frozen and expressionless. "I don't want to die. You may be the only person who can save my life. I need you to help me. You need to let me help you. Don't shut down on me!"
For the first time since the accident he allowed himself to look at her face. A knot formed in his throat and he fought back tears. He needed to be strong for her. He needed to give her confidence. He nodded. She pulled his head to her chest and held him close. For the moment, that was their whole world.
Word of the tragedy traveled quickly. Larene was inundated with help from well-meaning friends. Judith and the Captain became a fixture of the house. Food was plentiful and chores were gratefully done. The young girls fussed over Larene, bringing her colorful clothes, brushing her hair, and generally keeping her spirits up. Paul buried himself in his research, but no advances were being made.
Sunday morning, Paul laid out one of Larene's prettiest dresses. She asked why.
He said, "Let's go to church."
He had rigged their wagon so Beowulf could pull it. They sat on the padded bench of the wagon and made their way into town. Riding with her seemed surreal, knowing that soon, she would no longer be there, sitting with him, her hand on his leg, smiling and keeping him company. They tied up the wagon behind the church. They entered, holding hands, trying very hard to act normal. They sat in a pew in the last row. The church was beautiful in its own austere way. It was mostly wood, with a tall cathedral ceiling. There were twenty pews on each side of the aisle. The altar had flowers, a chalice, a bronze cross, two pedestal candles, and a tabernacle. Behind the altar were windows of stained glass, giving the altar a colorful glow. The pulpit was very special. It was made of exotic wood, hand carved, depicting familiar religious scenes. Out came Friar Johannssen in his finest ecclesiastical habiliments. The church was half full when the service started. The Friar did an inspirational job; you could sense the spirit that moved him. His sermon was about the resurrection and life after death, a sentiment not lost on either Larene or Paul.
At the end of the service, a parade of sympathetic villagers came by where they were sitting to offer their support. They were sincere and very concerned. When it was only Larene and Paul left in the church, they pulled out the tiny kneeling stools, got on their knees and prayed. With their heads down, holding hands, they prayed for divine intervention. They heard a creaking noise, opened their eyes and looked up. There, peering over the bench in front of them was the white bearded face of Friar Johannssen.
"Please, don't stop on my account," he said with a smile. They sat back in the pew. "Wonderful service," Paul said.
"Your sermon was excellent," Larene added.
"Thank you," returned the Friar, accepting the compliments graciously. He looked at the couple in silence for a minute or two.
Finally, the Friar asked, "Paul, do you have a shilling?" Paul was taken back by the request.
"I did put a shilling in the plate, really I did." He looked at Larene for support, and she nodded her head affirmatively like an innocent little girl.
The Friar asked again, "Do you have a shilling?"
"Yes," Paul answered, and dug it out of his pants pocket.
"Sorry to ask, but it's required as part of the record keeping of the church."
"Record keeping for what?" Paul asked.
"For the marriage ceremony, of course!" Larene and Paul looked at each other in surprise.
"When is this supposed to happen?" Paul asked.
"Why, now! Today! Immediately!" the Friar said jovially. "Larene, I hate to ask, but would you run across the street and get Judith? She shall be our witness. Bring the magistrate too, he should be there."
Larene beamed, "I'll be right back!" and off she went.
The Friar came from around the pew in front of Paul so he could sit next to him.
"Thank you so much, Friar. What a wonderful thing to do for us."
The Friar looked down, "It's the right thing to do, for everyone."
They sat quietly for a moment. The Friar looked at Paul and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Paul, your faith is really going to be tested in the next couple of weeks. I will always be here for the both of you."
Paul replied, "I prayed for understanding, Friar, for knowledge. Doesn't the Lord answer prayers for wisdom?"
"If it be the Lord's will, yes." the Friar said.
Judith and Larene came skipping, hand in hand, into the church, followed by Captain Wellen. The Friar explained what was going to happen and everyone's role in the ceremony. Judith had put some flowers in Larene's hair. They both stood together at the altar with their friends, both old and new, by their sides. The Friar read from his book of matrimony. Paul looked at this beautiful woman, now his wife, flowers in her hair, bathed in the magical light from the stained glass windows. They held hands, and when prompted by the Friar, they kissed.
Judith and Captain came by the house early the next morning. Larene was losing stamina rapidly. Her eyes were starting to look sunken. Her color wasn't good. She was having difficulty eating because it was hard to swallow. There wasn't a moment that went by that Paul didn't wish that it was he that had been bitten. He had to find a cure, and quickly.
While everyone was in the house, Paul slipped out to the barn; carrying with him the silver letter opener his mother had given him.
He saddled Beowulf and had one foot in the stirrup when he heard from behind him, "I'll go." Paul turned around. There, standing in the barn, was Wellen.
"I'll go," Wellen repeated. "I know you would never ask me. I understand. You don't have to ask me. I will go."
Paul took his foot out the stirrup and turned around.
"I know where you are going. I am trained for this."
"I can't ask you to go, my friend," Paul replied. "I have to do this myself."
Wellen looked down for a moment and then back at Paul. "Then let me go with you, stand guard, do reconnaissance, something! Those gypsies are animal sly and cunning. It is more dangerous than you think!" Wellen pleaded.
"My dear friend, I can think of two reasons why I should go alone," Replied Paul gravely, "First, someone should be here to look after the girls."
"I'm not convinced,… so what is the second reason?" inquired Wellen.
Paul walked up to his friend and placed his hand on Wellen's shoulder, "I need your reputation as Magistrate unblemished so you can help me get out of all the trouble I am about to get into."
"Oh well," the Captain said, "There is that."
Paul rode past town, down the road that led to the forest, and then followed the path that eventually would take him to the gypsy camp. His mind was racing with thoughts of Larene, his research, and his current quest to obtain the wolf bane extract. He was anxious. He thought how Wellen wouldn't be nervous. He entered the camp, slowly trotting his way past the brightly decorated wagons until he arrived at Maleva's vardo. The clan was preparing to leave for another village. Paul looked around for Bela as he got off his horse; he was nowhere in sight. It was midmorning when Paul knocked on Maleva's door. He heard noises coming from within the vardo and noticed how the wagon shifted slightly as she walked to open the door. He stepped in without invitation.
"I know what you came for," the old gypsy woman said. "I heard about your lady friend, it is sad, but I can't help you."
Paul pulled a handful of shillings out of his pocket and put the pile on the table.
"Here, I will pay for the medicine, I have to have it," Paul said aggressively.
Maleva looked at him sternly, "I don't want your money. The powder is not for sale." Undeterred, Paul took the silver letter opener from his jacket and went over to the locked drawer. He started prying away at the drawer, using the knife.
Maleva protested, "You have no idea what you are doing and what you are dealing with. The wolf bane extract is very powerful and unpredictable."
"I will test it on a wolf first," he said, almost breaking the drawer lock.
Maleva shook her head, "You have not listened to what I have told you! Wolves, like no other animal, are lunar. The full moon, they react to it – it changes them. The wolf bane was harvested during the full moon, because that is the only time it isn't poisonous. Leave now!" she yelled. The lock broke. Inside the drawer was the container of the white powder. Paul took the powder from the drawer.
Maleva, furious now, screamed, "That belongs to the gypsy clan! It is not yours to buy or steal." He put the powder and the knife in his pocket.
"I'm sorry Maleva, but I have to save my wife."
She stood in his way as he tried to leave, arms outstretched. He pushed the frail woman out of his way, causing her to lose her balance and fall. She fell hard and seemed in shock. Paul quickly examined her to make sure she wasn't hurt. He looked around the inside of the wagon for a moment and then left. Outside, once again, no Bela. He jumped on Beowulf and quickly rode home.
Paul rode up to the house and got off Beowulf. Wellen was waiting for him on the porch.
"How is Larene?" Paul asked.
"No better, maybe a little worse," Wellen said, "Judith is taking good care of her. How did it go?"
Paul told him everything. Wellen thought for a moment.
"I think you can count on Bela coming after you," Paul advised.
"I am going to put you in charge of morale." Paul replied.
"I will take care of Beowulf, you go ahead and get to work."
"Thank you." Paul said, as he made his way to his lab.
He took his silver letter opener and the vial out of his jacket pocket and put them on his lab desk. Larene quietly explained to him what she had learned about wolf bane from her herbology book. There was mythology, folklore, and a small amount of empirical evidence about wolf bane and its medicinal effects. Its roots are usually toxic, but apparently when harvested at a certain time and processed in a certain way; the plant provides a unique and powerful drug.
Paul combined his most successful serum with the wolf bane extract and tested it on several infected cats. The wolf bane appeared to lock in the curative effect of his serum, eliminating reoccurrence of the symptoms. He hypothesized that perhaps it didn't cure the rabies, but treated all the symptoms, and rendered the disease dormant in the patient.
Wellen and Judith brought food down to the lab. Paul worked furiously, napping in his chair, drinking coffee, and eating on the run. He took a little time to check on Larene who was now bedridden. He held her hand and looked at her sickly, dark blue eyes. She smelled of death. She managed a weak smile, and gently squeezed his hand, her love for him clear in her eyes.
Paul walked out on the porch. It was nighttime. He looked up at the moon. It was nearly full, but not quite. He understood medicine, but he couldn't comprehend how the moon could have such an impact on living things.
"You aren't going to make her go through this, are you Paul?" The voice from behind startled him. It was Wellen, sitting quietly in the rocker.
"You are going to let her die like this, are you? I know you can give her something so she doesn't have to suffer. Nobody would think less of you or her." Wellen was talking about euthanasia.
"I don't think it is going to come to that, Wellen. I could use a hand though, would you?' Wellen followed Paul to the lab. Paul had prepared three serums using the wolf bane and his most successful formula to date. All three were identical.
"I need to inject the fox and the wolf with the test serums," Paul said. Both animals were at the very end of the disease cycle. They were enraged, foaming at the mouth, and snapping at anything that came near them. Paul prepared a syringe while Wellen took a pole with a padded end and pushed the wolf up against the back of the cage. Paul very carefully reached in the cage and quickly gave the injection in the animal's leg. They repeated the procedure with the fox. One vial of test serum remained. That would be for Larene if the experiment was successful. Now, it was just a matter of time.
Wellen went back to the house. Paul fell asleep in his lab chair. It was early morning. His body ached from sleeping in the hard wood chair. He stood up and stretched. He walked over to the wolf cage; the animal was motionless. He walked over to the fox cage; it too also was lying motionless on the bottom of its cage.
"Damn!" Paul cursed, throwing his notebook on the floor. The sound startled the animals and they jumped up, yawning. They had been asleep. He looked more closely at them; they seemed hungry and thirsty, but they looked fine. He slipped water and food into their cages. They ate and drank, without any hesitation. Being tired from their ordeal, they were almost docile, preferring to get caught up on their sleep. Paul was ecstatic, cheering and dancing around the lab. He ran up to the house.
"It worked! It worked!" Paul yelled. Wellen was sleeping in his rocker and Judith was curled up on the settee in the foyer.
"It worked! It worked!" Paul cried out, again. He pulled on the arms of his friends and dragged them to the lab so they could see for themselves. Everyone hugged each other and cheered.
Wellen finally asked, "Now what? Do you give Larene the treatment now or wait?" Paul thought hard.
"I think that will be her choice, but I don't think we can afford to wait much longer." They all agreed. "I think she needs to see this for herself," Paul said. "Can you help me get her down here to the lab?"
Judith offered to help Larene dress. When she was ready, Paul and Wellen helped Larene down the stairs to the lab. She looked terrible. She was dehydrated, she kept dabbing her mouth with a handkerchief because her saliva glands were overactive, and her eyes were tired and vacant.
Paul showed Larene the two animals, and explained what he had done. He quickly told her everything, including the warnings from Maleva. Paul pointed to the vial of test serum on his desk. With a loving and trusting face, Larene submissively held out her arm for her injection.
Larene didn't want to go back to bed, but preferred to sit on the front porch. They sat her in her favorite chair, and brought out an ottoman for her to rest her feet. The sun peeked out of the clouds. She closed her eyes and napped.
Paul, Wellen and Judith watched her as she slept. Before their very eyes they could see her slowly improving until she started to look healthy and normal again.
Judith said, "I better prepare some dinner for her, she is probably going to wake up hungry."
Hours later, when Larene woke up, she stretched, smiled, and said, "I am so hungry I could eat a skunk!"
She got up from the porch chair, moved into the kitchen, and sat down at the table. She ate like a pack of wolves and drank three big glasses of water. The sparkle had come back to her eyes. She looked great. The foursome sat around the kitchen table, laughing and telling stories. Paul and Larene talked about where they might go on a honeymoon. Insinuations were made about Wellen and Judith as to when they might marry. Larene was looking a little tired, so they said their goodbyes and their friends left. Holding hands, Larene and Paul watched them ride down the road towards town. They were blessed to have such good friends.
Paul helped Larene up the stairs, partially undressed her, and put her to bed. She fell asleep immediately, looking angelic as she slept. He didn't believe in miracles; he relied on them.