by Amy Cross
***
“What the hell is this?” Ephram shouted as they reached the new barbed wire fence that ran across their path. “Has he started carving up the land?”
“Isn't it his property?” Kate asked.
“Technically, but...” Clearly shocked, Ephram glanced both ways along the fence for a moment. “I don't care. We have to -”
“Over there!” Kate shouted suddenly, spotting something fluttering in the breeze. The storm was still gathering above them and the rain was intensifying as they hurried to the spot where a tattered piece of blue, patterned fabric was caught on the barbed wire.
“My grandmother's shawl,” Ephram said, taking a moment to pull it free. “She did come this way. She must have somehow climbed over the fence!”
Before Kate could stop him, he started to slip between the rows of barbed wire. Once he was through, he began to hurry up the hill, and Kate realized she had no choice but to follow. As she tried to climb through, however, she lost her footing on the wet grass and slipped, gashing her left forearm against one of the metal spikes. She landed hard but immediately got up, and after checking to make sure that the cut was only superficial, she hurried after Ephram, even though the hill's incline was becoming steeper as they got higher.
“Grandmother!” Ephram shouted. “Where are you, you old fool?”
All around them, the only sound was the constant patter of rain falling across the land, as a strong wind continued to build.
“If she's out in this,” Ephram continued, turning to Kate, “she's going to get pneumonia!”
“We'll find her,” Kate told him, even though she was starting to lose hope. Out in the wilds above the town, it seemed as if the old woman had managed to disappear completely, and with the weather getting worse by the minute it was clear that time was of the essence if they were going to have any chance of finding her in good health. One thing was certain: there seemed no way that such an old woman could make it all the way to the top of the hill.
For the next half hour, they continued to make their way up the hill, with Ephram calling out his grandmother's name as Kate constantly looked around for some sign that she might have come along this route. Above them, the mansion was slowly getting closer, and Kate was just starting to wonder if they dared go all the way when the heavens finally opened completely, sending down torrential rain that caused her to once again slip on the soaking wet grass. As Ephram helped her up, she had to wipe her hair from across her face.
“It's hopeless!” Ephram shouted, barely able to be heard above the hiss of rain all around them. “She could be anywhere!”
Just as she was about to reply, Kate spotted movement up ahead. There was a figure further up the hill, or perhaps two figures.
“There!” she shouted.
As she and Ephram scrambled up the hillside, pushing through the rain and both slipping every few meters, the sky rumbled above with the threat of even worse weather. Their progress was slow, but finally Kate was able to see that there were indeed two figures ahead: one was without doubt Ephram's grandmother, and she was being helped along by another, steadier figure that Kate recognized from the previous night in the courtyard.
“What are you doing?” Ephram shouted as they finally caught up. He grabbed his grandmother's arm and pushed the figure away. “Leave her alone! Why are you out here with her?”
Looking a little surprised by the interruption, Edgar Le Compte stared at Ephram for a moment before turning to Kate. “I was in my dining room,” he shouted, “looking out at the storm, and suddenly I spotted this woman climbing toward the house. I had no choice but to come out and try to help her. I'm afraid my workers are away at the moment, so I had to come in person, and the weather has made our progress rather slow, but I think she's unharmed!”
“Grandmother,” Ephram continued, looking into the old woman's face. “Are you okay?”
“Quick,” Edgar said. “You must all come and take shelter in my home.”
“We are not coming anywhere near your home!” Ephram shouted at him, taking his grandmother by the arm and starting to lead her back down the hill. “You can go to -” Before he could finish, however, he lost his footing and slipped, and he and his grandmother both crashed to the ground.
“Maybe we should listen to him!” Kate shouted as she and Edgar helped the old woman back to her feet.
“We are not going to his home!” Ephram shouted.
“Are you serious?” Kate shouted back at him. “Look at the weather! Do you seriously think you can make it all the way back down to the town in this storm! I don't even know if I can make it, let alone your grandmother!”
Ephram opened his mouth to argue, but at the last moment something seemed to stop him, as if he finally realized that she was right.
“Please,” Edgar shouted at them. “Whatever else you might think of me, will you at least let me help? Don't be stubborn! Think of your grandmother!”