ave,dugdeeperthanwas
probablynecessary,buthedidntalsdiggingitupbeside,itfeltgoodtogoodtobuildupasandbreathehard
theexertionalsotiredhiutenoughsothatedherlittlebundleintheffinandhenaileditshut,putitinthehole,andbeganveringithdirt,hedidntfeelquitesorawhopecrieditablejackheldheragainsthissideandlethergetitalloutthentheysat,justsatforabitndagainitwasabsurdthelastthingjackhadtiforheforest
onandayinghehadtoshorachel,thendriveon
intothecitytoedtotodothisandhe
hadtoadtthereoit
theysatsidebysidefacingguineveresgraveafterati,inavoicethatheldthereantsoftears,andreverence,hopesaid,”knowhere””nohevieed
”seethroughthetreesthatdropoffthatsthecanyonopeningup
”jackfollohelineofherfingerand,yes,sahedropoffbeyond,givendepthanddistancebyaist,teofforestgreenshetuedtohopetorerkonitsbeauty,butshehadshiftedherheadandnarrowedhereyes
”ifyoulookpastit,”shesaid,”ithatlookslikecloudsisreallyocean”
”hoell””ifthoseheyishgray
orblackishgray
thosearebluishgraycanyousee”actually,heuld”aughtthatandtolisten”sheckedherhead”doyouhearit””thesilenceyoubet”
”no,”shesldedallsle”thestrea”helistened”thatssilence”sheshookherhead
heghthavearguedbutifrachelhadheardastreatherewasastreahekoquestionitrachelfelttheoutdoorsthataboutherin
tuadehiithherforhoursinthedeserth
hiseyesperingofapackrat,
theslitherofasnakehehadheardhefluted
trunkofasaguaro
reeringthatashesathereinthisbreathtakinglylovelyplace,hehadasenseofighthavegivenupovedto
sanfrancisshelivedandbreathethefreshoutdoorsshennectedanypeopledidntsheknewher
terrain
sohelistenedforthesoundofastreahesoclearhisearsandlistenedagain,sortingtheoutsidetheflowofbloodinhisheadandheheardit,afaint,distantshhhhhfartothe”overthere”hepointed
hopegrinnedandnodded
”hoinutesitrunsdoountainsintothe
oceanive”
”hocrosstheroad””itgoesunderabridgeillshowyousoti,”shesaid,buthervoicelook
athi
heknehinkingthatoncerachelwokeup,hewouldbegonebutevenifrachelhatveryday,sheillneedhelpokay,sosheghtnotaroundallthetibutspringwasfullandsuerapproachingtherehe
ideaofastreaidewalkheldappeal
hesled,feelingthesasenseofanticipationthathehadfeltdrivingbacktobigsurthenightbefore
chapterten
thedrivefroigsurtothehospitalonandaydingtookaneasyfortyfivenutesjackarrivedfeelinglloofindanotherpatientinrahehurriedtothenextroothinkinghehaddeaninnocentstake,butanentirefalyofgriahehadbeenrightthefirstti
hisheartstoppedforthefrato
reasonthathehen,
surgerynearlyasbad
holdinghopeshand,hestrodetothenursesstation”yergingfrorootthefar
endoftherridorheheadedtherehhopeintow”wheresrafroshehad
juste
it,,andseveraleasy
chairskatherinehosechairsrachelwaslyingonhersidefacingher,andforasplitsend,unabletoseehereyes,jackthoughtthechangeantshehadwokenup
katherineha**stsleforhope,butherexpressionbeforeandaftertoldhihatitso
”itsbeenalehels
nditionhasbeensteadytheethedoctorsthoughtsheuldbeved”jackhadabadfeelingevenafterseparatingitfrouineveresdeath,itstillfeltbad”youneededherspaceforsooneelse”
”yes,butthatsnotovedhershesstable
herstatsarentchanging”
”butinute
sothinghappened”
”onitoringherfroere,”cindysaidand,yes,hesaenitors,thesawires
”butthosearentnnectedtothecentraldesk”
”efrohe
door”thisis,”shesaid,
entering
”itsonestepdotheicu
rachelostpatientsget
iediatelyaftersurgery”
”itsonlybeenaened”aboutthat
guyyoupointedoutonthanda
half””hehasheartandlungproblehesnotstablebelieve,rachelisfarbetteroff
shesfunctioningonherolysteadysheisntgoinganyasinkingfeelinghoutquiteknos
causethebruiseonthesideofrachelsfaceabbingareddishbrohadbeenscraped,tuinggreenhad
beenhitndthestitthecutonherhand
shelookedpalerthanever,though,andthinhethatshehadneverhadpoundstospare
hopecliedontothebed,tuckedinhers,andsatbyherthershipshedidntsayanythingafteranute,shegingerlyliftedrachelshandandputitinherlapherheadwasdownsheslooherselfartedtosniffle,shelifted
rachelshandtoverhertears
jaguinevere,heuthed
sheedandnodded
hetouchedhopesbolystrokingherhairashehadthecatsfurheething,butdidntknohe
iginedthatlettinghopeknohhersheneeded
st
butthesinkingfeelinginsidehim
