Beyond the River Stones: Part 5

By JOY COWLEY

She answered his gaze by drawing her shawl about her and hugging it.

"Freddy, are you cross with waiting? I came as fast as I could but the way was long." Her voice trailed off. "So very long," she whispered.

"My name isn't Freddy. It's Brian. Brian McPhee. Are you staying at the commune?"

She didn't answer but held the shawl against her and shivered.

"They say Pacific means sea of peace but it were no way peaceful with one storm after another and the drinking water bad. I couldn't come quicker, Freddy. I got lost."

He saw that her eyes had an unfocused look and he thought, lost is right. She's on something.

He said, "You shouldn't have tried to cross the river. There's a bridge further up. Didn't they tell you?"S

he shook her head. In spite of the sun's baking heat, her shivering had increased. He reached out to touch her arm and immediately drew back his hand.

"You're freezing!"

"It's the fever, Freddy," she said through chattering teeth.

Publisher: Scholastic

Price: $13.95

Age group: 10-13 years


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