Death in the Desert Read Free

can’t leave just yet. When I do, though, I’ll take you with me. Where are your parents?”
    â€œMy mother and father . . . they left me here.”
    â€œLeft you? But why?”
    â€œI was sick, and they weren’t. They said I was going to die and they had to leave.”
    â€œWho told them you were going to die?”
    â€œThe doctor.”
    â€œWhat’s your name?”
    â€œEmily.”
    â€œHow long ago did they leave, Emily?”
    â€œI—I ain’t sure. Mister . . . are you gonna die? All the grown-ups, they either left, or died. There’s lots of dead bodies in this town.”
    â€œI know,” he said. “I found them. Look, Emily, we have to help each other. If I let you go, do you promise not to run?”
    She thought about it a moment, then said, “Okay, I promise.”
    He released her. She immediately turned, but instead of running, she reached for Eclipse’s nose again.
    â€œWhat’s his name?” she asked.
•   •   •
    They went into the café where he’d discovered the hot frying pan with the bacon grease.
    â€œWill Eclipse be all right alone out there?” she asked.
    â€œHe’ll be fine.”
    â€œWill he get sick?”
    â€œI don’t think so,” Clint said. “I haven’t seen any dead animals around here.”
    He walked her to a table and they sat down.
    â€œEmily, have you been taking care of yourself all this time? Since your parents left?”
    â€œYes,” she said. “When they left, I was in my bed. I think I slept for a very long time. When I woke up, I felt weak and thirsty. I—I got up, and got dressed and went looking for Momma and Papa, but I couldn’t find them. I couldn’t find anybody, except for dead people. So I made myself something to eat.”
    â€œAnd you’ve been doing that ever since?”
    She nodded. “Mama showed me how to cook so I could help around the house.”
    â€œHow old are you?”
    â€œTen.”
    â€œCan you show me where you lived?” Clint asked. “Maybe I can find something there that will tell me how long your parents have been gone. Or where they’ve gone.”
    â€œI can show you.”
    â€œIs it far?”
    â€œNot far,” she said, “if we ride.”
    He smiled at her and said, “Let’s ride.”

FIVE
    Clint put Emily in the saddle and walked alongside her so he could catch her if she fell off. She directed him this way and that until they came to a stop in front of a small, one-floor, wood-framed house.
    â€œWe lived in there,” she said, pointing.
    â€œOkay,” he said, lifting her off Eclipse’s back to the ground, “show me.”
    They walked to the front door, where she balked.
    â€œEmily? Are there any . . . dead people in there?” he asked.
    â€œN-No.”
    â€œThen we can go in, right?”
    â€œY-Yes.”
    â€œAre you afraid?”
    â€œNo,” she said, “I’m sad.”
    She reached for his hand, grabbed it, and they went into the house together.
    â€œOkay,” he said, “why don’t you sit on the sofa while I look around?”
    â€œNo,” she said, squeezing his hand, “I want to stay with you.”
    â€œAll right,” he said, “show me your parents’ room.”
    â€œThis way . . .”
    She took him down a hall to a bedroom which obviously belonged to adults. However, it also looked as if it had been hit by a cyclone.
    â€œI didn’t do it,” she said.
    â€œDo what?”
    â€œMake this mess,” she said. “I didn’t do it.”
    â€œOh, honey, I know you didn’t do this. Your parents obviously packed in a hurry.”
    â€œBecause they were afraid I’d make them sick?” she asked.
    â€œNot you,” he said. “The disease.”
    â€œBut . . . what