Mother and child stayed in the medical tent the rest of the evening. The baby’s cries tapered off, but his cough remained. Adam confirmed the baby’s gender—male—and his name—Peter, after the father. Court tried explaining to Adam his theory of reclaiming every day, generic words and using them as names, but his friend just gave him a strange look before heading deeper into the woods to wash May’s blood off his face and hands. This far south of the James River, the land was marshy with creeks and streams, and a small rivulet ran close enough to their campsite to allow for bathing and fresh water.
After a dinner of canned ham and beans, which Court supplemented with the instant rice he’d found that morning, most of the group gathered around the dying fire. Few spoke; most seemed intent on l
