She uttered a choked cry as she knelt before him. Shaking him gently, she said, “Jacq! Jacq! Please wake up.” But he did not respond to her touch.
Automatically, her medical training took over as she tried to fight down her panic. With a trembling hand she checked him for signs of life, and injuries. Other than a nasty laceration on his cheek, he had no visible wounds — nevertheless his condition was obviously grave. His pulse and respiration were almost too faint to detect.
She stood and pulled the quilt off the bed, and covered him. His eyes fluttered open. Katkin knelt again as he said, very faintly, “My wife, are you here with me? I prayed you would come, before the end.” She nodded, and then stared at him fearfully when he did not respond. His wide-open eyes were blank and almost li
