Free Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson Page A

use it whole. I pulled the drawstring at the waist tightly until I could barely poke my thumb through the opening. I would hold open the hem and pray an unusually stupid fish would swim into the trap.
    "I bet no soldier ever thought of this one," I said, wading back in the water with my improvised net.
    My feet iced right away, and it was hard to find a comfortable position. I had to bend over at the waist, wave the petticoat in the water to make it float, then stand without moving. I wiggled my toes to bring some feeling back in them. How could my feet be so cold while my head was so hot?
    A bee buzzed in front of my face. In the distance, I heard a carriage escaping from Philadelphia. Food first, rescue second. I blew the bee away. Where was that stupid parrot? He could be useful and feast on this pest. A fish brushed against my ankle.
    "Come little fishy, come down," I murmured. My arms shook from the effort of holding the petticoat open. The fish paused at the edge of the net.
    "Just a few more inches. That's it. Keep swimming."
    The bee landed on my mob cap just above my eyebrows. I concentrated on the fish.
    "You're almost there, my little fried breakfast. Don't stop now."
    I prepared to close the petticoat and trap the fish inside.
    48
    "Tea,Mattie!"
    King George swooped straight at my head and snatched the bee. The explosion of feathers in my face sent me crashing into the water. I came up sputtering and saw the trout flick his tail and head downstream, where there were no girls with petticoats and no parrots.
    "I'll roast you!" I shouted at the king, shaking my dripping petticoat in his direction.
    "Fresh thing," he replied.
    There was no time to try for another fish. Grandfather was alone and without water. I filled the canteen, scoured the bushes for the last berries, and hurried back.
    Grandfather's eyes were still clear, but his nose was red and his throat raspy.
    "Cold," he said.
    "Cold? Are you cold?" How could he be cold? The sun had nearly dried my wet skirts.
    He shivered.
    "Shall I make a fire?"
    He closed his eyes and nodded. Even the effort of speaking a few sentences had exhausted him.
    At home, I would borrow a burning twist of paper from a neighbor when all the fires in the house were cold. I couldn't remember the last time I saw a fire started with flint and tinder. I didn't even have flint and tinder.
    Grandfather shivered and moaned. I washed his face
    92
    and neck with the damp petticoat that didn't catch fish. It seemed to comfort him.
    "Is there anything to eat?"
    I coughed and shook my head.
    "All we have are these berries, Grandfather."
    "Of course, I forgot." He ate a few. "We need food."
    I thought about telling him how close I had been to capturing that trout, but I hated to admit defeat. Grandfather struggled to remove a pouch from his vest.
    "There must be a farm hereabout. Pay for a meal and the loan of a few blankets."
    "I can't leave you. You look worse."
    He held up his hand. "I'll be fine. I'll sit here and watch the wind blow, think about old friends. We need food and blankets. Off with you."
    The sun was at its highest as I set out on my search. It felt like a bonfire spitting embers on my head. I took the first narrow road that branched off toward the east, sure that it would lead to a farm.
    The man hoeing a field of potatoes took one look at me and ran off. I followed him to a farmhouse, but the door was locked.
    "Go away!" shouted a voice inside. "We have children in here. We can't help you if you have the fever."
    What was wrong with the world? Would I next see birds flying backward, or cows crocheting doilies? I walked on, stopping now and then to cough or rest my legs.
    49
    The heat rolled to the horizon like waves toward shore. Except for a few raspberries, I had eaten nothing for two days. A flock of geese flew overhead. I could only think of how they would taste with roast potatoes. Grandfather would need more water soon. I needed to go back. I stumbled along, head down,