Free Broken Dreams (The Chronicles of Mara Lantern, Book 5) by D.W. Moneypenny Page B

them crawling all over her skin, even under her clothes. She has welts and bites all over,” Alice said. “After a few minutes of screaming, dancing around and waving their arms, the swarm flew away. Somehow Mom made it home, but, shortly after she got here, she ran a fever, and she’s getting progressively worse.”
    “She thinks this swarm of mosquitos made her sick?”
    Alice nodded. “Mrs. Clancy told her how she read somewhere that mosquitoes can cause malaria.”
    “That may be true in the physical world, but I’ve never seen a mosquito here, much less one that could transmit malaria. I assume you tried to convince her that Mrs. Clancy was mistaken,” he said.
    “Mom’s always been suggestible, and with the chasms and being attacked by a mysterious black swarm, I think she convinced herself it was possible.”
    From behind a door to Sam’s left, a weak voice called out, “Alice! Who’s out there? Can you bring me a glass of water? I’m burning up.”
    Alice jumped up and ran to the back of the house. “The doctor’s here. Be right there with your water, Mama.”
    They heard the clink of a glass and a running faucet, followed by Alice’s footsteps as she returned and headed for the bedroom door. Dr. Lantern stood, holding out his hand. “Here, why don’t you let me take that to her.” Glancing down at Sam and tapping the medical bag with his foot, he said, “Wait here, and keep an eye on that for me.”
    Sam nodded and shifted on the couch.
    Dr. Lantern took the glass of water to the door and knocked. “Janette? It’s Dr. Lantern. Is it okay for me to come in?”
    A loud scream caused everyone to jump. Sam watched his father push through the door. Alice was right behind him and let out a scream of her own as she passed through the open door frame. “Oh, dear heavens, she’s on fire! Doctor, do something.”
    A moment later Dr. Lantern yelled, “Sam, bring me my bag. Hurry!”
    Sam grabbed the bag and bolted toward the open doorway. Inside, Alice stood at the foot of the bed, a trembling hand held to her cheek while his father sat on the edge of the bed, leaning over an older woman twisting back and forth. At first Sam thought the woman tried to squirm from his father’s grasp, but, as he approached, he saw that she writhed in pain. Flames leapt from her forehead. Her body wavered, like a photograph seen through a flawed lens, distorted and skewed.
    Dr. Lantern held the woman’s shoulders, and bobbed and weaved over her, trying to get her attention. “Janette, listen. Stop this!”
    The flames leapt from the woman’s head onto the pillow. The doctor grabbed the pillow and yanked it from under her, tossing it behind him to the floor at Sam’s feet.
    Sam stomped on it until the fire went out, then kicked it from his path. “Dad, here’s your bag,” he said.
    Without looking up, Dr. Lantern said, “Open it up. There’s a small blue jar in the side pocket. It’s a heat-relieving salve.”
    Sam dropped the bag to the ground, knelt over it and fought with the buckle for a moment that seemed like an eternity. Getting it loose, he flipped open the top and felt around inside until he found the flat round jar. Holding it up, he asked, “Is this it?”
    Dr. Lantern glanced back and nodded. “Take off the lid and hand it to me.”
    Sam popped it open and held out the jar. Instead of taking it, the doctor dipped two fingers in and scooped out a large glob of clear goo. He turned back to his patient, and, while rubbing the salve between his palms, he said, “Janette, this heat-relieving salve will cool you down.”
    The woman continued to roll in the bed, moaning through gritted teeth.
    When she turned toward the doctor, he reached out with his coated hands and grabbed the sides of her head. Sliding his palms from her cheeks, over her temples and then across her forehead, the doctor smothered the flames. “Can’t you feel the salve cooling your skin? Doesn’t that feel better?” he asked.
    Her