Free My Guardian Angel by Sylvie Weil

show us everything!” beg the twins.
    â€œAll right,” says Elvina, “but why do you think I brought frogs?”
    â€œWhen Grandfather was ill they put frogs on him!” Naomi replies.
    Bella comes to Elvina’s rescue. She takes the basket and pushes the twins back onto the bed. “You are so stupid! It wasn’t frogs they used on Grandfather; it was leeches!”
    â€œAre you going to put leeches on Muriel?” asks Rachel, wide-eyed.
    â€œNo. Sometimes my mother does that, but I don’t dare. I’ll do it by cupping. I need four glasses and some very hot water to heat them with. And I’ll need a lamp!”
    Muriel stretches out a feverish hand to Elvina. “I knew you’d come. You’re such a good and faithful friend. I’m sorry I said you were proud and pretentious last time you were here.”
    â€œBut you were quite right. I owe you an apology, too. Now don’t talk; it’ll make you cough.”
    Naomi and Rachel are growing impatient. “Stop all your polite talk, Elvina, and show us what’s in your basket.”
    Opening the basket, Elvina explains, “This is syrup of poppies to calm sore throats and coughs.” She produces another vial. “And this is vinegar and rosewater mixed with ashes to rub on Muriel’s temples if she has a headache. And here is some sandalwood, which we will burn to purify the air in the room.” She pulls the parchment from her sleeve. “And I brought a talisman.”
    Muriel stretches out her neck. “Tie it on for me. What does it say?”
    â€œIt’s a verse from the Bible. ‘All the plagues with which I have stricken Egypt, I shall not strike you with, for I am the Lord who heals you.’”
    Bella and her mother bring in glasses, a jug of boiling water, and a lamp. Elvina speaks in her own mother’s calm, authoritative tone: “Fill up the glasses. They have to be very hot. Muriel, lie on your stomach. Bella, pass me a glass; empty it first; just pour the water back into the jug! Quick!”
    Muriel moans, “It’s burning hot!”
    â€œDon’t worry! Another glass!” orders Elvina. “Get out of my light, girls; I can’t see a thing!”
    Lying on the bed, the twins follow Elvina’s every move. “It works!” they cry out. “The skin is coming up! Muriel, does it hurt?”
    â€œA bit.” Muriel’s voice is muffled in the pillow. Her back is covered with glasses under which the skin is welling up in huge red blisters.
    Rachel strokes Muriel’s hair, saying gently, “You are a real heroine; you’ll be better in no time!”
    Once Muriel is sitting up again, disheveled but looking happier, Elvina pulls one more sachet from her basket. “These are herbs my mother recommends for fever. You have to make a jug of tea every hour, leave it to cool down, and then let Muriel drink it.”
    As soon as their mother has left the room to go down and make the herb tea, Rachel and Naomi ask Elvina, “Isn’t there a spell against the fever demon? What’s his name? It’s a really long one.”
    â€œWhere did you pick that up from?” Elvina replies in a hushed tone.
    â€œIt’s what people say. We listen; that’s all.”
    â€œWell, since you are so well informed, you must know that we never mention such things aloud.”
    â€œBut do you know the spell?”
    Elvina doesn’t reply. She has put her big cape back on, but before she has time to fasten it, the twins catch her by each hand. Their mother has taken the lamp away, but Elvina sees their eyes shining in the semidarkness as they ask again, “You do know the spell; admit that you know it! Teach it to us; teach us the spell against the fever demon!”
    â€œStop it!” Elvina protests. “You’re going to pull my arms out of their sockets! I heard my grandfather mention that spell a long time