Kendra the doctor

Finally a single black form emerged from among the restless satyrs. The silhouette plodded toward the gap in the hedge as if resisting a mighty wind. Seth sat up. "Here we go. "

  "Who do you see?" Kendra asked.

  "He's short and thin. Might be Coulter. " Seth raised his voice. "That you, Coulter?"

  With apparent effort, the figure raised a hand to display the missing fingers. He kept trudging forward, each step seeming to demand greater effort than the last.

  "He's struggling," Seth said. "Must be your light. "

  "Should I back away?"

  "Maybe. "

  Kendra rose and walked away from the gap in the hedge.

  "Wait!" Seth cried. "He's waving his arms. He's motioning for you to come back. No, not just back, he wants you to come toward him. "

  "What if it isn't Coulter?" Kendra worried.

  "He can't pass through the gap," Seth said. "Just don't get within grabbing distance. "

  Seth and Kendra walked toward the gap, stopping two paces from the entrance. Coulter hunched forward, trembling with the effort of each arduous step, but managed to keep his feet moving.

  "Where is he?" Kendra asked.

  "Almost to the gap," Seth said. "He looks like he's about to pass out. "

  Coulter slogged forward another few steps. Pausing, he leaned forward, bracing one hand against his thigh. Quivering, he strained to lift the other arm, but failed to hoist it very high.

  "He's reaching for us," Seth said. "Step a little closer. "

  "I can't let him touch me!" Kendra exclaimed.

  "Just a step," Seth said. "I think he's come as far as he can. "

  "Why don't I back away?"

  "He wants you near him. "

  Kendra took a cautious half-step forward, and suddenly Seth glimpsed flesh flickering beneath the shadow.

  "I see him!" Kendra shrieked, lifting her hands to her lips. "Part of him, anyway, faintly. "

  "Me too," Seth said. "I've never seen any of the shadow people do that. I think you might be healing him. Yes! He's nodding. Get closer!"

  "What if he contaminates me?"

  "Just a little closer. He still won't be able to reach you. "

  "What if he's faking how far he can reach?"

  "He fell to his knees!" Seth cried.

  "I can see," Kendra said, taking another half-step toward the gap in the hedge. Coulter flashed into clearer view, slumped forward, both hands buttressed against his thighs. His face looked anguished, contorted by tremendous effort. He tried to keep his head up, but it was slowly bowing.

  "Help him!" Seth yelped.

  Kendra stepped into the gap between the hedges and seized Coulter's shoulder. Instantly he came into full view and flopped through the gap in the hedge to lie panting on the path.

  "Coulter!" Seth exclaimed. "You're back!"

  "Barely," he wheezed, face ruddy from the recent exertion. "Just barely. Give me. . . a minute. "

  "We're so happy you're alive!" Kendra gushed, tears blurring her vision.

  "We should. . . stay back. . . from the entrance," he gasped, crawling away from the gap in the hedge.

  "A pair of satyrs just took off running," Seth reported.

  "They'll want to. . . spread the word. . . that Kendra can overcome the darkness," Coulter panted. He sat up, taking deep breaths. Gradually he appeared to relax.

  "Did you see my light?" Kendra asked.

  Coulter chuckled. "Did I see it? I was scalded by your light, Kendra, blinded by it. I thought it might consume me. It scorched me differently than sunlight. Sunlight only inflicted pain. Cold pain. Your light beckoned as well as burned. It gave me warmth along with the pain, the first warmth I've felt since the shadow fairies transformed me. I could feel the darkness that possessed me cringing away from your light, and that gave me hope. I thought if I could just get close enough to your light, I would either perish or be cleansed. Either way, my frigid existence would end. "

Chapter 22