I soon realized that I should have tried to get as much sleep as possible while I still could. It became quite elusive in a very short time. Who knew such a small creature could make so much noise? When I said as much to Helga, who looked as sleep deprived as I did, she said rather sharply,

“Well how else is she supposedto let us know something is wrong or that she needs something? It's not like she can talk.”

I decided it would be better to just keep such observations to myself. After a few tense days, as everyone's nerves seemed to stretch tighter, I noticed that Oota was looking more worried than tired. Her English may have been better than my mastery of her language, but conversations were still a mite garbled. She pulled me out of the cabin and and spoke in a hushed voice.

“Miss Heel-ga, too hot. Sick, needs medicine.”

Her words struck terror in my heart. I'd heard of childbed fever, my Aunt died from it when I was a boy. Since then I'd heard of many other women who died of fever after giving birth.

I was pulled from my thoughts by Oota pulling on my sleeve.

“Mr. Jess must get medicine. Go high up mountain. Get this plant.”

She showed me a crude drawing she had made on a piece of bark. I was surprised to actually recognize the plant. My mother called it feverwort and used it for many ailments. Oota also said,

“I find trees by stream, boil bark for medicine. Need snow or ice too if you find.”

I realized she was talking about the willow trees that grew by the stream. That was another thing I recalled my mother using. She would make a tea from willow bark any time someone was feverish. I remembered how terrible it tasted.

I ran inside to see Helga before I left. She was sleeping restlessly so I kissed her forehead. She felt like she was on fire. I ran outside to saddle my horse and set off as fast as I could. I'd seen a patch of the plants Oota showed me near the timberline the last time I went up the mountain to hunt for deer. I'd have to go a little higher if I wanted to find snow or ice. I saw Abe standing on the porch wringing his hands as I rode away. He looked much older to me somehow.

After about an hour's ride I found the patch of feverwort. I had no idea how much was needed so I grabbed as much as I could stuff in a bag. I had to ride another four hours to reach the snowline. I compacted it as much as I could and wrapped it in pieces of sheepskin before putting it in my saddlebags. I'd put some straw in the bags before I left and hoped it would help keep the snow from melting before I got back. I also hoped the clouds hiding the sun and the shade of the trees would help. My horse was looking a little tuckered by this time but I didn't have time to give him a rest. I had no idea how long I had before the snow melted. Saddlebags full of water wouldn't be very useful. At least going down the mountain would be a lot easier than going up.