After a few moments of getting his breathing right, Lucas rolled his
head to the side so he could look back at Helen.
?I think the worst is over,? he said, squeezing her hand. She
hadn?t realized that they had joined hands, but it felt right to her.
She squeezed back gently and smiled. He looked horrible. Much
worse than Helen could have guessed.
?Piece of cake,? she said blithely, trying to distract him. ?So what
are you doing next Friday night??
?What have you got in mind??
?We could try hitting each other with cars,? she suggested
cheerfully.
?Did that last weekend with Jase,? he said with mock regret.
?Go to the zoo and throw ourselves to the lions?? she fired back
quickly, desperate to keep him focused on her rather than his
caved-in chest.
?The Romans sort of wore that one out. Got anything original??
?I?ll think of something,? she warned him.
97/395
?Can?t wait,? he breathed, and then turned his face away as he
rode another shivering wave of pain.
?Hey! Little help?? Helen yelled, her voice sliding up to a shriek
as she watched Lucas shake. ?Lucas isn?t doing so hot!?
?No, he isn?t doing so hot,? Cassandra said in a hoarse, bitter
voice from somewhere around Helen?s feet. Helen hadn?t realized
that anyone was in the hole with them while she and Lucas held
hands and cracked jokes, but she had the feeling that Cassandra
didn?t like what she had seen.
?Lower the boards down, it?s time to move them,? Cassandra
called up to her father, as if she was the one in charge.
Helen?s eyes widened in shock that any thirteen-year-old would