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Simon fussed with the saddlebags while Miriamele sat hugging her knees and staring out the open window at the night sky。 The stars were invisible behind a veil of clouds。 After Simon brought her the water skin and she drank； she felt weariness sweep over her again。
〃I feel。。。 bad；〃 she said。 〃I think I need to sleep some more。〃
The disappointment was plain in Simon's voice。 〃Certainly； Miri。〃
〃I'm sorry。 I just feel so ill。。。〃 She lay back and pulled the cloak tight beneath her chin。 The darkness seemed to spin slowly around her。 She saw Simon's shadowed silhouette against the window once more； then shadows came and took her back down。
By early morning Miriamele's fever was quite high。 Simon could do little for her but put a damp cloth on her forehead and give her water to drink。
The dark day passed in a blur of images： gray clouds sweeping past the window； the lonely sound of a solitary dove； Simon's worried face rising above her as periodically as the moon。 Miriamele discovered that she did not much care what happened to her。 All the fear and concern that had driven her was leached away by the illness。 If she could have chosen to fall asleep for a year； she would have； instead； she bobbed in and out of consciousness like a shipwrecked sailor clinging to a spar。 Her dreams were full of white trees and drowned cities with seaweed waving in their streets。
In the hour before dawn of their second day in the barn； Miriamele awakened to find herself clear…headed again； but terribly； terribly weak。 She had a sudden fear that she was alone； that her panion had left her behind。
〃Simon？〃 she asked。 There was no answer。 〃Simon！？〃
〃Humf？〃
〃Is that you？〃
〃What？ Miriamele？ Of course it's me。〃 She could hear him roll over and crawl toward her。 〃Are you worse？〃
〃Better； I think。〃 She stretched out a shaking hand until she found his arm； then finger…walked down it until she could clasp his hand。 〃But still not very well。 Stay with me for a little while。〃
〃Of course。 Are you cold？〃
〃A bit。〃
Simon caught up his cloak and laid it atop her own。 She felt so strengthless that the very gesture made her want to cry…indeed； a cold tear formed and trickled down her cheek。
〃Thank you。〃 She sat in silence for a while。 Even this short conversation had tired her。 The night； which had seemed so large and empty when she woke； now seemed a little less daunting。
〃I think I'm ready to go back to sleep now。〃 Her voice sounded fuzzy even in her own ears。
〃Good night； then。〃
Miriamele felt herself slipping away。 She wondered if Simon had ever had a dream as strange as the one about the white tree and the odd fruits it bore。 It seemed unlikely。。。
When she awoke to the uncertain light of a slate…gray dawn； Simon's cloak was still covering her。 He was sleeping nearby； a few wisps of damp hay his only covering。
Miriamele slept a great deal during their second day in the barn； but when she was not sunk in slumber； she felt much healthier； almost her old self。 By midday she was able to take some bread and a morsel of cheese。 Simon had been out exploring the local countryside； while she ate he told her of his adventures。
〃There are so few people！ I saw a couple on the road out of Falshire…I didn't let them see me； I promise you…but almost no one else。 There's a house down below that's almost falling apart。 I think it belongs to the people who own this barn。 There are holes in the roof in a few places； but most of the thatching is good。 I don't think anyone's living there now。 If we need to stay longer； that might be a drier place than this。〃
〃We'll see；〃 said Miriamele。 〃I may be able to ride tomorrow。〃
〃Perhaps； but you'll have to be able to move around a bit first。 This is the first time you've sat up since the night we left Falshire。〃 He turned toward her suddenly。 〃And I almost got killed！〃
〃What？〃 Miriamele had to grab for the waterskin to keep herself from choking on the dry bread。 〃What do you mean？〃 she demanded when she had recovered。 〃Was it Fire Dancers？〃
〃No；〃 Simon said； his eyes wide； his expression solemn。 A moment later he grinned。 〃But it was a near thing； even so。 I was ing back uphill from the field next to the house。 I had been picking some。。。 some flowers there。〃
Miriamele looked at him quizzically。 〃Flowers？ What did you want with flowers？〃
Simon went on as though the question had not been asked。 〃Something made a noise and I looked up。 Standing there at the top of the rise behind me was a bull。〃
〃Simon！〃
〃He didn't look very friendly； either。 He was all bony； and his eyes were red； and he had bloody scratches along his sides。〃 Simon dragged his fingers down his ribs； illustrating。 〃We stood there staring at each other for a moment； then he began to lower his head and make huffing noises。 I started walking backward toward where I'd been。 He came down the hill after me； making these little dancing steps； but going faster and faster。〃
〃But Simon！ What did you do？〃
〃Well； running downhill in front of a bull seemed fairly stupid； so I dropped the flowers and climbed the first good…sized tree that I reached。 He stopped at the bottom…I got my feet up out of the way Just as he got there…then all of a sudden he lowered his head； and。。。 thump！〃 Simon brought his fist into his open palm； 〃he smacked up against the trunk。 The whole tree shook and it almost knocked me off the branch I was hanging on； until I got my legs wrapped around good and tight。 I pulled myself up until I was sitting on the branch； which was a good thing； because this idiot bull began butting his head against the tree； over and over until the skin began to peel off his head and there was blood running down his face。〃
〃That's terrible。 He must have been mad； poor animal。〃
〃Poor animal！ 1 like that！〃 Simon's voice rose in mock despair。 〃He tries to kill your special protector and all you can say about him is 'poor animal。 〃
Miriamele smiled。 〃I'm glad he didn't kill you。 What happened？〃
〃Oh； he got tired at last and went away；〃 Simon said airily。 〃Walked on down the dell； so that he wasn't between me and the fence anymore。 Still； as I was running up the slope； I kept thinking I heard him ing up behind me。〃
〃Well； you had a close call。〃 Unable to help herself； Miriamele yawned； Simon made a face。 〃But I'm glad you didn't slay the monster；〃 she continued； 〃even if you are a knight。 He can't help being mad。〃
〃Slay the monster？ What； with my bare hands？〃 Simon laughed； but sounded pleased。 〃But maybe killing him would have been the kindest thing to do。 He certainly seemed past saving。 That's probably why whoever lived there left him behind。〃
〃Or he may have gone mad because they left him behind；〃 Miriamele said slowly。 She looked at Simon and saw that he had heard something odd in her voice。 〃I'm tired； now。 Thank you for the bread。〃
〃There's one thing more。〃 He reached into his cloak and produced a small green apple。 〃The only one within walking distance。〃
Miriamele stared at it suspiciously for a moment； then sniffed it b