Chapter 20

He went to the bedroom and quietly got ready for bed. Noah didn’t even stir when he crawled under the sheet.

9

FOR SOME REASON Tom awoke earlier than usual the next morning. Noah appeared to be sound asleep, so he slipped quietly out of bed and went to the bathroom to shower and shave. When he returned to the bedroom, Noah was awake.

“Sorry I woke you.”

“I’m not sure you did. I was sort of drifting in and out.”

“How do you feel this morning?”

“Like crap,” Noah said. “My stomach hurts and I think I have a fever.”

“Let me see.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, felt Noah’s forehead, and said, “You’re burning up. Where does it hurt?”

“Lower belly.”

He felt carefully along Noah’s abdomen, pressing gently as he felt.

“There,” Noah said.

“I think we need to get you to a doctor.”

“Why?”

“Could be appendicitis, based on where you hurt and everything.”

“How would you know that?”

“My brother had it while he was in high school. Let me get dressed and I’ll go get our hosts.”