shaking

And it was still too cold outside to leave him his mom was freaking out George had run to get his grandma she was an Inuit medicine woman Dr. Baker would be gone for a little while yet and they were desperate George's grandma was an old woman but she had the stamina of a bull moose the second George had run to get her she kept up with them as she only stopping to grab her bag there were only a few things that could be done but they might just help save David.

David's mom leave laid a warm washcloth on his head he had started getting chills running up and down his body and he couldn't talk that much only groaning in pain she had him covered with a blanket and she had sent his brother Jim to his room told him not to come out till she said so.

George's grandmother got there within 15 minutes along with George David's mom had opened the door slowly to see who was there.

Once she saw it was George's grandmother she opened the door and said he's over on the couch. Can you help him? George's grandmother tilting her head looked at David's mom and said I'll do my best slowly the old Inuit woman walked up to David on the couch and placed her hand on his head taking off the cloth he has a fever and George said he had a seizure David's mom looked at her making eye contact and said it was a major one and went on for 5 minutes I could do nothing he bit me why would he bite me he's never bitten before and the seizure his body contorted and and

And what

Well, David's mom removed the cover and lifted up David's shirt showing his back which was now covered in fur.

George's grandmother's eyes widened. It had been forever since she'd seen something like this and she was only a child when she had seen it could it be.

George's grandmother looked at David's mother and said my dear what's your maiden name

What does that have to do with David he's clearly in a lot of pain can't you help him

I can't help him unless I know your maiden name we've known each other for a long time Lucy and you've never told me your last name I know your family's Scottish and your husband belongs to the tribe what is your maiden name this is a dire importance

Its Lyall

George's grandmother put her hand to her mouth and let out a small cry so you are Lucy lisle of the Lyle clan. Well, my mother's last name was Fitzpatrick. What does any of this have to do with David?

It has everything to do with David and everything to do with you how old is David he's about George's age. I know that but George is a little bit older than him is that right, well yes David's 15, and George is 16 I don't see what any of this has to do with it.

Do you know anything about your family line Lucy about where the Lyles came from? No, I really don't. I know where from Scotland and Ireland and that our family goes back centuries.

Centuries you say interesting

Didn't you say your grandfather came over here when he was 16 with his new bride to Alaska to harvest ice? Well yeah, and wasn't he the one who made that path to the lake yes, and didn't he build your house yes but what does.

And he died falling through the ice as did his father before him in Scotland and your own father yes?

Yes

And the body was never found

Yes.

Do you know anything about your grandfather

No, I never met him

Well I knew your father when he first came over here I was only 7 years old it seems so long ago the same thing except he didn't fall through the ice it was summer and he nearly drowned in that like that would later take his life my brother was there and he said something had pulled him down if it weren't for my brother he would have drowned do you get what I'm trying to say.

No

Come over here George you go outside

Are you aware of the term werewolf

What do you mean by that

Your family is cursed

It's a bloodline curse that only affects firstborns don't tell your husband he won't understand you know the McKinney's who lives about a mile south of here there is no cure for a bloodline curse but there is a way to manage it the McKinney know of people who can help.

You're crazy I should have never called you. How could you suggest something like this werewolf my son's not a werewolf he just fell through the ice and is very sick I thought you could help.

I can't help him reaching into her bag she pulled out a small flask of a purplish liquid.

What's that Lucy asked

It's a medicine that calms seizures I'm serious Lucy I've been around a while and I know what this is and if you don't get help for him something bad is going to happen people from around town are going to find out and around here things like this out of the ordinary will not be tolerated they will literally kill him.

I thought you were an Inuit medicine woman can't you just tell them that he's not going to hurt anybody or that he's not a werewolf.

They won't listen to me, not about something like this there are traditions involved and you know the fanatics are going to drive the people to do something reckless call Mr. McKinney they know people who can help I'm not asking you this as a medicine woman I'm asking you this as a friend and I'm telling you this as a mother do you love your child

Of course

Would you do anything for him

No question but

Then it's settled if you won't talk to the McKinney's I can't but you have to before it's too late your husband can find out eventually when all this is settled but if he finds out now something really bad is going to happen.