She took no notice. 'Ye've made one who was only impudent and
restless with her place outright rebellious. Well, her mother was
the same way, and died of it not long after returning Jenna to her
proper Place. Raise your hand, thankless man.'
'I can't. I can't move at all.'
'Oh, cully! Haven't you heard it said 'fool not your mother 'less
she's out of face'? I know pretty well what ye can and can't do.
Now raise your hand.'
Roland raised his right hand, trying to suggest more effort than it,
actually took. He thought that this morning he might be strong
enough to slip free of the slings ... but what then? Any real walking
would beyond him for hours yet, even without another dose of
'medicine' . . and behind Sister Mary, Sister Louise was taking the
cover from a fresh bowl of soup. As Roland looked at it, his
stomach rumbled.
Big Sister heard and smiled a bit. 'Even lying in bed builds an
appetite in a strong man, if it's done long enough. Wouldn't you
say so, Jason brother of John?'
'My name is James. As you well know, Sister.'
'Do I?' She laughed angrily. 'Oh, la! And if I whipped your little
sweetheart hard enough and long enough - until the blood jumped
her back like drops of sweat, let us say - should I not whip a
different name out of her? Or didn't ye trust her with it, during
your little talk?'
'Touch her and I'll kill you.'
She laughed again. Her face shimmered; her firm mouth turned
into something that looked like a dying jellyfish. 'Speak not of
killing to us cully, lest we speak of it to you.'
'Sister, if you and Jenna don't see eye to eye, why not release her
from her vows and let her go her course?'
'Such as us can never be released from our vows, nor be let go. Her
mother tried and then came back, her dying and the girl sick. Why,
it was we nursed Jenna back to health after her mother was nothing
but dirt in the breeze that blows out towards End-World, and how
little she thanks us! Besides, she bears the Dark Bells, the sigil of
our sisterhood. Of our ka-tet. Now eat - yer belly says ye're
hungry!'
Sister Louise offered the bowl, but her eyes kept drifting to the
shape the medallion made under the breast of his bed-dress. Don't
like it, do you? Roland thought, and then remembered Louise by
candlelight, the freighter's blood on her chin, her ancient eyes
eager as she leaned forward to lick his spend from Sister Mary's
hand.
He turned his head aside. 'I want nothing.'
'But ye're hungry!' Louise protested. 'If'ee don't eat, James, how
will'ee get'ee strength back?'
'Send Jenna. I'll eat what she brings.'
Sister Mary's frown was black. 'Ye'll see her no more. She's been
released from Thoughtful House only on her solemn promise to
double her time of meditation ... and to stay out of the infirmary.
