Chapter 26: VisitationsFor the third time in the last ten minutes, McGauran stumbles behind Benito, tumbling to his knees in the snow. He quickly tries to stand, but the snow is too deep, and when he leans on his hand, his arm gets buried up to the elbow in it.
“Ah, Dio mio,” Benito grumbles in his mother tongue. Nervously, he checks the trail of men walking ahead and hurries back to McGauran, offering his hand. “Presto. Presto. Before Sullivan sees.”
A swarm of black dots dance before his eyes and McGauran wretches and coughs, bile shooting up his throat. Clutching Benito’s shoulder, he struggles to get to his feet.
Benito loops his arm around his waist. “You should have stayed in the cabin.”
“No, no, I’m fine.” But he sways, and when he looks up, tree crowns circle around his head, m
