Watery Graves by Kelli Bradicich Page B

Libby was taking his side now. She was supposed to be her friend.
    “Never mind,” Sebastian said.
    “So what do the doctors think?” Libby asked.
    “Nothing, we don’t even know if its cancer for sure,” Sebastian said.
    “But that’s what everyone thinks it is,” Emmy said.
    “There’s lots of tumours and lumps. Some are pretty big,” Sebastian finished.
    “There’s so many different types of cancer,” Libby said. “You know that’s the problem with computers these days, everyone self-diagnoses and worries about some horrible disease, when really they just have the flu or something.” 
    “Yeah, it could be anything,” Sebastian said. “Glandular fever maybe. She gets tired a lot.”
    “When do you find out?” Libby asked.
    “This afternoon,” Emmy and Sebastian said in unison.
    Sebastian looked at his watch. “Another hour I’d say.”
    “Please tell us when you know. I don’t want to ask in case it’s bad.”
    “Don’t tell anyone,” Emmy said.
    “Mum doesn’t gossip,” Libby defended. “Matilda and Cassidy will though. We will have to keep it from them.”
    Sebastian cleared his throat. “It might be a good way of getting news out in town about what’s really going on. Unleash the story, I say. At least they might have some facts thrown in there for a change.”
    “We know nothing yet,” Emmy reminded them.
    “I’m hoping for Glandular Fever now,” Sebastian said, hooking his hands behind his head and laying back.
    “Can’t you die from that too?” Emmy asked.
    “Not these days. We’ve moved on a bit from the Little Women era,” Libby snorted, tapping Emmy’s book. “People don’t get it anymore. If they do, I don’t hear about it.”
    Emmy felt like throwing it at her. A weird thing to think, but the thought just popped into her head. “Beth had Scarlet Fever Libby,” she said, quietly.
    “I don’t think you should worry,” Libby continued. “Cancer isn’t a death sentence like it used to be. Tumours and lumps don’t sound good but they can be benign. And if they’re not, there are things they can do.”
    Emmy could tell the way Sebastian held onto every word Libby said that he wanted to believe her. She wanted to believe her too. It was good for both of them to hear words like that from someone on the outside. Libby knew more about the world than both of them put together. She could be right. 
    “Wouldn’t it be fun to make up some new really contagious disease, and spread that around town,” Sebastian said, laughing.
    Libby joined in. “Yeah. Something really horrible, like that in your dying days you break out in pus-filled lesions and vomit green stringy mucous.”
    “And purple and black dia rrhoea.”
    Emmy couldn’t hold back . “How do you guys know that’s not going to happen to Maya anyway?” She stood up and left them to it.
    But they were silent.
    Below, the river crawled, keeping its silence. Emmy walked over to the ledge. She picked up a rock and hurled it as hard as she could. It bounced off a rocky outcrop and dropped in with a plop.

Chapter Nine
     
    Emmy and Sebastian were making frittata for dinner when the van pulled up outside. They dropped the knives and skillet on the bench and headed for the door. Kristian was helping Maya from the van. Loaded with canvas shopping bags, Ingrid led the way to the two- bedroom cabin that Kristian, Maya and Sebastian shared.
    Emmy exchanged a look with Sebastian. They followed.
    In the room, Kristian drew back the curtains and opened the concertina windows overlooking Mercy River. Fresh air and light flooded the room. Sprigs of lavender in a vase released a slow perfume.
    Ingrid and Emmy waited in silence for the jug to boil. Ingrid immersed a concoction of herbs in hot water. Emmy picked up the packet and read the label, “Chinese Medicine Centre – Mercy Falls”.
    Maya climbed into bed fully clothed. “I’m okay. Stop fussing,” she snapped at Kristian who was plumping up a couple of