Read Online Miriam's Well by Lois Ruby - Free Book Online

Wichita. Mr. Bennet was alone in the front seat, then Diana and I had the middle section, and behind us Andy Woodman and Jeremy Schein, our sophomore novice team, were catching a nap before we pulled into Dodge. We were past the Golden Arches, the Pizza Huts, and the Taco Ticos, out into what is nostalgically called the prairie. We call it the boondocks, that wheaty flatland between Pratt and Dodge City, where Wyatt Earp is supposed to be buried, but isn’t.
    â€œI mean, the girl is stuck in the hospital with a police guard, and half the state of Kansas is arguing over what’s best for her,” Diana said. “I don’t see what the fight’s about. I know what’s best for her.”
    â€œYeah? What?” I thought about the soaked pillow.
    â€œThey should start zapping her with chemo, Adam. I know. I interviewed Dr. Miller for the Vanguard article.” Diana, of course, was editor of the school paper. “And Dr. Miller’s a cancer specialist. He’s world-famous all over the greater Midwest, and he says the treatment of choice is chemotherapy. He mentioned some drug, Cytocel, that he’d probably prescribe, and he says she’s got better than a fifty-percent chance of beating this thing. So what are they waiting for?”
    â€œI don’t think it’s that simple.” It used to be, I thought to myself, but it was getting more and more complicated every day. I was actually thinking about going back to the hospital to visit the girl.
    Andy leaned forward and dug his chin into my shoulder. “Who are you talking about, that Jesus weirdo up at Memorial?”
    â€œThey’re poetry partners,” Diana explained.
    â€œWow. She’s one of the looniest space cases I ever knew.”
    Diana said, “You don’t know everything, Andy.”
    â€œNo, you’re the only one who knows everything.”
    Diana smiled. “Well, I know what they should be doing. They should be moving posthaste into aggressive chemical treatment while the tumor is still localized. A direct quote from my Vanguard article. Adam? You’re not talking.”
    â€œI don’t have to. You talk enough for all of us.”
    â€œWell, thanks a lot. You sure depend on me to talk in debates. I’m always bailing you out.”
    â€œThat’s a bald-faced lie!”
    â€œRight,” Diana said, leaning over to kiss my neck.
    â€œStop all that slobbering. I’m sleeping,” Jeremy shouted.
    â€œBut it’s the evidence that’s most important,” whispered Diana, “and the evidence is clear that Miriam can’t risk any delays.”
    Andy climbed over the seat and planted himself between Diana and me. “What’s that crazy religion she’s in? Something like Sword and Sorcery.”
    â€œSword and the Spirit,” I replied. I’d heard the name half a dozen times on TV in the past week, and my parents were always talking about it at dinner. “It’s from the Bible somewhere. It means ‘the word of God.’”
    â€œYeah, the Great Swordsman. Are they, like, nineteenth century or what?”
    â€œAll right, Woodman, let’s get the facts straight,” I said. “It’s a small religious sect with about six hundred members in Kansas and Nebraska and maybe Indiana, I’m not sure. The head man is this guy about the size of Bull on Night Court —heavy beard, carpenter’s overalls, Shepler’s bargain boots—you get a clear picture? They call him Brother James. His name’s probably really something like Gonzo or Howie.”
    â€œYou’re such a cynic, Adam. The man definitely has charisma,” Diana said.
    â€œThe church gets off on the Bible, which they call the Book in Gold Leaf . And they’re not into doctors.”
    â€œWhat have they got against doctors?” Andy asked. “My uncle’s a urologist.”
    â€œOh, gross,” said Diana.
    â€œTheir