11-22-05

                Before breakfast this morning I went to see Malcolm. It had occurred to me last night, as I was trying to sleep, that I completely blew-off telling him what a brave and amazing thing Jake had done, helping us the way he did. As we had breakfast together, I tried to emphasize just how horrible it was in that building, how Justine, Olivia and I actually became ill. How horrible those undead creatures were. I know how terrified I was, and I had Justine and Olivia there with me, I can't even begin to imagine how horrible it was for Jake, all by himself that first time. Malcolm agreed and sent a page to bring Jake to his quarters. When he got there, Malcolm thanked him for his great bravery and his service to the Kingdom. He then asked him if he wanted to go to Alamosa with his family, or if he wanted to stay here, at the House. Jake thought about it for a bit, thanked Malcolm, and said that he wanted to be with his family. Malcolm nodded and went over to his desk, pulled out some paper and started to write. He came back and with great ceremony handed the paper to Jake and told him that this "scroll" would give him entry to the Kingdom, whenever he chose, the opportunity to take service with a knight of the Kingdom and to begin his own training. Malcolm shook his hand, and wished him and his family well. I walked Jake out to the men who were going to take him to Alamosa, and I thanked him again for what he did and gave him a big hug before he left. It's amazing how chaos can actually bring out such good in some people.

                I spent the rest of the day working in the clinic. But things are better; we actually had time today for a couple a breaks!

11-23-05

                Spent all day in the clinic again. The head chirurgeon pulled Justine, Cordelia and myself aside this afternoon. He told us that his big fear now, is the possibility of staff infections breaking out. With everyone working so hard, most of them doing physical labor, hygiene has started to become lax. He wants to have some mandatory classes to remind everyone and to reinforce the importance of keeping everything clean, especially now, with medical supplies so hard to come by. I volunteered to talk to Malcolm about making an announcement at dinner. He agreed and called in Izzy to set up a schedule of classes and people to keep track of attendance.

                At dinner, Malcolm made the announcement and sent some of his pages around the House and to some of the outlying communities to make sure that everyone got the message. Afterwards, the head chirurgeon, Justine, Cordelia and I got together to make our own schedule of who will conduct which class, Justine and I drew the short straws and will be in the clinic early, while Cordelia and the chirurgeon conduct the first classes. So I am hitting the sack early tonite.

11-24-05

                Clinic and classes all day. A break for dinner and now to bed.

11-25-05

                Clinic and classes again, but things are definitely getting better. In one of the classes today, I was glad to see all the folk from Woodelf-ville. I was beginning to get worried. Seeing them reminded me that I hadn't seen Olivia since we got back from Denver, so during a break between classes, I wandered over to the Tower. Jennifer told me that Olivia had been busy for the past few days. "Making something magical," she said. When I took a moment to stop and "feel" for a bit, I could sense her up there, working away. So I told Jennifer not to bother her, I just came by to say "Hey". After dinner, I checked in at the clinic, and the chirurgeon told me to go home, and go to bed, that I was looking awful, and making myself sick wasn't going to help anyone. So, I stopped by the kitchen to hit Izzy up for some chamomile tea to help me sleep. And now to bed!