Part 73 (1/2)

And thus they beca now descends fro now descends froht

I woke up drenched in sweat,I felt sick at my stomach It was only a dream, only a dreahastly details began to fade a little It wasn't like that at all It couldn't have been

Well, what do you think it was like, then? I couldn't keep the thought away I remembered so hat he was like Now she would have all those things--his kisses, his hands on her face, even the heavy weight of hiet! Why did I have to picture things so vividly? It was a curse, to have such an i with ht left me shaken and exhausted, the worst possible combination hich to face what now rushed upon ht's rest, by late the next night I was in full, hard labor

It had no gentle onset, but hit me as unexpectedly as the sailor's news The servants rushed about to prepare the birth roo about in confusion

The pain was crippling I could barely stand up to be guided into the roo on two s would not obey, and eachdown to my feet They put me on the special stool that was used only for this purpose, with a sturdy back and very low legs; the entire thing was draped in sheets I reclined on it, gripping the sides, al at such a fast rate they were all blurring into one

In times like that, each instant seems like forever, and hours can be condensed intoI re, ”Her color is bad, and besides--”

So I could not hear, and then, ”Send for Olyrow dark, and I heard Oly?” and then, ”If not--”

I was being lifted, transferred to soht my ar ondown on it, and heard someone cry, ”Blood! Blood!” with panic in her voice

”Pull!” someone said

”I can't” Another voice ”It is turned the wrong way”

”Then twist it around!” That was Oly war out underneathoff the table and for a pool underneath It looked very thick and very red It s very slowly, revolving around soes of unconsciousness lapping aroundwrench, and I felt as if ed out ”There it is!”

There was a thin, coughing cry, and I heard soirl”

The pain did not cease then, but intensified More gushes of the hot, sticky blood, soaking even the back of my head now And shrieks from the attendants, wails

”It's stuck The second one, it's stuck”

”In the na!”

”I can't--”

There was a flutter of voices, faces hovering over

Yanks and pulls, and frantic beating on rip on consciousness still further

”We're losing her!” I heard the words, faintly, and looked up to see Oly

”Stop the bleeding! Stop it, in the name of all the Gods!” someone cried

”I can't!” Another voice, a woman's

”Then pull it hard, now!” Olympos shouted ”Or, here--”

”But how--” a faint voice at ed breath after another, gasping

”Grab it! Turn it!” Oly, and torrents of blood gushed out, surging like a sea wave, engulfingmy ears where I lay on my back

”Got him” Those were the last words I heard

When I awoke, I was so bandaged and aching I could not move Every muscle, every sliver of ht was pouring in Obviously it was the next day Or the next Orin my breasts; they were all swollen with milk It must have been two or three days, then

For a fewto see as there Twoa baby I felt a cold jolt of fear Where was the other one?

”She's awake!” One of the women noticed me and was instantly at my side

I attempted to smile ”And alive, too,” I said My voice sounded very weak and sht the baby over to me, placed her in my arms It hurt to hold her

Her little face slept serenely Clearly the experience had not disturbed herhim,” she said ”Tell them the Queen is awake”

In only aa second bundle, and placed him inat ht blue eyes Miracle of miracles, he was unhar hisin on the heels of the attendant I was touched; he had obviously been waiting in the next roo it had been He looked dreadful, as if he had been through the ordeal too ”Thanks to all the Gods!” heagain”

”Now don't be too hasty,” I said, but it took allyet never to need the help of the Gods again”

”I thought you were going to die,” he said simply

”I know,” I said ”I heard you” And saw you cry, too, I reone personally to Marc Antony and killed him,” he said, and I knew he meant it Then, embarrassed, he hurried on, ”The babies were born a little early; they were ser, none of you would be here”

I winced ”Bigger I don't want to think about,” I said, atteh That hurt, too ”Will I ever recover?” I asked I felt I never would be free of pain again