The Right Hand Of The Father

Chapter 38

"Are you certain you want to do this?" Thomas asked and

George fought to keep his eyes open long enough to fix them on

the other man. "Adams will fuss."

"Let him fuss," George replied. "I cannot leave Alexander

alone and march off to war. Especially since we have no

guarantees that the people of the American colonies will rise up

with us to overthrow King George. If we were to fail, it would

be the Tower for any of us who fought and the boy would be left

an orphan again."

"But Adams—"

"If Adams doesn't like it then he can squeeze his fat

bottom into a uniform and lead the troops himself. For I shall

not. As you have said before Thomas — I have given enough to

Virginia. Now it is time that I give to Alexander."

He passed a sheaf of parchment over to the other man. "Now,

if we could continue? It'll be dinner soon and Alexander will—"

"How is he?" Thomas asked and George's shoulders slumped.

"He is... better."

Better was perhaps the best word for it. Two weeks into the

boy's treatment and he no longer hallucinated. No longer

screamed in pain and claimed that his body was on fire. Did not

try to peel off his own skin. Did not claim that bugs were

crawling inside his veins.

Yesterday, he managed to hold down all three of his meals

and even managed a small snack.

Yet as the poison had leeched free of him so had his

energy. Dr. Man had said that it was normal. That often those

who had been addicted to such poisons would suffer from

exhaustion for weeks after the poisoning was stopped. That the

best thing for Alexander was rest and fresh air.

"And you are certain that this is the course you want to

follow?" Thomas asked as he looked over the papers. "To leave

Louisiana and start again? In New France of all places?"

"I cannot keep Alexander here," George answered. "Not where

the Marquis can find him. Not where he has such easy access to

the poison that would kill him."

"But if his mind is clear of—"

"According to Dr. Man his mind may never be completely free

of it. That those who find themselves addicted to such things

will always crave it. Will always have the taste for such thing

and even the strongest of men have toppled when confronted with

temptation. No, it is better that he be removed from the

temptation all together. And besides that..."

"If you are to live openly together as lovers, you cannot