Port of Errors Read Online Free Page B

and Davy were seen together more oft than not. Emily soon joined Charley, Joseph and Davy in their boyish games.
    Joseph caught Davy and Emily holding hands a time or two but didn’t speak a word of it. Within their eyes could be seen the pure and innocent love they felt toward one another. Grim only grew more jealous and envious of their relationship.
    In the following months, Charley became stricken with a sudden illness, forcing him bedridden. After a few months he could no longer stand on his own. He asked Joseph and Davy to read a portion of scripture to him nightly. Joseph would often elaborate on the readings, while Davy read only out of respect.
    One morning as Davy was reading, Charley had a visit from the town doctor. Davy was asked to step aside, without bothering to excuse him from the room. Davy stood and watched as the doctor bled him to rid his body of the ills. Over the next few hours, Davy watched as Charley began to slip from life.
    Amazingly, Charley lived, but was weak and frail. The following few weeks, Charley was able to recuperate. But as soon as Charley was strong enough, the doctor returned. Davy was once again in the room, as was joseph. They observed as a searing hot iron was brought up.
    “I must burn out the evils that inflict your body,” explained the doctor. The terror could be read within Charley’s devastated eyes, as he placed his hand over the silver cross Father Whittaker had lovingly given to him. Gripping it tight, his breath became a whimpering moan, almost rhythmically pulsating to the beat of his pounding heart. “Don’t be afraid, lad.” The doctor held the iron above Charley for only a second before pressing it down upon his bare chest. A horrific scream was heard throughout the halls of the cathedral. The doctor repeated the procedure two more times before Charley fainted from the excruciating pain.
    Following this session, Father Whittaker conversed with the doctor. “Is the boy curable?”
    “It’s hard to say,” he replied.
    “How much more of this can the boy take?”
    “Not much more I’m afraid.”
    “Then let him be. He’s had enough.”
    “But, without the proper attention, he…”
    “Whatever happens,” interjected Father, “Charley is now in the Lord’s keep.”
    Outraged, the doctor wiped his hands of any guilt or responsibility. “It’ll be on your head, Father. Good day!” The doctor stormed out without another word.
    Even at this discontented time Charley seemed happy. Over the next few days, his breath became noticeably weaker. Father Whittaker gathered the children together at Davy’s bedside for Charley’s final hours. Davy’s bitterness grew as Charley’s life faded.
    Gripping the bedding tight, Charley continued to sweat profusely. His body tensed as he clinched his teeth, groaning in agony. Finally, in a brief moment of relief, he spoke. “I’ll be waiting for you at the pearly gates. I’ll see you again someday. Don’t worry about me.” Charley took Davy by the hand and held it firm. “I’ll be watching over you from the other side. I promise.” He softly closed his eyes and his grip became nonexistent.
    Davy realized that Charley had placed something in his hand. He rolled back his fingers to reveal the cross that Father Whittaker had given to Charley. Davy broke into tears as he placed it around his own neck, though, his bitterness kept feeding on his disbelief, which only continued to grow.
     
    Chapter IV
    Black-Hearted awoke to a lonesome and bitter night, quiet and unsettling. He opened his hand, revealing the cross still strung around his scarred neck, given to him by Charley. Staring pensively upon it, he let it slip from his hand and hang from the frayed old string. But more than Charley, it was his best friend Joseph that was truly branded upon his mind…
     
    Joseph and Davy continued to be close to one another, considering each other as no less than brothers. As time passed, their memory of Charley found a