Red Leaves and the Living Token Read Online Free Page B

hands. "What are you guys reading?"
    Moslin looked away, uncomfortable.
    Emret stared at the book. "Same thing."
    Raj turned his attention to the nurse. "I appreciate you taking so much time with my son."
    "My pleasure," She replied.
    "Although, you run the risk of making your other patients jealous." He jested.
    She laughed. "I don't think it's the other patients I have to worry about."
    He smiled.
    She picked up the green book off the bed and stepped past Raj towards the exit.
    "Where're you going?" Emret asked.
    "Your father's right. I do have other patients."
    "Thanks Dad." Emret muttered sarcastically.
    "Don't worry, sweetie. I'll be back later." She said as she slipped out the door.
    "Didn't you two just finish that book?" Raj asked as he turned back to the bed.
    "Yeah why?"
    "Well, how many time have you read it?"
    "I don't know."
    "Don't you have other books you could read?"
    "Dad! Seriously."
    A scratching noise reverberated from the wall across from the foot of the bed. They both turned abruptly, startled by the noise.
    At the base of the wall near the door was a small ornately trimmed hole. The scratching grew louder until a small rodent scampered out onto the lip of the trim and hopped down onto the floor.
    It scurried across the tile and stopped in front of Handers with its chest exposed. A metal plate engraved with the crest of his wife's family hung to the underside of the small animal.
    Raj dropped his shoulders. It was such an ugly creature. And it stunk. Fit the message, he supposed, chuckling to himself.
    The rodent rubbed his hands together for a few seconds then scampered back the way it came.
    Rinacht got up from his seat and moved towards the door. "Shall I admit them, sir?"
    Raj stared at him for a moment before responding. What if he said no, he thought. He could. He could simply not let them in. That wouldn't be that bad, would it?
    He looked back at his son who was watching him with a disapproving look. "Yes, of course. Why would you need to ask that, Rinacht?" He delivered an uncomfortable fake laugh to his son and then pointed at Rinacht as though he didn't know what had gotten in to him.
    He followed his glum servant to the door to meet the arriving guests. "And we were having such a nice day." He muttered.
    Rinacht turned to him and whispered, "She could fall. Ya know... accidentally. The floors are quite slippery."
    Raj laughed. "You're a good man, my friend."
    A light rap on the door cut off their exchange. Rinacht opened the door and made a welcoming gesture to the guests standing outside. "Please come in."
    Emret's grandparents and an aunt danced into the room with an explosion of chatter. Rinacht bowed politely. "Sirs and Madam."
    They side stepped Raj and Rinacht without a word of acknowledgment and continued their exaggerated waltz towards their grandchild, singing his woes all the way to his bed side.
    Emret leaned forward to greet them as they wrapped him up in a warm and loud embrace.
    His grandpa grabbed a handful of Emret's hospital gown and pulled on his stomach skin. "What're they feeding ya in here boy? You're ten pounds heavier every time I see ya."
    "So when do we getta break ya outa here?" Asked his aunt.
    "Yes that's a good question.” The boy’s grandmother said, then paused. “Raj?"
    Handers glanced over from his hiding place in the corner. "I'm sorry?"
    She didn't turn to face him. "When is he coming home?"
    "We don't know yet. Exactly."
    This time she turned. "What do you mean you don't know yet. The poor boy's been here over a month! You should know everything you need to know by now."
    "Well, they're..." He tried to answer.
    "What're you trying to do to the poor boy?"
    "The... the doctors are doing everything they can." He stammered, uncomfortable with the direction the questions were headed.
    She stared at him coldly. "Are they?"
    Raj scowled, then grunted to himself as he looked away, shaking his head. She knew that she could speak to him however she wished and he'd