But nobody else in the room knew. They wereall listening asSylvia went on with her story. Theyall believed.
"I didn't get out before the weatherhit….I hadto stay in the tent for three days. When I got out Iwas so weak, but I managed to signal to some climbers. They saved me, took care ofme….Bythen it was too late to look for him. I knew there was no chance he'd made it through thatstorm…."
She broke down completely.
The ranger began talking about weather conditions and recovery efforts, and suddenly Maggie'smother was making strange gasping noises andsinking toward the floor.
"Mom!" Frightened, Maggie started toward her.Her father looked up and seemed to realize for thefirst time that she was there.
"Oh, Maggie. We've had some bad news."
He's trying to take care of me. But he doesn'trealize…I've got to tell him….
"Dad," she said urgently." L isten. There's something-"
"Maggie," her mother interrupted, stretching outa hand. She sounded rational, but there was something wild in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, baby. Something awful has happened-"
And then she fainted. Suddenly Maggie's fatherwas staggering under dead weight. And then theranger and one of the sheriffs were brushing pastMaggie. They were holding her mother up, and hermother's head was lolling, moving around on aboneless neck, and her mother's mouth and eyeswere part open and part closed. A new kind ofawful feeling came to Maggie, making her weakand giddy. She was afraid she would faint herself.
"Where can we-" the male officer began.
"There's the couch," Maggie's father said hoarselyat the same time. There was no room for Maggie.She could only stand out of the way and dizzilywatch them carryher mother.
As they did, Sylvia began murmuring. It tookMaggie a moment to focus on the words. "I'm sosorry. I'm so sorry. I wish there was something …I should go home now."
"You stay right here," the female officer said,looking toward Maggie's mother. "You're in no condition to be walking anywhere. You'd be in the hospital now if you hadn't insisted on coming herefirst."
"I don't need a hospital. I'm just so tired..:'The officer turned. "Why don't you go sit in thecar?" she said gently.