When I’d hung up, I took off my coat and laid it across Marcena’s head. I didn’t want to move her, or even try CPR. I didn’t know how bad her internal injuries might be, and I could kill her by pushing broken ribs into her lungs, or something equally horrible. But I felt a stubborn conviction that her head should be warm; we lose most of our body heat through our heads. My own head was cold. I pulled my sweatshirt up over my ears and sat rocking myself.

I had forgotten about Mr. Contreras. I’d abandoned him back on 100th Street two hours ago. He could be resourceful; maybe he’d find me, find us. And Morrell—I should have thought of him sooner.

When he answered the phone, I astonished myself by starting to cry. “I’m out in the middle of nowhere with Marcena, she’s almost dead,” I choked out.

“Vic, is that you? I can’t understand a word you’re saying. Where are you? What’s going on?”

“Marcena. Mitch found her, he dragged me through the swamp, I can’t explain it right now. She’s almost dead, and Romeo is lying next to her, he is dead, and if someone doesn’t get here soon she will be, and maybe I will be, too. I’m so thirsty and cold I can hardly stand it. You’ve got to find me, Morrell.”

“What happened? How did you end up with Marcena? Were you attacked? Are you all right?”

“I can’t explain it, it’s too complicated. She’s not going to make it if we don’t get an ambulance.” I repeated what little information I could give on our location.

“I’ll climb up to the top of this pit thing where they’re lying so someone can spot me, but I don’t think there’s a road very close to here.”

“I’ll do my best for you, darling. Hang on, I’ll figure out something.”

“Oh—I forgot. Mr. Contreras. He dropped us off, and now he’s probably half crazy with worry.”

I tried to remember my plate number, but I couldn’t. Morrell repeated that he’d do his best for me, and hung up.

Mitch was lying next to Marcena, his own eyes glazed with exhaustion. He had stopped licking her, was just lying with his head on her chest. When I started up the side of the pit again, he lifted his head to look at me but didn’t try to get up.

“I don’t blame you, boy. You stay put. Keep her warm.”