Rosalie brought the lamp closer to the bowl.
That was not an insect.
It was a thin piece of blackened metal covered in dried blood and wax.
But something tiny was wriggling around her, Kara.
A larva.
Rosalie felt nauseous.
Gideon watched her face, trying to understand.
She took the notebook.
You need a doctor.
He immediately denied it.
Doctors have already arrived.
Rosalie pointed at the object.
Then none of them looked closely enough.
The next morning they rode to Coldwater.
Dr. Samuel Mercer examined Gideon for almost an hour.
When he finished, his expression was grave.
—I can’t promise that he will regain his hearing.
Rosalie nodded.
—But this didn’t happen naturally —he continued.
He placed the metal piece on a cloth.
It looked like part of an ancient instrument.
-What is it?
Mercer swallowed hard.
—Something that probably remained inside his ear after a procedure.
Rosalie looked at Gideon.
