Hyllis Family Story 1: Telekinetic Read Online Free PDF Page A

father. Daum came out and helped Benson up the steps to the great room. Anxious to see what was the matter with Benson, Tarc drove the wagon around back and hurriedly unloaded it into the woodshed. He hustled to put Shogun and the wagon into the stable, all the while wondering whether his mother would be able to help Benson. As quickly as he could, he loaded his strap with wood and headed into the great room.
    As he had hoped, as soon as he stacked that load of wood his father eyed him and jerked his head towards Eva who was with Mr. Benson in the corner. Rolling up his strap Tarc approached them. Mr. Benson sat up on the table where Mama so frequently examined and treated people who came to her for care. Both of Benson’s feet were bare and Tarc could see that the left one was swollen and red around the base of the great toe. Tarc stared uneasily at Benson’s foot, hoping it wasn’t as bad as it looked.
    Tarc ’s mother looked up at him and said, “Tarc, have a look at Mr. Benson’s foot. What do you think?”
    Tarc , worried that Benson would be angry to have a boy involved in his care, bent over the foot. “Umm…”
    His mother interrupted him, “ Be very gentle. It came on in the night and now it’s so sensitive that Mr. Benson can barely stand to have it touched. But,” she admonished, “don’t try to make a diagnosis without actually examining your patient.”
    My patient?! Tarc thought with dismay. Even more worried that Benson would be angry to have a boy examining him, Tarc reached out and gently stroked the angry red skin. It blanched white as Tarc’s finger rubbed over it, immediately turning red again after the finger had passed. Benson drew it away, obviously feeling pain from even such a light touch. The skin felt hot. Red, hot, swollen, and painful, Tarc thought, the signs of infection!
    Tarc looked up at his mother, uncertain what he should do or say, but feeling dismayed for Mr. Benson.
    His mother merely gazed at him, unperturbed. “Well, what do you think?”
    Tarc cleared his throat; then mumbled, “It could be an infection?” He hoped this possible diagnosis didn’t upset Mr. Benson. He glanced at Benson out of the corner of his eye, but Benson didn’t look upset.
    Tarc ’s mother said, “That could be. What makes you think it?”
    “It’s red, hot, swollen, and painful.”
    “Correct. And indeed, those are said to be the signs of infection. But, actually, they are the signs of inflammation. Infection is just one of several things which can cause inflammation. Can you think of any of the others?”
    Inwardly Tarc groaned. It seemed like every time he felt like he understood something, in this case the signs of an infection, it turned out there were exceptions. He cast about mentally, but could think of nothing. “No.”
    His mother sighed, “There is so much to learn Tarc. You’ve got to work harder!” Of course, she didn’t mention that by “work harder,” she meant that he should read more.
    Mr. Benson said, apparently hoping to be helpful, “Eva says I have a ‘classic case.’”
    Tarc stared blankly back and forth from Benson to his mother. “Sorry, I still don’t know.”
    Tarc ’s mother said, “Here’s what’s classic… Mr. Benson,” she pointed to his rounded stomach, “eats too much.” She raised a finger at this. Raising another finger she said, “He’s a man.” Another finger and a smile, “He drinks too much of your father’s fine beer.” She lifted another finger, “It’s the joint at the base of his great toe, which is the most common joint to be affected by this disease. It is indeed red, hot, swollen, and tender, which is typical, but does make it look infected. It came on in the night and hurts so badly that he can hardly stand for anything to touch it. This,” she said staring into Tarc’s eyes and pointing at Benson’s foot, “is what gout looks like.”
    Exasperated, Tarc said, “But you just said it has all the signs of