The Paler Shade of Autumn Read Online Free PDF Page B

“That’s David,” she says looking at the flashing screen. “I better grab this.”
    Autumn answers the phone to David, whose voice is hoarse, weak. She tells him where she is and he spots her from the temple gates and waves before ending the call and trudging across the field towards her, hot sun beating down on him.
    When he joins them, she can see his face is pale, forehead beading with sweat. He eyes Jet suspiciously as Autumn introduces them, explaining the circumstances under which they met.
    “You don’t look too good,” says Autumn as David sits on the grass beside her.
    “I feel like death warmed up. I’m sorry, but I need to get back to the hotel.”
    Autumn sits up straighter, her forehead crinkling. “Do you need a doctor or something?” She reaches into her backpack and pulls out another fresh bottle of water. She thrusts it at him. “Here.”
    He takes the water from her and sips on it.
    “Where’s your hotel?” asks Jet.
    “Patna.”
    Jet’s face crinkles. “There are no trains back to Patna until tonight. You can probably catch a rickshaw back, but the roads are bad. Besides, do you think you can last a couple of hours without needing to…?”
    “Shit water? No. Definitely not.” David drops his head in his hands.
    Jet stands. “Come back to the orphanage with me. You can stay in my room for the day. There is fresh, clean water and amenities.”
    David rounds his lips to say no, but then clutches at his stomach in pain and nods. “Thank you. I appreciate it, mate. How far is this orphanage?”
    Jet points to a rickety, old building only a few hundred metres to the right of them. “It’s just over there.”
    David stands. “Good.”
    They pace towards the orphanage: an L-shaped building with long verandas, shaded by the leafy branches of an enormous fig tree. Autumn and David follow Jet up a flight of stairs, along a veranda to the back of the building where he opens a door into a small room, no larger than the size of a bathroom. Inside, a single bed hugs the left wall, a bookshelf lines the right, and in between, on the back wall, is a small desk filled with papers and pens, a lamp and other such clutter. An old, box air-conditioner protrudes from the single window on the wall beside the bed.
    Jet flicks the air-conditioner on and it begins to gasp and groan like it is an old man about to fall over and die, but immediately Autumn can feel the cool blast of air pushing from its vents.
    “This is my room. You can rest here.”
    David nods, eyes wide with immense gratitude.
    “I’ll show you the bathroom and kitchenette,” says Jet.
    They walk around to the other side of the building. Directly behind Jet’s room, shared by a common wall, is a tiny bathroom with a shower, basin and toilet. It is old but clean, smelling like bleach; a welcomed scent. It is half the size of Jet’s room. Behind the second door is a tiny kitchenette with a water filter, bar fridge, sink and a few wobbly cupboards. Jet grabs a bottle of orange liquid from the cupboard along with a glass and pours an inch of the liquid into the glass, then tops the rest up with cool water from the filter.
    “Drink this,” he says handing the glass to David. “It’s electrolytes. The best thing you can do in this situation is avoid getting dehydrated.”
    David clutches the glass and drinks it down, wrinkling his face at the foul, sweet taste. “Thanks.”
    Back in Jet’s room, David falls onto the bed and rolls onto his side. They shut the door behind him so he can reap the full benefits of the air-conditioner. Outside his door, Autumn sighs heavily; frowns.
    “He’ll be fine,” says Jet.
    She nods. “I hope so.”
    “I’d be happy to keep you company today, if you like?”
    She nods quickly, her eyes widening. “Yes, please. I’d appreciate that. I really don’t think I can spend the day alone, not after what has happened.”
    He rests his hand on her shoulder. “It’s fine. I’m more than happy to