Page 36 of Master of Paradise
Mandy slit his trouser leg up to the groinand with feverish fingers examined the muscular thigh until shefound the two little red dots she'd been searching for. She knewexactly what to do, and knew also that each second of delay couldbe fatal. She gashed an X-shaped cut across the fangs' point ofentry and went on her knees to him between his legs. She squeezedthe blood from the wound, and when no more would come, she put hermouth over it and sucked hard. She spat out the blood and poison,and put her mouth down again to draw out the venom.
Nicholas knew very well the danger he was in,but as he looked down at her and felt her mouth on his thigh, hewas overcome with the eroticism of her actions and he began toswell and harden uncontrollably.
Mandy heard him groan. "Am I hurtingyou?"
He gazed at her between his legs and saw theblack lashes tipped with gold sweep against the delicate cheeks.Her young breasts, so unbelievably high and round swelled from theneckline of her gown as she bent low to him. Her hands on his bareflesh brought him dreamed of pleasure, but the thing that held thecenter of his attention was her mouth. The mouth that he had neverdared to touch with his, was upon him now in a manner that was sointimate, he feared he would lose control of himself if she didn'tcease sucking him.
Desire for her flooded through his veins andhe could feel the heat spreading.Perhaps it's the venom doingstrange things to me.He clamped an iron will on his emotions,and his lust slowly drained away, leaving him white andshaking.
"That's just a reaction to the shock," shereassured him. "Brandon was bitten like this two years ago, and Isaw Daddy draw the poison from the bite. I think you'll be allright." She got to her feet. "Brute, let's get him to his bed. I'msure Samuel will be able to look after him. I'll send Dr. Caldwellover as soon as I get home. It's his afternoon to see Mother."
Mandy knew she had sounded very sure that allwould be well, but inside she was terrified. With each heartbeatshe had repeated over and over inside her head,He can't die! Hecan't die!
Now, in rhythm with Miss Louise's quickgallop, she whispered, "Please live! Please live!"
Mandy found Dr. Caldwell discussing MissCaroline's failing condition with her father. She threw herselfheadlong between the two men, upsetting the doctor's glass ofbourbon. "Nicholas has been bitten by a water moccasin. He needsyou quickly Dr. Caldwell!"
"Name of God, if it was a cottonmouth, Icould be too late."
"What color was it, Amanda?" her fatherdemanded.
"It was a large olive, brown viper, but Icouldn't see any dark cross bars on it."
"Damnation, someone should have sucked outthe poison straight away!," Bernard shouted.
"I did. I mean... Brute was with him, and...and I told him exactly what you did to Brandon." Mandy was quiteused to lying to conceal her conduct.
"Thank God," the doctor said. "I'll get rightover there."
"I'll come with you." Bernard turned to hisdaughter. "I don't want you over there. It's not fitting." Then hisvoice softened a little as he saw how frantic her fears were."Don't worry child, I'll be back directly and report on hiscondition."
Within the hour her father was back, leadinga small cavalcade. Two slaves carried Nicholas on a makeshiftstretcher, followed by Samuel and Dr. Caldwell.
Amanda couldn't get close, for as soon asthey entered the Jackson house, Charles, Mammy Lou, Aunt Billie andCleo joined the throng offering every suggestion they'd ever heardtell that cured snakebite. She waited impatiently for her father tocome downstairs.
"Damned fellow practically insisted onstaying in his own bed. Had to hogtie and kidnap him! That damnedSamuel aiding and abetting him, saying he'd set his bed up insidethe new house. Why, there are no rooms finished for civilizedhabitation. Practically insulted my hospitality," Bernardfumed.
Jennifer smiled at him sweetly. "Daddy, youalways take on so, fussin' and fumin' when you are upset."
"What about Nicholas?" Mandy pleaded.
"That's who I'm speaking of, child. Jennifer,why do I have such difficulties communicatin' with your babysister?"
Amanda clenched her fists and swallowed thetart retort that flew to her lips. She went off to the kitchens tofind Mammy Lou. "How is he?" Mandy whispered.
"'Fore Gawd, Miz Mandy, yo' white folksesdoctah, he don't know nuthin!" She rolled her eyes back until onlythe white showed. "Outta ma way, chile. Ol' Mammy Lou gwine boildis horse parsley in wine. Guaranteed t'git rid of any mizry knownto man. Then ah makes him a cornmeal poultice so efficacious, itdraw off all dat poison."
Amanda hung about the upstairs landing. Cleohad been posted outside Nick's door with instructions to let no oneenter, but when Mammy Lou fixed her with a penetrating glare, sheopened the door and helped her carry in her home-brewedparaphernalia. Once again Cleo took up her post outside the bedroomdoor.
"Let me in, Cleo," Amanda said.
"No, ma'am. Ah dursn't do dat. Yo' daddy saidol' doc give Marse Nick somethin' t'make him sleep, so ah hast'keep everybody out."
"You let Mammy in," Amanda accused.
"Miz Mandy, yo' knows nobody tells Mammy whatt'do."
"Let me in."
