His right hand flew to his ear.
Rosalie rose immediately.
He tried to stand, but his knees buckled. His chair crashed backward, and he caught himself against the table.
She rushed to him.
Gideon was sweating heavily. His face had turned almost gray.
He opened his mouth as if trying to say something, but no clear sound emerged.
Rosalie helped him onto the chair and reached for the notebook.
He wrote with shaking fingers.
It will pass.
She stared at him.
You said that last time.
He shook his head impatiently and tried to stand again.
The pain struck harder.
He folded forward, both hands pressed against his skull.
Rosalie grabbed the oil lamp and lifted it toward his face.
His right ear was swollen and red. Near the entrance of the ear canal, she saw a dark, wet shape that seemed to shift whenever the muscles around his jaw tightened.
