"We'll do that—all of us. Soon."
She shivered and closed her eyes. It seemed to her that all the window frames and doorways were merging. It seemed as if the floor had tilted.
"Papa ... have the nurse change me."
"Again?"
"Yes."
"I'll call her."
He went to the patio window and called, and Carmela answered immediately.
Back at Caterina's side, Raul said: "Carmela's coming right away. You know, Caterina, I think the sun will be out soon. The hail has stopped. The wind's rough but it may blow off the clouds."
She did not respond.
As he waited for Carmela, he thought about the timbre of her voice, how frail it had become, frightened, hurried.