stillbird lay beneath the sun , now high in the sky and burning through the morning fog and drying the earth and warming stillbird , and she rested and waited for abel to return and help her , but when no help came , she gathered her broken right arm in her left one , cradling it close to her broken ribs , drew her legs up under her , and stood slowly on those strong but shaky legs and walked slowly , deliberately , very carefully , every breath causing sharp pains in her side .