by Scheer, Ron
“You can bunk in my room. I’d like the company,” Sawyer said.
Dr. White led us there. He wheeled a bed in from an adjoining room and asked, “Anything else I can get you two?”
“Something to kill the pain?” Sawyer looked at me and laughed.
I know he meant it as a joke, but I felt responsible for the ache in his leg. The cache I’d let Rasp take probably held pain medicine. Dr. White confirmed my hunch when he gave me a look full of loss.
“I’m fine,” I said.
The wavering light made the doctor’s eyes more haunted. He remained silent as he exited the room.
Handing the candle to Sawyer, I rolled my bed in close enough to his so that could sit and talk face-to-face.
“I’m sorry. That was an ill-considered joke,” Sawyer said.
“I shouldn’t have given up those medicines.” I knew the anguished look on the doctor’s face would stay with me for a long time.
“Maybe not, they had the potential to help everyone in this town. Maybe it was wrong to trade them, but it’s exactly what I would have done. Dillon, remember this—there are things that even the strongest medicines can’t cure. One of them is regret. The mayor, and everyone else, might not be happy with you now, but at least he will get his children back unharmed. That’s something both you and the mayor can never regret. He knows this. Why do you think he thanked you?”
“But Dr. White…”
“He’ll get over it…eventually. Besides, who says that’s the last he’ll see of those medicines? There is always the possibility of trade. In fact, that’s what tomorrow comes down to. The Scavengers are willing to trade the mayor’s son for Dr. White’s expertise. Later, they might be willing to trade medicine for it, or for food, or clothing. There’s probably no end to what they need.”
“But Scavengers don’t trade, at least none that I’ve ever heard of,” I said.
“True enough. But then again, they may be the first band of Scavengers that has something that is actually tradable. Always before, it’s been the towns that had what the Scavengers wanted. Do you realize what you’ve set in motion? Do you have any idea what this could lead to?”
I shook my head. Sawyer sounded excited, like I’d done the impossible. What was he talking about? All I saw was my failure. I’d given the Scavengers weapons to use against us and medicines that could have helped all the townsfolk. Where was the heroism in that?
“Trade,” he said. “It can start wars, but it can also end them. You may have inadvertently led this town and that band of Scavengers down a new road. One that doesn’t include townspeople killing every Scavenger they come across, and one that doesn’t force every Scavenger to have to fight for every supply he can’t get on his own.”
“Do they know this, the mayor and Frank? Can they see the same possibilities you do?”
“The mayor might not, but Frank probably does. I’ll speak with both of them. I’ll also need to speak with the governor about this. This is too good an opportunity to let slip away.”
It sounded like such an easy answer, but the situation was complicated. “Do you think they can do it without killing each other? What I mean is, can both groups meet and make trades without bullets being fired?”
Sawyer grinned in the flickering light of the candle. “Sure, as long as they leave the mayor’s son at home.” Sawyer’s smile faded. “Seriously, it will be difficult at first. Neither side will trust the other, but if successful trades can be negotiated, it’ll get easier. Eventually, if both sides stay true, it will become as commonplace as loading the supply train.”
“What happens when the medicines run out?”
“You said there was a large stockpile. If the Scavengers are smart enough to trade sparingly, the meds will last for a long time. Long enough for relationships to form and trust to be built. Once that happens, the rest will take care of itself.”
We talked into the night about the Scavengers and the town. I told him about his empty rifle, and the broadheads I’d left in his saddlebags.
“Did you ask the mayor why he’s made it illegal to hunt when you spoke to him alone earlier?” Sawyer asked.
“No, I told him something else. I wish I had, though.”
“I’ll make you a deal. If you tell me what you told the mayor, I’ll tell you why he won’t let anyone hunt, but only if he won’t tell you himself. I want to give him the opportunity to be straight with you.”
I thought it over. I’d already told the mayor about Chane, so what if I told Sawyer? I shouldn’t have cared about betraying her trust further, but I did. I’d left it up to the mayor to let the townspeople know, if he chose to. No doubt he understood I wouldn’t go blabbing. I figured I could count on Sawyer to show the same restraint.
It was a relief to confide in Sawyer. Telling the mayor was like cleaning out the stables, a job no one liked, but it had to be done. Telling Sawyer was more like having someone to help you clean those same stables. The load wasn’t nearly as great.
We talked for a long time after that. At last, we we’re both tired enough to sleep. “One thing’s for sure,” I said. “After tomorrow, I’m sure the mayor and Frank will want me back at my post.”
“Most likely.”
I sighed. “I’m going to miss Foraging.”
Sawyer bent over to blow the candle out. Just before the flame wisped into nothingness I saw his brow furrow.
“What?” I asked in the darkness.
“It was nothing, just a twinge from my leg.”
I’d been around enough people in pain lately. None of their faces were that relaxed. I didn’t know why, but I was positive there was something Sawyer wasn’t telling me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dr. White woke us early the next morning. A pale predawn light trickled in through the window. He handed Sawyer a pill and a small cup of water, and tossed me some clean clothes. He placed two more pills on a small table beside Sawyer’s bed. “Take one of these at midday, and the other with your evening meal.” He removed the bandage from around Sawyer’s leg. “I can’t be positive, but I think it is better. It’s certainly not any worse. That’s a good sign.”
To me, he said, “Get dressed. When you’re ready, we’ll eat and head out. Frank is seeing to the horses.”
Breakfast was griddlecakes with apple preserves. Millie stopped me on the way out. “Dillon, nice job bringing Chane back. You stay safe out there, you hear?”
I smiled and told her I would.
Outside, Frank was waiting with Fred and a chestnut gelding. “I’ve been thinking about what Sawyer said, about trading with the Scavengers. See if they’re interested. If they are, let them know that we’d be willing to negotiate.”
The doctor and I headed out. A chill breeze blew at our backs, but the rising sun would soon take care of that. By midday, I’d be glad of the wind.
We rode onto the blacktop at the edge of town. “You were right, Dillon,” Dr. White said.
“About what?”
“Foraging for those meds. They’re working. Sawyer’s leg should have been worse this morning. It wasn’t. It’ll take a while for him to heal completely, but after what I saw this morning, I’m almost positive he’ll make a full recovery. I thought you should know.”
He pointed at his saddlebags. They were stuffed full with the medicines I’d brought back. “It burns me up to prescribe these to those animals. If it weren’t for the Scavengers, the Forager and everyone else in the infirmary wouldn’t even need them.”
“They aren’t really that savage,” I said. “They’re just trying to survive.”
“Humph,” was all the response he gave.
I chose a different tack. “I think they’ll be willing to trade. They’re a big group. I’m sure we have things they can use.”
“I hope you’re right, Dillon, I really do. Because if you’re not, I’ll be the first to support a strike against them. Only to get the medicines back you understand. Normally, I wouldn’t tolerate a
violent action like that, but those medicines…they’re worth the sacrifice.”
He stunned me into silence. I’d heard him complain about the need for medicines, but killing for them was extreme. I tried to see it his way. Would Mom have shared his view? I couldn’t agree with him. All I could do was hope I was right about the Scavengers being willing to trade.
When we arrived at their camp, Rasp and a few others met us on the rock-strewn drive. She smiled at our approach. “As good as your word, I appreciate that.”
I introduced Dr. White to her. They reluctantly shook hands, each wary of the other. Rasp then led us to the house. “My people have prepared hot water and bandages The medicines we recovered yesterday are arranged in a bedroom on the second floor.”
“Before seeing anyone, I want to be sure that we understand each other,” said Dr. White. “The deal is that I treat your wounded and when I am done, you’ll release Josh. Correct?”
Rasp’s green eyes flashed with pleasure. “Yes, but now that you’re here, I’m feeling generous. If it will set your mind at ease, I can release Josh now.”
The doctor’s face broke into a relieved smile. “It would ease my mind a great deal.”
“Very well.” She called to the man who shoved the gun into my back yesterday. “Mike, see that our prisoner is given his horse and released.” She then turned to me. “You are also free to go, if you wish.”
“Actually, I could use his help,” Dr. White said. “He’s had some medical training. If you don’t mind, Dillon, I’d like you to stay.”
He could have found his own way back to town, and I was confident the Scavengers would treat him fairly, but if I left him, I’d be abandoning him.
“Medical training too? You continue to impress,” Rasp said.
I blushed. Words of praise from her were like Millie’s homemade candy, one piece only made you want more.
Despite craving more of Rasp’s approval, and not wanting to abandon Dr. White, I wasn’t thrilled about working with the injured. On the bright side, however, I might get the chance to discuss a trade.
Dr. White handed me his saddlebags as we entered the kitchen. “It would be best if we started with the most grievously injured first.”
He spent almost an hour with the first patient. The man wasn’t breathing right from a bullet wound in the chest. Dr. White called for his copy of Prescription Guide for Doctors. “It’s been years since I could use this thing. Let’s see what we can find that might help.”
Rasp led us to the bedroom at the top of the stairs that held the medicines. It was another long walk through the mass of injured people. I kept my gaze on my feet.
When she opened the door, the doctor’s jaw dropped. The inventory from the pharmacist’s basement was arrayed across the entire hardwood floor. Walkways separated the assorted bottles, packets, and containers.
Dr. White didn’t say a word, but the accusing look he leveled at me was enough. I thought now might be a good time to talk to Rasp.
“Frank Miller, our town’s Director of Operations, has asked me to discuss the possibility of trading some of our town’s supplies for some of these medicines.”
Her eyes glowed with an eager light. When she spoke, the words came out quick and hurried, as if she were afraid they wouldn’t come fast enough. “Yes, yes we would like to trade.” She was so eager, she reminded me of a young girl being asked if she’d like a new doll. “We can discuss details later.”
Meds in hands, the three of us headed back downstairs. The next patient was another man with a torso wound. He was in a lot of pain, but smiled when he saw the doctor. “You’re going to fix me up, right?”
“As best I can,” Dr. White replied. A little later, the man passed out. The doctor looked at me and shook his head. In a voice barely above a whisper he said, “I don’t think he’s going to make it.”
“You can’t do anything for him?” I whispered back.
“He’s worse than the last one. I’d give him morphine if I could, but he’s lost too much blood—it would kill him. All we can do is redress his wounds and hope he doesn’t lose any more.”
We saw injury after injury. Everyone was in pain, some worse than others. Luckily, pain medicines were among those the pharmacist stockpiled. There was no way to know how well the medicines worked, but I think just having a pill to swallow helped some of them.
It was late morning when we were told that the second man we’d tried to help died. I think it was at that moment that Dr. White quit seeing the Scavengers as savages and began to realize they were people. He didn’t come out and say it, but I noticed a softer touch in his probing and a gentler tone in his voice. It filled me with pride to see the doctor treating the Scavengers with the same care and respect he used when treating the townsfolk.
Rasp stayed with us the rest of the day. The doctor did what he could to help the Scavengers, and I lost count of how many times I climbed that staircase. As the day wore on, we lost two more patients, but we also saw improvement in several of the others. One man even rose from his pallet, walked out onto the deck, and ate a light meal.
“Careful there, don’t overdo it,” Dr. White said to him.
“Is that doctor’s orders?” he asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“Ya hear that, Rasp? Doc says I can’t work. Gotta get someone else to muck out the corral.” He smiled and said, “Thanks, Doc.”
When we finished, Rasp asked the doctor to list the medicines he would most be willing to trade for. She, in turn, wrote a list of the things the Scavengers needed most. The lists were exchanged and a meeting scheduled for the next week.
Fred and the doctor’s chestnut were waiting for us. Both were carefully groomed. “Give our thanks to whoever took care of our horses. They did an excellent job,” said the doctor.
We mounted. Before we left, Rasp took hold of the doctor’s hand and gave it a firm shake. She stepped over to me and did the same. “Thank you for all you’ve done for us. I want you to know that I’m sorry my guards shot at you. I’m glad they missed.” Her full lips stretched into a smile that lit up her green eyes.
All I could do was mumble, “Me too.”
The doctor and I rode off into the late afternoon. I judged we’d make it back to town close to sunset. The doctor kept the pace easy, which gave me the chance to savor this trip. It would be my last. There was no longer any need for me to travel outside the borders of our small town. I tried to fix every tree, every house, every fence post, and every small rise in the road in my mind. Though not all of it had been pleasant, I didn’t ever want to forget these last few days.
I’d been wrong about the sun. It was low on the western horizon when we returned, but there was still a little while before it set. The doctor rode off to the stables, and I pointed Fred back to my RV.
I listened to the steady rhythm of Fred’s hooves. She was leading me home with each comforting clop. I was looking forward to a good night’s rest in my own bed.
Turning Fred down the corner, I rode her to the trailer. The bashed-in door reminded me of my narrow escaped from the Bull, Kurt.
I took a little time and unsaddled Fred, not bothering to tie her. She wasn’t going anywhere. I offered her some water, and brushed her coat until it gleamed. She then ate some oats out of my hand. When she finished, I wrapped my arms around her neck.
I couldn’t say if horses had emotions. All I knew was that I was going to miss her. I hoped she’d miss me too. After a minute or so, I let go, and headed for the RV.
Kurt had done a number on my door. It was crumpled in half. The metal skin had sheared away, with ragged splinters of broken plywood beneath.
The pieces crunched underfoot as I made my way inside. There were two things on my mind. The first was a shower. I was covered in road dust, and who knew how many germs from all the patients I’d helped the doctor with earlier. The second was food. I knew Millie would save a plate for me. She always did.
I wasn’t to have either
.
“About time, Orphan Boy,” Josh said from a seat on my sofa. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Stepping back out of the trailer, I heard Josh scramble to his feet. He probably thought I was running again. It was what I’d always done.
Not this time. All I wanted to was to get outside so my RV wouldn’t get trashed.
I was six steps away and facing the trailer when Josh burst through the doorway. He skidded on the broken door in surprise. It would have been nice to see him fall, but he kept his feet.
I could have called for help, or at least looked around to see if anyone was near. I didn’t do either. I was scared stiff, but I was through looking for escapes. If Josh beat me to a pulp, so be it. I’d at least try and get a few good licks of my own in.
“What’s this?” Josh asked. “You finally gonna man up and face me?”
I’m not sure words could have escaped the tightness of my throat. All I did was nod.
A slow, wicked grin lit Josh’s face. I noticed the faded bruising around his eyes. I’d like to say I thought about making them swell back up, or taunt him, or do anything but stand there, but it would have been a lie. All I did was watch him loom closer.
“I’ve been waiting way too long for this,” he said. “It’s time you paid for messing up my face and pulling that gun on me. You owe big for decking me when I wasn’t looking that day you shot the deer. And I’m going to make sure I collect for every time you ran away and made me chase you.”
Josh’s fist came out of nowhere. Barely in time, I rolled with the punch to avoid having my jaw broken. The blow hurt, but it did the one thing I needed it to. It unfroze my feet. I staggered to keep my balance. That instinctive reaction freed me. My fear remained, but I had full control of arms and legs.
The next punch came in, aimed at the same place as the first. This time I used my left arm to block, and I threw a right into his gut. It wasn’t much of a punch, but for me, it was a miracle. It was the first time I’d ever fought back. I’d punched him in the cornfield the day I shot the deer, but I hardly remembered doing it. This was different. It might have lacked power, but it didn’t lack awareness.