Forager (9781771275606) (30 page)

“
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.

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.