The Hunter's Son by Gregg Luke

Author:Gregg Luke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LDS, war, friendship, Nephites and Lamanites, suspence, faith, clean, survival, danger, kindness, fiction
ISBN: 978-1-52440-522-9
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2017-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

I knew that voice! I remembered its depth and tone as if I’d heard it yesterday. It was the master healer. It was Chemish!

Whispers of astonishment rippled through the crowd as the master healer climbed onto the platform. He gave me a subtle but meaningful wink then looked away. I understood instantly. I gazed straight ahead as if I had no idea who he was. The noise of the crowd hushed to an excited buzz as Chemish began to examine portions of my tunic with profound intensity.

“Wh-what do you mean?” the auctioneer barely managed to say through his own shock.

Chemish stared closely at my eyes then stepped back with a grunt of affirmation. “Just as I suspected. This young man is sick and should be put to death immediately.”

The crowd gasped—as did I. What was he up to? I said nothing, but I continued to stare at a point in the distance. I had to trust him. There was no one else.

“No!” the auctioneer cried. “Are you certain?”

Chemish held up his hand, indicating that he needed a moment. He then poked me in random places, nodding his head and grunting. He felt my neck, checked under my arms, and prodded my back. He even checked the bottom of my feet, crooking each leg as if he were inspecting a horse’s hooves.

“Wh—what’s wrong with him?” the auctioneer asked anxiously.

The master healer stepped back and pointed. “Notice the blank stare and the hollow, gaunt look around the eyes. There are empty areas in his belly and signs of infection in his veins. Yes, yes, I’ve seen this before . . .”

The auctioneer’s face blanched. “Are—are you certain?” he repeated.

“Who is this man?” the nobleman demanded.

Chemish ignored the man and continued his examination. The auctioneer answered, “He is Chemish, the master healer.”

Chemish took me by the shoulders and pressed his ear to my chest. “Ah. Just as I thought.”

The nobleman scoffed. “This young man is perfectly healthy. I see nothing wrong with him. What supposed dread disease does he have, Healer?”

Chemish gave the man a hard look. “To the ignorant, untrained eye the young man would appear as healthy as . . . a leopard.”

He remembered that? I fought to suppress a smile and continued to stare blankly ahead. Chemish proceeded much like a teacher instructing a student. “It is a disorder that affects Nephites around this age, in which the air spoils inside his chest, suffocating his vital organs and tissues and causing a buildup of poisons that infect his entire body. Yes . . . yes, it’s very plain to see; quite typical, in fact. Note again the blank stare, the tight pale skin, and the overall look of being possessed by a dumb spirit.”

I bit the inside of my lip and held my stance.

The nobleman looked me over with a critical eye, but his confused expression belied his ignorance. “I don’t believe you,” he said through a deep scowl.

“I can prove it,” Chemish said confidently. “If you part his tunic, you’ll see scars running side to side across his belly.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.