The Survivors Book IV: Spring by V. L. Dreyer

Author:V. L. Dreyer [Dreyer, V. L.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Cheeky Kea Creations Ltd
Published: 2015-02-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

By the time we’d calmed down enough to be much good for anything, the drizzle had turned into a downpour. All of us were sodden and covered in mud, but that didn't stop us from mucking in to help Franco. Michael and Tane half-helped, half-lifted him to his feet, and carried him back towards the shelter of the monastery – and more importantly, the medical kit we'd left with the horses.

When we finally made it, I was evicted from the room while the men stripped Franco of his soiled garments and Aaron tended to his wounds. I retreated to the small kitchen, stripped off my muddy outer garments, and set about preparing a light meal for Franco to eat once he was ready for it. The others eventually came out to join me, all except for Aaron. I conscripted one of the men to take the food in, then we all sat around just waiting for news. Warren vanished out the door to enjoy his own company, and the rest of us just chatted to pass the time.

Eventually, Aaron finished piecing Franco back together and came out to join us.

"How is he?" I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"Better than he should be, to be honest," Aaron replied. "It's not a bad break, but I'm concerned about the risk of osteomyelitis because it went untreated for so long. We need to get him back to Tumanako as soon as possible. If we don’t get him on antibiotic treatments soon, it may end up costing him that leg."

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Can we get him on a horse, or should we send for one of the trucks?"

Aaron went quiet for a moment while he considered the possibilities, then he shrugged. "If wait for a truck, then we'll lose at least an hour and this condition is time-sensitive. If we try and get him to ride double with someone, he may pass out from pain and fall, or make the injury worse. Either way, it's a risk."

"Let's stick with the safest option," I suggested. "I'll call home and get Doc up here in one of the trucks. He should make good time along that road. Can you take care of Franco until he gets here?"

Aaron nodded silently, his face an odd mixture of relief and regret. He vanished out of the room, and I stood to call Warren back inside for a group meeting.

"I need two people to head back the way we came and lead the truck up here," I said. Everyone volunteered. I picked Tane and Iorangi and sent them off, then I pulled out my radio and tuned it to the frequency we'd taken to using around home. "Come in, Tumanako. It's Sandy."

There was a few moments of silence, then the line crackled and a familiar voice came on. "Hey, sis. Any luck?"

"Yes," I replied. "We've found Franco. He's alive, but we need to get him back home for treatment and he's not well enough to ride.

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