57 Debt payment

My arm was throbbing and no doubt still bleeding. I wanted to get it cleaned up, but the wolves were still here, making their rounds and introductions.
I turned to Xin and my part of the camp, and collected the remaining goat carcass. There was quite a lot left and would have kept Xin and I in meat for the remainder of the week, but protocol dictates and I went to the Alpha dog I had beaten and handed him the food.
He looked nervous but took it in his jaw and turned. A muffled cry told the pack it was time to go, and dragging the carcass between his front legs he left. 
Time for my arm.
Xin turned it into a schooling.
" In your packs you'll find a bone needle and gut. Don't lose these, each needle is hand made by us and curved so you can use it one handed.
Notice, Niao is placing the blade of the knife in the fire; this is to heat it up and sterilize it.
Next she'll tip near boiling water over the wound to cleaning out. You'll notice it starts bleeding again? That's were the knife comes in. Clean off the soot then apply the knife to the wound. It'll sizzle and hurt like hell, but you must stem the bleeding and this does the trick. Lastly, use your needle and thread to sew it up."
I've no idea how the men were dealing with this, I was busy. I took the needle and thread and began drawing the gash together. I had so many scars..........
"Any questions gentlemen?"
There was silence. I've no idea if they were watching intently or turning away in disgust, I really didn't care, I'd just saved their lives.
"What would have happened if we'd all attacked at once?" one of the guys asked in a rather cocky manner, "surely, I could have overpowered a few of them and killed them. The others could have taken some out too" He looked round for agreement, grinning from ear to ear, his chest puffed out like some pompous ass.
" What with?" Xin asked, "with that single knife? With your bare hands? Get real lad, her actions saved your life. She has a gashed arm and that's it. The fight lasted how long? Moments? If you'd taken on the pack what state would you be in?" She shook her head in total disbelief.

"Cut this, will you," I asked, she obliged without stopping her tirade.

"You idiot! You think you know best, well let me tell you, you know nothing. She has bought us safe passage throughout their territory. 
She has given us protection should we fall foul of bears or mountain cats." She stomped and glared at them, "you're here to learn. To do that, you ask questions which support learning not ego." She screeched in frustration, then sat next to me.
"You always were the firebrand out the two of us," I grinned. She looked at me and my giggles subduing her anger.
Pushing me, "you! You always do that! God I've missed your infuriating peace of mind," and with that, she hugged me. "What now?"
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm hungry," grinning I looked about and raised my hands in mocking despair, "but theres nothing here!"
She laughed, "OK gentlemen, I think its a quick hunt for breakfast, before we pull out for our next day of walking."
They groaned but complied. 
Sheer hunger would force them into a successful kill. I was interested in seeing when this would happen. I was also interested in how that one young man would settle. I clearly needed to reduce his arrogance but in what way I'd not worked out yet. 
I stayed in camp. Seems everyone left at once leaving no-one to mind their precious stuff. 
Hey ho.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

79 A long night

Xin and I walked back to the border fort. We'd stopped off by a small herd of reasonably sized deer and taken two out of the group. "Good eating." Xin was as tired as I was and we were reduced to minimal chatter.  "Agreed," I shifted my load, " am hungry." "Me too." For the rest of the walk we travelled in silence. We weren't the last back, groups were still staggering in, each unit as exhausted as the next. The images of us must have been gruesome, each of us with varying layers of congealed blood.  One unit arrived and it dripped on the floor as they walked. They'd been busy. "All of you, wash house. Clean up, eat and return for a debriefing."  The officer turned to the two of us, " a large tub has been prepared for you in the side room here. I hope you're happy to share the same tub? It's a large one." He gestured the direction and we silently sloughed our way in. "Do we have cleaner clothes?" ...
Read more

1 In the beginning

The night was dark and still. The moon hung in the sky bathing the world with its stark light creating illusions and spinning stories. The families were asleep save one; the midwives had gathered, a birth was about to begin. My mother pushed hard and within a couple of hours I was born into this world, this time, this place. It seemed strange to be here and I starred around the room and looked at the faces. I didn't cry, I took a breath and looked expectantly. All that squishing and being ejected had taken its toll. I was tired. I rolled over to sleep. The midwives looked at the child just delivered. She was unusual. Her hair was silky black and long, well past her knees. Her skin was dark, a mahogany tint shone in the light of the fire. The girl had been born without eyelashes or eyebrows but her hair crested forward in a peak like a bird. Her features were already that of a grown child, her facial features more akin to an adult rather than a new borne. No big eyes, no rose bud mo...
Read more

6 The recluse

It had been a few months since the incident in the clearing and my thoughts had long since left speculation behind. I walked with my guide and we talked. He taught me how the natural world moved, how the interrelationships between animals and plants held the fabric of the natural world together and how the seasons effected this. He then told me the power of water, wind, fire and air and I meditated on these as I walked. It was during one of these times I came across a small shack nestled deep within the woods. It was run down and looked abandoned. Intrigued, I wandered forward to take a look. I smelt no sign of people nor fire so, presuming abandonment, I pushed open the window shutter. "Come in," a voice said from inside, "I have been expecting you. Don't be shy, I won't hurt you, and your friend would alert you if I would. Come in, come in and close the door after you. Keep the heat in." My friend? I travelled alone. The only 'person' I spoke to li...
Read more