Calamity in America (19 page)

Both men were now on the ground and I holstered the pistol and drew my knife which I used to finish them both off.  I only took their packs, bows, and arrows for now and went back to the mine to have my supper and get a good night’s sleep.  I would also clean my pistol because that had to be done after every time you shot it using those black powder cartridges.  Water is what I used to clean the corrosive black powder residue from the pistol and even the empty cartridge cases.  In the morning I would take whatever was worthwhile from the two bodies. Clothes, belts, footwear, and anything else that they may have that I might be able to use, if anything was even worth taking that is.

Chapter 9

It was less than two weeks later that again I noticed someone following me.  Why couldn’t people just leave me alone?  This time it appeared to only be one and I decided not to wait around to see if they were friendly or not.  I immediately turned off the trail and walked downhill to a mostly dry wash.  It was not flowing but there were still pockets of water in small pools here and there along it from a recent rain.  I went here because of the additional brush and small trees along the wash which would give me plenty of concealment.  Where I came down to it there was a very steep bank with about a nine or ten foot drop down to the sand and rock-filled wash below.

I took my pack off and laid my bow on top back in the brush a ways so it would be out of sight.  Then I took my pistol out and I just laid in wait for the person if they decided to follow me down here.  I was not in a happy mood.  If they wanted to live they would have to convince me pretty fast that they were friendly and only wanted to talk.

I heard the person coming, so they were definitely following me and not just the trail I had been on.  When the person walked up to the edge of the drop off I stepped out and held the pistol, ready to shoot at an instant.

“Why are you following me?”

The person spun around at my voice and stepped back when they saw me and the gun.  Unfortunately, they stepped back too far and tumbled off and over the steep bank of the wash.  I rushed over and looked down to see the person lying below and not moving.  There were several very large rocks near their head and it looked bad for them. 

I scrambled down to the bottom of the wash and went over to check on the person to see if they were dead.

It was a woman!

I could hardly believe it was a woman.  She was dressed all in leather, maybe buckskins would be a better term.  I checked her neck and found a strong pulse so she was alive anyway.  I lifted her head carefully and my hand found blood on the back of her head from hitting a rock.  I went to move her onto the soft sand and when I lifted her she did not wake but let out a small moan it sounded like.  One of her arms was under her body and when I moved her and placed her arms along side of her body one looked odd.  I felt along that arm very, very softly and I could feel that the arm had quite a crook in it.  The arm was surely broken.

I sat down for a minute to think things through clearly.  Though I never touched the woman I felt some responsibility for the condition she was in now so I would do everything I could to help her.  Her bow was unstrung and she had not been hunting me it appeared.  That quickly decided what, exactly, I should do next.  The closest camp was my main camp back at the community where I lived.  That was good because that was where I had the most supplies of all kinds.  Getting her there would be a problem because she was unconscious and I certainly could not carry her that far.

I looked up and down the wash I was in.  And the answer became obvious to me in an instant.  I immediately set to work and it was not long before I was ready to bring the woman home to my camp.  But she was unconscious now and because of that now would be the best time to set that broken arm before moving her all the way to camp. 

I was not a doctor and I had never broken a bone in my life.  But I had read every medical book I had ever found and now I searched my memory to remember all I could about setting a broken bone.  I gathered three small, stiff branches to use as splints for the arm.  I got stuff from my pack to pad and bind the arm.  I was ready.  I was scared.

First I had to very carefully expose the broken arm.  Though it was winter it was warm enough so both me and the woman had no coat on and were just wearing shirts on our upper bodies.  Her buckskin shirt was unfortunately a pullover design.  It should come off before I tried to set the arm.  I had already removed her heavy backpack and now I lifted the bottom of her shirt and was relieved to find a light undershirt beneath the leather one.  Being as careful as I could, so I did not hurt her, I removed the leather over shirt.  Next, I retrieved my jacket from my pack and laid it next to her. 

There was nothing left to do other than to set the arm.  Now that it was exposed I could see the terrible crook in the arm, roughly in about the middle, between the wrist and the elbow.  I pushed the crook back straight again.  The woman did not wake but did make a small noise again.  The arm stayed straight when I released it.  I wrapped it in my makeshift padding and then, holding the short branches, I wrapped it again holding the branch/splints in place.  Next I put my jacket on her one good arm and rigged a sling to hold her broken arm snuggly against her body. Then I zipped my jacket, covering her all up and hoping the jacket would also help in immobilizing her broken arm while also keeping her warm.

Next I loaded her onto the Indian style travois I had made to get her back to my main camp.  I lifted the two poles, had the pull rope across my chest, and started walking towards camp a few miles away.  It was easier than I had hoped.  Her backpack and mine too were tied next to the woman on the travois with one on each side of her to help hold her in place.

The trip back to camp was tiring but otherwise it went very smoothly and we made it to camp in the early afternoon.  I opened the big motor home where I always stayed and got things ready before carefully carrying her in and laying her on the bed.  I removed the jacket, her shoes, and the belt with several holsters or pocket attachments.  Then, putting her head on a pillow, I covered her up with a blanket.

Next I brought our packs (and both of our bows and arrows) inside.  I put her pack right next to the bed where she was lying still, either sleeping or unconscious.  I then put her leather over shirt, her shoes, and the belt with attachments on top of her pack where she could find it all easily.

Everything was done that I could do for the woman.  I realized that I had not eaten since morning and set to making some supper, hopefully for both her and myself.

Chapter 10

I’m in a bed.  Oh, my head hurts.  I don’t know where I am.  I’m in an actual bed and inside what looks like it might be some kind of big RV of some kind.  My left arm feels odd and it does not want to move.  In an attempt to look at it, I use my right arm to throw the blanket that covers me off my upper body.  My left arm does not really hurt and I see it is wrapped up and fastened to my chest.  Then I realize that my shirt is off and I just have my thin undershirt covering me.

It is almost dark in this room and what light there is available is coming through the windows.  It is either sundown or sunrise.  The bed is very comfortable and I am tempted to try and go back to sleep but my head is throbbing.  Reaching up, I feel with my right hand and there is quite a lump on the back of my head and I can feel the dry crusted blood there.  Touching it does not make my head feel any better I can tell you.

I don’t know how I got here but I remember following a man when he went down by a crick or wash.  He spoke and I spun around to find a bear of a man with a big beard and long hair and a gun pointing at me.  I stepped back and that is all I can remember.  And I also remember that the man was big and very scary looking.

It must be sundown because it is getting darker.  While there is still a little light I have to find a weapon.  I slide to the edge of the bed and get my feet and legs over the side.  When I try to stand my head gets worse and I almost pass out again.  I just sit on the edge of the bed for awhile.  I see my belt!  Slowly I reach over and grab my belt and check that everything is still intact.  I cinch it tight around my waist.  I feel much better already now that I am armed. 

Sitting upright for a bit my head is clearing somewhat.  My pack is sitting here but I see a man’s shirt that looks clean and I put that on instead of trying to get my leather shirt on over my aching head.  I leave my left arm tied up where it is and just put my right arm in the sleeve of the shirt and manage to button it up, covering my left arm. 

I slide down until my feet are on the floor.  My head is spinning again and I am glad I have the bed for support.  Again, I just wait until my head clears before I drop my shoes to the floor.  I am smart enough not to try and tie them on my feet but I do manage to get them on without leaning over too much so I don’t pass out again and fall to the floor. 

Again I just stand, leaning heavily against the bed.  I think I feel some of my strength returning.  Or maybe it is just wishful thinking.  I have been hearing quiet noises coming from the other side of this bedroom door so I know that I am not alone.  Hoping I am now strong enough I step away from the bed using baby steps.  I am tipsy but I do not fall.  My strength IS returning.  At least some of it anyway.  At first I just lean against the door before opening it slowly, and as quietly as I can.

There are electric lights!  The brightness causes me to blink and shield my eyes.  Electricity!  I can now see the bear of a man in the kitchen.  He is obviously cooking—or getting a meal ready at least.  I take a couple of light small steps into the room and he hears or senses my arrival because he spins around.  I have my good hand on one of my knives.  It would be a simple easy throw from here and my knife could be buried into his neck.

“I was hoping you would wake up.  I have a meal ready for us.  Please, come and join me.”

He looks like he is half grizzly bear but it is hard to tell with all the hair. I think he may be trying to smile.  I trust him not at all but I can smell the food.  My right hand does not let go of its grip on my knife as I walk slowly with my baby steps towards the table.  The whole camper is very neat and clean.  Something I did not expect.  I then realize that I have been passed out for some period of time and he could have done anything he wanted to me and even now I am so weak that I could only put up a token fight if he tried anything.

I make it to the table and sink into one of the chairs.  Under the table I draw my knife but leave it on my lap out of sight.  It feels very good to sit down. 

“What happened to me?”

“I’m sorry.  I apparently scared you, and when I did you stepped back and fell into the wash.  You hit your head on a rock and broke your left arm.  I set your arm as best I could and put a makeshift splint on it.  Then I brought you here.  I realize that I bear some responsibility for your accident but why were you following me?”

“The camp where I have stayed was attacked and burned to the ground.  I escaped with a few others.  I am the only one left alive from the whole camp I believe.  I was following you and thought I would watch your camp and, if it looked like your people were friendly, I would try and join up.  I have some skills and I have some supplies.  At least… I did have some supplies.”

“I did not open your pack but I was surprised at its weight and bulk for you to be carrying it.  There is no camp full of people here.  Only me.  You are welcome to stay until you are healed.  I will not harm you.  Only after I scared you and you fell did I notice that you had never even strung your bow and it was then obvious to me that your intent was not to kill me.”

“Is there a larger camp near here?”

“Not that I am aware of, but I don’t travel all that far in any one direction.  Let’s eat while it is hot.  I’m sorry about my manners but I have lived alone for a very long time.”

He set a bowl of good smelling soup in front of me.  There was also a knife, fork, and spoon.  I started eating but watched him the whole time.  There was a lot of meat in the soup and not too much in the way of vegetables.  It was good though, or maybe I was just hungry.  When I finished the soup he got up and brought over a pot and asked if I wanted more. 

“Maybe just half a bowl.”

His bowl was empty and he put the remainder of what was in the pot in his bowl.  After putting the pot back he returned and ate his soup while I ate mine.  We both finished about the same time and he handed me a bowl I never even noticed that was on the table.  I looked at the bowl and then looked at him.

“It’s dried fruit.  I have plenty.  Eat as much as you want.  It tastes pretty good and is likely good for you too.”

I moved my soup bowl off the plate it was sitting on and, taking the fruit bowl from him, I dumped some on my plate before handing the bowl back to him.  He dumped some of the mixed fruit into his empty soup bowl and started munching on them. 

I tried a piece that was obviously from an apple.  It was very good.  The next I tried was, I thought, another piece of apple, but I realized it was a pear when I tasted it.  Next I tried a dark-colored piece then held up another dark-colored piece.

“Apricot.  I think,” he said.

All the fruit was very good.  It was like a treat from the old days.  After a couple of minutes I realized I had quit watching him!  I jerked my head up to look at him and that was a bad mistake.  My head exploded with the quick movement.

When I again came to my head, I realized, was back on a pillow, but I was still sitting up and not lying on the bed.  Smarter now, I moved my head just slightly.  I saw my knife lying on the table in front of my eyes.  I was obviously still sitting at the kitchen table.  I moved my right arm and when nothing bad happened I slowly pushed myself upright.  Very slowly.