The Deadlands

Chapter 3 - Trouble on the Homefront

Drumming and the sounds of war nudged Lili's subconscious. Shouting, crying, and wailing brought her from the deepest sleep of her life. As words filtered through the woolly heaviness in her brain, she recognised the shouters. She groaned. Too loud. They competed with the pounding headache that threatened to crush her brain with its incessant hammering.

"...all her money? You were robbed," Uncle Lex said. He sighed. "How could you?"

"I, I didn't know what to do. You weren't here. He came and, and she needed help." Jinie sobbed.

"But you had time to eat? Did you start dinner? A broth to feed Lil? No, of course not, because no one else matters. Well, I hope you're happy. You nearly killed your sister, for stupid flowers. Good job."

"I didn't think."

"You never do! Just start dinner while I clean up and take Daisy back to Noel, or do you need help with dinner too?"

Jinie sobbed and a door slammed.

Where am I? Not the lean-to. Lili was glad the shouting stopped, but her sister's sobs tore a hole in her heart. She tried to call out, but a croaked gargle was all her dry throat could manage. She blinked open her eyes, which was harder than usual. She coughed to clear her throat and the curtain opened to reveal Jinie's pale face and red, puffy eyes. Jinie knelt beside the bed. Uncle Lex's bed in the cottage.

"I'm so sorry, Lil. I never thought you'd get hurt." She sobbed.

Lili tried to say, 'its okay,' but she only managed a croak and raspy, "Kay."

"Don't talk. The doctor said you need to rest."

Lili's eyes widened and for the first time she took note of her injuries. She ignored the shooting pain in her neck as she looked down her body. She wore a nightdress with her right shoulder bandaged and right arm in a sling. Her left hand and arm were covered in cuts and scrapes and half her nails were broken or torn. The rest was under a thick blanket, but the aches and pains when she tried to move suggested it wasn't any better down there.

"Water," she rasped and licked her cracked lips, but her tongue was drier than a lump of stone.

"Oh, yes!" Jinie disappeared and returned a moment later and held a cup out to her.

Lili looked at her in disbelief and tried to sit up. Jinie finally understood when Lili sagged back against the bed with a loud groan. Lili clamped her jaw as Jinie helped her, none too gently, into a sitting position.

She practically sucked the water from the cup and asked for more. The hammering headache receded to a steady throb, like her head replaced her heart's function. She touched her right shoulder and thanked Islanna for saving her arm. It was still attached, and she could wiggle her fingers, but her arm and hand were completely numb.

Jinie handed her the newly filled cup. "I have to make dinner. Are you okay for a while?"

She nodded, but as Jinie turned, Lili said, "Wait. The flowers." She sighed. "I'm sorry, Jin, I ..."

"Sorry? Theyre perfect. Thank you so much."

Lili frowned as Jinie pointed at the sideboard. The largest bunch of Orange Frissie she had ever seen overflowed from a metal bucket.

"There's enough for a larger bouquet, and your hair too, if you want." She smiled, which quickly turned into a frown. "You really banged your head, didn't you?"

Lili nodded, still confused. She wracked her brain for answers. As Jinie walked away, she looked back. "You were rambling lots of nonsense about purple grass, green eyes, deer, dragons, and apples. You must have been dreaming."