The Seven Swords of Diya: An Indiana Jones Fan Fiction Part 1

Chapter 166: Cave, Kamchatka Wilderness, 1960

Cave

Kamchatka Wilderness

Soviet Union

1960

Lizavet watched Indy's interaction with Emily curiously, as she tended a small fire, while Shorty searched for more kindling to burn and sustain a flame. Lizavet had a small pot, and was boiling water, adding bunches of herbs to it.

"What are those for?" Indy asked.

"Healing and to numb the pain," Lizavet explained. She reached into her pack and quietly unfolded a sewing kit. "That wound is from an obsidian blade. It will need stitches."

"Who did this to you?" Indy whispered to Emily, his arms around her, as she pressed herself into his chest huddling like a child.

Lizavet removed the pot from the fire and came over. "Emily, I am going to rub a poultice on your wound to clean it and numb it. Then I'm going to sew it shut."

"What do you want me to do?" Indy asked.

"Hold her. Just like you are. Keep the hair out of the wound."

Indy moved his hand to cover the back of Emily's head, holding her crookedly sliced short hair out of the way. "Lizavet, can you tell me what happened? Who cut my daughter!?"

Lizavet looked at Emily. "May I tell him?"

Emily nodded.

"Em, don't move your head when you reply - you're re-opening the wound," Indy chided.

Lizavet threaded her slender bone needle. "Emily and I were fighting the ninjas. One grabbed her by her braid, pulled her off balance and were dragging her across the ground. The other two were going to jump on her and pin her down." Lizavet swallowed. "I know, because that is what predators of the male kind do. And they did it to me in the prison uprising that I spoke of to Emily earlier."

Shorty's jaw dropped. "That's who I reminded you of? Lizavet - I'm - I didn't know. I'm so sorry!"

Lizavet's eyes flickered toward him. "Now you do, Korotkiy. I am sorry I frightened you. Your affection - any man's affection - is unknown to me. It has always been... painful. I know no love that did not come with fear, control and punishment."

Indy saw Lizavet's sewing hand was trembling. "Lizavet," he murmured. "I trust you. And survivors make the best healers."

Lizavet almost choked. "Thank you... but I am not worthy -"

"You are completely worth it," Indy finished her sentence. "What they did to you - was horrible and wrong - but don't let them dictate your value."

She took a deep breath, steadying her own hand. "Thank you. I saw Emily grab a loose piece of obsidian and cut off her ponytail. This is a survival wound. Do not shame her for what she had to do to save herself."

Indy pressed Emily's head against his shoulder. "Never, hon. Em, you are so brave and strong. Don't be afraid to cry."

Emily felt Lizavet sewing the wound as she pressed herself deeper into Indy's chest. "Why is there no pain?"

"I have herbs that will keep the pain down. But you'll have to keep reapplying them," Lizavet replied. "And... I should warn you. The sun will get very bright, because these herbs let you see in the dark."

"That might be a good thing," Shorty looked toward the mouth of the cave. "The ash isn't stopping."

Lizavet paused. "I would not consider these good. They are the type of herbs that allow shamans to travel through other realms... like the world of the dead." She looked at Indy. "They will make her more vulnerable to the apkallu. Especially since Edo probably has her braid."

"What does that mean?" Emily asked.

"He will attempt to control you, but your will is strong. And when that fails, he will harm you."

Emily blinked. "The fire is really bright."

"The herbs are working," Lizavet smiled.

"Get some sleep, hon," Indy murmured.

Emily lay down beside Indy's outstretched leg, making sure her hat covered her face from the fire's light. "We didn't grab our bedrolls, did we?"

"No." Indy replied, "Sorry, hon. All we have is what we have in our packs and each other."

Emily smiled. "I like those odds."