Into the Jungle: A Novella

Chapter 10

Ruby could see her house ahead as she dashed along the trail and flew hopeful expressions at her sister. The brothers were running behind them.

Once they got on the deck, Ruby jolted the door open and snatched the tube from her sister's pocket. She jogged into her father's room and knelt beside the bed. Viola had the man in her arms, hugging his chest and resting her face on his. Her puffy eyes were still dropping tears, and it looked like she'd been crying ever since Ruby left. Ruby held the tube out. "Mom!"

Viola's face revived as she snatched it and replied, "You got it!"

"Can I try some, Mom?" Iris asked, her fearful voice suddenly morphing into play.

Ruby frowned. "Iris, no!" Then she surveyed her father. He was motionless, and his eyes were shut. "Is he okay?" Ruby asked with sad yet hopeful tears.

Viola laid his head on her thighs. "He hasn't moved since you left."

"Did you feel for a heartbeat?" Ruby wondered. Viola nodded yes. Then Ruby pulled Iris close, sat her down, and hugged her with two hands as she watched her mother.

Viola pulled the branch from the tube, lifted her husband's head with one hand, and shouted, "Hey! Hey! Babe, you must take this medicine!"

He didn't move.

Ruby grabbed his hand. This always works.

Osmond's eyes drowsily opened, the warmth of Ruby's hand waking him, but his neck was drooping to the side. "I'm trying, babe," he mumbled. "I'm trying."

Viola placed the tube near his lips and fed him the liquid. "Swallow this, honey." Then she looked at Ruby with worry. "How much do I give him?"

Ruby looked into her eyes. "All of it!" Then she looked at her father. "Daddy, swallow it."

He swallowed, mumbling something nobody understood.

Viola patted his chest and leaned her head on his. "This is medicine, babe." Then she prayed for the gods to heal him.

Ruby gulped. She no longer believed in those so-called gods of the tribes, and even if they were gods, she'd never seen them protect her like Jesus. She let out a long sigh, a sigh that meant she had made a decision. Jesus is my God.

"Is it working?" Iris wondered.

Ruby gave her a loving shake, lifted her chin with one finger, and looked into her eyes. "It will work." Then she looked at her father and mouthed, "Jesus, make it work."

"All we can do is wait," Viola whispered. "Just hang in there, honey. Hang in there."

Ruby inched closer and rested her chin on his armpit. "Do you feel better, Daddy?" He mumbled something. "Hmm?"

Viola nodded. "Just wait."

After a while of silence, Ruby felt pain and wiped the back of her thigh. Blood stained her fingers. She quickly scrubbed it on her pants, hoping her mother wouldn't see it, but when she looked up, her mother was staring into her eyes.

"What happened?" Viola lifted her head from Osmond's chest and scanned the girls, practically just noticing how rough they were. Her eyes shuffled with anticipation as her voice rose. "What happened?"

The sisters shared a peek.

Ruby winked and then looked at her mother. "The trail was pretty rough, like you always say."

"Enough for you ladies to get all beat up, I suppose. What's that blood on your leg, Ruby?"

"Just a scrape. Like Dad told me: I'll get used to it."