Fenris Perrywinkle: The Great Galactic Duel

Chapter IX: Bleeding on the Porch

Apparently I'm not dead yet. That's my first thought as I awaken. My second thought is that I'm on fire. Like... burning fire. I guess it won't be long now.

"Don't die on me, boy," Amanda's father growls as he addresses the wound in my chest. "Keep him alive, she said. So that's what I aim to do."

I scream as best I can, only to find a thick piece of leather has been placed in my mouth. Is this crazy old man using a wire brush to clean my chest wound or something?

"Bite down, boy. You just bite down. I ain't cleaned up someone this bad since Dessert Storm – but don't worry, this old sawbones has still got it!"

Strangely, I don't find any comfort in his words. I think I might just pass out again.

***

Apparently I'm not dead yet. I'm still on the porch though. That old fart wasn't kidding when he said this is where I'd stay until I told him about his 'Manda'.

Something is sticking out of my arm. My vision is a little hazy, but it appears that I've got a saline drip stuck in me. This is the most bizarre thing ever.

I feel the old man's boots stomping toward me again. What's he going to do to me this time I wonder?

He stoops down beside me and sticks a straw in my mouth. "Drink, boy!" he commands. A green liquid that stinks of dessert cacti and road kill starts trickling down my throat. I cough in protest, but I'm too weak to fight him off.

"This 'ill grease the wheels down there right good. Fight off infection too, I reckon."

"Daddy... what are you... oh no. Not cactus surprise, Daddy!"

My heart skips a couple of beats. Please don't let this be some sort of auditory illusion.

Amanda descends into view and looks down at us.

"Mandy!" her father exclaims, "I'm just doing what ya told me to, baby girl. Now why are ya flying like some sort of alien?"

She drops to the porch and hugs her father. "You wouldn't understand if I told you. Just know that I'm doing something very important and it's going to bless many, many people from the stars."

Her father hugs her as hard as he can. "I wish your momma was still with us to see this. Our baby girl... helping people from the stars. Maybe she would understand all this."

"Maybe she would have," Amanda says and kisses her daddy on the cheek. "But let's not dwell on something that can't be known. The people from the stars gave me some of their power. It lets me do things like fly."

Her father steps back and looks her up and down. "Are you sure it's not the government tryin ta trick ya? Why don't you put on something a little more modest? You're going to give this boy the wrong idea."

She smiles and kneels at my side.

I hope my eyes convey how sorry I am.

"The boy is still alive, just like you asked."

She nods and places her hand on my wound.

"Have you learned your lesson yet, Fenris?" she whispers.

My lesson? What lesson? Don't agree to defend an alien race unless I actually intend to do so? Sure, why not?

I manage to nod my head a little.

She smiles a little, then looks to her father again. "You just had to give him Cactus surprise, didn't you?"

The old man looks a little miffed. "It's kept me alive hasn't it? I swear I'm going to bottle it and make me a fortune. You'll see little miss."