The Desolation Of The Red Rackham

Chapter 8

When I opened my eyes, things were a little blurry, which may be one of the laxative effects of the medicines that doctor gave me. I started to have a feeling that he wasn't there t help. You see, there are hardly such situations where the places of attacks of the bandits are left without raiding all of them, and boy, this was a whole farmhouse! The place should be terrible. But surprisingly, they were all organised and he had all the amenities of life, all the luxuries AFTER the raid. Bandits have the eye of an eagle, and almost no place they enter or leave is left untouched or without a raid. Clearly, the bandits were somewhat, somehow linked to this Louis guy. He looked too enthusiastic while after these disasters, people are devastated and their minds are extremely sad and unstable. He in particular, looked happy enough as if there was no raid which ever happened. Normally, doctors are called from far off town as there is no doctor in these parts of the desert. Eventually, the death rate is more because of several puny diseases which advance so much that they become incurable. Doctors usually come very late. For example, if I have pneumonia and I want a doctor to come and treat me, the doctor would have to take somewhat five trains from the developed city and around a twenty mile journey over camel to reach this far off town of San Petro de Atacama. The total cost of the doctor's treatment, the medicines and the cost of travelling would be so much that low-class poor people would prefer dying rather than calling doctors. In this place, this was a disaster and reaching here with absolutely no civilization is next to impossible, that too on such a short notice, in three to four hours. This has to be somewhat linked. I should probably investigate but my condition was so bad that I would prefer lying for some time. So according to my conclusion, which was purely based upon evidences and proofs, he was linked to the bandits. This guy was worth investigating for some valuable information I could get from him. There are two ways of doing it; either I hit him and make him vomit out information or get to the very inside of the bandit secrets by getting close to him. But I wasn't sure as he could've been given the same task by the, ooooooooohhhhhh I get it; he can be an agent undercover of The Red Rackham. If I do that, I have to be careful.

I felt really bad for what happened earlier at the town. For a better idea, I could've told them to stay put, duck and shoot, or best, run that could've just saved all of us, and I wouldn't be cursing myself for all that happened. Factually speaking, half are probably dead, half are badly injured and I'm sure many even didn't even it here. I laid down, and just closed my eyes for eyes for a moment. A teardrop rolled down my left cheek, clung to my chin and dropped on the ground.

This situation reminded me of my family and the tragedy that took place, some people who I have lost, some people who will never return. Just thinking of that shattered my heart to pieces so tiny they could never be joined ever again. The fear, the pain and the loneliness probably had settled in the dark, deep and far corners of my heart.

Our family had come out for a picnic; my mom, stepdad, my elder brother and I. Mom, Rachel had divorced my father, Kevin and fell in love with another guy who I hated so badly, I tried to kill him. I was fifteen, and was receiving high level army training from my brother Stephen, who was an army official or General as I may say. He wanted me to become an army man, just like him, and that was kind of my dream too. I wanted to fire guns like him and thought it was cool. Little did I know that God had already written a future full of guns in my life. Frankly speaking, I had first heard the name 'Red Rackham' from my stepdad. I always suspected that he worked for him. Many evil looking people with their destructive plans would come to our house on a regular visit and would talk to him for hours and would come out with a grin. I tried to sneak in and eavesdrop their conversation but couldn't as they would talk in a low and alert tone.

The day the tragedy took place, The Red Rackhamshot my mom and brother in the head, but shot my stepdad in the arm and draggedhim by that same arm and dragged him all the way downhill. I seemed not to carefor that man, but was terrified so badly, I couldn't move for a long time. Ifinally sneaked out and tried to help my mom and brother, who were lying on thegreen grass with smears of their blood, with their eyelids shut like it wouldit never open. I sneaked out, looked at them and the tears wouldn't just stop.I went on to the road, searching for someone for hours, with tears droppingdown like dropping down on the road with every step I took. I searched forhours and hours and when finally got one, I pleaded and begged to him forhelping me, but he ignored, just tossed a coin towards me and kept moving. Ipicked up the coin in anger and slipped in my pocket as a symbol of revenge. Ifelt so helpless, I drowned to my knees and the speed of the tears just keptincreasing and increasing. I somehow got up, wiped my tears and ran towards thetop, where my mom and brother were. Ireached there, bend down and shook her. 'No, nothing happened Ma,everything's fine. You're just asleepright? You're sleeping right? Just get up, Ma get up! Hey Steward, brother; tell her to getup, please. Get up you guys, I can't live without you˚p;