Fritz is sitting up by the fire, but he doesn't look well.
Emily: (Feeling his forehead) How do you feel?
Fritz: I think we should keep going. Mother and Father are going to be worried.
Emily: They would be worried if they were here. You've got a fever, and that bite is swelling.
Abigail: If we could find some milkweed, it would keep the swelling down.
Fritz: (Trying to get up.) Maybe, if we keep going, we'll find some.
Emily: (With Abigail, helping him up) I suppose you'll be alright. How far do you think you can walk?
Fritz: As far as I need to.
Emily: (Uncertainly) Well, alright. Let's go.
They gather up the bags and, with Fritz between them, start again through the woods.
Fritz: (In pain) Sst! (He leans more heavily on the girls)
Abigail: Slowly...don't rush!
Emily: There! (She drops to her knees and starts picking some small green shoots.) Milkweed!
Fritz: Aah! (Collapses without Emily's support.)
Emily: (Turning) Oh! I'm sorry.
Abigail: Why don't we stop and rest while we crush the milkweed?
Fritz: (Weakly) We just started again. (Sits down by a tree.)
Emily: Obviously you need to rest some more.
Fritz starts shaking. They cover him with the blanket again, but it doesn't help.
Emily: Where's the other blanket?
Abigail: (Digging in the bags) Here.
Emily: Water?
Abigail: (Again digging) There.
Emily: And the gun?
Abigail: (Not thinking straight) What?!
Emily: We need to go find something to eat.
Abigail: Oh, yes.
Fritz: (Opening his eyes wider.) Be careful. We don't need another angry lizard.
Emily: (Smiles and exits)
Abigail: (Teasing) That wasn't very subtle, you know.
Fritz: Just pretends he doesn't hear her, but smiles when he turns his head.
Fangs in another part on the woods - he finds the cave the children stayed in.
Fangs: (Sniffing) They must have stayed here during that rainstorm. What's that smell? Another human is with them. Dune didn't mention another one. Perhaps they stumbled upon him - no, her - while they were traveling. (Sniffs again) They must have gone this way.
Emily reenters the clearing where Abigail and Fritz are, carrying a rabbit. The sun is lower.
Emily: (To Abigail) How is he?
Abigail: Sleeping. I gave him the milkweed. He hasn't stopped shaking, though.
Emily: (Placing the rabbit over the fire) I didn't think it would be this bad. It's probably because we didn't have any soap.
Abigail: He will be alright though?
Emily: I hope so. (There is silence for a bit.)
Abigail: You seem like a sister already, and I only met you two days ago.
Emily: Well, it's not every day your brother gets bitten by a giant lizard. (Pause) My mother always said that 'hard times bring people together.'
Abigail: I'm so glad we met you.
Emily: I'm glad I met you. It's so wonderful not to be alone.
Fritz: (stirs, sits up, and groans a little) Can we go on now?
Emily: After dinner. Or I suppose it's supper. We only have a few hours of daylight left.
Abigail: I think it's ready now. (She takes the rabbit off the spit)
Fritz: Where did you get a rabbit?
Abigail: Emily shot it.
Fritz: (impressed) Oh.
Emily: (talking quickly) It was standing still.
Fritz: (Laughing) Rabbits don't stand still...
Abigail: I'm going to go pick some more milkweed. It's over there?
Emily: Just between those two trees. I'll save some supper for you.
Fritz: (Waiting for Abigail to get out of earshot) Emily?
Emily: (Slicing the meat) Hmm?
Fritz: I, uh... I don't know where I'd be if we hadn't met you two days ago. Abigail... she reads a lot, and she knows a lot of things, but she wouldn't have known what to do...Emily? (Sits up)
Emily: Yes?
Fritz: Thank you. Thank you for saving my life.
YOU ARE READING
Swiss Family Robinson: A Place For All Of Us
FanfictionWhen the Robinson family is shipwrecked on a seemingly deserted island, it seems there is no way for them to escape this jail in the jungle. Fritz and Abigail, the oldest two children, miss their home back in Switzerland, and Fritz especially is an...