Sanctuary

Chapter 4

As they arrived at the trailer park, the sun was already down enough to be well hidden behind the canopy. Soon it would get dark and a bit colder. They were all tired, scared, worried and most of all hungry.

They parked the cars. Jan, the strongest one of them, took the man from the Rover's trunk, and tied him up to a tree near the fire place. Then he argued with Nina about not needing any medical attention, but Nina wouldn't give up. Had the shock of today's events gotten to her, making her realize they needed to work together more than ever? Tim gathered whatever he could manage to try and build a kind of warning system around the camp: rope, cans, bottles and the like. Laura was helping him out. Maja, who was for the first time there and did not know how else she could help, tried gathering some firewood, although she limped severely.

Eben took the wounded woman in his trailer. Then he brought the medical supplies they managed to scavenge and some herbs he gathered the day before with the intention of distilling them in his lab once they got back to the city. He was no medic, but he was the closest thing they had to one. Damn, even a nurse would be more appropriate, but he'll have to manage. Nina brought some clear water from the nearby spring, which she first warmed a bit on the fire Maja had already started.

Eben unbuttoned the woman's sleeve up until before her breast and let it slip to the sides. He removed the blood soaked bandages, washed the wound and poured disinfectant over it. He was glad it did not need suture. It was no cut, more like something pierced her. Thankfully no inner organs seemed to have been pierced as well. The strange man with his crossbow came to mind. He took some of the leaves, mashed them to a paste using warm water and applied the mixture over the wound. It should have two different effects: first help stop the bleeding, second help healing. Then he put fresh and sterile bandages over the wound and held it in place using some medical grade plaster. He was still sitting on the bed edge near his patient, cleaning the dust, blood and dirt from her face and letting the dark locks rest on the bed, as Laura came in. She saw the sad but also surprised face Eben had while looking at the women and for a moment she forgot all trouble they were in and instinctively tried to raise his spirits:

"What are you two lovebirds doing? Already stripping of the clothes? Naughty. Naughty, I say", a wide grin on her face.

"What? Oh,... I see. She's my patient, moron" said Eben feeling his blood warming his cheeks. "She needs a new sleeve or shirt. You two have the same height and more or less the same weight. It will be a little large for her, but makes taking care of the wound easier. Instead of making childish jokes, bring her something to wear, maybe you still have something clean that fits the description." Eben tried to make a serious face. He failed. Both laughed as Laura left the trailer. Damn, her cheeriness had lifted his spirit. It was good to let stress out and finally relax a bit, considering the day they all had. Minutes later, Laura entered, bringing a clean shirt. Seeing Eben's look again, she couldn't help but continuing:

"Do you need help changing her outfit? By the way you look at her, I should probably just leave and lock the door behind" she teased him.

"No, please stay and do it. I'll be the one leaving, I still have manners, you know?".

"Couldn't tell, by the way you were gazing!"

"Only now I could have a first good look at her face after I cleaned her up. She reminds me of someone, nothing more. Call me when you're done, she needs blood and antibiotics, she's starting a fever" he said, getting up and leaving the trailer.

Once outside, he pushed the memory away. Until he is needed again by his patient, he must check what the others have done so far. He saw them gathering around the fire. The strange man still tied up. He approached them. They had opened some of the canned food and where warming it up. They were chatting, but by the look on their faces they were stressed out. He couldn't blame them. Except the few seconds of banter with Laura, he felt the same. Dozens of unanswered questions, an epidemic outbreak, possible danger to all of them, the memories of all the dead people they saw...and all those people in need of help whom themselves could not help.