The rain beat down heavily, the aching road of dirt absorbing every last once of it... and as I strode beyond the grasslands neither dirt or grass felt wet beneath my now bare feat, it has been a few days since it started raining... and I hope it ends soon, I miss wearing my shoes.
I can't afford to get them wet, the danger of the rain alone is astronomical... but soggy shoes are a much bigger threat, it stills within the vessel and becomes a natural spring of the containmnation. So, I kept them in a sack I recently found... remarkably it was filled with medicinal items just perfect for my use. I ponder if the sack was another medicine man's carrier at one point. It's be odd otherwise.
The bag contained very few Anti - Biotics and other drugs of the sort, but it contained many needles, thread... fabric and bandages... a bone saw, and finally... ammunition. It's rare to come across ammo out here in the wasteland, it's nearly as hard to find as gold... luckily my gun can run on any type of metal, so that works out for me.
The pitter patter of the rain stops slowly, but as a tide receding I know what is about to happen. The rain somehow builds up and gets released all at once, wether or not this is somehow related to the disease I'm not certain... maybe it's just a by product of our fault world. I can't tell what used to be anymore, the sky is certainly dirtier than what I remember... 18 years ago? Beyond that, I think the sky's were only a little smoggy... and 284 years ago, I remember seeing the stars.
Soon, the rain drops it's water and the clouds recede away... finally, I can put my shoes back on. My laces are worn down, perhaps I can find some replacements in the next location. I'm heading to the frontier town of Morin, it's quite the lovely place since I've been there last... but that was before the wars, and way before the disease.
As I made my journey, bandits and monsters alike preyed upon me. It's nothing new in this old world, violence has always been the way at life... no matter how hard it is protested. I spot no humans however, just bandits and beasts. Living for as long as I have you learn a few things, cooking... cleaning, maybe even sewing. But, what I learned wasn't the best of a human's phycological escapes... rather I learned to kill, and put my removed limbs back on. My flesh is inedible, but easily tearable... I'll never die, even should I lose my head. As long as the earth exists, I shall live...
I dread maybe even after.
After hours of marching, my soul wheezes out for rest... and upon a remnants of a wood fence I rest my body for the night. Upon awakening I'm greeted with iron bars keeping me prisoner, it's unfortunate. For some reason they let me keep my outfit though.
- " Excuse me, where am I? "
" Ayy, the flesh bags awake! Get him to the labour camps lassies! "
- " That doesn't answer my question, what is your name? "
" I be Morg, leader of Marching Town... and you be caught trespassing! Ayy, your materials in your bag is forfeit, and you shall serve penance for 10 years! "
Chains were thrown around my hands, and my bruised body was none to defy them. I have no fear of some children attempting to keep me hostage.
- " That's unfortunate, but I'd highly doubt you could keep me here. A doctor knows his ways, you know? "
" Oy, A Doctor? Ladies, we hit the jackpot! This here trespasser here is a medicine man! "
- " Of course, did you not notice my medicinal tools in the bag? "
" Medicine tools? Those are arts and crafts, you bitch. Shut your trap! "
After a few hours of being dragged around to wherever I shall be taken, I have no right to complain... looking at this broken settlement that is forged out of rusted metal plates it's quite obvious how these people might have been raised, the oldest that I've seen not withing custody of the clearly marked... bandits? Yeah, bandits... the oldest was no older than 19, so it's likely that... they were all born during the war, and maybe even soon during the great pestilence.
" Alright, Doctor. Work on whoever we bring to you and fix them up, maybe we'll get you a payment should you work well. Capiche? "
- " I'm quite confused, why should I? "
" Because we are telling you to, damn morrow. "
- " I'm a man of medicine, I travel offering my services... and this is the first time I'm forced to work, haha. I guess I'll see what I could do before I leave tommorow. "
I was placed into a large wooden room, wood floors... roofs... walls... and a large wooden table with cloth put upon it, I assume this is an operation room? The door behind me was locked, yet another door before my eyes remained open into a small room made of mud filled with sickly people. I guess these are my patients, have they already arranged some for me?
That's quite nice, let's see what I can do.
But, I don't have any materials to work with... I wonde-
The door behind me opened once with a thud, and the earlier man that escorted me here had a large bag filled with plenty of surgery tools. Nothing for stitches but plenty of anti biotics, even a knack of homemade penicillin from moldy bread... hopefully the good kind, but I can't tell without a microscope... where would i find something like that out here right?
" Patient 1! Your doctor is here! "
" Oh, here I come... "
The escort quickly left, and a shirtless man took his place after coming through the opposite door.
- " Please, take a seat upon the table... what ails you my friend? "
" I have chronic pain in me head, and it never recedes... it's been years, and it's getting worse! "
" Any other symptoms? "
" I do have some difficulty breathing, but nothing much beyond that. "
Breathing issues... head ache of some sort... maybe a physical examination will help...
I began running some tests, his breathing was erratic and strange... and his head had a large lump on the side, full of puss from what I can tell. Amount it was also a large red mark down through his back.
I know what it is...
- " I believe you might have some sort of parasite type beast inside your head, it might be to large to remove without killing you... "
" Are you sure doctor? Am I really going to die?!? "
The sickly old man stared into me leather veil, my soul pounded with the thoughts of another man dieing before my eyes... it stung like a bullet ant, and it would be great if it were Solvable... maybe if I arrived a year earlier.
- " You should of died a few years ago, you have managed to put on a fight against it somehow.... so I think you might be able to survive, should I do the procedure. "
" What can you offer me Doctor?!? "
- " I will have to cut open you back, and pull the thing out from there... if the parasite is latched to your spine however, it won't work... I'll put you out of your misery should that happen. "
" It's worth the try, doctor... please... cure me. "
- " I... will do my best... "