[author's note] translations at the bottom of the chapter [/author's note]
Snowbowl 7 – Encounters
"Quel hasard! Zis is no suprise, non?" Spy sighed, helping Pyro to remove a thin layer of snow from the slender body. "is 'e alive?" His eyes went from the Scout's frame to Pyro's hands, who, to his amazement, put off his gloves, revealing two slim hands, rough with what looked like burning marks, but not quite.
"'et ee 'ck" the small man mumbled through his mask, hurriedly moving his fingers under the boy's scarf, searching for his pulse. Holding his breath, Spy watched him, on one side feeling uncomfortable with the sight of the still, silent figure in front of them, on the other side frowning. For almost three years he had tried to investigate the Pyro, always been left empty-handed. No name, no facts about his past, not one glance at his skin. And there the mysterious pyromaniac knelt in the snow, exposing his hands without hesitation in a most casual way. Where was the fun in that?
"Aaa! 'rr 't 'ss. 'cout 'ss 'eak, 'ut st'll 'live!" the muffled voice almost shouted with triumph, Spy felt sure he was grinning behind the rubber skin.
"Well zen." The French took a thick blanked out of his backpack, trying to wrap the boy in it, put his arms under his legs and back and lifted him up. He could feel no warmth coming from the liveless body, stiff from the cold, betraying the positive diagnosis of the other man.
"Monsieur Pyro, let ze ozers know we will return, give ze signal.". Pyro nodded, pointed his flare gun at the sky above his head and fired. Now they could go back and finally continue their journey.
x x x x x
Satisfied with his work, Medic nodded. He and Pyro had fought and won the fight for the Scout's life. As soon as the two men had arrived with their lost companion, lying still and lifeless in the Spy's arms, Medic beckoned them into the trailer, having several more blankets and syringes ready. Only a few minutes later Soldier and Engineer had returned, soon joined by Sniper and Demo. Heavy was the last to return.
All men were cramping inside the car now, trying to help. Finally Medic decided two were enough and threw all of them out, expect the Pyro.
"Off vish zhe mask and gloves, zhis is not zhe time for your silly complexes now." he ordered firmly, already stripping down the clothes from Scout. Pyro made a rude, muffled remark, but did as he was told, soon helping the doctor to warm up the cold teen. Scout's skin soon was red, as they alternately rubbed his bare body with a rough blanket and massaged his feet and hands, slowly but eventually animating the blood flow again. When a faint reddish color returned to the boy's face they covered him with four or five blankets, with a few layers of tinfoil in between, to prevent the new ignited warmth from fading again. The Medic smiled half angrily, he was glad he had got his own way when Engineer and Soldier had tried to convince him to halve his medical equipment.
"Vell, zhis vill stabilise zhe circulatory system, zhe blood vill flow fast even vhen he is asleep." He injected one shot, then prepared another. "And zhis," he explained, "Zhis vill let him sleep for a vhile, he needs to rest." With his hand on Scout's forehead he checked the temperature.
"Not optimal yet, but vill do. isn't zhe irony amusing, Ramon? You almost burned to death, being a silent brooding character, zhe boy, loud and careless, almost froze to death, complete opposites." He chuckled.
"C...can't f..find it very a...amusing, M...Medic..." His face showed it was quite the contrary.
"Ah, you should, my friend. Vould help you more zhan all zhis mulling over your past. Hm, vhere is it..." He checked his pockets, bringing up to light several strange, small medical instruments.
Finally he found what he searched and switched on a small inspection lamp. He lifted first the one, then the other eyelid of his patient, flashing directly into the motionless eyes.
"W...what are y... you doing?" his assistant inquired.
"Checking his eyes. Look!" With a motion of his head he told Pyro to move closer. "Do you see zhis?" He switched the light off, waited a second and switched it on again.
"N...no.. nothing. B...bad..?"
"Speak vhole sentences vhen you are vith me." the Medic scolded impatiently. The young man frowned, bit his lip, and started again.
"I s...see not...nothing. I...is th..thi... is this bad?" he finally finished his question.
"Vielleicht, vielleicht nicht. Ah, sorry! Maybe. His pupils should dilate, but, as you see, or razher not see, zhey don't. Still constricted, yes..." he explained. "If zhe body vere stiff and vishout a heartbeat zhis vould be a sign of death. But as he's obviouzly isn't dead yet, vell. Vith no protection from zhe sun his eyes are probably overwrought from zhe light. Normally zhis does not happen vhen ve do not look right into the sun, but zhe white ground reflects ultraviolet radiation... I explain later." he concluded when he looked into Pyro's puzzled face.
"Basically, zhis means, too much brightness for too long causez vhat is called snowblindness. Vhen he vakes up he probably von't see nozhing." He switched off the light again and put it back into the breast pocket of his coat.
Pyro stared at him in shock. "He w...will go... b..blind?"
"No. He is blind. But don't vorry, it is only temporary. Los jetzt, let's tell zhe ozhers."
x x x x x
"This is good news, doctor." Heavy nodded gravely. "Almost lost first man..."
Demo nudged him with his elbow.
"Shaddap, fatty. Almost lost a man, and this was the bloody last time this happened, 'kay? No first, no second." the Scot grumbled. The Russian didn't respond, and everyone nodded in agreement. An incident like this must not be repeated. The reckless behaviour, caused by a minor, silly argument had almost cost a life and could have cost more.
"I will have a word with Scout once he is better." the Soldier stated. "He has to learn that he is not the hub of the world."
"Sure thing." Engineer agreed. "Just don't shout at the kid the first moment he opened his eyes."
"Vell, let's hope zhe temporary loss of his eyesight and zhe frostbite vill be a lesson for him. Vhatever avaits us outside zhis... desert... could be more dangerous. I vill have a talk wish him, too." Medic checked his watch. "But he vill be asleep for, let's see... at least eight more hours. Zhis means, only four of us and zhe driver can go inside, zhe rest vill valk? You don't vant us to vait here all night, nicht wahr, Herr Soldier?"
"Of course not, Medic." Soldier stiffened, ready to bark the next array of orders. For once, most of them were content with that, meaning they wouldn't have to think too much anymore for today. This day had been exciting enough, and for now everyone was fed up with the mere idea of discussions or arguments.
Soldier cleared his throat and set the arrangements for the night:"Medic, you stay with Scout. If you need any assistance, ask whoever you want, he will help, understood? Fine. Spy, as you probably lost a good deal of stamina carrying the boy back, you drive. The rest of us will walk. If anybody feels sick or weak, join Medic, he will inject something to fire you up. As long as the kid is asleep and as long as Medic is busy seeing after him, there will be no sleep for the rest of us, we lost enough time. We take the next break either when Scout awakes or the next blizzard happens. Got that? Pack up now! It's almost dark!"
Not before long the track was set in motion again, six men plodding through the snow, all of them exhausted and tired, but ready to go on.
x x x x x
"Oi mate, can I have a word with ya?" Sniper swung himself into the rolling vehicle, earning a disapproving glare from Medic.
"Vhat do YOU vant? Go away, I'm busy, I'll call Pyro vhen I need help." The German stretched his arms, feeling the stiff muscles of his neck. God, he felt tired.
"You ain't busy, saw you nodding off just a sec ago." The Australian sat down on the bench not occupied by the sleeping Scout, next to Medic.
"Sniper, vhat do you vant?" the man asked, indignantly, a dangerous tone in his voice.
"Soldier's order, wants ya to check on my rib, if the extra exercise t'day didn't make it worse again." Sniper yawned. The Medic groaned, annoyed. "Vill zhis haunt me vorever? Vell, get off zhe clothes and get over vish it." Without bothering to be careful his fingers slid over the only faintly bruised skin, pushed twice against the bone. He gave a sigh.
"You are fine, Sniper. Go and tell Soldier zhat. Leave me alone, I'm not in zhe mood of arguing vish you now." He leaned back and watched the boy lying on the opposite bench. He listened to the breathing with concern, the intervals were a bit too short, the respiratory rate a bit too high, the sound a little whistling. Medic hoped Scout wouldn't come down with pneumonia, but maybe he worried too much, those were probably only signs of a common cold.
"You are tired, ain't ya?" Sniper suddenly interrupted his thoughts, his voice placable and with a hint of concern.. With another sigh, Medic turned his head, looked at the Australian with an exhausted, but irritated expression.
"You still zhere? Of course I'm tired. Leave me alone now." He stifled a yawn and focused again on the boy.
"Why don't ya lie down and catch some sleep? I can look after Scout and wake you if something's off. Or if Soldier comes." he added.
Medic faced him again, and Sniper could tell from the look of the man's eyes the doctor thought he went totally insane.
"First, you are just to lazy to valk, I von't support zhat.. Second, you do not really zhink I vould sleep, alone vish you next to... vish you here."
Sniper suddenly grinned, feeling cheeky. "Ya afraid I might kiss ya again, when you are asleep, Wilhelm? Want me to kiss ya now that you are awake? I don't mind, ya know."
"Nicholas." The venomous voice was low, but intense. Medic pointed at a collection of filled syringes lying close to him. "Look at zhese. One of zhem puts a grown man to sleep wishin two or zhree minutes. Once zhe man is asleep and nobody could protect him... do you vant to now beforehand how many of zhem it takes to let you sleep forever or vill you finally leave me alone?" He was calm, that was what told Sniper he was not kidding. So the Australian buttoned his coat and wrapped the shawl around his head while staring at the Medics unblinking eyes.
"Fine, have it your way." He stood up, not to his full sise due to the low ceiling, hesitated a second and finally put his hand on the man's shoulder. "I still think you need some sleep, Will, that's all. Bye."
Medic watched him go with a frown, and released his breath once he was alone again. Absent minded he rubbed his shoulder where the Sniper's hand had been. His muscles still ached and yes, he wished he could sleep, if only for an hour or two. Only five minutes...
x x x x x
It was not warm, but not too cold, but certainly it was dark and the sounds and voices were disturbing. He tried to turn around and suddenly woke up when he fell with a loud thud on the floor of the car. Confused and dazed, he opened his eyes and looked around. A pile of blankets had softened his fall. Although it wasn't deep, falling on the hard metal floor wouldn't have been a nice sensation for his back and head. Finally the world around him took shape again. With an annoyed grunt he tried to free himself from the blanket that had fallen down with him. Two suppressed laughs made him look up. On the bench to his left sat Pyro, right at the feet of the still sleeping Scout. On the bench he obviously had slept on until only a minute ago, right at the end of were his feet probably had been – Sniper.
Medic rolled his eyes.
"Vhat is going on here? Vhy are you here and vhy vas I sleeping... vait!" He pushed the woolen cover away, got back on his feet and moved over to the Scout. "How is zhe boy?"
"Don't ya worry, mate." Sniper said reassuringly. "The boy's fine, nothing happened."
"'riit. 'ee 'ade 'ure 'e 's a'rght. 'l'pt 'eac 'lly, 'o t'prtur. R'glr 'art'eat. 'lm 'on, 'cter." Pyro added.
"Vell, it seems you already learned a lot from me, Pyro." With a faint smile Medic sat down on the bench, with enough space left between him and the Australian. "How about taking off zhat mask and briefing me on the details?"
"'ck 'u." the man snarled. The reaction made Medic laugh inwardly. 'Zhat Pyro. Vouldn't dare to speak to me like zhat wishout zhat zhing.'
"Lemme fill you in." Sniper offered, sorting the cards he and Pyro had been playing with. "Spoke with Soldier, told him you ordered me to take a rest. Yeah, yeah I lied, so what?" he defended himself when he saw Medic's glare. "When I came back, you were asleep. Tried to wake you, didn't work. Went back to Soldier, said you needed a rest, too, if anything could be done. He said it's okay, Pyro should look after the kid while you take a nap. Well," he grinned, "that weren't exactly his words. The point is, Pyro and I were on guard here, while you were asleep. The only catch... It's Pyro's turn to make breakfast, but that's your job now." he finished his explanation with a grin. "Too bad it wasn't Demos turn, Pyro's cooking skills are better than yours."
"Ach, halt die Klappe. Pyro, kindly inform Soldier I'm avake now and vill report to him any minute, just let me check on the boy, okay?"
The man nodded and left the car and Medic waited another moment until he could hear Soldier talking. He grabbed the Sniper by the collar of his coat, his eyes filled with anger.
"Stop bothering me! I don't vant to talk to you, if I could help it I vouldn't even look at you, you..."
The Australian grinned, seising the wrist of his attacker. "Well, you are welcome. Come on now, doc, let go, no reason to attack me. Not after I asked Pyro to join me all night, playin' chaperon for your modesty. I know you are afraid of me..."
But the Medic didn't let him finish his sentence, he gave him a violent shake so the back of the Sniper's head crashed against the metallic wall, forcing him to blink away the tiny stars dancing in front of his eyes. "I am not afraid of you, Nicholas." he hissed.
"Yes, you are. Or ya wouldn't get mad like that at me." Sniper hissed back.
"I tell you again, I am not afraid of you, but I vill not forgive you trying to rape me..." He shook him again, but Sniper had tensed in advance, his muscles absorbing the motion.
"Whoa, wait! Didn't I tell ya I wouldn't do THAT? I just wanted to touch ya, kinda like that." His hand darted forward, grabbing the Medics hair tightly, pulling the surprised man forward, giving him an angry, impatient kiss. "Bite me and I'll scream of the pain, loud enough." he threatened.
"Bastard, not zhis again..." But the Australian took advantage of those three words, and his tongue forced it's way into the German's mouth, not giving him a chance to pull back. Sniper sensed how his hunger increased again. Drawing back for a moment, he licked the other man's lip. "Give in already." he whispered.
"Never." The Medic tried to free himself from the Sniper's grip when the man kissed him again. Finally his fingers found a little item lying on the bench. He rammed a syringe into the Sniper's arm, right through his shirt.
"What the..." Sniper let him go, eyes widened.
"Zhis is zhe last warning. It is empty, or razher filled vish air. Trust me, you don't vant me to inject air into your bloodstream." With one pull he removed the needle.
"Vatch the boy, I'll talk to Soldier myself." He straightened his hair and his clothes.
"I was wrong, Will." Sniper apologised.
"Vell, about time you realise how you act vas..." Medic started while checking the Scouts temperature again.
"You misunderstand me, Will," the Australian fell into his word. "I was wrong about ya being afraid of me. You are afraid to admit you like it, that's what!" he triumphantly pointed a finger at the Medic, who only stared back at him in rage and disbelief.
"Once and for all, Nicholas. I'm not afraid of a dimwitted Hinterwäldler...bush men, I'm not afraid to like somezhing I hate, and I zertainly don't like you. I vill go now and take care of my duties. Oh, don't vorry, I vill prepare a meal you vill enjoy for sure, dear Sniper. Vatch the boy." he repeated, voice shaken with wrath.
Sniper gazed after him, thinking. "Fool yourself. If you really dislike me that much - why did you breathe like this when I just kissed you, eh?" He shrugged and turned his eyes to the sleeping figure. "You are still sleeping, aren't ya?" Scout, still being fast asleep, didn't answer, but the Sniper's stomach reacted with a deep, hollow growl. "Damn ya. Bein' on a diet today just when I'm about ta starve...".
x x x x x
"MEDIC! MEDIC! HELP ME! HELP ME!"
Hysterical screams made them all jump. At once they hurried back to the trailer, Medic climbing in first, grabbing the boy by his shoulders, trying to push him down.
"I CAN'T SEE HELP ME WHY DON'T YOU HELP ME I CAN'T SEE IT HURTS OH GOD THIS HURTS..."
"Shhh, calm down, beruhige Dich. I know. It vill get better, just calm down now."
As soon as he heard the voice with the German accent Scout stopped screaming, but his eyes were wide opened, filled with panic and fear. Then he started to cry, sobbing violently, a pathetic sight.
"Listen to me, Scout, hör mir zu." Medic spoke to him, but his voice didn't reach him.
"Blind. Blind. Why didn't I die, why did you bring me back..." the boy wailed.
Finally the doctor slapped him in the face, causing the men in the background to gasp.
"Do you hear me now, Scout?" With a stern look he watched the boy's face, as the unfocused eyes stared at some point behind them. But Scout nodded.
"Zhis vill be only for a vhile, two, zhree days, maybe four, but no longer. Do you understand, Scout?"
The boy nodded again. "Only for a while..." he repeated weakly.
"Zhat's a good boy." Medic let him go. "Are you hungry?"
"I... think so." Scout answered, still sounding like he was about to snap any second again.
"Good. I vill get you somezhing." He stood up, waving for Pyro. "You stay vith him, I vill be back in a few minutes."
"He can have my ration, I wasn't hungry." Sniper suggested slyly, and loud enough for the others to overhear.
"Don't be silly, Herr Sniper. Zhe boy is sick, I fix him zomezhing more nutritious. And ve zertainly don't vant to give him your cold left overs, nicht wahr, Herr Soldier?" he asked the veteran who stood next to him now.
"That's correct, doctor. Go now. I will talk to the boy once he finished his breakfast." the man agreed.
"Zhat's a good idea. Zhe sooner ve are done vish zhat matter zhe sooner ve can move on. Meine Güte, all zhis vasteland sure is depressing."
"Playin' Mister Sir leader Sir like his damn fiddle." But this time the Australian made sure his words were only heard by himself.
x x x x x to be continued x x x x x x
Whoopee, another chapter xD
Wrote 6&7 within 24 hours, when I was to tired after 6 it still felt incomplete to be called "done" *meh*. So, two chapters are one, wonderful. ^^
Annoyed Medic is annoyed (by annoying Sniper who is
annoying.).
Well, the story doesn't behave very well, I wanted to be much farther, but it refuses to listen to me xD Guess it has it's own mind and pace. As long as it doesn't pillage my fridge and steals my care it's fine.
Hope you liked it so far ^^
Ah, by the way! Thank you for your feedback, it really makes me happy (and almost cry ^^)
Would you like some translations?
Spy:
"Quel hasard! Zis is no suprise, non?" "Well, what coincidence. This isn't a surprise, is it?"
Pyro:
"'et ee 'ck" = "let me check"
"Aaa! 'rrr 't 'ss. 'cout 'ss 'eak, 'ut st'll 'live!" = "HAAA! There it is. Scout is weak, but still alive!"
Medic:
"Vielleicht ja, vielleicht nein" = "Maybe yes, maybe no."
"Los jetzt" = "Let's go now"
"You don't vant us to vait here all night, nicht wahr, Herr Soldier?" = You don't want us to wait here all night, do you, Mister Soldier?"
Pyro:
"'riit. 'ee 'ade 'ure 'e 's a'rght. 'l'pt 'eac 'lly, 'o t'prtur. R'glr 'art'eat. 'lm 'on, 'cter" = "Right. We made sure he's alright. Slept peacefully, no temperature. Regular heartbeat. Calm down, doctor..
"Ach, halt die Klappe!" = "Just shut up!"
Medic:
"dimwitted Hinterwäldler." = redneck, bushy, bumpkin, hillibilly... you get the idea
"Shhh, calm down, beruhige Dich." = calm down.
"Meine Güte, all zhis vasteland sure izs depressing." = "Oh my" or "Gee."
