CH. 3 The Good Doctor
Relm opened her bleary eyes and tried to figure out where she was. Though things finally began to come into view, they didn't quite seem in focus. "Hello," she said tentatively. She heard footsteps from another room approaching across the wooden floor.
The figure of a man appeared in a doorway on the opposite side of the room. "Mornin'," said the cheery, older voice. "How're you feelin'?"
"Like I've been trampled by a pack of wild chocobos," she managed to reply through the fog in her mind. "Who are you, and how long have I been out?"
M' name's Doc Brownfield, and I've been taking care of you for the past three days."
The haze suddenly cleared and a hundred questions popped into her head. "Where am I? Are there any others? I was traveling with a group! Have you seen any of my other friends?"
"Now hold on young lady. One thing at a time," said the aged doctor as he raised his hand. "I'll answer all of your questions in turn, but you've got to help me finish treating you, first. Can you describe the scorpion that stung you?"
"What do you mean finish treating me? Have I not been healed yet," she asked.
"I've been able to counteract most of the poison, but without knowing exactly which type of scorpion it was, I can't fully rid your body of the venom," he replied. "So if you can just describe what type of scorpion it was, then I can mix the proper anti-venom."
"I can do better than that," she replied. "If you'll bring me some paper and something to draw with, I'll make you a picture of it."
"That would be most helpful," the doctor said as he hurried off to find the items she requested.
Relm swung her feet off the bed and reached up to touch her arm where the scorpion had grazed her. If she hadn't known better, she'd have swore that the arm was broken. The pain seemed to throb up and down the bone beneath the wound, and it didn't take her long to decide she was ready to get rid of the poison.
The doctor returned moments later with the drawing utensils, and he gave them to Relm. "Here you go young lady."
"You can call me Relm," she said as she began feverishly drawing on the paper.
"Very well, Relm. And to answer a few of your questions from before, you are in the city of Albrook. I'm sorry to tell you that you are the only newcomer to our city since the earthquake a few days ago."
Relm ceased her drawing, momentarily, but then set back to the task. She knew that she was probably the only survivor since no one else had come looking for her, but to hear news that confirmed it just seemed to drain more of her spirit.
"Don't give up on your friends," said the doctor. "We've got men out on the plains looking for earthquake survivors and trying to make contact with the other towns."
She gave a small nod and then turned the sketch around for him to see. Doc Brownfield nearly jumped out of his chair when he saw the drawing of the black scorpion.
"Wow! That thing looks like it could jump off the page," he said in amazement. "I've never seen such a realistic looking drawing in my entire life! Well, that solves the problem of which antidote we need to get into you."
Relm turned the drawing back around as the doctor scurried off to the other room to rifle through his bottles and potions. She had to admit that even though her eyes were still blurry from the venom in her blood, this was probably some of her best work. She wondered if maybe using the magicite had heightened her senses and brought her artistic talents to a new level.
She didn't get to wonder for very long since Doc returned with a concoction for her to drink. After choking the bitter tasting sludge down, she quickly fell asleep, and for the first time in many nights slept deeply and peacefully.
………..
The next morning, Relm awoke to the sunlight streaming in through the windows. The smell of breakfast was floating on the air. She could smell eggs and bacon cooking somewhere in the house, and she was too ravenous to wait and see if any would be brought to her.
As she walked into the kitchen, the lady at the stove nearly jumped out of her skin. "Oh my goodness," she said. "We didn't expect you to be up until later this afternoon. You must have been able to fight that poison off much better than we expected. Oh, but listen to me go on! You're probably famished! Take this plate of food, I'll make Doc another one."
Relm was more than happy to take the food off the lady's hands. She also took some warm bread from a basket at the table and smothered it in fresh butter. Food had never tasted so good.
"I'm Doc's wife, Erin. He had to step out to make a house call, but I expect him back soon. You let me know if you need anything else, Hon."
Just as the lady began putting together another plate, Doc Brownfield walked in. "Something sure smells good in here," he said as he made his way toward the stove.
"Thanks, Hon! How are the Morgan's twins," she asked as she handed him the plate.
"Aww. Just a case of the sniffles, nothing that some bed rest and a lollipop couldn't fix," he smiled as he reached for a fork.
"Gerald! You'll rot their teeth out if you don't quit that."
"Oh, relax, Erin," Doc chuckled. "Rotten teeth are good for business."
Doc turned around and saw a sheepish Relm on the other side of the table with a fork full of eggs in one hand and a piece of bread in the other. "Well, well, well. I didn't expect to see your bright eyes out of bed until later this afternoon, but you seem to be up and have a healthy appetite to boot!"
Relm swallowed her mouthful of food and smiled. "Thanks, Doc. I'm feeling better than I've felt in days."
"Glad to hear it," he said chuckling. "As your doctor, I do feel obligated to warn you to be careful when out in the wilderness. That sting you got was a very nasty one even though it only grazed you. I've seen grown men die from less than that. The goddesses must really be watching over you."
"Believe me, Doc. I'll be avoiding those scorpions like the plague. In fact, I don't even know if I should head back out in the wilderness or not. The truth is, I don't know what I should do," she said setting her food down.
Relm stared at her half finished plate, for a moment, before Doc spoke up. "Well, there's no hurry in deciding. I'd like to keep you here for another day of observation just to make sure that the poison is completely gone."
She slowly nodded as she continued to stare at the food. "I don't have any money to pay you for the care you given me."
"I didn't expect that a young girl, like yourself, would," Doc said. "But I'll tell you what. If you really want to repay me, I've always wanted to have one of those family pictures painted like the rich people in Jidoor. I'm just a simple country doctor, though, and could never afford such a thing. I think you've got more than enough talent to do it if you're feeling up to it."
Relm thought about it for a few minutes and then said, "Well, if you really think that it's a fair exchange, I'll do it."
