THE NIGHT OF BIGFOOT
By Andamogirl
WWW
ACT FOUR
Much later
Hearing voices, Jim regained consciousness and the first thing he became aware of was that he was warm and comfortable – and that it was pouring down outside.
He frowned in confusion. Rain?
He opened his eyes, squinting for a moment as they adjusted to the dim light – and the next thing he realized was that he was looking at a red cedar roof above him – provided with roof slots that let fresh air in – and lines of raindrops too.
He realized that he was naked, wrapped in warm blankets and that he was lying on a soft mattress of what felt like comfortable furs.
He turned his head to the right and looking at the wall of red cedar-planks he saw fish baskets, harpoons, fishing nets, bows and arrows, spears and war clubs hanging there.
He knew then that he had been rescued by Indians – not by villagers - and remembered the three warriors standing in front of the crumpled log house.
He realized then that he felt no pain. He was fairly numb all over, and he had this strange pins and needles feeling in his lower back and down his legs.
He slowly turned his head to the other side and found he was next to a big crackling fire. He saw a group of three Indian women dressed in thick, wool robes, wearing their hair long and loose and wearing moccasins on their feet gathered around Artemus's prone form which was sprawled on what looked like a bear hide. He watched them strip him of his soaked clothes until he was naked. Then one of them – the oldest – took a blanket and started to rub his skin dry with it - warming him at the same time.
He felt tears welling up to his eyes and swallowed hard. Artie was dead from exposure to the cold. What the old woman was doing would achieve nothing.
Jim didn't fight tears as he was overcome with grief and he whispered, "Poor Artie…"
He tried to move – he wanted to hold Artemus's hand, cry over his dead body - but decided against it as soon as he felt pain – everywhere. The pins and needles started to feel like knives stabbing him. so he remained still. He would do that later.
Still watching his partner he noticed that Artie was… shivering violently – and realized… "He's still alive!" and he grinned, and his chapped lips bled.
The three women were now rubbing Artie's body with blankets bringing as much heat into the older man's now dry body as possible.
But they carefully avoided his right leg covered with dried blood – and it reminded Jim that he had been injured too.
He touched his left arm and felt a bandage around it. He was still groggy from the cold – but it would hurt a lot, later.
More than tired, he was drowsing feeling warm and safe, relieved that Artie was alive and in good hands, when someone shook him.
He re-opened his eyes, blinked twice and through blurred vision he saw an old man kneeling at his side and holding his arm. "Thanks for saving us," he slurred. "Lemme sleep…ti-red…"
But the Indian slapped his face – hard - and Jim's eyes flew open at the sudden pain, and he groaned loudly. He frowned. "What?"
The Indian asked, "Who is your friend? He has intriguing tattoo and scars."
Following the Indian's finger pointing at Artie he saw that his still unconscious and naked partner, was lying on his front, on top of a pile of blankets, and that the three women were staring both at the scars left by the eagle's talons in his back and at the large black eagle tattooed on his skin covering his lower back to be precise – with both awe and utter respect.
Doing his best to stay awake, Jim explained. "My companion's name is Artemus Gordon. A few years ago an eagle sent by the Great Spirit marked his flesh – signaling that the Great Spirit protects him, everywhere he goes."
Spotted Moose nodded. "I understand now why an eagle – which is a messenger of the Great Spirit – led three warriors who were hunting in the forest to the log cabin. The Great Spirit wanted them to find him and bring him here to safety."
Blinking rapidly to fight sleepiness Jim nodded. It wasn't the first time such a thing had happened. "Yes, exactly." He knew that all the Indians they had met had an upmost respect for Artemus for that. But he didn't know if the old man spoke English but he continued nonetheless. "Artemus is a Cheyenne warrior, has earned two eagle feathers for bravery on behalf of his band. While with his band he goes by the name of White Eagle. He's also an adoptive Comanche and the Comanche call him Strong Bear. Artemus is a Crow warrior too and the Crow call him Strong Bear too." Then he added. "My name is James West, I'm Artemus's blood brother." Just in case the local Indians might kill him – later - and not Artie.
The old man nodded and raised his hand covered with tribal tattoos in geometric designs. "Klahowya, greetings. My name is Spotted Moose. I'm a Chinook (pronounced "chih-nook") and the headman of that village. As you can see, I speak English, we trade a lot with white men, and I learned your language through contact with them over the years," he said.
Glancing at Artie who was now wrapped up in a bundle of warm blankets, burrito-like and still hearing the pouring rain hitting the roof, he added, "The blizzard's gone."
The old Chinook man nodded. "Yes, the snowstorm is gone. The weather changes fast here, near the coast. It's very rare when we have snow here, we usually have cold, rain-drenched winters." He looked at Artie whom the women had brought closer to the fire and he added, "I don't believe in luck, James, the Great Spirit wanted you here, for what purpose, I don't know. Only the Great Spirit knows." He stood and added, "Gray Bear will be here soon to take care of Artemus's leg wound. He will take good care of him, this is not the first time he has treated this kind of injury."
Realizing that Moira had completely slipped his mind, he said, "We have a friend out there in the forest. She left the log house in the blizzard to…" He was going to say hunt Bigfoot but he didn't know if the Chinook feared or revered the creature, so he didn't mention it. "To gather some snow in a bucket to make water, but she never came back. She got lost I think," he lied. "If you could send people to look for her, Artemus and I would be very grateful."
Spotted Moose shook his head. "It's the middle of the night, James. We'll start the search for your friend tomorrow morning; I hope your friend has found a refuge in which to take shelter, otherwise ... she's probably dead by now." He bowed his head again. "It's a great honor to have you here and a blessing upon all the people of this village."
Looking down at Artemus, he bowed his head again and said something in his language and all the women left the 'sleeping space' cordoned off inside the large lodge with wooden dividers. Then Spotted Moose said, "Take all the rest you need. You won't be disturbed." And before leaving he said, "I sent two of my men to gather your belongings that you left in the wooden house and bring them here."
Jim smiled weakly. "Thanks…"
Exhausted, feeling his eyes closing relieved that Artie and he were safe, but very worried about Moira, he fell fast asleep a few seconds later, a smile on his lips.
WWW
Much later
A clap of thunder woke Jim in the middle of the morning.
Looking at the roof of the plank house he realized that the rain was crashed down on it. There was a thunderstorm outside now.
He rolled over to face Artemus and his nose almost met his best friend's. Artie was lying at his side, very close, and he was still sleeping soundly.
Like him he was cocooned in blankets and his head was propped on a rolled fur.
He moved up onto his elbows and glanced at Artie's broken leg. Gray Bear the medicine man had wrapped it in a cloth and had immobilized it between four pieces of wood tied together with bark-made ties.
Behind the woven partitions he could see the silhouettes of people talking in low voices but didn't understand what they were saying.
He lowered himself onto his back and noticed that Artie was looking at him, his eyes glassy, unfocused and he smiled. "Hi Artie, how are you feeling?" He asked.
Blinking slowly, Artemus slurred, "Hurts a little… guess the medicine man made me drink some kind of pain reliever potion… Don't recall." Then he added, "Not dead?"
Broadening his smile, Jim shook his head. "No, you're not dead, and I'm not dead either. Three Chinook Indians found us and brought us to their village. I think the smoke I saw above the trees came from the houses here, and not from a village like I thought." He frowned and ill at ease he said, "Moira's not here. The chief told me that he would send people out searching for her. They will find her… Let's hope she's alive." seeing tears in his best friend's sad chocolate eyes he quickly changed the subject of conversation, "The snowstorm is gone. It's raining, a lot. Gray Bear, the medicine man took care of your injured leg… The good news is, it's not broken. You have 'just' a big, deep cut. But walking is going to be very painful."
But it didn't work. Artie was crying softly now convinced that Moira was dead "She's dead… Moira's dead," he slurred.
Jim shook his head. "You don't know that for sure…"
He had just said that when Spotted Moose entered the 'sleeping part' of the big house and announced, with a happy smile on his face, "She has been found! She's here!"
He took a step to the side and Moira appeared, barefoot on the ground which was covered with a big woven carpet made from cedar fibers. She was wrapped in a blanket and shivering and her soaked hair was plastered to her head.
She smiled and waved. "Hi guys! Missed me?" She asked as the rain started to pound down harder on the roof, mini cascades of drops falling inside.
Spotted Moose said, "I will bring you some food in a moment," then he left the 'room'.
More than surprised the two men looked up at her and a split second later they were both grinning with relief and happiness.
Moira knelt beside Artemus and with a gentle finger, she traced the line of his jaw, his cheekbone, his eyebrow with affection. "I'm really sorry, Magnus. I shouldn't have done what I did. I regret it." She bit her lower lip anxiously. "I won't try to capture Bigfoot again. I promise. Please forgive me?"
Crying with joy now, Artie pulled Moira in his arms and kissed her forehead. "I thought you were dead… I'm so happy you're not…"
Stroking Artie's jawline soothingly, Moira said, "That was close though." She sat cross-legged next to the flames, and glanced at his broken leg. "What happened?"
Moving into a sitting position too, Jim said, "You first."
Moira nodded. "Okay. I somehow managed to find Bigfoot's footprints in the deep snow and I followed them into a narrow passage between large rocks. Then I spotted it. It was turning its back to me. I took the loaded tranquilizer gun and moved closer… and I fell into a pit dug in the ground to trap big animals. It had probably been placed there by the Indians. Bigfoot left without noticing what happened to me. I fell in the middle of sharp stakes ... without being hurt. If I had fallen a little more to the side, I would be dead now. I have been very lucky. I was able to shelter from the blizzard under the thick layer of branches that covered the large trap and which was still in place. I lost Bigfoot and it didn't help me this time. It knew my intentions. Bigfoot left. Damn! I was so close… A group of Indians found me there a few hours ago as rain had replaced the snow and they brought me here. Two women took my soaked and muddied clothes, gave me a blanket to cover myself and led me there. Then Spotted Moose accompanied me here… telling me that you were both in the 'sleeping area'." She smiled. "That's all. I will tell you the long version later."
Jim nodded. "Okay."
She lay down beside Artemus and managed to find his hand amid the blankets wrapping his body. "It's your turn now," she said, holding it.
Kissing Moira's fingers, Artie said, "I'm so happy you're safe and sound – but do what you did to us again and I swear I'll kick your ass for miles!"
Moira pressed a playful kiss on Artemus's chin. "I'd like to see that."
Serious, Artie replied, "I will do it."
Moira nodded. "You will try, but never succeed. You'll have to catch me first and I run faster than you, I always ran faster than you."
Smiling Artie said, "You're forgiven." He then looked at Jim, blinking tiredly. "Tell Moira what happened Jim, I'm too exhausted to do that…" He added, his voice barely above a whisper. Then lulled by the steady drum of raindrops on the roof, he closed his eyes and relaxed against Moira's body, burying his face against her shoulder.
Both Jim and Moira smiled when they heard Artemus, sound asleep starting to snore. He didn't even register drops of rain wich were landing on his hair.
Chuckling softly, Jim moved his partner a little further to the right side.
WWW
Later
In the evening
It was still raining a lot, the low growl of thunder off in the distance when Artemus woke up – stomach growling it needed to be filled and his mind focused on the smell of cooked food.
He looked up at Moira, dressed in her (dried) clothes who was sitting legs crossed beside him, and holding a bowl containing his meal. "Hi," he said weakly. He glanced on the other side and noticed that Jim wasn't there and then he asked, "Where's Jim?"
Moira placed two rolled blankets behind Artemus's head. "He's with Spotted Moose, discussing how to reach the closest town. I think the Indians will carry us using their canoes. Transporting you in a travois would take several days through the forest and shocks against stones and roots for example would hurt you. it will be faster and more comfortable to travel by canoe." She took a piece of smoked salmon and said, "You need to eat, Magnus, you must be hungry."
He grabbed the bowl filled with pieces of smoked salmon, camas bulbs (onions), wapato (Indian potato) and a few berries. "I can eat by myself," he said. Then he wolfed down the whole food within a couple of minutes, feeling much better after that.
He settled the empty bowl on his lap and yawned. "Feels good…" But suddenly he felt searing stabbing pains in his injured leg. "Ow!" He winced. Within seconds he was pale, shaking and beaded with sweat. "Oh boy!" he let out through gritted teeth, his chest heaving. "Need help… potion," he gasped, urgency in his voice. "Hurts! Need it, now!"
Moira stood watching Artie growing tense and frowning in worry, she said, "I'm going to tell the medicine man to come here. Don't move." Then he left in a hurry.
Gray Bear appeared at Artemus's side five minutes later, holding a bowl containing a green liquid. He bowed his head in respect then knelt beside his 'patient'. Artie's skin is pale and beaded with sweat. "Drink this, it will make the pain vanish." Then he brought the bowl to Artie's lips.
Moira ran her hand across Artemus's forehead, trying to calm him down. "It's going to be alright, try to relax," she said.
Through clenched teeth, Artie rasped, "Easy to say…" his hand gripping Moira's wrist.
Moira gently pulled her hand from Artemus's white-knuckled grip on her wrist and placed a kiss on the top of his head. "Gray Bear is going to make the pain disappear."
Feeling the pain increasing exponentially in his infected wound and swollen leg he drank the potion at top speed grimacing and groaning at the same time.
It was so strong that he felt dizzy a few seconds later and the 'room' started to spin. "Oooh… don't feel so good…" he croaked, his breathing shallow and quick. His vision blurred and his eyes eventually glazed over and fluttered shut.
Gray Bear looked at Jim and said, "I need to take a look at your wound too."
WWW
The next morning
It was still raining cats and dogs – but the thunderstorm had stopped – turning the Chinook settlement into a vast mud field, when Artemus woke up, and the first thing he realized was… that his leg didn't hurt anymore, but he was sleepy.
He felt a hand touch his arm and he looked up to see Moira. She was sitting cross-legged at his side and she was smiling at him. "Hi Moira, you okay?" he whispered, slowly.
She nodded. "Yes, I am. How are you feeling?"
He sighed. "Don't know… can't feel… anything. Drugged… " He wrinkled his nose and grimaced as he could smell food. "Not hungry," he said.
Moira smiled. "But you need to eat something. It's not that bad." She glanced down at the bowl she was holding and added, "Smoked clams with a purée of roots and topped with berries. I ate worse… like rats, snakes, big fat worms… I even ate fried beetles the size of my hand."
Grimacing in disgust, Artie, feeling nauseous, murmured, "Stop… please, gonna be sick." He brought a limp hand to his clammy face. "Fever… "
Moira nodded. "I know. Gray Bear cleaned up your wound and bandaged it. But he didn't stitch it. He doesn't think it's necessary. He put some ointment on it to disinfect the wound and facilitate the healing, that's all. And you have developed a fever then. You'll need to see a real doctor." She gently pulled Artie onto her lap and settled his head against her left shoulder. "I haven't played nurse with you for a very long time. Do you remember when it was, Magnus?" She asked, and then she took a smoked clam from the bowl.
Shaking his head Artie replied, "No…I don't," and closed his lips tight when Moira attempted to feed him the shellfish and he gagged.
Moira didn't insist as the next step was vomiting.
She put the bowl aside and said, "Well I do. We were running in the meadow behind my house, trying to catch butterflies in our nets when you stumbled into a rabbit hole, fell to the ground and cut your left eyebrow against a stone. You were 8. You were bleeding – and crying, plus in shock at the view of all the blood rather than from pain, so I tore the bottom of my dress to make a bandage." She smiled. "It was a lovely bandage, covered with little yellow flowers."
Smiling Artemus said, "I remember it now. I hurt my eye too. I had a black eye for days… Yes, I remember. I later washed the bandage and then I sewed it back onto the bottom of your dress."
Moira chuckled. "And it was a very good job. You've always been good at sewing, and that's why you always make great disguises. Which one do you prefer?"
He closed his eyes. "I… love all of my characters… maybe Mojave Mike… I had to use my chemistry set in order to create a stench to go with him. Jim called it… 'Eau de repulsive dirt'…"
Moira chuckled. "Very funny."
Entering the 'sleeping room' of the plank house, holding a pair of crutches, Jim said, "And you used that disgusting perfume with other characters too like Bluebeard the trapper, that aged desert guide and that drunk, scruffy jailbird…"
Re-opening his glassy eyes, Artie nodded. "True."
Smiling, Jim knelt beside his best friend. "A monosyllabic Artemus Gordon is a very rare thing. Still feeling the aftereffects of the painkiller potion?"
Blinking tiredly, Artie whispered, "Yes." Then gathering what was left of his strength, he pointed at the pair of crutches. "For me?"
Jim nodded. "Yes for you, buddy." Showing his partner the crutches crafted in red cedar and decorated with sculpted eagle heads and eagle feathers, Jim said, "Rapid Deer made them for you. You will need them to go to the side of the river to then climb in a canoe. We're leaving for the town of Longview when you're ready – well not before some hours, I guess." Then he lowered them to the carpet.
His stomach growling needing to be filled, now, Jim pointed at the bowl of smoked clams with a purée of roots and topped with berries. "Are you going to eat that?"
Shaking his head, Artie murmured, his words sluggish, "No, am, not." Then, giving a burp of disgust and going green, he gritted his teeth and then buried his face in Moira's stomach.
Moira explained, "He's nauseous." She stroked Artie's head, playing with his messy curls in order to soothe him and then added, "It's going to be okay. Don't vomit on my lap Artemus, please, okay?"
Patting Artie's knee Jim said, "You'll feel better soon. Oh! I have good news. Now that all the snow has melted, I asked Spotted Moose to send two of his men search to for our tent, where the Bigfoot left our guns and my rifle and they found them. I described to them the place where our camp was and they found it easily. They know the forest like the back of their hands. I need to clean them now."
Silence.
He gently shook his partner's arm. "Artie? You still with us?"
Artemus responded with loud snores.
WWW
In the afternoon
The rain had stopped – finally - and the sky was turning blue and big white clouds were slowly chasing the gray, rapidly cruising to the west.
Standing up thanks to his crutches, keeping his bad leg off the ground, Artemus looked up at the huge entryway totem pole through which people entered Spotted Moose's rectangular cedar-plank house, impressed. It was the first time he'd seen one.
He knew that the Chinook people were well-known for their woodcarving arts – and his crutches were a beautiful example.
He knew too that the brightly colored totem poles identified the Chinook owner and family of the house and that the carved animals composing it symbolized their guardian spirits. He recognized on top of it the supernatural being called the Thunderbird.
He looked around him and saw Jim in a discussion with Moira and Spotted Moose next to a group of beautifully carved and painted canoes dugout from cedar trees. The river was close and a group of men holding paddles were ready to embark. "Jim! I'm coming!" He called.
He suddenly froze hearing cries of terror and saw women and children flee amid the fish drying racks, a few of them crying out, "Skookum!"
Immediately the warriors standing next to the canoes dropped their paddles to the ground and hurried into their houses to grab their weapons.
Seeing Bigfoot steal armfuls of salmon from the drying racks, Artemus's first reaction was to turn around and face the now armed warriors.
He raised his hand, "Stop! Don't kill it!" He commanded. He saw the Chinook warriors hesitate as the creature grabbed more food – eating a lot of fish too. "It's hungry because it couldn't find any food in the blizzard. It'll leave in a few minutes. It won't harm any of you. It's not a bad creature! It saved my life and my friends' lives too! It's a good creature!"
Spotted Moose intervened, "Listen to him! He's telling the truth! He's a warrior protected by the Great Spirit! Trust him!" Then looking at Artie he said, "I know now why you came here, so that we won't fear the Skookum anymore and let it live in peace – it's a good creature."
Artie nodded. "Exactly!" he said.
Obeying their chief, the warriors lowered their spears, bows and arrows and, like the others, women, children and elderly, they watched Bigfoot raiding the racks of smoked salmon.
He caught Moira's look – filled with the craving to capture Bigfoot, he noticed – and he shook his head. "No, Moira. Let it go." He saw her lower her backpack to the ground and then open it. Then he saw her pull out the tranquilizer gun. "Moira no! Don't do that!"
But Moira didn't listen to Artemus – focused on one thing only, capturing the creature. She took aim at Bigfoot and pulled the trigger. "It's mine!"
But the projectile didn't go far.
It hit Artie who had, in a flash; moved between Moira and the Bigfoot.
Artemus looked down at where the dart had struck his chest and grimaced, his breath hitching at the pain. "Ooh no… not again," he said." He pulled the white-tailed projectile from his skin and tossed it to the ground. But he knew it was too late – he had specially designed those darts to release the full dose of sedative in through the bloodstream in a matter of seconds.
Before Moira could reload, Bigfoot had left, disappearing into the deep and dark forest surrounding the small Chinook village.
In a matter of seconds Jim was at his best friend's side as Artemus, drugged, was staggering feeling the effects of the powerful sedative.
Blinking slowly, Artemius slurred, "White… tail… piece… See you in 12 hours…" Then he closed his eyes and succumbed to drug-induced sleep.
Jim caught Artie in his arms before he crumpled to the ground, holding him up under the arms, then he hauled him across his shoulder.
Glaring at Moira he said, in a commanding, scolding voice, "It's time to leave."
He headed toward the canoes.
Moira looked up at the sky which was ominously dark and noticed that the wind was now whipping through the tall tree branches. A new rainstorm was coming.
She reluctantly followed.
WWW
Later at night,
Feeling something wet, cold and steadily hitting his head, Jim woke up and looked up – and saw large water droplets spilling out through the roof of their small makeshift shelter – rapidly built with local tree branches by the group of Chinook Indians on the edge of a small island.
It was pouring down, the hard rain hammering on it mercilessly.
He looked down at Artie then, lying at his side on a blanket, huddled up in his sleeping bag, sleeping soundly, and snoring softly, his mouth slightly agape. He was still feeling the effects of the tranquilizer.
He was oblivious to the world. His hair was still wet from the downpour which had caught them in the middle of the river at dusk and soaked to the skin in less than a minute.
Rising his hand to hide a yawn, Jim glanced at the crackling fire around which their clothes were spread on the rocky and warm ground to dry, the smoke billowing outside thanks to a series of small openings made between the branches and leaves.
He shifted to the side – to avoid the ice-cold raindrops still falling on his head – and looked at Moira cocooned in her sleeping bag next to the 'door'. She was watching the volutes of smoke escaping from the little hut. "You can't sleep," he said to start a conversation.
Moira nodded. "Yes." She looked at Artemus, who was drugged and unconscious. "How long is he going to sleep?" she asked.
Sending Moira a black look, Jim replied, "The dart which you used on him contained enough sedative for a 12 hour sleep."
Moira nodded. "He'll be mad at me when he wakes up."
Gently moving Artie to the side as raindrops were falling on his right shoulder Jim said, "Yes he will, of course, but he loves you as if you were his own sister. Whatever you can do, he will always forgive you. The two of you have a special bond."
Moira noticed Jim's envious tone. The younger man was jealous of that bond. "Yes we have. But you have a special bond with Artemus too, Jim. He always wanted to have a brother – and he found one in you. I'm very happy he has you at his side."
She looked up at the smoke still spiraling up toward the roof made of branches and leaves. "You're not going to forgive me for what I did, right?"
Glancing at Moira Jim said, "No, I'm not. Hurt him again and I swear that I will make your life a hell, and it's not an idle threat."
Moira just shrugged.
On that Jim closed his eyes, and let the rain and the thunder lull him to sleep. Moira stayed awake remembering happy childhood memories with Artemus.
WWW
The next morning,
Longview, Dr. Peterson's office
Dr. Peterson washed his hands in the sink and then took a towel to dry them. After that he moved toward his patient lying, unconscious on the examination table.
Rain pounded against the windows. "A few hours ago we had snow here, then the downpour came and everything disappeared in a moment," he said.
Jim nodded. "The same thing happened to us in the forest."
He cut away the reddened cloth covering Artemus wound to check the damage and saw that the wound hadn't been stitched and was still oozing blood. "I need to clean and then stitch the wound. Hopefully, it's not infected," he said to Jim standing next to the door, watching Artie sleep soundly.
Jim nodded. "Gray Bear, the Chinook medicine man put some ointment on it to disinfect the wound and facilitate the healing."
Peterson nodded and fingered the oily green substance bordering the wound. "Mmm… It did the job, but this kind of wound needs stitches." He took a bottle of disinfectant and a cloth from on top of a shelf and then began gently cleaning the wound. "You told me he had a bad wound to his leg when you brought your friend here, but you didn't tell me what happened."
Sitting on a chair, pale and exhausted, Jim dragged his fingers through his hair and then replied, his voice low and slow, "We were hunting in the forest when we got caught in a sudden blizzard. We found shelter in a log cabin. Then in the middle of the night a tree toppled and crashed onto it. A big branch landed on my friend's leg. Luckily it didn't break his leg. Three Chinook Indians who were hunting found us and brought us to their settlement. Gray Bear, the medicine man took care of Artemus. Then four warriors brought us here using canoes. They helped us to disembark and they left. I asked for help and a boy ran here to tell you I needed help, and you arrived ten minutes later with a buckboard to transport us to your office."
It wasn't exactly what happened he thought.
Harry Peterson nodded. "And why is your friend deeply unconscious? Did that medicine man gave him some kind of sleeping drug?"
Jim responded, "Yes he did, because he didn't want Artemus to be conscious while taking care of his injured leg. He would have suffered a lot otherwise."
It wasn't exactly the truth either, he reflected. Gray Bear had done that yes, but Artie was heavily sedated because Moira had shot him – a second time – with the tranquilizer dart.
Dr. Peterson nodded. "I'm very happy he did, because this way I can stitch your friend's wound without giving him laudanum. I have no more. I should have had to let him drink cheap, rot-gut whiskey – the best for anesthesia - until he was blind drunk before doing that." Then he finished cleaning the serious wound.
Knowing Artie's high tolerance level to alcohol, it would have taken at least two bottles of whiskey before he felt tipsy, and a third one to knock him out, Jim mused.
The doctor leaned in closer to the wound and observed the split flesh which was now red and raw and the shinbone showing. Gently running her fingers along the edges, he said, "It's deep and I can see a bit of he tibia. It's going to take several weeks to heal."
Jim nodded. "I know. He'll have to stay home being pampered by his mother and Harry, who lives with her and who's a doctor, a very talented one."
Quickly threading a needle the old man said, "It's a good thing, someone will have to clean the wound and change the bandages at least three times a day." Then he pulled the first stitch together. "There's a bruise a little higher on his leg. Was he injured there before?"
Standing, Jim rubbed his bloodshot tired eyes and moved to stand beside his best friend. He took his limp hand in is and pressed it so as to transfer what was left of his meager strength to the older man while watching the needle going in and out of Artie's skin. "He was very lucky it didn't break a second time." He looked down at Artemus's pale and slack face. "It's a good thing he can't feel anything."
Peterson nodded. "Yes, it is. I've treated worse wounds, but it's a bad one. But your friend will recover without any complications."
Jim let out a breath of relief. "That's good to hear."
Peterson nodded. "But it will take quite some time." Then he continued what he was doing, the needle disappearing into his skin at steady intervals.
Feeling a bit sick watching the old doctor doing the stitching as blood dripped from Artie's leg onto the examination table, Jim swallowed hard. He hated to see Artie hurt, injured, wounded and bleeding. "So when can he come home with me?"
Continuing stitching up his patient's wound, the old doctor replied, "Once he's awake he can go home, but I don't know when the drug will wear off and when he'll wake up" Looking up at Jim he noticed that the younger man's face was pale and even a bit grayish. "I think a little pick-me-up would do you good, Mr. West. There's coffee and a bottle of whiskey in the kitchen and some cookies. Go there and take your time. Your friend here will need at least thirty stitches. It's going to take a few minutes."
But Jim shook his head. "No, thanks, I'm okay." He set his jaw and watched the doctor continuing to stitch Artie's wound up.
Feeling his own wound itch he said, "I was injured too, could you take a look at my wound after taking care of my friend?"
The doctor nodded. "Of course."
WWW
Later
Dr. Harry Peterson applied the final stitches (thirty five in total) on the wound and again used the disinfectant to clean it thoroughly.
He covered the stitched wound with a layer of gauze and then he fastened the bandage in place. "There, it's over," he said after that. "He'll need crutches. But for now he needs to rest. The beds at the Red Star Hotel are not that bad and they have a small restaurant on the first floor and the food is good." He moved toward the sink again and again washed his hands. He dried them on a cloth and added, "Your friend can sleep off that Indian drug running through his veins here. Go to the Red Star Hotel to book a room for two and then eat something and get some rest. A glass of whiskey won't hurt too." He smiled and looked down at his patient who was still out cold – but now patched up the right way. "Go, I'll keep an eye on him. He's in good hands. Meet me here at the end of the afternoon, your friend will be ready to leave."
Releasing Artemus's slack hand, Jim nodded. "You're right. If you need me, I'll be at the Red Star Hotel. Thanks doctor."
Peterson nodded. "See you later young man."
Jim left the doctor's office and found Moira standing outside, waiting on the boardwalk, leaning against a wooden post of the porch. She was smoking a cigarillo and watching the rain fall in heaps onto the muddy street; creating bigger puddles.
She had a bottle of whiskey in her left hand.
He frowned still upset she didn't accompany him into the doctor's office. "You preferred buying cigars and whiskey instead of coming with me?"
Moira nodded. "Don't be mad at me, Jim, I had a good reason not to accompany you in there. You're his partner, his best friend, his surrogate brother – more, you're his blood brother. You shared everything like twins do for years. I'm just a childhood friend of Artemus." She took a deep drag from her small cigar and puffed out a long, slow breath of smoke. Then she added, "You belong with him, not me."
She was right, so he nodded. "You're right. Can I ask you something? Go to the Red Star Hotel and book two rooms, one for Artie and me and one for you. I need to go to the post office to send a message. I want the Wanderer to be here as soon as possible. Artie needs to see Dr. Henderson in the Washington Military Hospital, the earlier the better."
Moira nodded. "Okay. See you later."
Rain was torrential now and Jim watched people dart across the street, seeking shelter in nearby shops and saloons.
Having spotted the post office sitting on the other side of the street between the hardware and the livery stable, Jim dove out into the pouring rain and sprinted there zigzagging between the puddles and the deep ruts left by the buckboards and the stagecoaches. The deluge was coming down so hard that pretty soon he could barely see where he was going.
Completely drenched and muddy he finally reached the post office.
In the distance the thunder rumbled.
Moira made a beeline for the Red Star Hotel located in front of her, on the other side of the road and entered the lobby as the first flash of lightning briefly split the darkening sky in two.
WWW
Red Star Hotel
Later
Holding a steaming mug of passable coffee to keep him awake, Artemus sitting on the bed, sent Moira a black look. "I'm not sure I'll forgive you this time," he said, angrily. Then he winced.
He swam back to consciousness half an hour ago with a blinding headache and it was still here, pounding and he felt weak as a newborn kitten.
Moira chose to ignore it and poured herself a new glass of whiskey. "I couldn't help myself, Magnus I so wanted to capture Bigfoot! It was there, it was so close…that I couldn't resist the temptation. You have to understand that. Capturing extraordinary creatures is what I do and love. It's my life." She frowned upset. "Without your intervention I would have Bigfoot in a cage by now. The Chinook would have let me take it as they were scared of Bigfoot. But it will be mine, one day."
Still cross Artemus said, "I hope not!" Then he pursed his lips together in a tight line. "Leave that creature in peace!"
Placing another pillow behind Artemus's back, Jim sitting on the edge of the bed, said, "Let me remind you that Bigfoot saved your life."
She nodded. "I know that, and I'm very happy it did – and happy Bigfoot saved your lives too, but it won't stop me from capturing it." Then she took a sip of liquor.
Still in a bad mood Artie said, "I wonder if you know what gratitude is. Even if Bigfoot is a monster, you owe it your life. You should be grateful to it and leave it alone."
Moira nodded, "Of course I know what gratitude is, but in my job, feelings do not matter, only the result matters. I will go back to the Chinook territory to capture Bigfoot, but later. I know it exists and I know where to find it. It can wait, and I have another project in mind. Before going back to the US, I heard people talk at the Piraeus port about a creature living in a remote part of Greece, regularly appearing before disasters such as shipwrecks, violent storms, and volcanic eruptions."
More than surprised, Artie said, "You're-you're talking about the Chimera." He blinked twice the needing time to process the information. "It's a mythological creature. It doesn't exist."
Moira nodded. "Well, until I find it, yes it doesn't. I guess it won't be an imaginary creature after that. "And then she took a new sip of whiskey. She placed the empty glass on the table lit the light of an oil lamp sitting there and then she grabbed her coat she had folded over the back of the chair. "I have to go now. I'm going to take the next stagecoach to go to Olympia and there I will take the train to Seattle. I will wait for my team there. When it is assembled, we will take a boat to go to Greece to search for the Chimera."
Surprised, Artemus said, "I thought that you would go back to Washington with us."
Moira moved to the other side of the bed and then sat on the edge of it. "I'm not very popular right now, it's better like this, you won't have to put up with me being at your side." Before he could reply something, she placed a finger to his lips and she added, "I'm going to miss you, Artemus." She paused as several streaks of lightning illuminated the room immediately followed by the booming sound of incredibly loud thunder that made everything tremble. Then she continued, "I will write you and tell you my adventures, I promise." Then she placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Take care. I love you, little brother." She stood and smiled when Artie caught her hand. "Don't worry, I'll be very cautious." She joined Jim and she added, "Take care Jim, and watch over Artemus here – he's a magnet for trouble."
Opening the door of the hotel room, Jim said, "I will. Take care Moira."
She nodded and left, closing the door behind her.
Sitting back beside his partner, on the edge of the bed, Jim patted Artie's shoulder soothingly. The older man looked both worried and sad. "She'll come back, one day, and in one piece. She is like you, indestructible," he said.
Glancing at the cast the local doctor had placed around his broken leg, Artie said, "Let's go back home. Mission over. – and for the record, I hated it"
Outside, thunder rolled and lightning flashed.
Tbc.