Artemus finished tying the torn poncho to the tree branches and drug it back upstairs. He carefully laid it out on the ground and then went back for his partner. The trip back up the stairs was slow going, Jim having more trouble walking on his leg than he was willing to admit. I bet that double vision isn't helping him much either, Artie thought as he helped his friend the best he could.
After Jim was settled, amid many protests, onto the travois Artemus bent down to pick up the ends of the branches. He stayed bent over for a long moment. Jim watched him unhappily. He felt like it should be him carting Artie off not the way things were. Finally after he was certain he had heard his partner groaning, Artemus straightened and began the slow trek back to Kansas City.
Jim had to keep his eyes closed most of the time as he blurred and double vision made him nauseous if he opened them. He noted that Artie was strangely silent, none of his usual singing or talking endlessly about nothing. He must be putting all his strength into getting us back to Kansas City. Pal, I owe you a week worth of steak dinners if you get us back.
Artemus plodded on not wanting to use any of the precious little strength he had for talking. His thoughts were as dark and moody as his expression. Damnit, I keep thinking and thinking about whom Loveless' accomplice could be but I keep coming up blank. I've got to figure this out before we get back to Kansas City. Hell, I just have to GET us back to Kansas City. My ribs and my chest feel like they are on fire and I want to keep James talking so I know he's awake, but if I try to talk to him he'll figure out just how much I hurt and he'll insist on stopping somewhere till he's well enough to drag ME back. I can't allow that, he'll just lie anyway. Damnit, Jim why do you have to be the macho one all the time! Artie's anger fueled him and he pulled a little faster, ignoring the blisters forming on his hands.
Jim lay on the travois wondering what to do with his partner and his insane desire to protect him at the cost of his own life. Yeah, I know I do the same for him but it's different. Artie's different. I know if anything happened to me he could find a way to go on, but since we became partners things have changed with me and with him too I think. I don't know if I could go on in the Service without Artie. He's become my brother and I have to look out for him, I just wish I could get him to see that, Jim thought as he watched the scenery behind him.
"Hey, pal, can you stop for a minute I think I'm going to be sick," Jim shouted.
Artie stopped and carefully laid the travois down. He went to help Jim lean over and tried to hide his blistered hands. After Jim finished his business, he grasped Artie's wrists and turned his hands over. Artie's hands were blistered and bleeding.
"Pal, that's not good. You need to stop."
"No, we still have plenty of daylight left and I've taken us far enough off the road that we can still follow it but not be seen. I want to get as far as possible before nightfall."
"Artie, you don't want my leg to get infected what about your hands? And look at your chest those cuts are oozing infection. You can't do it all, pal. You've got to stop before you hurt yourself worse," Jim pleaded.
"Sorry, Jim, but this time you lose. We've got no idea if Loveless or his friend is out here looking for us. The only choice we have is to keep moving, we're less of a target that way."
"At least take a break for a while."
"No, if I stop I just might not be able to start back up again."
Artie pushed himself up and grabbed the travois and headed off toward Kansas City again. Jim noted that his blurred vision was clearing up but he was still seeing double and doubted if he could convince Artie otherwise. He shut his eyes trying to will the headache and double vision away. They still had at least fifteen miles or more back to town and he knew there was no way Artie would make it. They traveled in silence for a long while, each man in his own world. Artemus, trying to figure out how to make it back to Kansas City before he ran out of strength and James trying to figure out how to convince his partner to stop being such a stubborn jackass.
After about another two miles Artemus finally had to agree with James…he was done in and didn't feel like he could take another step. He pulled the travois over to a rock outcropping and set Jim down in the shade. Artie was at least glad that Jim had fallen asleep some time ago. He slumped down onto a small rock and leaned back against the outcrop.
"Artie, we're done for the day lie down and get some rest," Jim said as he sat up, holding his head as it swam.
"We've only come about four or five miles, Jim. There's still daylight left."
"Maybe so, Artie, but there's no strength left in you. You need to rest, pal."
"Yeah maybe you're right. I hear water running…that means a stream close by. Let me see if I can find it…hand me your hat…if there's any water I need something to bring it back in," Artie pushed himself up and grabbed Jim's hat.
Twenty minutes later a very haggard and worn Artemus Gordon finally plodded back to the rock. He sank down next to Jim and offered him the hat. It was full of cool water and had berries floating in it. Jim offered some to his partner but Artie assured him he had eaten and drank his fill. While Jim ate the berries and drank the water Artie leaned back against the rock and closed his eyes. Jim listened unhappily to the steady but uneven breathing.
"Artie, you awake?" Jim whispered.
"Yeah, Jim…do you need something?" Artie replied without opening his eyes.
"No, pal you stay put. I just wanted to talk."
"Oh that I can do. Talking doesn't require much energy, which I seem to be full out of at the moment."
"Yeah I can see that, pal. We need to figure out what to do tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Tomorrow we just start over with more of the same. You lie there and rest your leg and your head and I pull you." Artie replied with a shrug.
"Why don't we see how things are in the morning? One more day of this and I have a feeling you're going to drop."
"I'm all right, Jim. Just let me take care of getting us back this time okay?" Artie replied as he looked at his partner.
"Can I have your outer shirt, Jim? Your bandages need to be changed and I can clean that shirt in the stream."
"Only if you soak enough of it in that stream so I can bandage you too," At Artie's nod Jim removed his top shirt and tore it into strips.
Artie sat by the stream poking Jim's shirt with a stick watching the water soak in. He heard a rustling sound but when he looked he saw nothing. He was certain they had been followed for the better part of the day but he didn't dare tell Jim. He'd only demand on looking into it, Artie laughed to himself. He casually glanced around while continuing to poke the shirt. Whoever was out there was good, very good at not being seen. And they seemed to either be toying with them or simply trying to keep track of their movements. Artie gathered up the shirt, leaving as much water dripping from it as he could and slowly walked back to his friend.
Jim thought Artemus was coming back when he heard the bushes rustling but he didn't emerge from the undergrowth. Jim cursed his blurry vision for the hundredth time that day and hoped it would be better in the morning. There was that sound again, but no Artie. He debated telling his partner but decided against it. Artie had more than enough to worry about without adding anything else to the mix.
Artie finally came up the path, much to Jim's relief. His relief was short lived when his partner approached him. Even with the blurry and double vision Jim couldn't help but notice Artie's bleeding hands and the oozing cuts on his torso. He allowed Artemus to bandage him, doing everything in his power to suppress any moans or groans while doing his best to avoid his partner's scrutinizing glares. Finally Artie finished and Jim reached for his wrist when his friend went to get up.
Jim was alarmed when Artie didn't argue. He just nodded and sank to the ground near his friend and didn't make any comments. Jim carefully cleaned Artie's hands and wrapped them in the cool cloth. He finally got a reaction from his friend when he touched a cloth to the filet cuts. Artie jumped and his hand came down on Jim's leg, causing him to hiss, before he could stop it.
"Oh, God, Jim, I'm sorry," Artie apologized.
"Don't worry about it, pal, I'm sure I'll live," Jim smiled at him, Artie just nodded.
Jim continued to clean Artie's wounds, taking extra care around them. Jim noted that his blurred vision was clearing finally. He still had the double vision and the hellacious headache but he could deal with that. Jim grimaced as he wrapped strips around Artie's chest and vowed that he would find out one way or another if Loveless had made it out of the armory. After he finished he tried to get Artie to get some sleep but he refused saying there was still daylight left and it was too early to sleep. Jim let it go, knowing his friend wouldn't last long if he could just get him to sit still for a few minutes.
Jim's prediction proved correct, Artie had leaned back against the rock, grateful for the cooling sensation the water soaked cloth provided. He closed his eyes, just for a second, he told himself. Within seconds Jim smiled when Artie began softly snoring. He had been asleep for about an hour when he began mumbling. Jim, who had dozed off himself, rose up on his good elbow and watched his friend. Artie must be dreaming about what happened back at the armory, Jim thought.
"No, leave him out of this," Artie cried, "you can't do this, he doesn't deserve it. You have me you don't need him. Let him go," Jim didn't want to risk waking him and a part of him felt guilty for listening.
"Please, let him go. You can do what you want with me, I don't care. Jim's worth more than ten of me just leave him alone. Take me instead." Artie seemed to almost be sobbing.
Jim could hardly believe his ears. How could Artie ever think his life was not worth as much as his? Just what had Loveless done to him? Artie continued to mumble for a while before he finally went back into a deep sleep. Jim sat deep in thought, when he heard the rustling in the bushes again. He rose up and hobbled over to them, trying to find the source. He nearly jumped out of his skin when a rabbit hopped out of the brush. Thinking fast, Jim dove after the rabbit. He finally managed to capture it by throwing rocks at it. It was a grizzly chore, but he killed the animal. Now all he had to do was figure out how to cook it.
Remembering the matches he had given his partner, Jim slid over to his slumbering friend and slid his hand into his pocket and retrieved a match. He was dismayed to note a slight heat radiating from his friend's body.
Jim gathered some fallen tree branches and broke them into smaller pieces, grimacing when Artie stirred at the sound. He lit the match and was grateful when the fire took right off. Jim cursed himself for not thinking about the matches Artie had earlier. Maybe Artie wouldn't be sick if I had only thought straight, Jim berated himself. He grabbed a twig and skewered the rabbit and placed it above the fire. He was happy with his progress and glad he could finally do something constructive.