Chapter 3 The Rescue
Jeff grabbed Bogg under his arm and neck and pulled up so his head was resting in the crook of his elbow. His body was limp and Jeff struggled to find some kind of support for his feet so he could try to pull Bogg to the shore. He was surprised that the water was only waist deep here, so he stood up, breathing hard and still holding Bogg tightly against his chest, trying his best to keep his head above water. He looked around desperately, and just when he didn't think he had the strength to move even an inch toward land, he felt a hand on his shoulder and Bogg's weight taken off his body. He started to fall back and might have gone under again himself if another pair of hands, this time small ones hadn't grabbed him and pulled him toward shore.
Once his feet were on solid ground, he stumbled toward where Bogg had been placed on his side on the rocky soil, oblivious to the voices around him. "Bogg!" he sobbed, shaking Phineas' shoulder, but his friend didn't wake up.
On his knees beside him, he noticed the many cuts and scrapes on Bogg's face, arms and hands. He could see a trickle of blood that started under Bogg's head and formed a path across a flat rock and onto the ground. He leaned close and felt him still breathing, then finally, Jeff looked up at his rescuers, "he needs help," he sobbed, "please!"
"Ari, bring the wagon as close as you can," the man ordered the boy, then he held out his hand to Jeff. "Artemis," he said. He was taller than Bogg, and large-boned, a huge man and Jeffrey found himself hoping he had a kind nature, given his size.
"Jeffrey," Jeff answered, shaking his hand, "this is Phineas Bogg."
They pulled the wagon close and Artemis lifted Bogg into the back. Jeffrey climbed in beside him, unwilling to be separated, and they started toward wherever home was for these people. Jeff sat as close to Bogg as he could and pulled some hay over him for warmth. He kept his hand on Bogg's shoulder as he worked, not wanting to let go of his friend. Jeffrey knew that head injuries could be dangerous and he wouldn't stop worrying until Bogg was awake and talking to him normally.
When the wagon stopped, Artemis moved Bogg to a narrow bed in a room just inside the walls of a city. A castle could be seen on the far side of the city, rising above the structures around it.
A heavy blanket lay on a bench near the bed and Jeffrey immediately spread it over Phineas. Once he was satisfied that no more could be done for him at the moment, he addressed their rescuers.
"Thank you for helping us, I don't know what we'd have done if you hadn't thrown that rope and taken us in," he said to Artemis and Ari.
"That river has claimed many, it was Providence that we were there at just the right time," Artemis said.
Jeff nodded, he'd heard many people swear that the omni's timing was Providence before. "Have you heard of someone named Aristotle?"
"That's me," the boy answered, "but since my father died, most people just call me Ari."
Jeff stared at him, then over to Artemis, "so you aren't father and son?"
"I'll be back," Artemis said, ignoring the conversation as he left.
"Who is he then?" Jeff asked Ari, pointing to the huge man who had just left.
"He's my uncle," Ari said in a sad voice.
Jeff turned back to Bogg and unhooked the omni from his belt and opened it, a red light. He closed it and replaced it before speaking. "Are you safe here?" Jeff asked him.
"Me? Yes, why?"
"And your father was the King's doctor, right?" Jeff asked, just to be sure he had the right Aristotle.
"Yes."
A deep cough came from the bed and Jeff was beside Bogg instantly. He tried to sit up and Jeff pushed him back gently.
"Lay back, it's okay," he whispered.
"Jeff?" Bogg opened his eyes in the dim light. "The river," he said softly, coughing deeply again.
"It's over, we're safe," Jeff smiled as tears sprung to his eyes. He leaned down and gently put his arms around Bogg's chest.
"Safe?"
"It's okay, how do you feel?" Jeff asked as Ari sat down across the room and watched and listened.
"You're okay?"
"I'm alright, you're the one we have to worry about," Jeff said and sniffed.
"My head," Bogg whispered, and coughed again as he put his hand up and touched the side of his head.
"It was bleeding, can you roll over so I can take a look?" Jeff asked.
Bogg slowly rolled over and Jeff glanced at Ari, "do you have any alcohol?"
The boy jumped up immediately and went into another room. He returned a few moments later with an earthen jug containing wine.
"This'll hurt," Jeff said to Bogg, and started to clean the wound.
After several minutes, Jeff stopped. He didn't have a particularly clean covering to put over the cut. It had stopped bleeding, so he decided to leave it open to the air so a scab would form more quickly. "Can you stay in this position for awhile?" he asked Bogg. But there was no answer, and Jeff realized he was again unconscious.