Chapter Four
Red Boar came up as they were waiting outside the hut the Healer was using. "What is this?" he asked.
2 "Our new First Speaker!" Swift Deer told him, "but he is in need of some repairs!"
3 Read Boar knelt beside The Dove. "Sir," he explained, "I heard your orders. The perimeter is clear, and we can account for all but twelve of our people. That is miraculous under the circumstances, but our losses are great; over two-thousand.
4 We gave the enemy a beating, but not bad enough. When he's ready he has more than enough forces to overrun us. I doubt we could even hold Southern, and my bet is, that's where he'll head...right up the shore, take Southern, Eastern, and march on Northern, then come back down and finish off Western; A much easier route than turning west, through the Badlands."
5 "I would take your wager," answered The Dove, "It is the way I would go. We have no choice. We can't stand here. Gather in all the villages, poison the wells and the springs, burn whatever can't be moved and march...march north. For now, we will gather at Southern. As soon as I can judge the situation there, I will make a decision. Send out the word."
6 All the Warlocks bowed and scattered. The Children of Spirit were well trained. Though it grieved them to abandon their villages, they knew it was the wise thing to do.
7 They dumped poison in the wells, that would disappear after a season, and then filled them in. They did the same with all their springs.
8 They drove their cattle north, and, their sheep and goats.
9 What provisions they could get out they took with them. What they couldn't they destroyed. The enemy would find no food or water, no usable shelter would they leave behind.
10 The Healer emerged from the hut. "Bring him in," he ordered.
11 The Dove was carried inside, and lifted onto the table. The Healer unbandaged the wound, washed it, and looked up. "I'm going to have to put you to sleep," he said. "I can save the leg, but it's going to take some work."
12 "How long?" The Dove asked.
13 "How long what?" replied the Healer.
14 "How long will I sleep?"
15 "Half a day, at least," the Healer told him, "some people, longer."
16 "No," argued The Dove, "can't do it. I've got to keep my head clear. Too much going on, too many decisions to make. You're going to have to do it without drugs. I have the training, I can control the pain."
17 The Healer shook his head. "Young man," he objected, "the Training works sometimes, on simple jobs, but I have alot of work to do on you. I can't risk it. One mistake and you lose your leg!"
18 "It is my way or none," insisted The Dove.
19 "We will try," agreed the Healer, "but if it is too much, I will have to give you something. Prepare yourself."
20 The Dove put his hands together in the position of prayer, and began to repeat a certain prayer over and over again. The Healer removed the pillows from beneath his head and laid him down. Slowly The Dove's voice faded. The Healer pointed to two strong fighting men. "Go wash your hands," he ordered, "and come here." The men obeyed.
21 "You hold his leg, here, you...hold it here! And if he starts moving, hold it still; and I mean, HOLD IT! Don't worry about hurtingg him, don't let him move!"
22 Both men nodded. The Dove's eyes were still open. He stared up at the ceiling, but seemed to hear or see nothing. The Healer checked him one more time. "Lords be with us!" he prayed, and went to work.
23 Swift Deer had heard of the Training, the mental discipline taught by some Speakers that could gain incredible control of the body, but this was the first time he had ever seen it used.
24 It seemed like forever before the Healer finally stopped working and bandaged the wound. "You've got to be very, very careful with him," he ordered, "I repaired the worst of the damage. It was a wonder I was able to save the leg! Now, only time will tell. If he's lucky, it will heal. I'd better wake him."
25 "Can I go now?" asked one of the fighting men that had been holding The Dove's leg.
26 "Yes," answered the Healer, "go!" The man stepped outside the door and promptly got sick!
27 The Healer reached in his kit, took out a bottle, and handed it to the other man. "As soon as he stops throwing up," he instructed, "have him drink that." He then went up to The Dove's face, and touched him between the eyes "Wake up!" he ordered.
28 Nothing happened, and he did it again. This time The Dove shivered, and screamed, and everyone jumped.
29 The Healer helped The Dove sit up. "Rest a few moments," he ordered, "then you'd better get some sleep."
30 "I'll have plenty of time to sleep," The Dove told him, "after I get my people out of here."
31 And night and day he directed the evacuation. The men and the stronger women went overland. The wounded and sick women and children made their way to the shore. There, boats picked them up and took them across the lake and up to Western. If the enemy DID change his route they could escape north from there.
32 When all were safely away, when The Dove was sure his people were moving well ahead of the enemy, he allowed himself to be put on a boat and sailed for Southern. The night's journey was the first good sleep he had.
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