Disclaimer: This story is the copyright of nesciri and are published for others to read. Any abuse or infringement of the author's rights will be goverened by Swedish law. The characters have been borrowed from the TV-drama "The Young Riders" . This has not been done in order to violate the copyright of the authors of that show, however, if an infringement has been done, please notifyand this page will be removed. Any drawings are the copyright of nesciri and may not be used without the written permission of
XI. Back to the hornet's nest
Epilogue
Chapter 11
Back to the Hornets
Nest
When Kid had fallen at the entrance of the cave he had not been killed. He had not even been hit by the shot that he thought had been fired at him. He felt the whistle of the bullet as it passed his cheek, and the shock caused him to stumble. And even as he stumbled he realized with a lightning flash of inspiration that the moment he recovered himself he would be a mark for a second shot. So he dived headlong to the ground. There he laid still as he heard a crash behind him and he felt something heavy fall over his legs. He slowly rose his head and looked behind him. Over his legs lay an unknown man, stone dead. He peeked ahead as he saw a shadow in front of him. He quickly got to his feet, pushing the dead man away and stared into the darkness ahead of him.
"Cody? Is that you?" he asked, as he stood still ready for anything.
"Kid? What are you doing here?" was the weak reply.
"Buck?" Kid rushed forward as the he heard the voice. "My God, it really is you," he gasped as he came closer. He kneeled next to his friend and stared at the pale and bruised face.
"What happened to you?" he whispered.
"It's a long story," Buck mumbled. "Can we get out of here? Are you alone?"
"No, Lou and Teaspoon are with me. They're probably on their way up here. They must have heard the shot." He smiled. "For a moment I thought you were shooting at me."
"I was. Then I saw another shadow and I guess I must have lost my aim. I didn't know what happened when I saw both of you fall," Buck answered before he started to cough. Kid looked worried at him.
"Are you OK?"
Buck nodded and smiled sheepishly.
"Just cold and hungry," he answered lightly. Kid didn't believe him for a moment, but helped him to get to his feet.
"D'you think you can manage to get down?"
Buck nodded and tried not to lean too much on Kid, as they started walking, although he felt very uncertain that he actually would manage to get down on his own feet. Kid felt it too, and simply took a firm grip of his friend, more carrying than aiding, despite Buck's objections.
"Damn it, Buck, you won't make it down otherwise," Kid muttered as they staggered down the hill. Buck blinked against the sunlight and peered down where he saw Lou and Teaspoon approach them.
"Where's Cody?" Buck mumbled as his foot slipped beneath him, forcing him to lean almost entirely on Kid.
"We don't know. We thought it was him in the cave. Now, hold your breath while we get down. There will be plenty of time for you to tell us later."
"But you must get hold of Cody---"
"Later, Buck!"
Suddenly Buck felt extremely tired. He had been badly beaten and still suffered from the bruises, had been without food for a couple of days, he was down with fever due to a cold or worse and he had been awake all night in fear of being attacked during the sleep. The arrival of Kid and the others had relieved some of the tension, and now he was all done. He tried to tell Kid that he needed a rest, when a black fog settled before his eyes and he sank down into unconsciousness.
Teaspoon ran over to where Kid was struggling with an unconscious Buck.
"What happened? he asked anxiously as he reached them.
"I don't know. He just collapsed on the way down," Kid answered panting.
"We better get him down then. There was no sign of Cody up there?"
"No."
"Did Buck say anything?"
"He tried to but I told him to shut up. He's very weak, Teaspoon", Kid said worried.
On the ground Teaspoon looked at the bruised face of Buck and sighed as he placed his hand on his forehead.
"He's got fever", he mumbled before he simply removed the remains of what once had been Buck's shirt. Lou bit her lip as not too show her feelings when she saw the black and blue marks turning yellow of Buck's battered torso.
"He's lucky he survived this", Teaspoon nodded grimly.
"Who would do something like that?" Lou wondered.
"There's a lot of worse things people might do, Lou," Teaspoon replied sternly as he unwrapped the bandanna from Buck's arm. "Looks like somebody helped him set this straight, anyway", he mumbled as he gently replaced the bandanna.
"Lou, get another blanket and wrapped it around him."
"Shouldn't we try and keep the fever down?" Kid wondered as Lou went for the blanket.
"There's nothing we can do." Teaspoon shook his head. "The trouble is that when night chill sets in, he will only get worse."
"Then what do we do?" Kid asked as they placed the blanket over Buck, who was shivering from a fit.
"We have to get him inside as soon as possible."
"We haven't seen any houses, less a cabin out here Teaspoon!" Lou stated. "And Sweetwater is too far off."
"I know. We'll have to go back."
"Back? Where to?"
"Lichtfield."
"We can't go back there, Teaspoon!" Lou exclaimed. "That's where he got in trouble in the first place."
"We don't have any choice - Buck needs medical care and rest."
"What about Cody and the others?" Kid wondered.
"I haven't forgotten about them, but I don't want to break us up again."
"Do you still think that Cody's on his way west to this town, whatever its name was?"
"I don't know, Kid. I wish Buck would have told us if he'd seen Cody before he passed out."
"Then what shall we do?" Lou asked impatiently, glancing at Buck who was shivering under the blanket. He was still unconscious, but it was clear that his fever was rising. He must have been completely worn out, she thought. No wonder, she added thoughtfully. He must have been through hell.
Teaspoon was silent for a few moments. As much as he wanted to know the whereabouts
whereabouts he realized that Buck wouldn't make it if he stayed one more night out in the cold. He looked at the two riders standing in front of him as he thought about his options. None of them very pleasing, but finally he made a decision.
"All right, this is how I think we'll do it. I want one of you to continue the search for Cody - but I don't want you to go to far. If you haven't found Cody or any trace of him, head back to Lichtfield by dawn and meet up with us there."
"What about Buck?" Lou asked.
"One of you will help me get him back to Lichtfield to see the doctor." Teaspoon saw the grimaces on Lou's face and added:
"I know Lou, but he's the closest doctor. I'll try and get some answers from the marshal while we're there, and I need for someone to stay with Buck. Now, which one of you feel like going after Cody?"
"I'll do it." Kid's reply was fast and he glanced at Lou. He preferred if Lou stayed with Teaspoon on this. Lou gave him an angry look, knowing exactly why he had volunteered. She wouldn't mind being the one to go; it was hard keeping up her appearance as a boy in front of Teaspoon as it where, without having to be worried about Kid and Buck.'
"Good, then that's settled. Kid, now remember I want you back in Lichtfield by dawn tomorrow. Is that clear?"
"Yes," Kid nodded, "but what if I find Cody?"
"Then bring him with you back to Lichtfield as quick as you can."
"If I don't find him, but I run into Jimmy and Ike?"
"Same thing - head back to Lichtfield. It is time we wrap this thing up. Don't forget that Cody's got a price on his head."
"I'll remember." Kid walked quickly over to Katy and mounted.
"Ride safe, Kid!" Lou called out and turned to Teaspoon as Kid disappeared behind some rocks.
"What now?" she asked as Teaspoon went over to Buck and kneeled by the boy's side. Buck was still out and he was breathing in short gasp. Teaspoon placed his hand on his forehead and sighed.
"Damn," he murmured as Lou sat next to him.
"How is he?" she asked, looking down at the pale face.
"Well, he ain't well. We better get going."
"How? Buck's in no condition to ride and we ain't got time to fix anything."
"I'll take him on my horse. That's the fastest way."
"All right, Teaspoon. I'll get the horses---"
"Stay with Buck for a while. I've got something to do before we head out."
"What?" Lou asked surprised.
"According to Kid, Buck killed a man up there. I don't know who these men where, but even if they were murderers, they deserve a grave. I intend to see to that. Keep an eye on Buck, will you - if he comes through, ask him if he has seen Cody."
Lou nodded as Teaspoon started up the hill. She looked after him for a second and then she sat down next to Buck. She frowned with worry when she looked at him. Kid had been right, he looked very weak, she pondered as she remembered her mother. She had been very weak with high fever shortly before she died, and the thought that Buck might die scared her.
"You better pull through", she mumbled as she poured some water on a bandanna and started to gently wipe off the sweat beads on Buck's forehead. "Or Ike will never forgive you," she added lightly, hoping to see some sign that Buck was wakening. When nothing happened she tried to get him to drink something. It was with some difficulty she managed to get some water into his mouth.
"Come on, Buck", she said silently and continued to dab his face with the soaked bandanna. Suddenly Buck moaned and she picked up the water canteen and simply poured some water over his head. To her great relief Buck opened his eyes and looked dimly at her.
"Lou? What happened?"
"You fainted. No wonder, by the way. You look terrible and you got a fever. How are you feeling?"
Buck closed his eyes for a moment.
"I don't know", he admitted. "My head hurts and I feel kinda' funny." Buck started to cough and Lou helped him to drink some more water.
"Do you think you can tell me what happened?"
Buck nodded and looked around.
"Where's Kid and Teaspoon?" he asked.
"Kid went out to see if he can find Cody, and Teaspoon's taking care of that man you dropped. Who were those men by the way?"
"It's a long story", Buck sighed. "May I have some more water?"
"Sure." Lou reached for the canteen. When she turned she saw Teaspoon approach them.
"Teaspoon! Buck is awake!" she called out and saw how Teaspoon increased his steps.
"How are you feeling, son?"
"Not too well." Buck realized that it was no idea trying to fool Teaspoon about how bad he felt, but even so he wasn't prepared to let anything happen to his friends due to any weakness on his part.
"Don't worry, we'll get you to a doctor in no time."
"That's OK, I'll just need some rest and then I'll be fine," Buck explained weakly before another cough interrupted him.
"Who're trying to fool, son?" Teaspoon asked and raised an eyebrow. "Do you feel well enough to tell us what happened?"
"Yes."
"So what happened in Lichtfield? I thought I send you out on a simple errand?"
"The parcel was late - so we decided to wait for it. When we saw this sign about the pokergame we decided to watch it." Buck silenced and closed his eyes. His headache seemed to get worse and he felt as if every muscle in his body was aching. He really just wanted to sleep, but he forced himself to open his eyes again.
"Take your time, Buck, we're in no hurry." Teaspoon reassured him and placed a blanket beneath his head, propping him up.
"Then I left to see to the horses while Cody stayed. The saloon-owner tricked him, and then they was going to use him as cover."
"Cover for what?"
"They're cattle-thieves, and I think they might be in some gun-running scheme too. They wanted to get the army away on a wild goose-chase."
"And Cody was the goose, eh?"
Buck nodded.
"But how did you get involved?" Lou asked.
"I guess I was in the way - when I returned to get Cody at the saloon, some men stopped me and knocked me out. I thought they were going to kill me, but they dumped me out here." Buck smiled faintly. "They just forget to check that I really was dead."
"How do you know all this?"
"I discovered some of them when I tried to get back, and then Cody told me the rest."
"Then you met Cody?" Teaspoon said.
"He found me - we decided to take shelter in the cave, but as we were about to leave the men who was here showed up. Cody decided to try and lure them away by stealing a horse. He almost managed it too, if it hadn't been for those three who were here---" Another cough interrupted Buck and Lou looked worried at Teaspoon. It didn't sound good, the coughing.
"Take it easy, son," Teaspoon said soothingly. "Do you think you can get up on a horse, Buck?"
"I think so. Why?"
"It's time we head out of here."
"That's fine with me," Buck smiled faintly.
Lou and Teaspoon helped him to his feet and up on Teaspoon's horse. Lou took the reins of Cody's horse as Teaspoon mounted, placing himself behind Buck, supporting the boy with his arms and body. Soon the valley and its cave no longer were visible for the riders.
"Teaspoon?" Lou whispered as she held in her horse so that Teaspoon came up alongside of her.
"Yeah?"
"I think Buck needs a rest," she said silently.
"I think so too," he mumbled. He had been noticing for some time now that the boy had been sagging, and once or twice he'd been forced to take a firmer grip in order to prevent Buck from sliding off. He had hoped that they would be able to reach Lichtfield without any stops, but he realized that Lou was right - Buck needed a rest. And with some luck, they still might make it to Lichtfield at nightfall. Teaspoon halted his horse as Lou came over. Together they helped Buck down and saw to it that he was as comfortable as possible on the ground. He was barely conscious, but still he refused to rest. He didn't like the idea that he would be a hinder to Lou and Teaspoon preventing them from finding Cody. And besides, he could tell that Lou was worried about Kid, and he knew that she longed to head out after him. But both Lou and Teaspoon urged him to try and get some sleep and finally Buck complied without objections. His head was still hurting and so was every muscles in his body, at least that's how it felt. His coughing seemed to get worse too. Lou sat down next to him as Teaspoon remained by the horses, watching the landscape.
"What are you looking at, Teaspoon?" she asked when he had been standing there for some time.
"I ain't sure Lou," Teaspoon frowned. "What do you think about that?" He pointed towards the horizon. Lou got to her feet after a quick glance at Buck, who was stirring in his sleep, but there was nothing she could do to ease the fever. With some luck, he would feel better after the rest.
"What Teaspoon?" she asked trying to darken her voice. She found it hard to be alone with Teaspoon like this - always having to think about her voice and her acting.
"See that dust-cloud over there?"
"Yeah?"
"Something big is moving in that direction, and by the look of it, it's not far from here."
Lou stared at the cloud that Teaspoon had indicated. It wasn't much of a cloud, but it had caught Teaspoon's attention, so there must be something odd about it, she pondered.
"So what?"
"I ain't sure Lou. Something's telling me that it might be worth taking a look at it." Teaspoon thoughtfully stroked his chin, studying the movement of the cloud arising from a small valley not far from them.
"You want me to check it out?" Lou wondered.
Teaspoon looked over where Buck was resting.
"I don't know," he admitted. "I sure would like to know what's going on. We'll have to pass through it on our way to Lichtfield."
Teaspoon silenced and pondered the situation for a while. Then he turned to Lou.
"I think I check it out myself," he said finally. "You better stay here with Buck. If I ain't back within an hour, you get Buck and try to get in to Lichtfield. I'll meet you at the doctor's house."
"What do you mean if you ain't back?" Lou asked suspiciously, not liking the idea at all.
"Don't worry, I ain't gonna get myself in trouble. But just in case I run into something, I still want Buck back in Lichtfield as soon as possible."
"All right," Lou nodded. "Shall I take Buck to the doctor's house at once or should I wait for you?"
"Take him straight to the doctor. And don't leave him alone! The men behind this may still see him as a threat."
"I won't. I'll see you in Lichtfield then, if you ain't back in an hour." Lou said, trying to sound confident about the situation. In reality she didn't like it at all. If Teaspoon failed to return in time, she would have to see that Buck and herself got to Lichtfield in one piece, which was easier said than done. With the way things were going it looked as if all of the riders would be scattered all over the territory before this was over.
Teaspoon slowly directed his horse down the hill, careful not to fall, as he kept an eye on the dust. What he originally had thought to be a dustcloud stirred up by a buffalo herd, turned out to be a large herd of cattle, securely enclosed in a corral. First he didn't see anybody around, but as he peered down he notice some men close to a large fire. There were at least a dozen, so for safety he remained where he was, on higher ground and out of sight for the men below.
The men was branding the herd and if he hadn't been for the unusual place and Buck's comment that the men he and Cody had ran into were cattle-thieves, he wouldn't have been suspecting any foul play. But considering what he knew it was with great care he slowly approached the scene.
Teaspoon watched the scene with a frown on his face. This was no men doing an honest day's work, that's for sure. These men looked more like thieves and murderers. He started to study the cattle they were branding and he soon saw that this was not a legitimate act - most of the cattle were already branded - all with different brands. And by the size of the herd, this was no small time operation. He decided that he had seen enough. The trouble now was to get through it so that they could get Buck into Lichtfield without them being seen. And that wasn't going to be easy.
Lou looked after Teaspoon as he headed off. When he was out of sight she turned and returned Buck. He was still sleeping, so Lou simply sat down next to him, deep in thought. It wasn't until ten minutes later she realized that Buck was awake.
"Buck? How are you feeling?"
Buck looked at her with tired and red eyes. Lou frowned and placed her hand on his forehead. His fever was worse and this got Lou really worried. If Buck was really sick, she would have trouble getting him into Lichtfield on her own.
"Buck? You're OK?" she asked again when he didn't reply. He simply shook his head and closed his eyes again, which made Lou even more worried. This was not good, she thought as she dabbed his forehead with the wet bandanna. Not that it made any difference, the water in the canteen was lukewarm and wouldn't bring Buck any relief from the fever. But at least she was doing something. Buck started to cough and this time he didn't stop until he actually was gasping for air. Lou did her best to help him, but she had no clue to what she should do and it was a great relief to her when the coughing ended and Buck was able to breath somewhat normal again. Lou took a deep breath as she listened to Buck's labored breathing. It was clear to her that Buck was seriously ill and she decided to try and get him over to a doctor as soon as possible. She thought of waiting for Teaspoon, but she was afraid that the longer she waited, she more trouble she would have of getting Buck into town.
"Buck?"
Buck opened his eyes and looked at her.
"You think you can get up? We need to get out of her."
Buck struggled to get himself into a sitting position. His head felt as if something was hammering inside it and when he sat up he felt dizzy. Struggling to keep himself up he reached for Lou's offered arm and leaned on it. He sat still for a moment, trying to get everything under control, but instead everything got worse and he felt sick.
"Lou---," he mumbled as Lou rose trying to help him on to his feet.
"What?" Lou said with worry in her voice. Buck fought a wave of nausea before answering.
"I can't--," he admitted reluctantly. "I feel as if I'm going to be sick."
Lou stared at him.
"But we can't stay here. You're sure?"
Buck nodded and laid down. He was sure. All he wanted was to lay down and sleep until this, whatever it was, was over.
Lou looked around her. There was no Teaspoon in sight, and she felt utterly lost. What was she supposed to do if Buck couldn't be moved. If they stayed the night, Buck would be worse. Teaspoon had said so, and she believed it. The chilly night air couldn't be good. So finally she just swept the blanket closer around her friend and sat down, doing nothing. Buck dozed off into a restless sleep, now and then shivering from cold and fever.
Lou had almost dozed off herself when she heard the sound of an horse approaching. Quickly she got to her feet and drew her gun. It was with contentment she realized that it was Teaspoon and she had to stop herself from running up to meet him. That wouldn't have been the way of a young boy. So she stood still until Teaspoon was closer.
"What did you find?" she asked as Teaspoon dismounted.
"The gang that Buck and Cody disturbed is running a cattle-scheme down there," was the reply. "Why are you still here? I thought you'd been on your way by now?"
Lou shrugged.
"Buck's too sick." she said morosely. Teaspoon looked at her with a frown.
"That bad?"
"Yeah. What are we going to do Teaspoon? He's in no condition to ride."
"Well, we better get hold of a wagon then."
"A wagon?" Here?"
"The men in the gully got one. All we have to do is get hold of it."
"How do we do that?"
"Not we. You."
"Me?" Lou looked at Teaspoon.
"I've got an idea."
Lou slowly crept close to the fence that surrounded the herd. The cattle was calmly standing, grazing at the few straws that grew on the ground. They wouldn't be that calm for long, Lou smiled to herself. Teaspoon's idea hadn't worked out perfectly so far. Now all she had to do was to set the cattle running in the right direction. For this reason she had tied firecrackers along the side of the fence and now she was looking for the matches in her pocket. She slowly looked around, but all the men were busy at the other side of the herd. She lit the match and held it to the crackers. Then she started to run back into the men's temporary camp. On her way she heard the crackers go off and soon the sound of a herd panicking and only a few seconds later the sound of a cattle herd stampeding. Men shouted and a few even fired their guns adding to the commotion. Teaspoon was right, Lou thought. These men were not cowboys - a genuine cowboy should never have fired his gun close to a scared herd. She rushed through the camp, scanning the area for the wagon Teaspoon had claimed was there. It took her a few minutes to find it, but to her relief she saw that the horses were already tied to the wagon, so with one swift leap she jumped up and grabbed the reins. Quickly she moved the horses away from the railing where they had been standing and headed out of the camp at high speed.
Teaspoon looked at Buck and smiled at the sounds of the crackers. "Sounds as Lou's having a good time," he mused. "How are you, son?"
Buck coughed as he tried to answer and Teaspoon quickly sat down next to him.
"No need to answer, Buck. Sorry I asked. Just hang in there, son."
Buck shivered but managed to nod. Teaspoon looked troubled at him. He didn't like what he saw. Buck had gone from chill to fever and then back to a chill again and that in a very short period of time. It certainly didn't look good. Teaspoon could only hope that a warm bed, rest, medical care and the boy's strong physics would help him through it. Still an old memory haunted him as he saw the boy shivering. An Indian camp filled with sick people - their meeting with the white man's diseases. In any of the towns it would have considered a bad epidemic, but in the village the illness was killing almost everyone that got sick. Indians had a lesser chance of surviving the white men's diseases, so the doctor had told him back then. He hoped that Buck hadn't inherited that from his Indian side. Suddenly Lou appeared with a big smile on her face.
"I got it!" she said triumphically.
"Did they see you?"
"Nope, I don't think so. How's Buck?"
"The same. Let's get him into the wagon."
With combined forces they got Buck laid down as comfortable as they possibly could in the wagon. Teaspoon took the reins as Lou tied the three horses to the back of the wagon and jumped on.
"Next Lichtfield then," she said lightly.
It was late that afternoon as a wagon slowly approached the outskirts of Lichtfield. Lou scanned the houses and the streets with her rifle ready in case there would be any trouble, but she didn't see anything unusual.
"I think everything's clear," she mumbled.
"I agree. Now where's that doctor's house again?"
"You're sure we're going to do this? I don't give much for his knowledge, or for him either."
"He's the only doctor. We have no alternative. Let's go."
Teaspoon urged the horses on until they were outside the house. So far nothing had happened and Teaspoon carried the weak Buck up to the front door. Lou stood next to them, still with her rifle ready. She knocked on the door, and as soon as it opened they simply pushed their way in. The doctor objected immediately and threatened to get the sheriff.
"Calm down," Teaspoon said coldly. "We need your help."
"Help? You barge into my house armed and want me to help you? Forget it!"
"You better change that tone," Teaspoon continued. "Now, we need a bed for a sick person and you're gonna provide it."
The doctor's wife came down the stairs, staring in horror at the rugged bunch before her.
"What-- what's going on?"
"Sorry to barge in like this ma'am," Teaspoon said, "but we need your husband's help."
The woman looked at her husband.
"I can't help them, Molly," he muttered. "Mr. Dodgson will have me fired---"
"John, you took an oath!" Molly pleaded to her husband and he suddenly gave in at the sight of her.
"All right, bring him into the room over there. But if any harm come to my wife---"
"We have no intention of bringing any harm to any of you," Teaspoon assured him as he followed him into the room. Lou followed close behind them, looking suspiciously at the doctor. Even if his wife seemed as a nice person, she didn't trust the doc himself. She hoped he could do something for Buck though.
John Marsden, the only doctor in Lichtfield, looked with discontent on his new patient.
"It's an Injun," he objected, as Teaspoon placed Buck on the bed.
"So?" he said coldly.
"I don't treat Indians."
Teaspoon grabbed the man by his arm and drew his gun.
"You're gonna treat this one, is that clear?" Teaspoon hissed between his teeth.
The young doctor went pale.
"All right," he stammered. "All right, I'll have a look at him. Just put down that gun, will you?"
"Why don't you get to work?" Teaspoon watched John Marsden walk over to Buck and then he turned to Lou.
"Keep an eye out for any trouble, will you?" he whispered. Lou nodded and quietly left the room.
John Marsden threw one last glance at the stern face of Teaspoon and with a sigh he turned to his patient. Buck was breathing in quick gasps and his fever was high. John Marsden frowned when he saw the battered torso, but quickly examined Buck for any broken bones or fractured ribs.
"He ain't got any broken ribs, any way," he muttered as he looked at the ill-bandaged arm. "What's this?"
"He hit his arm on something."
"Well, it set straight, so there's no danger of any disability. Could have been done better though. Not by any with any medical knowledge, I would guess."
"If I were you, I would keep my guesses to myself," Teaspoon suggested calmly.
"Just trying to make small talk," John Marsden murmured as he listened to the heart and lung of Buck.
"How is he?" Teaspoon asked a few minutes later.
Marsden shook his head.
"It doesn't look good. He's weak from exposure and it sounds as if he's got pneumonia."
Teaspoon frowned.
"Pneumonia? You're sure?"
"No, it might just be some sort of flu. It's hard to tell."
Teaspoon sighed and dragged the doctor out of Buck's earshot.
"You ought to be able to do better than that, doctor."
"All I can tell you," Marsden said bitterly, "is that your friend is seriously ill. He's got high fever and its getting worse. If it continues he will go through one or more fever crises. If he passes them, then all's well. And if he don't---" Marsden shrugged. "You might wanna be near him."
Teaspoon stared at the man.
"Ain't there anything you can do?" he asked.
Marsden shrugged again.
"I can give him some laudanum against the pain---"
"He's in pain?"
"As with all fever diseases, the patient normally experiences pain, so called rheumatic or nerve-pain is common. It's normally treated with rest, warmth, bath or some painkilling. At least that's what's the book says."
"The book says?"
"All right, so I'm not a very experienced doctor!" Marsden face turned red before the critical stare of Teaspoon. "I'm sorry, Mr., but it's not my fault your friend's sick."
"What can you do?"
"Except tell you that I don't know? Every professor seemed to have a different opinion, from 3 weeks in a dark room, fresh air daily, a cruise on a boat, an injection of veronal, cold baths or simply a bromselt-pill----And frankly I don't know which will be of any help."
"I ain't interested in what your professor have to say, doctor. I want to know what can help my friend."
Marsden sighed loudly.
"Nothing. Nobody knows how to prevent or ease pneumonia. All we know is how to ease some of the symptoms."
"That's it?"
Marsden nodded.
"Yes."
"What's this --crisis-- you mentioned?"
"It's a common feature in connection with pneumonia. Means that when the fever breaks, the temperature quickly falls. It strains the heart and sometimes the patient collapses. A collapse is normally followed by death."
Teaspoon looked over to where Buck was laying, shivering despite several blankets.
"Thanks, doctor," he said slowly. "You may return to your wife if you like."
"You're going to stay here?"
"If the boy is as bad as you say - I don't think it's a god idea to move him. Right?"
"But you can't stay here! If Mr. Dodgson finds out I've helped you---"
"Who's Mr. Dodgson, doctor?"
"Why? Well, he -- he owns this town. He owns the saloon and the hotel. He's my employer. And he pays the sheriff too."
"He does now?" Teaspoon raised an eyebrow. "Well, doctor Marsden, I'm afraid we're staying here for the night. And I wouldn't worry about Mr. Dodgson. Nobody saw us come into town."
But Teaspoon was wrong. A young boy had seen the wagon head to the doctor's house and eager to make a few bucks, the boy had run off to tell the sheriff what he had seen. The sheriff immediately walked over to the saloon.
