Hell over high water

"What exactly happened here?" asked Pem.

 

"Er, he...I..."

What was he supposed to say? Roger wasn't too sure what happened himself, it was so sudden.

He tightened his grip on the knife without realizing, fiddling with it nervously.

"I don't know," he mumbled, looking down at Dana.

 

"Why don't you just put the knife down," said Pem calmly.

 

"Oh. Yeah..."

Roger looked around for a table or something to set the knife down on. Finding none in arm's length, he set the knife down on the floor at his feet.

 

Pem handed ROger a scotch. "Now what happened?"

 

Jean looked at the boy with the knife nervously and knelt back down next to Dana.

"Lean with your ear pointed towards the floor. We don't want blood in your ear." she said in a gentle voice. He slowly titled his head, sending some of the blood dripping. She quickly took a cloth, wetting it with her saliva and dabbed the inside of the ear gently. He whimpered and she quickly grabbed his hand with her free hand. She took out some of the cotton balls and gently stuffed his ears with them.

"I'm not sure what to do in a situation like that, but it's the best we can do until we find a doctor." she said, giving him a gentle hug.

 

"Here Ms. Bequem, sprinkle the last of the scotch on the wound," said Pem.

 

"I...I don't know," Roger stammered. "There, um, there was just...this boy. I don't know, I don't know, he just came outta no where. I-I don't know..."

 

She grabbed the scotch, taking the cotton swabs out. She putt the remainder of the scotch on a few of the cotton balls, and gently washed the ear with it. He yelled out in pain and she looked at him sympathetically. She stuffed the ear back up with the cotton balls and stood up.

"Come sit on the Sofa with Mouse and I." she said, helping him to his feet.

 

Pem scanned the lounge. "Wwe're out of scotch, who needs a bourbon?"

 

"I do, please." She walked over to Roger, gently putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go sit too..." she whispered gently.

 

"I'll take some."she said. It wasn't something she normally did. She wasn't much of a drinker, but she was hurting, so she didn't care if it went past her normalcy.

 

Pem handed out the drinks wondering what the hell to do next.

 

Clare downed hers quickly, asking for a refill and offering it to Roger. "Here. It will calm your nerves."

 

Dana slumped down on the sofa. He was crying now, bawling like a baby. Something about it gave Roger chills.

"Yeah," he said, taking the drink from the young woman. He sat beside her and took a small sip. Bleh.

 

Jean brought Dana in for a hug, and sat his head on her shoulder. She hummed gently, rubbing his back.

"Calm down son." she said in a gentle voice.

She looked at the rest, "I say we get some rest in here. We can take turns staying awake. We just need to get some extra blankets and pillows." she said.

 

Pem nodded. "That's as good of an idea as any."

 

"Can't you, um, stitch him up?" Roger asked, gesturing to Dana. "There was a girl at the...back home, who got cut really deep. They had to stitch her up."

 

She looked at the young man and back at the boy in her arms.

"Easier said then done. The ear is delicate. You have to get a professional. For now, all we can do is wait. He'll be fine if we change the cotton balls and keep the ear clean." she said.

"What about those blankets and pillows?"

 

Roger nodded and fell silent, sipping the drink in his hand. He wanted to volunteer to go, but he didn't have the courage.

 

Reverend Pem stared out the window as he sipped his drink, lost in his own thoughts.

 

Jean sighed and got up. Apparently she was going to have to put her plan into action.

"While I go get the blankets and pillows, someone decide which two will take the first shift."

She looked back as she walked from the lounge not so sure she wanted to go alone.

"Reverend, will you come with me?" she asked with a nervous voice.

 

Pem shook looked up, wondering just how long he had been lost in this own head. "Of course Ms. Bequem."

 

"Reverend, here take this." Clare offered the hatchet to him. "You might need it...just in case"

 

Roger watched the pair leave and glanced at the ones who were left - Dana, the little girl, and the young woman. It then occurred to him that he didn't know anyone on this ship besides Dana.

"I'll take the first shift," he mumbled, taking another sip. He picked nervously along the edge of the scab on his chin. The room was silent, aside from Dana's sobbing and the heavy rain bashing against the windows and ceiling.