Desmond's older brother Benjamin had carried his wounded kin 6 miles up the Kern river before he had to stop for rest. Benjamin knew there was a town north of where they had been panning. Young Desmond, 10 years old, had been bitten by a snake earlier in the day and the poison he had absorbed was charging rapidly throughout his body. It seemed as-though every natural function had begun to fail. Some were gone.
His senses had begun to fail in a sort of rhythm. At the two mile marker Young Desmond lost his sight. His eyes had swollen to a point of shutting and tears poured endlessly from the red irritated mass. He had lost use of his right leg completely only moments after the bite. The other followed suit and Benjamin was forced to hoist his brother- not a small child- onto his shoulder. By the time They traveled another mile or so, the poor boy's tongue had swollen so that his speech was nothing but muffled humming. Spitting. Another mile and his bowels were loosed upon both himself and his loving brother. At mile five Desmond's temperature dropped with the temperature of the evening and his body made no attempt at warming itself. It was cold but it was also California. The boys had experienced far worse conditions before traveling westward. Regardless the temperature proved to be a hazard to young Desmond's health. Benjamin pushed on another mile and with the last of his strength lowered his brother onto a mound of leaves beside the clearing in which they had stopped.
'If you can here me Des I'm gonna wrap you up and you need to try and get some sleep. I cant walk any further my back is crooked and my knees swollen.' Benjamin said kneeling over a nearly comatose Desmond. Ben then removed his long coat and blanketed his brother.
Desmond heard nothing only the squeaking of air escaping the swollen bits clinging to his skull. He sleeps.
Benjamin began work on a fire which was a simple task with matches handy. He warmed himself for a moment and laid down. The sky was clear and his view of the stars- perfectly framed by the branches what hung above the clearing, taunted him. Ben starred upward as his eyes jumped franticly from star to star. This was unusual, for Benjamin was fairly well versed in the shapes and order of the Cosmos- but fear for his brother had scattered his reason. Ben was faced with a sea of black and white chaos- no form- no order. He shut his eyes to hide. He sleeps.
Without any prompt other than his sense of responsibility for his own brother's life, Benjamin shot awake- dead of night- and knew they had to make it to this town quick. He lifted his worn arms and planted his hands on the ground to thrust his torso and shattered back upward. He stood and everything snapped and cracked. Still wrapped in the jacket, Desmond felt his brother heave him off the floor. He could feel his brother's arms shaking. A swing and he was back on Ben's shoulder.
Benjamin, with Desmond's two legs hanging out in front of him, noticed the tear where the snake had bitten through the boy's pant leg. 'I should check the wound' Ben thought as he reached with his free left hand to lift the clothing out of the way.' Jesus' He said aloud. It was as if the boy had a second knee near his ankle. The area had swollen and changed in color so much it hardly looked like something a human could carry. Produce. He covered the mess again.
It was another mile before the town was visible. A few fires still burned though it was late and this gave ben hope. He hurried down the hillside they had crested- toward the town. Careful not to harm Desmond but swiftly hopping from safe landing spot to safe landing spot, it took no time at all to reach the bottom. They raced into town.
The buildings were all dormant except for two windows above a feed store. Inside a lamp flickered and beckoned Ben's heart to tremble with hope. He approached the door and began to knock.
'Hey! inside! We need a doctor! my brothers been bit by a rattler!' He shouted up at the glowing windows. Ben began rapping on the door and repeating himself. ' We need a doctor!' adding 'Ill pay extra! Ill pay you to show me to him!'
The window swung open furiously and two ancient faces peaked out. A man and a woman. 'No need t'be hollerin' were still awake.' The man declared
'Were not that old' The woman muttered as she disappeared back into their home.
'Ill come down and let you in' The man said waving his hand top to bottom as if he was used to this sort of thing.
A moment passed and he swung open the front door. ' How long ago was he bit?' The man asked examining the boys ankle. He noticed it immediately.
'Earlier today' Ben replied. ' Is there a Doctor here, at this hour who can help us?'
'There is but never mind them, their crooks. In-cahoots with the crazy basterd whos been runnin this place the last few months. Come up stairs, My wife will tend to the boy. We had sons.'
The three of them disappeared into the dark feed store.
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