Keep off the Grass, Part 2
By Bridgid and M
"Jack, Jack….Jason….snake. Help me! I’ve been bitten by a snake."
The two men looked at each other briefly. They were at her side at once and Jason inspected the wound.
The Commander found his cell phone. He was still in awe of new
technology, however his big fingers dialed the numbers. "M, it's
Jack we have a problem it's B"
Marisha didn't hesitate. "Bring her in Jack.," She would deal
with whatever the problem was when her cousin hit the surgery.
Jason told her not to get up. He knew about these things from his time on walkabout. He showed Jack where to put pressure on her leg and the big sailor lifted her into his arms first then he carried her to the car.
Holding her on his lap he kept his hand wrapped tightly on the
wound as Jason instructed.
"I feel fine. I really do. Maybe it was not a poisonous snake,"
Bridgid said. "I was just scared is all."
"Quiet, B, " Jason ordered as he got into the drivers seat.
"Which way to the doc's, Jack?" He asked as he started the car.
Jack gave the directions quietly and clearly. He had been under
pressure more times than he cared to remember, the lives of many men
dependent on his actions and decisions and never once had he felt so
totally petrified. He knew how dangerous snake bites could be, when
they got her to M there was no telling if she had anti venom. In
fact, how would she know about snake bites at all? She, like him was
English, and there were not many poisonous snakes in England as far
as he was aware. Dammit all, they should have taken her to a
hospital, where was the nearest hospital?
Jason slammed on the brakes when he saw the doc's sign. He jumped
out of the rover to help Jack get B inside.
"How you feeling?" he asked as he opened the door.
"Okay," she said but the fear in her voice was evident. "Bit
dizzy though," Bridgid added as she put her arms around Jack's neck.
"Don't worry. Okay?"
Jack smiled. "Why would we worry, it's the snake I feel sorry
for......." He quipped.
M was waiting for them. "In trouble again B, just like the old
days eh? Bring her through Jack. She didn't take time to speak to
the man who was with them, her priority right now was her cousin.
"Yeah, apparently I killed some snake when it bit me. Poisoned it I reckon," she groaned as Jack set her on the table. "My muscles are starting to ache."
Jason gave Jack a worried look. Some of the brown snakes venom
must have gotten injected.
The doc looked at him. "Are you sure it was a brown?" She asked.
M had not come to Australia unprepared and had taken time to
acquaint herself with the wild life of her new home and how to treat
any accidents she might encounter.
"Look, if I show you some pictures can you identify it
exactly?"
Bridgid nodded. "Yeah I saw it. I really need to lie down. I feel
like shit."
"Maybe we should take her in to Coff, M," Jason stated. "I'd like
for you to come with if you don't mind, love. Hate to leave the Glen
without a doc but ..what if?"
"There is no time to get her to Coff. I have everything we need
right here. If I am in any doubt I'll ring the school of tropical
medicine."
"B, I know you want to lie down but I'd much rather you sat.
Jack, sit with her and keep her talking. You," she looked at Jason,
"come with me." M moved to her desk and quickly found what she was
looking for. "Which one?" She asked him.
"King brown," he said as he pointed to the picture. "Nice to see
you again, by the way. Sorry it wasn't under better circumstances,"
Jason gave her a quick hug. "M, I'm so glad you're here, love. You
know how to take care of B. She ain't as tough as she leads on, eh?'
He turned to look at her cuddled against Jack and he got a vision of
her when she was a little kid. "If anything happens to her, I don't
reckon I'd know what to do."
"Nothing is going to happen to her. Nice to
see you too Jason, I didn't know you'd be here." Leaving him at the
desk she quickly went to the locked cupboard and took out the black
snake antivenom.
"You're going to be fine B, we know exactly
what bit you and I have the treatment." She smiled at Jack.
"Perhaps you should have brought the snake in too, I developed the
anti B venom when we were children."
"The viper is no great loss, Doctor," Jack looked all serious.
"If it has met its demise, perhaps any other kin of this king brown
snake will think twice before venturing onto my property."
Bridgid laughed just a little until she saw the injection that M
had. "Is that for me? Oh Christ, I don't think so."
Jason moved to her side, opposite Jack. "Quit being such a baby,
B. You'll be apples in a bit..after the vomiting, diarrhea and
immanent change in your complexion. I think you'll look fine with
spots anyway."
Jack gave him a withering look but B seemed to believe his line
of BS.
"Gentlemen," M raised an eyebrow, "I think
this is the time you withdraw and give Bridgid and I had some time
alone." She put a hand on Jack's arm. "She's fine with me, don't
worry."
Ten seconds later when they were
still there she raised her hand. "Scoot, both of you NOW."
When the men had scurried like two little
boys facing the wrath of their nanny M looked at B. "OK, drop 'em
blossom." She laughed. As soon as the anti venom was administered
she would give her cousin the tetanus and the antihistamine. shots.
As sick as her cousin felt she would not want Jason there to see
her with her trousers around her ankles.
"You enjoyed that didn't you?" Bridgid whinged. "Sadist," she
added as nausea began to make beads of sweat appear on her forehead.
"Oh God , I think I'm going to barf."
Maybe it was nerves, fear, the anti venom or a combination of all
three but the lovely lunch she had in Coffs found its way to the
floor of the clinic.
"Hmmm, pizza with anchovies, fries, green
salad and....coke eh?" M ignored the mess on the floor and helped B
to her feet.
"Put your arm around my neck." She
instructed to a very wobbly Bridgid as they walked together to the
plinth. Having her cousin bend over, the second and third shot went
in. "Let's get you on the table and cover you up before I let
the boys back in eh? I think you'll be having a sleepover tonight B,
we have plenty of room and I would rather have you where I can keep
an eye on you. Jack can stay too, Terry and he can swap war
stories."
"I just want to sleep, M. Just sleep," she
admitted "And I want Jack." Like that was ever in doubt.
