Merritts of Writing 3

Chapter 18

Jam

It had been quite a while since I’d seen two people engaged in a fistfight. Usually we concentrated our efforts on fighting the Larcore.

Everyone has a breaking point. I’d just witnessed Dirk’s.

AFTER THE RAGE

Verena’s shrill voice begging her cousin to stop beating Char to a pulp bounced against the metal walls of the interior of the truck.

Carter’s quick actions had gotten Em out of the way and I was thankful. The two were still huddled against the back wall. Carter’s eyes wide as he clutched my sister protectively to his chest.

The girl, the one Carter claimed to be his cousin, sat next to him. She looked calm, as if the recent violence was something she viewed as normal.

The thought made my stomach clench. Just what had the girl’s life been like before today?

Carter’s grip on Em finally lessened and sensing her chance at freedom she struggled in Carter’s grasp. I watched Carter close his eyes. After a breath, he released her. She scurried away from him on her hands and knees.

I reached out and quickly drew her to my side. I tried not to wince when her shoulder caught me in the ribcage. My efforts weren’t good enough. I still gasped.

She whispered softly. “Sorry.”

Donahue, who’d stood by helplessly, now took a step toward the fallen Char.

Without a glance at anyone Dirk dropped down onto his butt. He pulled his thick legs up to his chest. He took a deep breath and leaned his closely cropped, partly shaved, head against the wall. He expelled the air in his lungs, in a long heavy rush, then closed his eyes. He draped his wrists over the edge of his knees.

Donahue crouched. He gripped Char’s battered face in the palm of his hand. He turned Char’s head from side to side. Then he shook his head and glanced over his shoulder toward Carter. “Carter, grab the med kit. I’m going to need you to stitch him up.”

I wet my lips and swallowed.

Carter got up and stepped over Em’s legs and bent down to retrieve the med kit that had gotten jammed between two stacks of fyre eggs storage containers.

I looked over to Char. The man lay still as Donahue continued to examine him.

I had to admit, Dirk had done a pretty good job of messing Char up. I’d always known that the canisters had increased Dirk’s strength. I hadn’t fully realized the effects until only a few days ago. When he’d carried both myself and Em, as if we weighed no more than a bag of flour, it finally had hit me.

I almost felt sorry for Char. Almost.

“Calvin, hand me that water,” Donahue ordered.

Calvin hesitated. I saw the long bony fingers of his left hand instinctively grip the strap of the canteen tightly. “Shouldn’t we be asking Stevron to stop the truck?”

“What for?” Donahue replied then jerked his head toward Dirk. “You bust your hand?”

Dirk opened his eyes. “Blood’s not mine.”

Donahue snorted. “Still, clean it up. I’ll want to check to see if you cracked a knuckle or something more.”

Calvin reluctantly handed over the canteen. Donahue twisted the cap off and then handed the canteen to Dirk. Carter unzipped the med kit.

“Word from the wise,” Donahue’s voice echoed around the truck as he whacked Char’s booted foot with the back of his hand. Char opened his eyes. “Next time,” Donahue added, “don’t provoke any of us. It may cost you your life.”

Char didn’t reply. Didn’t even groan. He did suck blood through quickly swelling lips though. His eyes tracked to Dirk.

Dirk curled his upper lip.

Carter rummaged in the med kit and soon came up with what he needed. Donahue took the canteen back from Dirk and wet a piece of cloth he pulled from his back pocket. He cleaned Char’s battered face. His eyes condemning as he continued to shake his head.

Carter moved reluctantly closer to Char and began stitching the gash that had opened up on Char’s left cheekbone. His focus was mainly on his work but I saw his eyes dart several times to Em. His eyes looked worried. I gave him a brief smile. Carter didn’t smile back.

The girl came to sit beside Em. There was something about the young teenager that disturbed me.

She didn’t resemble Carter in anyway. Not to mention the fact that Carter wasn’t born deaf. So, I doubted that the girl truly couldn’t hear.

Carter was lying. Why? It didn’t matter. If Carter felt the girl was important, then she must be. End of story. And despite Em’s earlier warning, I would continue to trust Carter. I had no reason not too.