As they left the hospital, Mabel was quiet, walking between the two Esle officers. Chunk was walking close by as if she was going to support Mabel. The mask was stuffy, and she already hated it.
There were already people with bits of precious on hand or on their backs starting to make their way out of the city. Mabel got a few dirty looks here and there, as if she was to blame. One man even started tward her but his wife smacked him and scolded him, loudly, about how you don’t attack folks who give themselves to take care of others.
“You seem like you got a lot on your mind, Miss Mable.Is it about what Doctor Scott tol you?”
Mabel shook her head. “The other Elves—are they really going to be executed?”
“Nah. Word on High is that they’re going to labor camps,” Tina said. “The things they got weren’t for building bombs or something, but they’re taking it anyway.”
Mabel stopped. There was a ESLE transport there, where the officers were preparing, the other elves in a line. She watched the scene for a few moments, then narrowed her eyes. No. She wasn’t letting this happen. They had children, wives, parents too old to work.
“Uh oh. She’s got that look,” Crissy said.
“Should we—”
“Don’t you dare,” Mabel said, then marched forward.
The officers at the bus stared as Mabel approached, ripping off her hat and holding it down to Chunk. She then proceeded to plant her hands on her hips, then bent down to catch her breath.
“Can we… Help you?” The man she was now standing in front of asked, a sneer in his voice.
“Yeah.” Mabel said, standing up straight. “Who’s in charge here?”
“I am. What’s your name, elf?”
Mabel Narrowed her eyes at him and said, “I’m Amablis Corrine, and you’re going to let these men go home to their families.”
“Oh Am I now?” He bent down to look her in the face, coming within inches. “And who do you think you are asking for THAT, whelp?”
“I’m as close as they got to a gorram Shaman!”
He smirked. “Oh are you now?”
Crissy Grabbed Mabel’s arm. “I’m so sorry, Lietenant! We’ll be—”
“You stop that now Crissy,” Mabel said, patting her hand. “We’ll be done here shortly.”
“Now why should I let them go home to their families, hmm?” his eyes flickered about. “You don’t LOOK like a shaman, child.”
“You just ask anyone here, and they’ll tell you I take care of them, just like my Daddy did.” She looked at the elves. An older man was kneeling. “The hell you kneeling for?”
The man did not raise his head but stiffened. “I-I- I’m not meaning any harm, Miss Mabel! It’s just… you’ve never told us your full name before! Please forgive me for my actions in the past.”
Mabel raised an eyebrow. “You can get up, Gorgary.”
“Th-thank you,” he muttered, standing slowly. The other Elves were murmuring, mostly in Confusion.
The lieutenants smirk remained. “You have one chance to mind your own business.”
“You need to let these men go. They have familes to feed and care for, they have children and parents. They are the strength of their familes. You give their belongings back, you give them the supplies they need to travel, and you let them leave before this corruption twists their bodies to death!”
The man stood back to raise his fist, and struck down. The hit knocked her to the ground, her jaw popping out of place and the mask snapped and fell off. He raised his foot to stomp on her and succeeded once before her officers restrained him.
“You stop that! You stupid jerk!” Tina said, putting him in a headlock.
Crissy bent down to check on Mabel. “Oh my god, Doctor Scott is going to kill us!”
Mabel winced, looking up. “Don’t think I can get up,” She stammered out, jaw killing her.
“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!”
They all stopped and looked up. A more decorated man stepped into view. “Report, Lieutenant.”
“This delusional elf is demanding that we let them go so I was trying to give her what she deserves!”
“Officer, let him go,” the older man said. Once Tina did so, he asked. “What’s her name?”
“Some Amablis Corrine, sir,” he said.
The man stiffened, and hauled off to smack the man. “You IDIOT!”
He then bent down to Mabel. “Miss Corrine, why are you asking for their release?”
Mabel tried to move her jaw again but couldn’t. Crissy told him, “They got families, sir, that need to be cared for out there. She’s concerend, because they’re just good, hardworking men who want to provide.”
The older man nodded, then looked back. “Do as she says. Release them, get them travel paper work, and supply them well. Make sure there’s extra for those families—it may be a while before they can find work again, given the state of things.”
“What?! General Barls, they—”
“That’s an order, Lieutenant! Now get to it, and you can personally handle the paperwork. We will be talking about this incident once we are finished.” Barls looked back to Mabel. “I’m so sorry, Miss Corrine. Had we known you were the Shaman here we whould have asked for their character before doing this. I promise that you will be well compensated for the trouble caused here. While I’m at it, report anything you might need to your lovely officers here. In the meantime, please accept my apologies.”
The man stood up and looked at Crissy, then Tina in turn. “Please make sure she gets to a hospital to be checked and have any broken bones set. I’m sure that she has means to mend these bones once they’re set. Once she is safe and sound, I’d like th have a talk with you both.”
He turned to walk away, as did the others. The elves, once freed of their bonds, walked over. The older man knelt down. “Shaman Corrine, are you alright?”
“I’ll be fine,” she got out with a nod. Oh god above this was painful!
He nodded. “Please, accept our sincerest apology for all we’ve done. And from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much. We were doomed, and you stepped up to save us.”
“Was the right thing,” she said. “Now I want ya’ll to go, and take care of your families. I’m gonna get together a few things for you for the road, so you come on by before you leave, you understand?”
“Your generosity is so great for people who have done you wrong,” he said.
“Yeah, what’s the angle?” The youngest of them asked. “Why you doin this?”
“Cause it’s the righ thing,” she said. “Dun make me repeat myself, my jaw’s busted.”
He gave her a long side glance, then sighed. “Fine. …Thank you. My mother’s so sick and my little sister’s had to take care of my siblings. This will help.”
There was a rise of thank yous, and promised aid if she ever needed it. It made her feel uncomfortable because she was only doing what was right. She nodded though.
“No ya’ll stay outta trouble, go get yer things back,” she said. It took a good ten minutes until it was just her and her Esle officers paying attention.
“Well, let’s get you back to the hospital,” Tina said, picking up her filtration mask. “Here, hold this to your face. Fittings are busted—we’ll have to get this fixed.
Of course, Doctor Scott scolded her as she was examined in the overwhelmed emergency room. Her jaw had to be set back in place, which was also painful in different ways. The bastard had broken her hip too, so that had to be fixed as well.
“I can’t believe you did that!” He was saying. “What a mess, you won’t be fit for travel for weeks!”
“I had to! Those men didn’t deserve that,” she said, voice muffled by the fact she couldn’t open her mouth wide enough to speak. “Weird happenins, to be sure though.”
“Yes,” he sighed. “Look… do you have a bone mend of some kind? We are out.”
Mabel sat back. “Ya’ll are out?! Crissy, come on over here.”
“What you need Miss Mabel,” she asked.
“I want you to go on to my house, and look for growler jars. There should be ten—bring six of them. You bring them on over here, and bring the growler that’s in my cabinet too. Should be partly used. You bring that partial one to me, then give the rest to doctor scott.”
“Miss-”
“Don’t you dare. I make that bone mend with pharmacuticals and straberries. Touch of lavender, and vitamins and minerals. That there will help you. You administer one half of a cup, then provide some milk, say two cups of it. You make sure to tell them over the next few days to keep drinking milk, and other calcium rich suppliments. Should take three days to be firm enough to start travel, but they’ll be able to use the limbs after about 24 hours. You make sure they rest, alright. It will help with pain, but they need to rest.”
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Again, the poor doctor sighed. “Of course. Thank you, Miss Mabel. That’s generous.”
“I’d offer more but I got to make sure those elves have some to take to their families—don’t think there is another shaman for miles.”
Crissy left to go run her errand. Tina said, “What else you given them miss Mabel?”
“Bit of this and that,” she replied. “Some seeds for herbs, flesh and bone mend, other bits and pieces that will help. Think I’m going to have to make room for anything else I might need. I should try to get more salt, too.”
“What else you think you’ll be needin?”
“Not sure. Might see about bedding that’s left behind. New cabinet would be nice.” Mabel shrugged. “Generally supplies, and things to make life more comfortable when I settle again.”
Tina rubbed her chin. “Think we can do that. Might be able to find some animals around, if you want. I’ll put word out that if people don’t want something, you’re looking for things.”
Mabel nodded. “I got a lot of flesh mend made up too. You tell folks if they think they need something for their journey, they can come to me. Might need to bring clean glassware. Amber, if they got it. I think I’m low on bottles. Didn’t pick up anymore on the last trip, couldn’t find any.”
Doctor Scott smiled. “Why don’t you let me get a list together of what we’re giving out for travel, and then you send over a list of what you can add. That way we can send folks over to you as well. Just keep enough for yourself and this trip. Should only take you three days but I know how you are.”
Mabel shrugged. “I know, I know. I’ll do that. I’ll let you know amounts, and just let them know they ain’t got to pay me for it—they’ll still need their own bottles but these are hard times.”
He nodded. “I’ll make sure you get a kit as well, Miss Mabel. I’ll put some extra in there in case you encounter someone on the way needing it. It’ll be basics—mild pain killers, first aid supplies, and I can see if we can add a sterilized surgical kit or two, and some extra supplies for suturing. I don’t know how far your education has gone, but you pay close attention when I have to treat you, or others do, so I think you’ll be able to put those to use.”
“I appreciate it. I need some supplies to re-sterilize those though. I’m low.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He rubbed his chin. “…Mabel, I’m lucky to have you as a patient. Your kindness and wisdom are beyond your years.”
“I think you should just start callin me a friend, Doctor Scott,” She said with her arms crossed.
“Then start calling me Hermes,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Only when we ain’t discussing medicine and my treatment,” Mabel said with a nod, and held out her hand. “I’m lucky to have you as a friend too, Hermes.”
Crissy walked in at that moment, pulling a wagon with her partial bottle under her arm. “I brought you one of those flesh mends too, Miss Mabel. You got a couple of things in your yard. Your chickens didn’t make it, Miss Mabel, I’m so sorry. I think all the chickens in the city are gone.”
Mabel sighed. “…Was afraid of that.”
“Well, one did kind of survive,” she said, pulling the wagon in.
On top of the bottles was perched a small hen—she had been a bantam. But the hen was now made up of colorful floral patchwork, with a few ragged thread-fethers here and there, another of which she plucked out and dropped in the cart.
There was quiet until Doctor Scott said, “I’ve never seen a chicken survive a fabric corruption.”
“Me neither,” Mabel said as she gave a soft sigh. “And I dun know how to take care of it.”
“I dunno, she’s kind of cute,” Tina said. “Like a stuffed animal or something.”
“Yeah, don’t test out hugging it. She clawed up my arm something fierce. I think her claws dun turned into some kind of wire.”
Mabel gestured for her bone mend—she did not have time for this now. It was going to be a while until she was even allowed to leave anyway, what with this then the prep she was going to have to do. “I’ll see what I can find out about her, then.”
Mabel shifted to get up. “Can I go home now? I got plenty enough to do and I gotta keep in mind that I could twist into somethin if I stay here too long.”
Doctor Scott crossed his arms. “Only if you take the rest of today off and you stay off that hip.”
Mabel groaned. “I got stuff I gotta run to here though, and to take to others.”
A nurse poked her head in. “Oh! You’re bringing things for us? What a saint, bless you!” She was a younger lady, bright, clean and well kept. “Why don’t I swing by tomorrow morning? The pharmacy has plenty of empty containers, and I can help you divide and label things.”
“That’s kind of you,” Tina said, “Nurse…?”
“Oh! My name is Karen.” She smiled. “I just started here not too long ago.”
“That is kind of ya,” Mabel said. “Why don’t you come on by around six or so in the morning, and we’ll get all my excess bottled up.”
“And I’ll bring it here and deliver anything I can to you once I drop this off.” She waved, smiling. “I’ll see you tomorrow then Shaman Mabel.”
The nurse disappeared from sight and Doctor Scott took a deep breath. “Alright, it’s about time we get you home.”
The fenced yard that contained Mabel’s little home was a mess. The chicken coop was a collection of thread, gore, and bones. Her lawn had turned into fabric, and it looked like velvet and maybe some kind of lamb skin. All of her plants were dead and already silk flowers and plants were starting to push their way through the curly skin.
“It was gonna be a good garden this year,” she said.
Tina put her hand on Mabel’s back. “You still got the house. Looks like that didn’t change one bit.”
“And you’ve got velvet too,” Crissy said. “And look at that rose bush—I think that turned into silk!”
“I appreciate you tryin to cheer me up,” Mabel said, patting Tina’s hand. “I suppose that it’s about time I got to layin down and restin. I’m… damn I’m tired.”
Tina opened the gate. “We’ll make sure nothin inside corrupted first.”
“Won’t happen. My daddy made sure that he put all sorts of protections in place. I’m hoping that it’ll be strong yet.”
Crissy eyed the front part of the house. “You suppose this engine still runs?”
“Last I checked it was dead,” Mabel replied. “I know how to drive it but I ain’t got the know-how to fix it. I’m gonna have t leave on my bike If I can’t get it fixed.”
“No way in hell you’re going to make it on that bike,” Tina said. “We’ll ask around to see if there’s any parts. Guard station might.”
“If there’ anythin I can trade for it, sure, but I ain’t got enough money,” Mabel said.
“You don’t worry about it,” Crissy said. “Can you get on inside on yer own?”
“I need help, I can’t walk on this yet.”
The two helped Mabel into the house and to her room. The house itself was mostly built to be a shaman’s clinic with a front area big enough for a few people, and over time it had become filled with salvage she’d pulled in. She was going to get this stuff to the side of the house so people could pick through it and she could have the space. Her bedroom was in the back, with her daddy’s room closed.
“Now you rest, we’ll be back in a couple of hours or so to check in on you. You don’t do anything heavy now, okay?”
“Crissy, you and Tina go rest, I’ll be alright,” Mabel said, finally getting settled on her bed. Chunk hopped up onto her chair.
The two left and Mabel finally felt like she could breathe.
“…I’m damn lucky.”
Chunk stretched in her chair. Mabel reached over to rub the dog’s head before layin down herself. Chunk joined her and Mabel just let herself slide into sleep.