39) Chow Time

They drove two of the big jeeps in to give us a ride out to where the army guys had set up their tents, now with a couple of propane barbecue sets already fired up.

Some guys in aprons were already slicing up lettuce, tomatoes, and other healthy foods to either toss into a big salad bowl or layout for the burgers getting fried up on the grills.

First, we all got unloaded from the jeeps and checked on by the same Doc from the medical tent who had treated me before, along with the two gals who had alternated keeping an eye on me.

Johanson meanwhile, led the two pups over to their mom and talked quietly to her until she laid down and let him check on the mostly healed cuts on her belly.

The Doc seemed intent on checking me everywhere my clothes had blood stains on them, “Easy Doc, what ain’t healed all the way now, I can fix up once I got something in my belly.”

He gave me a narrow eyed look. “Mr. Bright, you have dried blood running out of your ears and all the way down to your collar. You may not be the best judge of your own state of health right now.”

I thrust a finger in my ear and felt something gritty, pulling it free I saw little red graduals and a wet red smear. “Huh?” Maybe I don’t want another bomb.

Abruptly I found myself sitting on a gurney as he and one of the army gals finished fussing over me, while the other one was just talking to Foraker instead of poking and prodding her.

I guess they trusted her on her word that she was all right since she had been a nurse if I remember right. At the very least they trusted her well enough they weren't pulling bandages off of anyone she had fixed up.

Instead, they're letting them sit down and eat.

I began fighting my way to my feet. “If I ain’t bleeding anywhere, let me at the food, you can check me over more after I don’t feel like I’m hollowed on the inside.”

He let me up, and I got a burger. Rare.

In a real bun, not an overpriced reduced carbohydrate bun, not multi grain or whole wheat. A real bleached white flour hamburger bun with a slab of ground beef bigger around than the bread even after getting most of the fat fried out of it.

This with a slice of individually sliced American cheese slapped on the meat while it was still on the grill until it was melted over the edges of the burger.

I didn’t even bother with anything else, not even condiments, I just bit into it as the almost painfully hot grease ran down my chin.

Two bites filled my mouth and I tore off a corner as I turned and held my hand out flat to my side where Wylina snapped it off my hand.

I gave her two more chunks before my mouth was clear enough to take another bite, and the Coyote mom got the last bit.

Johanson set a plate with two patties cut up on it for her, while one of the nurses set another plate in front of me with another burger and a can of coke that she popped open for me as I began hastily scraping mayo on the cheese side, then veggies on top of that before flipping the meat over so I could squeeze out some ketchup and mustard on the other side.

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It took a third burger for me, along with a large slice of apple pie, and another two cans of pop before I looked up again.

All around me were smiling army people, chatting, eating, and drinking. Looking happy as they all stood around me and left me the hell alone.

Exactly the sort of social interaction I could deal with.

The only one left at the table with me was Foraker who was giving me a steady, but friendly look.

“The others are getting fresh dressing on their wounds, they should be mostly healed up by the time we get back to Elysium and they can take showers. I’ll check on them after I get cleaned up myself and take a nap.”

She nodded and reached out to tap me on my hand. “Thanks for getting Brad. I got him walking, but his arm was almost shattered, and he was in pain.”

I slid my hand away. “He keeps giving me food. And even made something for Wilyna. I’m just trying to balance things out.”

She smiled again and adjusted her legs to position herself to wearily get herself to her feet. “It’s still appreciated, Mr. Bright."

Then one of the nurses appeared with a wheelchair and carted her off.

I managed to slip three fully loaded up burgers and half of a pie into my magic storage before the nurse caught up with me. I didn't get any fresh bandages, but they did check me out and took some blood.

Medical people always take some blood.

Normally I would have put up more of a fight over that, but I was tired, and at this point in my life I’m so used to having doctors shove a needle into me I don’t even think about it anymore.

Instead, I wandered out of the army mess tent and started to head over to where Johanson was waiting to drive me home, and got a look from Beryl waiting over by the Elysiam bus.

She gave me a nod, which I expect means that she knows I'm planning to visit tomorrow and that she and hers will be expecting me.

Johanson’s buddy opened the back door for me and gave Wylina a look as she jumped in before turning to me as I tried to hand him Chubby to load up. “Did she get bigger?”

I shrug. “What’s your name anyways?”

He gave me a narrow eyed look. “I’ve told you that at least four times. Johnson. Frank Johnson.”

I pick up Blue under her arms to help her scramble into the jeep. “Yeah, but I’m going to actually try to remember it this time.”

Ignoring whatever he began muttering about, I got into the back of the jeep and he slammed the door shut on me before giving one last flare through the window.

It felt like it was only a moment later that I woke up to see the top of a head covered in green hair repetitively appear and vanish outside of the window as Acey jumped up and down outside of the jeep.

I guess I had nodded off on the way home.

Johanson turned around from the front seat to look at me. “Did you level up Sir?”

I shook my head. “Passed out in the tub the last time I did that, this was just a nap. Once I get cleaned up…” My stomach growled a bit. “And get something else to eat, then I’ll lie down and do that.”

Opening the door on the other side of the apple tree, I managed to unload two pups before enduring a hug from the green girl before I could even get out of the jeep. After patting her on the head, I got walked over to my house by the two soldiers, endured a last look from Johanson checking on me, and closed the door behind them.

“Food first.”

One vegetable and condiment free burger for the mom coyote, chopped up into smaller pieces so she didn't swallow it down in one chomp and choke on it. One more bun, cheese, and meat burger cut in half, then into smaller chunks for the two pups.

Then one with all the trimming for me… or at least half of one after getting a mournful look from the apple tree’s prosthetic spirit girl which I was pretty sure didn’t need a burger.

She even picked off all the vegetables and just ate the meat, cheese, and bun like the coyotes. "The bread is from a plant too, why eat that and not the other stuff." She just gave me a happy smile as she chewed.

I didn’t share the pie, just munched down half of what was in the pan before putting the rest in the fridge. Then I poured out some dried stuff in the bowls on the floor in case the beasts were still hungry.

Lastly, I drank two glasses of water after filling the beast’s water bowls.

After that, I picked out some clean clothes and took a shower. After pushing an overcurious green girl out of my bathroom, and settled into bed.

The coyotes gave me some space, but Acey stood there by the side of the bed giving me a slight smile as she stared at me.

I fumbled three rocks out of storage into my hand, then two more. Five is the system's magic number. "Wash these first." Then handed them to her.

She practically shook in excitement as she looked at the stones in her hand. Gave me a wide smile and leaned in to give me a damp little girl kiss on the cheek before running off to the bathroom…

Where I heard the toilet lid go up.

“In the sink!”

Children. They'll be the death of me.

...I should ask Beryl about that. She might know.

“Alright Brackets. Show me my stats.”