Forager (9781771275606) Read Online Free PDF

victory.
Instead, I held my emotions in check, except to give Josh a big
smile.
    “ Yeah, Orphan Boy, looks like you live, at least for now. I
guess we’ll get to see you dance on the square after
all.”
    The weight in my stomach came crushing back in.
    “ We haven’t got time for that right now,” Sawyer said. “I’m
sure there’s wounded that need looking after. Come on, let’s help
where we can.”
    Retrieving the misfired arrow, I put it back in the quiver,
and broke down the bow. Handing the bow back to the Forager, I
noticed he reached for it with his left hand. His right was pressed
firmly on his leg, just above his knee. Blood leaked out from under
his palm.
    “ You’re hit!” I yelled.
    “ Yeah, but it’s not bad. I’m sure there are others in lots
worse shape than me.”
    He was right. Sawyer followed me as I headed back toward the
house. People dragged bodies, some injured, some dead. The injured
townsfolk were being tended to by Dr. White. He’d taken over when
Mom died. The Scavengers that lay moaning and sobbing were dragged
toward the road. A few of them hobbled away, but the dead and the
badly injured would have to wait to be retrieved by the survivors
until after the sun set.
    “ Do you normally treat the wounded Scavengers like that?”
Sawyer asked from atop his horse.
    Before I could answer, Josh stepped up and said, “They’re
Scavengers. What else should we do with them?”
    Sawyer closed his eyes and shook his head in disgust. When he
opened them again, he said, “They’re still people. Their blood is
the same color as yours.”
    “ They’re thieves, thugs, and murderers!” Josh shouted. “They
get exactly what they deserve!” Then he stomped away.
    Sawyer muttered under his breath “And they call the Scavengers
savages.” To me he said, “Does everyone treat the Scavengers so
shoddily?”
    “ They’re the ones that attack us,” I said with a
shrug.
    “ Yes, but I’ve seen animals treated better. Not that I’m
surprised. It’s pretty much the same everywhere. I hate it. Both
sides need to find some common ground. Those people…they’re just
trying to survive.”
    It seemed strange to me that Sawyer could put bullet after
bullet into that band of Scavengers one minute, and defend them the
next, but I shrugged it off. He obviously knew more about them than
I did.
    I walked up to Dr. White. He was covered in blood. “The
Forager’s injured. Can you help him?”
    Dr. White looked up at Sawyer. “Is it
life-threatening?”
    “ No.” Sawyer said.
    “ Then it’ll have to wait. There are people here who might not
make it. I’ve got to attend to them first.”
    I understood, though making him wait irritated me. If it
hadn’t been for the Forager, our whole town might have fallen
victim to the attack.
    “ You could help the Forager, Dillon,” Dr. White said. “Your mom
knew all about injuries. Surely she passed some of it on to
you.”
    Me, a healer? I was about to argue with the doctor when the
mayor tapped me on the shoulder. His light tap made my heart skip a
beat every time.
    “ Glad to see you came through unscathed,” he said. “Good,
because once the wounded are tended, I want you punished. I’ve
spoken to Josh and Jason and both of them confirm that you admitted
shooting the deer. Eric was going to administer your punishment,
but unfortunately he was injured in the fighting.” The mayor
pointed to another Bull. This one looked the part. He was big and
beefy with a smile cold enough to freeze the sun. “This is Kurt.
He’ll be our Head Enforcer until Eric recovers. You get to be his
first enforcement.” Despite the mayor’s wording, all I heard was
“first victim.”
    “ Excuse me, mayor,” Sawyer said. “Dillon here was just about to
treat my injury. I would appreciate it greatly if you could hold
off your punishment long enough for him to fix my leg.”
    “ I should let you suffer, but fine, take him home, Dillon, and
patch him up as best