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“That isn’t a request, Nix. Out here we don’t have Doc Gurijala and we don’t have antibiotics. Infection is as much our enemy as the zoms. So, you’ll clean that off now, and then I’ll take a closer look at it. You might even need stitches. If so, either I’ll do it or we’ll go back to town. Either way, all wounds will be tended to with the utmost care. End of discussion.”
Nix heaved a great sigh, made a big show of pulling out her first aid kit and canteen, and trudged away to sit on a fallen tree and do as she was told.
“I’ll help,” Benny said, and limped after her, but Tom snaked out a hand and caught his shoulder.
“Whoa, hold on, sport … you’re limping and there’s blood on your shoe. Where are you hurt?”
Benny swallowed, shooting a wary look at Lilah, whose attention had sharpened and was now focused on him. Her fingers tightened on the haft of her spear.
“Hey—don’t even think about it,” Benny said, pointing a finger at her. “One of the zoms tried to bite through my sneaker, but he—”
“Take your shoe off.” Lilah and Tom said it at the same time.
“I—”
“Now,” said Tom. His voice was heavy with quiet command. Benny looked at Nix, who had paused in the act of sponging blood from her face. Her eyes flashed with sudden concern.
“Crap,” Benny said acidly, and sat down on the grass to pull his shoe off. His sock was soaked with blood.
“Oh no,” breathed Chong. “This is all my fault.”
Benny made a face. “Oh, please. You didn’t bite me.”
“The rhino chased us because I startled it. Then I ran the wrong way and made everything worse.”
Tom started to say something but Lilah cut in. “Yes. You were stupid.”
“She’s got your number,” said Benny with a grin.
Chong gave him an evil stare. “You’re the one whose toe got bitten off by a zom.”
Benny muttered under his breath as he pulled his sock off. His big toenail was cracked and bleeding, and the toe was swollen, but there was no bite. Lilah snatched up his shoe to examine it, but Tom took it out of her hands and peered at the toe.
“It’s a pressure injury.” He blew out his cheeks and handed the shoe back to Benny. “That’s twice you dodged the bullet.”
“That’s a metaphor, right?”
Tom’s smile was less reassuring than it could have been.
“Right?” insisted Benny.
“Rinse your sock out,” said Tom as he turned away.
“Hey … right?”
FROM NIX’S JOURNAL
Some of the traders and bounty hunters claim that the zoms on the other side of the Rocky Mountains are faster than the zoms we have here. There’s a girl in my grade—Carmen—who says that her uncle, who is a trader, saw zombies running after people during First Night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A couple of other people from back east said the same thing, but most people don’t believe them.
I hope this is not true!!!
22
“WELL … GO AHEAD AND SAY IT,” NIX DEMANDED.
Tom squatted in front of her, gently touching the edges of the long gash on her face. His lips were pursed, and he made a small downbeat grunting noise. “You’re going to need stitches.”
“I know. Go ahead.”
