Page 65 of Leveling

Chapter 44

Beckett was raisedto the deck of the ship in a stretcher sling, and Dr. Mags set to work. A blanket covered him. His feet were raised. People bustled around.

He looked down to see puddles of blood on his t-shirt and staining his shorts and he felt a little like swooning, which would completely take away from his amazingly heroic deed, but what did he care, dizzy heads would prevail.

He groaned as Dr. Mags pressed gauze to his palms. He couldn’t tell which one hurt worse, or wait he could, the left, the rope burn. Deep and ouchy.

“Beckett, we’re going to move you to the shade. I need to stitch you up.”

Hands pushed him to his side and rolled him back and he was lifted in a blanket. He looked up at Dan, John from the Bridge, Rebecca, and Jeffrey, struggling to carry him. He kind of felt like an ass.

He said limply, “I can walk.” As they lowered him into a cooler place.

To warm him, a second blanket was placed on top. Dr. Mags spoke in calm, soothing tones and someone poured water on his hands, both, on two different sides, at once. Rebecca by his head said, “Look at me.”

A needle pricked his wrist. Dr. Mags said, “Okay, stay still. You’ll feel this.”

Rebecca’s face grew pale and she gulped. “Thank you. I mean I understand you didn’t do it for me, but I thought we were going to lose her, I really did.”

The engines of the ship roared to life. Beckett asked, “Where are we going?”

“Chasing the fishing boat away from the sanctuary. Then we’ll return to our normal routine. Why does anyone use those nets anymore, anyway? We could fish enough for everyone without dragging along the ocean.”

Beckett nodded. He couldn’t feel his right hand anymore which was a relief, but the left one hurt like hell.

Dan’s face hovered above him. “You holding up okay?”

A needle pricked in his left hand. Beckett clenched his teeth and grunted out, “Fine.”

Dan said, “Yeah, you look fine.”

Dr. Mags was working on his right hand again, he felt pressure, and her brows were furrowed in concentration.

“You stitching me up?”

“Looks like you’ll need fifteen.”

Sarah’s voice said, “Those things are so dangerous.”

Beckett said, “Someone should design them better. They’re ridiculous. Or better yet, use a knife, anyone thought of a knife?”

Dan said, “That’s what we needed, you jumping into the ocean with a knife clenched between your teeth.”

Beckett said weakly, “Seems safer.” He groaned again.

Rebecca had her arms wrapped tightly around his bicep and shoulder. Holding him still.

Beckett said, “There were three.”

“Three?”

“Three whales. The one we saved swam away with two more.”

Rebecca said, “Really? Oh, oh, really? Seriously?”

Beckett nodded his head. “Two big and one small.”

Rebecca said, “A baby! That’s so rare, a baby! Maybe they’re coming back, maybe it’s not all lost. Oh that’s auspicious, Beckett. Good luck I think. A whale baby, I haven’t seen one of those in...”

Beckett closed his eyes against all the pain.

---