“I’m sorry, girl, I don’t know if I can get up this time,” I told her with tears freezing on my cheeks.She nudged me, pushing me with her big head, and it hurt like hell but I knew she was trying to force me up again.“You won’t let me sit this one out, huh?”
And maybe I would’ve if it were only me.Probably.The ice cold of the snow surrounding me felt like such a relief from the burning agony inside my body.
But I really didn’t know if Vince or Ripley would survive without me.I at least had to get them to Xwechtáal, where someone could care for them.Or at least make sure they didn’t kill each other.
“Okay, Ripley,” I said, taking as deep a breath as my broken ribs would allow.“I’ll get up, but I’m gonna need your help.”
With my right hand, I reached up and grabbed hold of her thick leather collar.She seemed to understand, and she slowly stepped backward, pulling me up into the sitting position as she did.
And then she kept going.I leaned on her strength, gritting my teeth, until I was on my feet again, gasping for breath and clinging to Ripley.
It wasn’t easy, and I cursed multiple times when the pain was especially intense.But I couldn’t lay down here at the bottom of the mountain and die.The only way out was through the pain, so I would go through it.
47
Remy
As the days stretched on, I relied on Ripley and Vince far more than they relied on me.The only tasks I managed on my own were tending to the fire, boiling water, and doling out portions of food.Even when I went to the bathroom, I crouched down and clung onto Vince’s reins with my good arm, because it was hard to stand up on my own.
Vince had even learned to bow slightly, kneeling one front leg while outstretching the other, so I could more easily climb onto him.I’d made a sling for my left arm, but I was in constant pain regardless of what was happening.
I didn’t even really notice my condition was worsening until one morning, I could hardly stand.Twice I managed to get to my feet – still with the help of Ripley – and then all at once, my legs gave out, and I was on the ground again with a few minutes of time lost.
I realized that I might actually die.Not in the abstract far-off future time, but imminently.Presently.
In the history of my life, this wasn’t the first time I’d thought that.In fact, off the top of my head, I could name six times in the past I was absolutely certain I was moments from death.
But this time felt different.Maybe it was because I was alone.Maybe it was the oppressiveness of the cold.Or maybe it was the pointlessness of it all.If I died out here, half-way to sacrificing my body for a cure… all I could think was:What a waste.
I closed my eyes, and then I felt a tug on my jacket, and I started sliding on the snow.I opened my eyes again to see that Vince had grabbed hold of me, his mouth biting the hood of my jacket, and he was dragging me along the trail.
“Vince, no, this won’t work.”I waved my good arm, more flailing than swatting at him the way I intended.“Vince!Stop!You can’t drag me up the hill.”
He released me then, and he made another annoyed snort and stomped his feet in the snow.
“I’m sorry,” I told him.“I can’t move anymore.You gotta go on without me if you want to live.”
He stared down at me, his ears flicking this way and that, and he considered me for a long while.Then, without warning, he started galloping uphill, continuing the trail to Xwechtáal.
In fact, he left so quickly, he kicked up snow behind him, and startled Ripley.
“You should go with him,” I told her, as she watched his retreating figure and flicked her tail back and forth.
She didn’t leave, though.She laid down beside me, on my good side, and I didn’t have the strength to send her away.
I wondered how long it would take to die.Would I freeze to death first?Or would it be dehydration?Starvation?An infection likely ravaging my insides?Something else I hadn’t considered?
At least it wouldn’t be a zombie.I found some comfort in that, as I closed my eyes and let myself drift off to a deep dark dreamless sleep in the snow.
Sometime later, I awoke to the sound of a man shouting, “Is that a fucking lion eating someone?”
“No!”I shouted emphatically from my groggy stupor, and my ribs cried out at the exertion.“She’s my friend.She’s my pet.Don’t hurt her.”
“Is she friendly?”he asked.
“Sure, if you don’t try to hurt me or her,” I replied simply.
I tilted my head back, trying to see who was approaching me, since it took so much effort to sit up.From that vantage, I could see Vince the mule walking toward us with a man following behind him.
