“A scorpion.”
Well, that wasn’t good. “Where is it now?”
The kid pointed to some nearby rocks. “I think it went over there.”
“All right, just sit down,” he instructed. “You’ll be fine.”
Once again, Deadshot hoped that he wasn’t lying to the kid. He quickly picked up his pickax and walked over to the rocks. Using the pickax, he moved the rocks aside to see if he could get a look at the scorpion. It wasn’t a big one, but the little bastard was there. Seeing the light brown, yellowish color, Deadshot immediately knew that it was one of the most poisonous scorpions in the desert. This thing wasn’t necessarily fatal, but it could be. Deadshot knew this because he did a lot of studying in his time. Never formal studying, but in his own way. He also happened to have first-hand experience when it came to this particular type of scorpion.
The first time he had made his way through the desert, he had, in fact, been stung by one of them. It was a horrible experience, but he made it out alive. Usually, Deadshot wouldn’t go out of his way to harm any creatures unnecessarily, but he didn’t want to get stung again, and he definitely didn’t want the scorpion anywhere near the kid. He squashed it with a rock and made his way back to the kid.
Chapter 36
“I’m going to die,” the kid cried.
“No, you’re not.” Deadshot sat down next to the kid and took his hand in his. The spot where he had been stung was red and already swelling. It had been a long time ago, but Deadshot could remember how much the sting hurt.
“Scorpions are poisonous,” the kid argued.
“Not all of them,” Deadshot pointed out.
The kid focused on his swelling hand. “Is the one that bit me?”
Deadshot really didn’t want to lie to the kid, but considering the circumstances, he thought it was best. That particular scorpion was, in fact, very poisonous, and its sting could actually be fatal. Deadshot did not tell the kid that. “A little,” Deadshot replied. “I’ve been stung by one like that before. You’ll be fine.”
“You sure?”
Deadshot nodded. “Yeah, of course.”
Deadshot had lied to many people before in his life, and he never thought much about it, but it felt wrong lying to the kid. “You’re probably gonna feel a little sick, though.”
The kid groaned. “How sick?”
“Honestly, it’s not going to be pretty. It’s going to hurt pretty badly. You’ll probably get a headache and feel nauseous and lightheaded.”
“I don’t like being sick.”
“Nobody does,” Deadshot replied, eyeing their surroundings. “We’re not going to be able to travel while you recover, and we still need water.” Deadshot stood up, the adrenaline of the situation giving him newfound energy. “We’ll stay here for the night. I’ll set up camp and get water. You just stay right where you are. I won’t go far.”
“Don’t go,” the kid complained. “It hurts.”
“I know, but you’re going to need water. Just breathe and try to calm down. I’ve been through this. I know what to do.”
The kid didn’t agree, but he also didn’t argue, so Deadshot got to work. Leaving the kid in the sun was a bad idea, so he hurried to the horses and retrieved their bedrolls. He set them in the shade, about forty feet from where the kid was, and then rushed back.
“All right, kid,” he said, bending down. “Let’s get you out of the sun.”
The kid wrapped his good arm around Deadshot’s neck, but instead of helping him to walk, Deadshot scooped him up and carried him to their campsite.
“Lie down,” he instructed, and to his relief, the kid did as he was told.
Deadshot checked the kid’s hand. The swelling was getting worse. “You need to keep your hand elevated,” he told him. “Always higher than your heart. Here.” He grabbed his bag and placed it next to the kid. “Rest your hand on it.”
They desperately needed water, so Deadshot ignored the pain in his knees and his back and headed back to the riverbank. Picking up the pickax where the kid had left it, he started digging again. It took a while, but finally, a drop of water appeared, then another, and then another. Water was flowing out onto the riverbed, and Deadshot rushed to get their canteens. He filled all of them and then filled their two pots and cups as well.
Once that was done, he returned to the kid.
“I don’t feel well,” the kid complained.
