Chapter
9
snake bite
After breakfast, Lucy was still feeling a little weird herself.
“Have you ever had the feeling that something strange was about to happen?” she asked.
“No.” replied Lucas.
Lucas was ready for a day full of adventure, and hopefully a little more of that amazing water.
Lucy made sure to pack enough water this time.
“Where should we go today?” she asked.
“I want to go back to the tree!” he replied.
Lucy put on the backpack and followed Lucas out the door.
“Sounds good to me.”
This time on the trail, Lucas was able to walk much faster with his longer legs. Lucy was still much faster, but he was able to keep up much better than before.
“Can you slow down just a little!” he asked.
Lucy stopped for a second until Lucas was able to catch up.
About an hour later, the tree was in full view from the trail. The cold morning air was a little too cold for Lucas, so he was bundled up inside his jacket.
“Are we almost there?” he asked.
“I can see the tree, keep on going!” she replied.
“Good!”
As soon as Lucy was at the tree, she walked around to the other side and tried to find the large pit full of water.
“I don’t see the water anywhere!” she said.
“I think the roots need to move.” said Lucas.
“I can’t communicate with the tree, like dad did.” replied Lucy.
“I can’t touch it either.” he said.
Lucy came over and sat next to Lucas on a large rock.
“That stinks!” she mumbled, putting one of her arms around Lucas.
“There is always a reason.” he replied.
Just as Lucy put her other hand down to stand up, a sharp pain shot into the side of her hand.
“OUCH!” she screamed, in pain.
She quickly jumped to her feet.
“What is it?” asked Lucas.
“I think something bit me!” she replied, rubbing her hand.
Lucas slowly looked around the rock and found a dead snake.
“It was a snake!” he said.
Lucy looked at the bite marks on her hand, and saw two holes with streams of watery blood coming out.
“What do I do?” she asked. “Do I suck out the venom?”
“No! That will just help the venom spread faster.”
Lucy was confused.
“I thought you need to suck on the bite area, and spit out the venom!” she said.
“That is an old myth!” Lucas said. “The best thing you can do is remain calm and get back to the clinic in town, as soon as possible.”
“Is it a poisonous snake? she asked.
“I don’t know, but we need to show it to the nurse or doctor.” replied Lucas.
Lucy began to panic.
“You need to take deep breaths and relax!” ordered Lucas. “Panicking will only make the venom spread faster.”
“How do you know all of this?” asked Lucy.
“I have a survival handbook, and it was the only thing I can remember reading.” he explained.
Lucas quickly took a long stick and carefully poked the snake, making sure the snake was really dead. When it did not move, Lucas slowly pushed it inside the backpack, immediately zipping it closed.
“Hurry!” Lucy demanded. “It hurts really bad!”
