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Post by pvtdariusangelico on Apr 23, 2007 8:33:38 GMT -5
A small form crept through the shadows of the nighttime. he never came out during daylight hours. It was not safe to do so. During the day, he would have to hide away. He would have to hide in chicken coups or up in the hay lofts of barns. He had to sleep in in trees or deep within woods. He had been hiding so long, that his blond hair was now an ugly dingy brown color. He was sure he smelled something aweful as well. A ancient, crusty bandage fell before his left eye. Hehad been used to bind a slight head wound. It was just one of the many wounds he had yet to recover from.
His tattered and bloodied grey uniform blended in well with the dusk hours. And his steps made little sound as he limped slightly towards food. He had not eaten in a while. Daruis did not at all like stealing food from the mouth of slaves. He had not been fighting the war because her wanted to keep slavery. He had been doing it for the Glory of Virginia. But he was no longer in that place. He had run off after a particularly bloody battle, unable to stand there, as a walking, unarmed target. he was lucky as well. He had lost count of the number of drummers that had fallen before he had deserted.
Still, his stomach was aching becuase he had so little food. His cheeks were hallow and he was desertate once again. It was only this deseration that broguht him out of hiding, long enough to get into the vegitable patch to find soemthing, anything that was edible.
Crouching before the leafy green tops, his hands fastened about them and he pulled sharpoly. The first carrot left ground. it was followed by the next. The third though seemed not to want to come. Daruis continued to pull, getting louder as he did so.
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Post by Lady Sin Ra on Apr 23, 2007 15:03:48 GMT -5
Jordan walked through the fields during the night hours with his kerosene lamp in hand. He was checking to see if anyone had found solace in the fields rather than in the shelter he had restored for them. He thought he heard someone struggling with something and followed the sound. "Hello?" He held up his lamp and saw someone's back side as they tried to uproot a carrot. "Do not be afraid, son, I am unarmed and am a man of God. I do not believe in spilling blood of any creed." He stepped closer slowly and noticed that the boy was not a slave as he had thought but a Confederate soldier. Jordan gave help to anyone who needed it but bringing a Confederate soldier into his house full of slaves he had rescued might now be wise. He ignored the possible consequences as he pulled a slice of bread from his pocket. He unwrapped it from his handkerchef. He used this method with the slave boys he found hiding in the corn fields. With how starved this boy looked he bet it would work with him too.
"Come, child, you can come inside and eat till your full. Bathe and sleep in a proper bed. It seems as if has been long since you have had any of those." He kept the bread at arm's length so the other could grab it if he wished. He gestured towards the house. "I will not tell anyone you are here. You will be safe." He was assessing the other's injuries but with the low light of the lamp it was hard to really tell how bad of a state the boy was in. He frowned, he was looking at the face of a true child. He couldn't believe children like this were made to fight wars while men stayed back getting fat and raping young black girls.
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Post by pvtdariusangelico on Apr 23, 2007 15:20:02 GMT -5
Hude brown eyes went even wider when he heard the sound of footsteps. He was halfway finished with pulling out a carrot. It was halfway from the earth when the voice was heard. His eyes quickly accepted the change in light only to grow panicked. Daruis was indeed frightened. He had been hiding like this for a few months now. Stealing and digging through the treash to eat.
Fpor a moment, he looked like he was about to run off. he was abotu ready to. But his eyes caught upon the bread the other had just unwrapped. Hunger outweighted all else. Thsi man could turn him in easily. He was a traitor to the South by running away from the battle as he had. A deserter was as good as dead. He was only fourteen and he was already surely dead.
With an obvious limp, he launched hismelf at the man, snatching the bread quickly, eating it so fast that it made him sick to his stomach. He had been subsiding on very little and all of it dirty or half rotten. He said nothing, just ate quickly He then looked back up to the man, his dingy, greesy hair laying in muddy limps in front of his too thin face. He didnt' know if he coudl trust this person, but if it meant a bath and more food, and perhaps different clothing, he had to try. He was sick of wearing the blood soaked grey rags.
Standing, he seemed to look the man over for more food. He saw none and seemed like he was going to bolt into the night. But he had nto made a move to actually run yet. He was still deciding if he could trust this man.
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Post by Lady Sin Ra on Apr 23, 2007 15:38:12 GMT -5
Jordan left his empty hand out to the other. He looked him over now that the boy stood. He noted the limp right off and frowned. It could mean a number of things, a stray bullet catching his leg or something else. He didn't really want to think of the something else despite it being such common occurence. He pointed to the house once more. It was such an inviting place with candles light on a wide porch and the flickering flames of a fireplace reflecting through the window.
"As I have vowed to the Lord I will not harm you in the least. I am on this Earth to help those in need like yourself. Come child do not be afraid. God would strike me down if I went against the oath I have made to Him." He put his hand out once more. Open palm facing up and waiting to take the other's hand if it should actually be given to him. He remained in a slightly crouched position thinking if he was at his full height it might unnerve the other more.
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Post by pvtdariusangelico on Apr 23, 2007 15:53:09 GMT -5
Daruis followed the pointing hand. He saw the welcoming porch and the candles. He looked to the man. He sounded like a priest. He had heard of scantuary once. Of people who ran to scantuary. They could not be touched when protected by the church. So, with a hsaking hand, he reached out to grab onto Jordan's hand. Darius' hand was rough from drumming and very skeletal from lack of food.
His was only there for a moment. "Thank....you." He whispered before he limped towardsthe house. He was goign to do it on his own. Not caring that the bright candle light would show more of his ruined uniform and his old and crusty bandages.
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Post by Lady Sin Ra on Apr 23, 2007 16:11:30 GMT -5
Jordan smiled, he was about to hold the hand but the boy started walking on his own. It had felt so thin that hand. it was like having a skeleton lay his hand down upon his own only there was flesh still on the hand. He walked sowloy after the other staying close enough that if the other fell he could easily catch him. He was worried about the boy. As they moved up the steps he looked Darius over. The candle light reached now to let him see how ragged of a state the other was in.
When he opened the front door the smell of food filled the air. The maids were heating up supper for the late coming in field workers. Jordan told them they didn't need to work so hard but they were so grateful to him that they did it of their own choice. Besides it meant they got more food on the table from the fields. He held the door open for Darius wanting to let him pass first, "May set up another plate and some juice. We have another child in much need of food." An old black woman came to the door after he spoke. Apparently this one was May. she looked at Darius and tutted. She noted the uniform but paid it no mind.
"Come now boy hurry up before them folks start devouring the goods." She put her arm around Darius' waist to help him into the kitchen.
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Post by pvtdariusangelico on Apr 23, 2007 16:32:35 GMT -5
It was actually rather hard for Darius to make it up the stairs to the porch. he had climbed trees until his limp had gotten in the way. Now, it hurt him to even climb anythign at all. Still, to hide, he had to climb. So he could ingore that pain. He could not however ingore the pain in his stomach at the smell of food.
However, he did not initially go into the house. He stood at the door, as if unsure. He seemed almost afraid to enter. He did so slowly. Peeking his head in and then followng with the rest of his small body until he was fully inside. However at the precence of the old black woman, Daruis tried to bolt. He did not get very far as her arm had kept him from running and hiding again.
His eyes dartee around and sounds of fear came from his voice. His leg was hurt becuase he had geen caught by a few slaves at another plantation. they ahd seen his uniform and seen the way he had stolen their food and he had been really hurt my them. He was sure that his leg had been broken amoung other things. He had passed out for part of what had happened to him.
The panicked whimpsering did not stop as he was dragged away. It was even louder whenhe could no longer see the man who had given him the bread. Even when food was offered, he could only grab a handful and run as soon as he was let go.
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Post by Lady Sin Ra on Apr 23, 2007 16:59:54 GMT -5
Jordan noticed the sounds and caught the other before he could get too far. He swept Darius up into his arms. "Calm down, old May won't hurt you but if you're so frightened we can sit in my study while you eat." He carried him to the study before the boy could argue and sat him down in his cushioned chair. May brought a tray of food and left not wanting to upset Darius further. Jordan kneeled down in front of Darius.
"Let me check upon your leg." He gently touched the other's leg. It seemed to him like it had possibly been broken and not healed right. He moved his hands away though. "Eat first then we'll deal with this." He brought a bowl of water forward and took out a wash cloth cleaning the other's face and hands. He dried his skin off. "So you don't put soiled food in your mouth. It would likely hurt your stomach if you ate dirtied food."
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Post by pvtdariusangelico on Apr 23, 2007 17:13:11 GMT -5
The boy calmed when the man who had taken him from the carrot patch took him away from the old lady. He sat in the chair he was put in. His body seemed so small. The chair almost swallowed him up whole. When the other cleaned his face off, it took a great deal of time. There was a lot of mud and drit on his face. And cleaning it revealed soft pale skin and what looked like a lingering old scab from his head wound.
The other touched his leg andf Daruis flinched. It hirt. It would have to be rebroken and set properly if it was ever gonig to heal properly. There was also evidence of a muscket ball that had lodged itself into his leg. It toohad healed over well. He was lucky he hadn't gotten an infection and lost his leg yet.
He looked away though at the other's words. He remembered the dirty carrots he had been about to eat. and the rotten food he had eaten. The half raw meat he had taken and all the things he had put into his body. He could not tyell this man of the kind of food he hat. Liek the bread that had been infested with weevels. he had eated bread and bugs without even a complaint. And that had been while he had been in the army. When the supplies had started to run low.
Still, as soon as he was clean, he was iupon the food liek a ravanous animal. It was too nice and he ate far too fast and moment after it was down his throat, it was coming back up. Leaving the poor boy ion his hands and knees, throwing up not onyl the food this man had given him, but the carrots he had eaten as well as the remnants of whatever rotten things he had taken from the trash.
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Post by Lady Sin Ra on Apr 23, 2007 17:40:50 GMT -5
Jordan quickly moved a pale under the other's mouth. He rubbed his back soothingly as the other emptied the contents of his belly. "There there, let it all out. May will make you some soup to help settle your stomach. It was too much too fast. Its my own fault." He rubbed the other's back waiting for the heaving to pass.
"May!" the woman came when she was called, "Please be so kind to make the child some soup and find some of those crackers I usually put in my stew. Don't worry about washing the plates I'll handle it myself." The woman nodded and left the room. Jordan looked at Darius, "We'll start you slow on the food. It'll be soup for a bit then we'll get you onto the better things. You'll be healthy again soon, child. I'll call for the doctor tomorrow morning."
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Post by pvtdariusangelico on Apr 24, 2007 10:05:02 GMT -5
Heaving until there was nothing, Daruis started to shake. He continued to try to rid hsi body of everything, he nothing more would come out. He finally stopped with the other's soft touch, soothing over his back. He was lightly wiping at hsi mouth with a shaking hand when the cook came in. He froze once more and just remained on all founrs, trying to blend into the background as the man talked to the older lady.
WHen the lady left, he turned his eyes towards the man again and started to hsake his head desperately. He was telling the man "no". He didn't want to see a doctor. he knew that if a doctor saw him the doctor would know that he was a run awya soldier. He didn't even think that this man might give him new clothing. Besides, not many people ended up with musket shot in their legs, or powder burns on one shoulder. He diodn't think he coudl talk right now, as he was sure of he opened his mouth, he would throw up again.
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Post by Lady Sin Ra on Apr 24, 2007 15:16:59 GMT -5
Jordan frowned, he understood what the other was not saying. He knew Derrick was a trustworthy man but Darius wouldn't think so. He nodded his head and helped the other back into the seat. He moved out of the room to the water closet to cleanse out the bowl. He added clean water and got a few wash clothes. He left the room to get a second bowl with water. "Please remove your pants. Don't be afraid. I'm going to clean your leg and set it right myself. I worked with the doctor before so I know enough to set broken limbs back in place, treat bullet wounds and prevent infections." He had also participated in helping a woman give birth when the other woman that had been appointed to the task fainted from the heat. He hadn't been thanked for that, he'd been called a pervert.
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Post by pvtdariusangelico on Apr 24, 2007 15:30:37 GMT -5
Daruis curled into the seat, feeling miserable. When the other left, he kept glancing to the door, looking like he was about to run away at any moment. When the other came back, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid when the man was gone. He was afraid now that he was in this house. He hadn't felt so afraid when he had been living outside. He looked towards Jordan with his huge brown eyes and nodded.
With shaking hands, he undid his ruined grey pants. When he took them all the way off, his leg was obviously ugly. It was bruised black and twisted in a funny way. It was obviously painful. There was also a hole in it that had scabbed over in the shape of a musket ball. The blood had dried in a line down below it. There was dried blood eyewhere. Upon his upper thight. There was bruising there as well. Whatever had happened to him it had been recent.
He didn't even seem to notice that. Intead, he kept his eyes on the man and whisepred softly. "It's going to hurt...itsn't it?"
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Post by Lady Sin Ra on Apr 24, 2007 15:47:55 GMT -5
Jordan looked at the leg, his eyes going wide. He left for only a second to get a knife. He cleaned it with soap and looked at the scab. He looked up at the other and nodded his head. He stood to get another cloth folding it three times and held it to the other. "You can bite down on this." After giving it to him he started to gently clean the other's leg. Getting the musket ball out with the limb dirty would only lead to an infection. Once the limb was clean he cut into the skin with the knife and gently fished out the musket ball. He dropped it into one of the bowls and looked at it frowning. He bandaged the leg after cleaning most of the blood.
His soft blue eyes locked on Darius' brown ones as he gently gripped the leg. He took a deep breath and turned the limb breaking it to set it back to the right direction. He set the other's legs to leave it straight and well aligned. "There its all done child. I'll clean the rest of you up and we'll take you to bed."
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Post by pvtdariusangelico on Apr 24, 2007 16:03:47 GMT -5
Daruis seemed not to realize how bad it was. He could very easily have lost his leg. If it wasn't taken care of, he still might. In all actuality, fixing might makehim lose it as well. it all depended on his luck and the care he received after it was fixed. Still, he was glad this man wasn't going to lie to him. He took the cloth and when the knife entered hsi leg, his sceams could be heard all through the house. The loud, tortured cry of a child suffering and in pain. He was still screaming when the bullet was finally removed and his leg bandaged.
He closed his eyes tight when the other took hold of his leg. There was a loud cracking sound and the boy stiffened and then just collapsed from the pain. He had passed out cold from the pain the other had caused him. His small body cradled in the chair, lookgin more like a broken toy soldier than a real child.
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