14 SNAKE BITE

Edmund sat on his bed that morning. He returned from taking his bath and had spent the last hour trying to find a connection with the dream he had earlier. He was so lost in his thought that he didn't realize that Drax had walked into his room.

"Edmund!" He yelled waving his finger in front of him.

Edmund woke up from his slumber to the voice of his yelling friend.

"Oh, I'm sorry. When did you walk in?"

"Not long ago, U seemed lost. What happened?" He asked, creasing his brows.

"Not really. I was just thinking about something."

"It isn't important though. So no need to worry yourself about it."

Edmund wasn't psychologically prepared to tell Drax about what had been bothering him. He wasn't even ready to tell anyone about it. He only told Ayan because he had wanted to share it with someone.

"So are you here to stare at me?"He looked at Drax and released a brief smile.

"Oh...I had come to ask if you would want to accompany me to the farm."

"Me? No problem though but what of Skurt and Ayan. Didn't you ask them?" He was a little surprised. He had thought of Skurt and Drax being best friends and had hardly even spoken to him since he woke.

"Well, Skurt went out and Ayan... err.." I just wanted to spend some time with you or were u also busy?"

"Not really. I can come along." It was like a miracle to him. Just when he needed some break from all that had happened early this morning. Someone showed up with this.

"Thanks, Edmund."

"No need to mention that. I mean, what are friends for." He got up and they both left the room.

* * *

"I think we should stop for today." A dark-haired man said. There were beads of sweat on his forehead and he had a hoe in one hand. His partner was holding a cutlass and seemed just as tired as he was.

Edmund and Drax had been farming for the past three hours. They had also used this opportunity to talk about a lot of things. Edmund was about to tell him about his nightmare when Drax cut in.

"Yh, I agree. I'm really tired."

"Let's go grab something to eat." Edmund dropped the cutlass in his hand and brought out a bottle containing some water. He emptied the content on his palm removing every trace of sand.

He took out some maize he had harvested and gave them to Drax.

"I think we should cook this."

"To eat?"

"No... To drink." The two busted into uncontrollable laughter.

Drax picked out some stones and arranged them around some pieces of wood which he had made into a fire. He placed the corn and it began to cook.

A few minutes later their food was prepared.

"Hey, Edmund come let's eat!"

Edmund rushed swiftly as he was quite famished. He had used the little he had eaten to fuel the energy he used in harvesting.

"Wow, this is good." Edmund had eaten his fifth and still didn't seem satisfied. He stretched his hands and was about to take one more when he noticed something moving on Drax's leg. It was a SNAKE.

"Snake!!" He began to yell at Drax who didn't seem to get him.

"There is a snake on your right leg!" Drax looked at his leg and on seeing the green creature he freaked out. He stood up but it was too late he had been bitten.

Drax began to run like a man being chased by a group of soldiers.

"It's okay. It's gone. You can relax now." He put his hands on his shoulders trying to calm him down. He peeped lower and noticed two tiny holes in his leg.

"Is that…."

"What, what happened?" Drax looked at Edmund who seemed to be in shock. He looked in the direction of his friend's gaze and began shivering at the sight he caught.

"No… Oh no... My leg. No" He broke down in tears.

"Calm down Drax." He knew the end result but had to put his friend in order. Being bitten meant one thing. AMPUTATION