For Now #2
He’d be happy, for now.
July 30th, 1930
Watt was composed of contradictions.
He was happy, and not just on a surface level, but all the way down to his bones. His best friend was hurt.
He was awake for the first time in what felt like years. He was lost in the heart of the world.
He wanted to keep going. He wanted to go back.
He wanted. God, did he want.
But it was clear by the look in Cornelius’ eyes and the rigid way he held himself that last night had not been as enlightening for him as it had been for Watt. Or maybe it had been, but instead of discovering happiness in their kiss, Cornelius had discovered that he didn’t want Watt. Not like that.
He stared at Cornelius’ back as the man led the way, slowly making a path through the vegetation as it thickened impossibly further.
He cut through choking plants and vines, his cane strapped to his pack.
Watt held Maggie close to his chest, readjusting her in his arms every now and then.
He cradled her lower body, careful of her bad leg, and she rested her head and front legs on his shoulder.
She didn’t care for it, and Cornelius thought it might be alright if she walked for a little while, but for now Watt carried her.
Less opportunities for the bandage, and therefore her leg, to get infected.
The ferns were enormous through here, and so were the trees. They were only five minutes from the place they’d camped last night, and yet it felt like a world away. Cornelius paused, then glanced over his shoulder and said, “Do you hear it?”
Watt paused. Maggie’s ear twitched. He said, “Water.”
Cornelius nodded. A hesitant expression crossed his face, and he crossed the short distance back to Watt. He stroked Maggie’s fur and studied her eyes. He looked back up to Watt, his face carefully blank. “What do you want to do, Watt Johnson?”
‘Kiss you,’ Watt thought. ‘I want to kiss you again.’
“I’m following you, aventurier.”
Cornelius’ cheeks flushed, and he tried not to smile.
With as much sternness as he could muster, Cornelius said, “I’m serious, Watt.
Are you sure this is what you want to do?
I don’t—I can’t have you regretting this, or resenting me for it.
” Watt felt like he’d been doused in ice water, and his fingers tightened in Maggie’s fur.
Something must have shown on his face, because Cornelius added in quick staccato bursts, “I’m talking about going forward.
With the search. We can go back to the camp. If you want.”
Watt said, “We’re long past the point of going back, Cornelius.”
He hoped that Cornelius heard the words for what they were. A promise.
Cornelius ducked his head a little and pushed up his glasses. “Okay.” He looked up at Watt, unable to fight his grin any longer. “Okay. Let’s go before your arms fall off.”
Watt said, “Lead the way.”
Unsurprisingly, the water was not as close as it seemed.
The ferns and trees grew exponentially as they’d traveled, and Watt wished that he’d listened to Rowland’s lectures more often.
Were these plants some of the new species he’d discovered, or something entirely different?
The landscape had become treacherous, each step unsteadier than the last. Cornelius pushed on until the late evening, and only stopped after the third time Watt suggested they stop for camp.
The moon was a thin shred, and it did not offer as much light as Watt would’ve liked when setting up.
The sky existed only in small pinpricks through the suffocating canopy.
They’d found no water, not even a marsh, only more jungle.
It was clear Cornelius didn't want to stop, and it was also clear he was frustrated. “It’s playing with us,” he muttered.
Watt looked up from the knot he’d been securing. “What?”
Cornelius grumbled from the other end of the hammock, then loudly said, “Nothing. Never mind.”
Watt didn’t push it. Besides, he agreed with what Cornelius didn’t say.
Ever since they’d left Cuiabá their journey had been arduous, tough, and exhausting.
But it had completely changed tone and difficulty since parting ways with the others, like the land had been against them every step of the way.
Save for that moment after Maggie had been bit, when they’d first discussed going back.
The … not quite a voice, or a song maybe, had convinced them to keep going.
Distantly, he wondered if a siren song was a perfect adjective for that moment. A song intended to entrap, and doom, all those who heard it.
After the hammock was up and Maggie was safely tucked within it, they consumed porridge in relative silence.
God, if Watt never had to look at porridge again.
When the last bite hit Watt's stomach, Cornelius abruptly said, “I want to check her leg. It’s been a little over twenty four hours, enough time to start turning one way or another.”
Watt’s stomach churned, and he nodded. “Okay.”
They settled down in an area that Cornelius had cleared, the ground mostly dirt and trampled grass. He said, “We better be quick, before the bugs get us.”
Watt settled Maggie between his legs in the same fashion he’d done before, and she groaned in protest against his side. “Now now, none of that. It’ll be over before you know it.” Watt murmured, running a hand down her back.
Cornelius chuckled, offering Watt his torch. “Glad to see she’s well enough to complain.”
“I think she’ll be okay,” Watt admitted, shining the light on Maggie’s leg as Cornelius began to unwrap the bandage.
“I do too.” Cornelius hesitated for only a moment before continuing his work. “But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, okay?”
Watt swallowed the lead in his throat and said nothing.
Once the bandage was removed, all that was left was the gauze, where dark blood had seeped through. The light began to tremble, and Watt steadied his hand. Cornelius gently lifted the gauze, pulling hair as he did so. Maggie whined, and Watt ran his free hand through her fur once more.
“Sorry, girl,” Cornelius said, glancing between the gauze and her leg. He murmured, “I wish we had alcohol, or more iodine.” Tentatively, he discarded the gauze and inspected the wound with careful fingers.
He was quiet for so long that it had Watt feeling uneasy. “Well? How’s it look?”
“Hmm. It’s too early to tell. There’s some drainage, and it’s warmer than I’d like.”
Watt’s heart sank.
Cornelius glanced up at him, then back down to the wound.
He delicately cleaned it with a shred of fabric dampened with water from his own canteen, which was dangerously low.
“That just means we have to take it easy, that’s all.
She’s still drinking, and eating. And there’s no necrosis, which we’d already see if the tissue was affected by the venom.
No bleeding from the eyes, no seizures. We have a little iodine left, but I think we better save that for water, for now. ”
Watt just kept on nodding along to Cornelius’ words, doing his best to keep calm.
He didn’t want to stress Maggie out, and had nothing to say that wasn't choked worry. Cornelius finished treating Maggie’s wound, using less bandage wrapping than he had before.
He ran a hand over Maggie’s belly, scratching gently. “There you go, sweetheart.”
Maggie pulled out of Watt's embrace and turned to lick Cornelius' fingers. Cornelius chuckled, allowing her to do so.
“Thank you,” Watt whispered, and Cornelius looked over at him.
“Of course,” he said, then tentatively shifted closer and pressed a kiss to the corner of Watt’s mouth. Watt immediately turned his head, transforming the kiss into something more. Cornelius’ lips upturned against his own, and he chuckled.
Maggie groaned dramatically, wiggling from where Watt still held her.
“Ah, sorry Mags,” Watt said, opening his arms. Maggie pushed to her feet and yawned, then ambled away to investigate their surroundings.
She wouldn't bear weight on that leg, keeping her foot tucked up off the ground. Watt wanted to put her back in the hammock, but she seemed to be content stretching out her other legs. “Don’t go far.”
“She’ll be alright, it's good for her to get moving.” Cornelius remarked, watching her closely. “Well, better get off the ground.” He patted Watt’s thigh once, then stood and offered Watt his hand.
Watt took it.
It was a good night, despite everything.
They’d started rationing about a week after leaving the dig site, and it was starting to take its toll on Watt.
He was perpetually hungry, and felt weaker than he had in his entire life.
None of the plants Ant?nio, Severino, or Charles had told them were safe to eat were available.
This, despite the implications, heartened Watt. It meant they were somewhere new.
Watt offered Cornelius some of his water since he'd sacrificed some to clean Maggie’s wound.
They were both running low, and that scared Watt more than the dwindling food supply.
If they didn’t find water soon, they’d be in a world of trouble.
The distant sound of it coursing through the earth teased him, and Watt resolved to find it tomorrow. He would, by God.
Cornelius busied himself with tidying up the first aid kit before turning in, utilizing his own hammock as a precarious table of sorts. Watt wanted to assist, but Cornelius waved him away. “Go on, you and Maggie get tucked in.”
Watt hesitated at Cornelius’ side. Cornelius looked over at him, a brow raised. Watt whispered, “Could we … say good night? Is that okay?”
Cornelius’ confusion melted into fondness. He closed the first aid kit, then turned to face Watt straight on. “Yes, of course.”