the shaman

Although David was awake he couldn't move for almost a day and a half his muscles were so sore and the bite on his swollen hand began oozing. They called Dr. Baker. He came, took a look, said the bite was deep as well as infected. It took 20 stitches and lots of salve. David was also suffering from pneumonia. It hurt to breathe. He looked so bad that Dr. Baker convinced David's mom to take him into town so he could spend a few nights in the hospital. This was going to cost his family a lot!

After a few nights, David's breathing eased and they sent him home. He was warned to take it easy because, although the pneumonia was better, his hand refused to heal. The doctor thought he might have missed something regarding infection and there were tons of bloodtests. The best they could come up with was that Molly wasn't the one who had bitten him. The bite was much too large for a husky.

David kept it clean and dry, he soaked it twice daily, and put antibacterial lotion on it often. Still, it didn't stop the pain. After being home for a week from the hospital David began thinking he could sense Molly sitting at the foot of his bed each night as he drifted off to sleep. A few times he even reached down to give her a pat only to feel empty space where she should have been. David wasn't sure what hurt more, his hand or Molly being gone.

His friend George dropped by one evening to see how David was feeling and let him know that Tigger, George's dog, had had a litter of puppies. He had brought David the pick of the litter. David had done the same for George a few years ago when Molly had had a batch. George had been very grateful. His family had needed a good dog to watch over their cattle. They'd had a lot of problems with wolves recently and Tigger did a really good job.

David didn't want another dog so soon after Molly but knew George was trying to help. When George asked what he'd name it, David thought for a bit. The pup looked a lot like Molly and many dogs often got a name that another had had earlier but David didn't want to do that with Molly's name. She was special. This was one of her puppies' puppies and he wanted to honor her with a good choice.

"Akiak." David said. It fit. Akiak was the Inuit word for brave. Molly had been brave and now this puppy would have something to work up to.

Akiak was a golden husky with beautiful blue eyes like Molly. David walked his friend out to say thankyou. They were standing on the porch when David collapsed. His teeth clenched together and his whole body began arching. George screamed for help.

David's mom got to them first. She called to Jim - David's little brother - to call Dr. Baker and tell him to get there quick! She took charge and asked George to help her move David back inside but, when they tried to pick him up, David turned and bit her hand. Then he arched as his muscles tightened and spasmed again.

He had bit her! It wasn't a thought out response but instinctive. Thankfully, David didn't draw blood. His mom rubbed her hand and grabbed David again but further away from the face.

David had saw himself biting her and felt horrible. He hadn't meant too. What was going on? He felt like a thousand million tiny little pins were under his skin bursting out. His teeth also began hurting as if they were trying to push out of his mouth. He was coming apart at the seams!

Somehow, in between spasms, George and his mom got him back onto his bed. George stood there staring horrified. He didn't know what to do. His frightened heartbeat was loud in David's ears. How was that possible?

Jim ran in and told his mom that the doc would be awhile.

George began wringing his hands. "What should we do?"

David's mom looked at his friend and said, "George, we need your grandmother. Go get her. NOW!"

David gave a moan as George took off like a shot. His hand was hurting worse than ever! If he could have bit that off, he would have! But his muscles wouldn't give him much control. In between the spasms he'd just go limp with relief. Time slowed.