Dr. Alex Nolan II's Arc

Chapter 4 of 13

Nolan sat on the bank and stared at the artifact in his lap. The canvas was still wet. The purple glow had faded but he could see the skull pattern through the soaked fabric. His arm throbbed where the brand had burned him, the skin tender and raw. He tried to push himself up and his left arm buckled. Pain shot through his forearm like someone had driven hot iron through the muscle. He looked down and saw the damage properly for the first time — the brand had torn deeper when it dragged him into the river, splitting the old scar tissue and exposing raw flesh underneath. Blood seeped through the torn edges where the mark had widened. He couldn't grip anything. Couldn't make a fist. He wrapped the arm in strips torn from his shirt and fashioned a crude support from vines, binding it tight against his chest. The makeshift sling held but barely. Ahead, the jungle pressed in on both sides of the river. The route to the settlement ran through dense growth where he'd need both hands to push through the tangled vines blocking the path. He tested his left hand again and managed to curl two fingers before the pain stopped him. Not enough. He looked at the wall of greenery and knew he couldn't force his way through one-handed. The vines hung thick as rope, layers deep, designed to trap anything that tried to pass. He'd have to find another way or wait here until the arm healed — and he had no idea how long that would take. He stood and turned upriver instead. The water route he'd lost when the canoe broke ran parallel to the jungle path. If he followed the bank north for half a day, he'd reach a spot where fishermen sometimes moored their boats. He'd seen them there weeks ago on the way in. The route would add two days to his journey but it didn't require climbing or cutting through dense growth. Just walking. He could do that with one arm. He picked up the artifact, secured it in his pack, and started walking. The brand stayed quiet against his skin. The choice was made.