Chapter 69
"Garrett, we're here!"
Shouts echoed. A squad of city guards thundered through. The captain yelled from a distance:Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
"What do you need us to do?"
Garrett turned around, thrilled. The questioning squad leader, Horn, a close friend of Uncle Karen, was familiar to Garrett. He answered loudly:
"Maintain order! Report! Get the priest over here! Go to the barracks, fetch my surgical kit! The rest of you, see any injured? Don't touch others, but for those I've marked in yellow, apply pressure to stop bleeding!"
Damn it!
Something's not right! I'm a city guard albeit just a nominal one for now, and Big Brother Raymond is too! During such major festivities, shouldn't everyone be on duty, maintaining order?
Why is everyone out playing on the streets?
"How many priests do we need?!"
"As many as we can find!"
"@#$%!"
Captain Horn cursed, leaving with a final, "You all follow Garrett's orders," and dashed out. He sprinted, grabbing the first colleague he saw, yelling:
"To the Temple of the War God! To the Spring Goddess's temple! Get people! The North Street stage collapsed, dozens injured or dead!"
Actually, it's the followers of the Nature God who are most reliable... Captain Horn regretted inwardly. The adherents of the Nature God were warm and caring, never denying treatment to the poor for lack of money. But they didn't have fixed temples! At this moment, finding people all over the streets was incredibly difficult!
"What about you, Horn?"
"I'm off to the Lord's mansion!"
Inside the Lord's mansion, festivities were in full swing.
Lord Joane, the city's noble figures, mostly graced the celebration of the Midsummer Festival. The high priestess of the Spring Goddess's temple, the bishop of the Temple of the War God, even the usually elusive elder of the Nature God's faith, none were exceptions. It was about showing respect while active in Hartland City, honoring the Lord's presence.
Amidst the merriment, Captain Horn burst in, heading straight for several knights:
"Captain! Trouble in North Street, dozens injured or dead!"
"What?!"
"Be cautious! If there's trouble on the main streets, we guards will be the first in line when the Lord inquires! If fewer people die, our responsibility lessens somewhatGarrett's helping us out!
Those going to North Street, all follow Garrett's lead. Whatever he asks for, provide it! People, money, insufficient? Cover it for now, ask me later!"
"Yes!!!"
The city guards rushed out. Meanwhile, on North Street, Garrett swiftly sorted the injured, categorizing them, marking them. Until the last was carried away, he turned, without pause, into a store turned makeshift shelter.
The blazing sunlight turned to shadows. Garrett abruptly halted.
Twenty-nine injured.
He, a doctor, with limited help from an apprentice priest who knew barely more than nothing about healing.
The people around were all commoners. Not to mention CPR, they needed instruction on how to apply a bandage.
If this were his previous life, the entire emergency department would have sprung into action. Internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, and supportive departments like blood labs and diagnostics would've hurried down to assist.
But now, at this moment, with so many lives
He had only himself to rely on.
Garrett lifted his head, granting himself a second to reminisce about the hospital where he once worked.
He missed the pervasive scent of disinfectant. Strong, sometimes choking, yet comforting, indicating a hospital's sterile environment;
He missed the blaring alarms of the cardiac monitors. Despite the spike in a doctor's blood pressure each time they rang, having these devices monitoring patients was reassuring;
He even missed the sharp-tongued head nurse. From scolding junior nurses to the deputy director, she commanded the chaotic emergency room, never missing a beat during critical moments...
He even missed the X-ray machine. Yes, he devised a substitute, but so what? Something that could provide enough light source; to date, he had only found Elder Elwin's oak staff...
But now.
Left, Little John looked at him expectantly; right, two guards stood at attention, waiting for his command. To make split-second decisions, issue orders, perform complex medical proceduresonly he was capable.
One person.
Twenty-nine lives!
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