Ralph and the Pixie

He began by establishing a triage area, where those who could be saved were stabilised. Others less badly injured were sent to another area where they could be cared for until time could be spared for them.

Those who were fatally injured, and there were a great many of these, he sent most of the other Healers to first, to ease pain and suffering if they could.

A dozen apprentice Healers he kept with him, to watch and learn. They began with the most serious wounds, those to the head and body, followed by the extremities.

In a good many cases all he could do was amputate. Doc was sickened by seeing the mangled condition of so many young and healthy bodies. He was reminded of the American Civil War, when surgery was in its infancy, and most of what the early surgeons did was perform amputations.

But unlike the Civil War, Doc had the skill and knowledge to operate whenever it was possible, opening the bodies’ cavities and repairing damage to tissues and organs. To this end, his new-found power as a Healer guided his sight, speeded healing and repair, and fought both infection and poison.

At the last, when the worst was over and he was far too tired to continue, Doc went to his chamber to sleep, but not before he had taken a last look around to be sure all ran smoothly.