Hilarity Ensues Episode 8, part 2.

   The Hilarity sped on, away from the planet of the snakes.  They didn't seem to be being followed- the Pserpentese perhaps couldn't be bothered to chase after prisoners that were of little value to them now.  

   On the Hilarity's bridge an earnest discussion was taking place.  


   "Isn't there anything we can do for them?"  Tom asked.  

   "Pserpentese venom antidote isn't something that's part of your everyday medical kit," Zoe said defensively.  "We've given them painkillers, although I doubt they're strong enough to have much effect.  We've not got anything else."

   "Then where's the nearest planet where we can get help?" 

   Zoe turned to the star map displayed on the screen.  "Here," she said.  "Della Crusca.  But it's in the wrong direction."

   "Wrong?"  Adam said.

   "The opposite direction to Bognor."  Zoe said.  "If we go back towards..."

   "No!" Tom said loudly, almost shouted.  "Have you seen how much pain they're in?  And they're like that because of us!  We left them behind, and the snakes did this to them because we'd escaped.  The least we can do is try and help them now."

   "He's right," Will said.  "We've got to get help.  Zoe, when we brought them with us, we made ourselves responsible for their safety.  We've let them down.  Now we've got to do what we can.  We'll go to Della Crusca."

   Zoe turned to the computer and began to set the course.

   In one of the old dressing rooms upstairs, Ruth and Patrick lay in hammocks.  The painkillers Will had given them seemed to be having little affect on their symptoms.  Ruth regained consciousness only for yet more pain to sweep through her.  She gasped.  A hand sought hers and squeezed it.  She turned her head and looked into Patrick's concerned eyes.  

   "I'm sorry," she said.  "I know it's just as bad for you."

   "It's not, yet," he said.  "Because you were bitten first.  Will looked it up.  Apparently there are four stages of how Pserpentese venom works.  Stage one is when it hurts when you're first bitten.  Stage two is what we're getting now- pain that increases and then dies away again, but gets worse overall.  That can last for hours, even days.  Then you get to consistent pain, all the time, and then stage four is that you go numb- you can't feel anything, you can't move, and then..."

   "You die," Ruth whispered.  Patrick nodded reluctantly.  She held his hand tightly.  

   So it's not even reached the worst yet, then, she thought.  How was she going to cope?  She closed her eyes and tried to think about something else, but it was no good.  Unstoppable tears crept out.  

   The door opened.  It was Will, followed by Adam.    

   "I found some stronger painkillers," Will said.  Tom and Agnes came in too, and Ruth could see Zoe standing in the doorway.  

   "Thank you," Ruth said.  

   "I really am sorry," Will said wretchedly.   "We shouldn't have left you behind."

   "We didn't know they'd do this to you," Agnes said.  

   " If anyone was going to stay behind, it should have been me and Zoe," Will said.  "It's our fault you're here."

   "It's ok," Ruth said.  

   "Did you know they would do this to you?" Tom asked.  "When we told you about our escape?  Did you know they would punish you like this?"  Patrick and Ruth exchanged glances.

   "We didn't know," Ruth said, "But we thought they might."

   "Then why didn't you tell us?" Adam said.  "We wouldn't have gone if we thought that was going to happen."

   "That's why we didn't say," Ruth replied.  "We wanted you to get away."

   "They were getting impatient- there seemed to be a problem with the money they were expecting for keeping us prisoner- and we thought it would be better if the rest of you could get away before they got angry and took it out on you," Patrick concluded.

   "But then they'd take it all out on you!" Adam exclaimed. 

   "You shouldn't have done that," Will said.  

   "But the rest of you would be safe, rather than all of us suffering."  The others looked at one another, ashamed and surprised.  Patrick and Ruth weren't people you would expect to behave like that.  The others had never suspected that either of them could.  

  "Thank you," Tom said.  Adam echoed him.  There was an awkward silence.   

   "We're heading for a planet called Della Crusca.  The Empyreans, who live there, are very clever people.  We'll get there in four or five hours, I hope.  They'll be able to help." 

   "Five hours?" Patrick asked.  He looked at Ruth fearfully.  That was about the amount of time there had been between her being bitten and him being bitten.  In five hours, he thought, he would be like she was now.  He shuddered a little.




The story continues...