Now & Then

The woman said, “Kevin, let’s do it right here.”

What?

No! D’Augie thought. Please God, don’t let them do it right here! Twenty feet. Do it twenty feet down the road. Give me twenty feet and I’ll kill them before they get their pants off.

Creed said, “Best offer I’ve had all day. But there’s gravel on the road, and possibly broken glass. You might get cut.”

D’Augie didn’t know why she was calling Creed Kevin, and he didn’t care. All he could think about was how his nuts were twice their normal size and how the motherfuckers wouldn’t stop stinging him. His testicles hurt so bad he almost didn’t feel the insects stinging the rest of his privates.

Almost didn’t.

Holy Shit!

D’Augie’s insides began churning. He needed to vomit. Started to vomit, but swallowed back the bile. The contents of his stomach lurched, preparing for a second attempt. D’Augie realized he was having an allergic reaction to the venom from the bites or stings. Itchy welts were forming on his face and forehead. His upper chest throbbed. His throat started closing up. His eyelids fluttered. Barely conscious, slipping fast, he heard Rachel say:

“We could fuck on one of these sand dunes!”

…And heard Creed answer:

“Not in a million years.”

…And Rachel:

“Why not?”

…And Creed:

“Fire ants.”

…And then D’Augie passed out.

Chapter 4

“YOU HEAR THAT?” I said.

“What, the ocean?” Rachel said.

“More like something in the dune. You got a flashlight in your purse?”

“No. Wait, I’ve got a mini light on my car keys, will that work?”

I waited while she unsnapped the light, then took it from her.

“Stay here,” I said.

I moved through the near-darkness, found the man lying on the sand dune. I kicked his ribs. No response. I leaned over him, flashed her mini light on his face.

“What’s there?” Rachel said.

“A kid. Young man, early twenties.”

“Is he dead?”

“Dead or dying. His body’s crawling with fire ants.”

“You think he’s in shock?” she said, looking at him over my shoulder.

“Shock?”

“Anaphylactic shock. Like maybe he’s having an allergic reaction?”

“Could be,” I said. I grabbed his collar and dragged him to the side of the road.

Rachel fumbled in her purse a couple of seconds and pulled something out.

“What’s that?” I said.

“An EpiPen. It’s for allergic reactions.”

She handed me the pen and I gave her the mini light. She said, “There’s a syringe inside. Take the cap off, hold the pen in your fist, and jab it in his thigh till you hear a click. Then hold it there for ten seconds.”

“You’ve done this before?”

“A thousand times.”

“Really?”

“No. But I read the directions.”

I yanked his pants down to his knees.

“Ten seconds?” I said. “Any magic to that number?”

“That’s how long it takes to enter the bloodstream and get absorbed by the muscles.”

“You got your cell phone handy?”

She did, and used it to call 911. I injected as she calmly gave the dispatcher our location and explained the patient’s condition.