Inktober Postapocalyptic Wanderers #9: The Lost Time Traveller

[porkwithbones]

“How are you at growing plants, Camille?” Doctor Bukowski had white hair and wore suspenders under his lab coat. He peered at Camille through his bifocals.

“Er… not skilled. Val always kept a hydroponic garden in our kitchen in Houston, but I didn’t have time for much except studying and working, during med school and internship.”

“Yes, I remember those days. Would you believe they’ve shortened the hours you work during residency since my day? Hard to think it, they still work you so hard. Ah, well. You’ll learn, or perhaps Val will help you grow the herbs when spring comes again.”

“So when you asked me to come help you harvest your herb garden…”

“These are medicinal herbs, yes. I need to harvest these and dry them before they’re ruined in all this rain, and there will be no better time for you to start learning how. We’ll run out of manufactured medicines within five years, and after that, we’ll be relying on whatever we can produce ourselves. Right now, I’m not worried about you learning the properties of the herbs. Just help me harvest them and lay them out to dry, and that will be enough for one day.”

“I feel like I should be doing more, Dr. Bukowski.”

“Camille, dear, you’re a doctor now. We’re colleagues. I have more years of experience than you do, but your training’s more up to date than mine. Don’t you think it’s time you call me David?”

“All right… David. I still feel like I should be doing more.”

“Am I still your mentor?”

“You know you are.”

“Then as your mentor, I recommend a little work with your hands to do you good today, but no more work than that. You’re accustomed to working too hard, but right now you’ve been through several shocks. You’ll do better if you take it slow for a bit. Now, let’s see what we can do about this garlic…”