Astrid Maxxim and Her Amazing Hoverbike by Wesley Allison Page B

lips were chapped.
    “ Austin ,” said Astrid, brushing the sand off his face.  “ Austin, are you okay ? ”
    “ I do n’ t want to go to school, Mom ,” he said, dreamily.
    “ Austin, wake up . ”
    The boy opened his eyes.
    “ It bit me ,” he said lifting up his right arm.  “ A snake bit me . ”
    Austi n’ s arm was swollen to almost twice its normal size, and there just above his thumb were two puncture marks indicative of a rattlesnake bite.
    “ Holy mackerel ,” said Toby.  “ Your thumb looks like a mini football . ”
    Astrid jumped up and waved her arms just in case Toulson, who was that moment driving over the nearby dirt road, had n’ t seen them.  He turned towards them, stopping just beyond where she had set down the hoverbike.  Hopping out of the van, he ran to the fallen bo y’ s side, felt his pulse, and then quickly checked him for any other bites.  Finally he scooped Austin up and hurried toward the van.
    “ We need to get him to hospital ,” he said.
    “ The infirmary is closer and they have antivenom ,” said Astrid.
    “ Alright.  Astrid, I need you with this boy in the van . ”   Toulson pointed to Toby.  “ Can you follow in that flying machine, or do we need to leave it here ? ”
    “ No, I’ ve got it . ”
    Toulson lay Austin down across several seats in the back.
    “ Try to keep his arm from flopping around too much ,” he said.  “ And keep it below his heart . ”
    Astrid sat on the floor beside Austin and gently cradled his arm.
    “ I found my MX ,” he said drowsily.  “ I got some good pictures of a snake for you too . ”
    “ Oh Austin ,” said Astrid, tears forming in her eyes.  “ Why did n’ t you tell me your MX was lost ? ”
    “ I’ m not hungry ,” he replied.
    The van began moving and Astrid bounced up each time it hit a rock or went over a desert bush.  She did her best to keep her friend comfortable and his arm from moving about.  Once when they went over a particularly nasty bump, she could n’ t hold on.  His arm flopped over and Austin cried out.  Soon though, they were shooting down the dirt road, and minutes later they were on the pavement.  Toulson gunned the engine.
    “ Astrid, do you have the infirmar y’ s number in your cell ?” he called back.
    “ Oh, yeah . ”
    “ Call them and tell them w e’ re on our way . ”
    “ On it ,” she called back, the speed dial already connecting her.  By now, her tears were making it difficult to see and she seemed to have something caught in her throat.
    When they arrived, Dr. Martinez and two medical technicians were waiting with a gurney.  They grabbed Austin and rushed him into the building.  Astrid started to follow, but Toulson stopped her.
    “I’ ll go in and fill them in on everything.  You wait here for your other friend . ”
    Though torn, Astrid nodded and waited for Toby to arrive on the hoverbike.  He was about ten minutes behind them.  By the time he brought the bike down to an expert landing, she felt much more in control of herself.  She helped Toby put her invention in the back of Toulso n’ s van, and then locked the doors and the two of them went inside to the infirmary waiting room.  They sat down next to Toulson and none of them said anything for the next twenty minutes.
    “ Why do n’ t you two go get a candy bar and a soda from the comfort station down the hall ? ”   Toulson finally broke the silence.  “I’ ll keep watch here.  You can get me a Heath Bar, if they have one . ”
    They had just come back, when Dr. Martinez stepped out to see them.  His face was grim.
    “I’ m not going to lie to you ,” he said.  “ The boy is in bad shape.  I think he was bit twenty-four hours ago, so ther e’ s not a lot we can do except push fluids and watch for signs of anaphylaxis . ”
    “ I thought you had antivenom ,” said Astrid.
    “ We do keep Crofab on hand ,” replied Dr. Martinez ,“ but unless i t’ s administered within