Doctored Read Online Free

contributed to this ragtag collection of helpers.  There were two full-time doctors, no nurses, and many assistants.  Most of the assistants were black Africans whose tribes had been decimated by disease and war in this part of the continent.  Trying to fight back against the diseases was the reason that Maddie and Leida were here.  Trying to get the population back on its feet and feed itself was Harlan and others’ jobs.
    “Hi, I’m Richard Burton, not to be confused with the famous Richard Burton, but Doctor Burton and I run this little outpost of iniquity,” he introduced himself with a self-deprecating smile.  He was a tall, spare man, balding, with glasses and a French accent.
    “I’m so happy you are both here,” he said to Maddie and Leida.  “We’ve been in need of nurses for months.  I hope you will help train our assistants as your time is valuable and they learn fast.”
    “What happened to the other nurses you had?” Leida asked as she grabbed a box of supplies that Lakesh handed down, still sporting that jovial smile accentuating the startling contrast between his white teeth and black skin.
    Doctor Burton looked uncomfortable.  “You might as well know…they were killed in a small skirmish east of here.  They were both male nurses and helping some of the villagers.”  He was reluctant to tell them any more so he quickly changed the subject.  “This is Alex Whitley,” he indicated another man who came up to grab a box.  “He is in charge of the day to day,” he explained.  “Which one of you is Thomas?” he asked, using the American connotation of the name.
    “I am Thomas,” he said frostily, correcting the pronunciation to Toe-mass. 
    “Oh, excuse me,” Burton said with a smile.  “You will report to Alex there,” he nodded towards another man as he took a box, then indicated the two women should follow him.
    “Who do I report to?” Harlan asked as he took two boxes, showing off his bulging muscles.
    “And who are you?” Burton asked, his French accent more pronounced.
    “I’m Harlan Baker, I’m a farmer,” he said proudly.
    “Oh, I didn’t know they had sent you.  I was hoping you were Doctor Cooper,” he said, almost insultingly.  Recovering, he quickly added, “You’ll meet one of the locals who will show you their farming techniques.”
    “Aren’t I here to show them farming?” he asked, confirming his earlier conversations with the others.
    “I’m sure you will learn from them as they learn from you,” Burton replied confidently.  He showed them where to store the supplies, some of the assistants quickly opening the boxes to see what they had received and then putting them away.  Maddie found herself helping.  She couldn’t speak the language, neither could Leida, but they were having fun pantomiming with the assistants who smiled effusively as they showed the two of them where things went.
    It was late when the two women were shown where they would be bunking.  It was a large military style tent with a wood floor, six cots, and thick beams holding up the canvas.  “You are here,” one of the locals said in broken English, indicating two of the unused cots.  There was a third, but it had a backpack on it.  The others were obviously in use since the mattresses on them were made with sheets and blankets.
    Maddie thanked the woman who had shown them to their tent and looked around.  “Wow,” she said as she realized how sparse it was.
    “You weren’t expecting a five-star hotel, were you?” Leida teased.
    Maddie laughed and shook her head.  “Nope, I expected to rough it.”
    “Bugger that for a game of soldiers.”
    “What the hell does that mean?”
    “Rather you than me,” she interpreted for her, laughing at the difference in English.  It was the same language, but with so many different phrases.
    “Is that an Australian colloquialism?” Maddie asked in laughter.
    “British actually, but it certainly is rather colorful