| Subject: The Dragonslayer, Chapters 17 & 18 |
Author:
Jaron
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Date Posted: 19:40:56 12/17/01 Mon
In reply to:
Jaron
's message, "The Dragonslayer" on 16:44:37 12/16/01 Sun
The Dragonslayer, Chapter 17
Walter jumped when the com-unit beeped. “I have to answer that. It might be about
Michael.” Grace gestured at him to answer by pointing his gun at the com-unit.
“Go ahead,” I said, “and find out if Michael is all right.”
As soon as Walter answered, I knew the news was not good. I could see the shock
and concern in Walter’s face as he spoke into the com-unit. “Carson,” he said in a
tense voice, “how’s Michael?” I saw the worry lines on Walter’s forehead deepen and I
felt a bit faint, and so I took a deep breath to steady myself. Walter and Carson spoke
for a few more minutes and I turned my gaze away from them and watched Rene
sleep on peacefully. When he woke, I would have to tell him about his father. I
waited for Walter and Carson to finish, and told myself that I could take whatever the
news was. Just let him be alive, I thought, I can take anything else, but just let
Michael be alive!
I held my breath and waited for him to finish. I sat in my seat, Walter’s gun in one
hand and with my other hand, I combed my fingers through Rene’s black hair. I was
trying to think of a way to tell Rene about his father. In my heart, I knew Michael
would be all right. He would survive his injuries. He had before and he would this
time, I thought. He had to, for Rene’s sake.
Walter finished speaking to Carson and turned to me.
“I have to leave for a few minutes, Grace. I am going to borrow a doctor from our
military friends here. The team will be here in thirty minutes. Hold down the fort
while I am gone, okay?” He turned to head for the exit.
“Walter, wait,” I said quietly. “I have to prepare Rene. What did Carson say about
Michael’s condition?”
He came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. “Grace, there’s no easy way to
say this. Red Cell already had him in their helicopter when the team arrived. They
took off and was about to fire a rocket when Nikita saw Michael kick out at the man
with the rocket launcher. It was enough to spoil his aim and knock him out of the
helicopter. Then, Michael somehow caused the pilot to lose control of the helicopter.
It crashed.” Walter saw the horror in my face, and gripped my shoulders tightly.
“Michael wasn’t in the helicopter when it crashed.”
“Wasn’t in it.....Walter, I don’t understand!” I searched his faded blue eyes for an
answer.
“He...he...fell out of the helicopter, Grace. He fell out, but landed in a small lake. The
team was able to revive him, but he’s unconscious. They are on the way here now. I
have to go find a doctor.” He let go of my shoulders and I slumped back in my seat.
“Walter, how is he? I need to know!” I grabbed his hand to stop him from turning
away from me. “How badly injured is he?”
Walter stared hard into my eyes and let me have the information with no holds barred.
“He had a dislocated shoulder that has been reset, a broken arm, broken ribs, and
probably a concussion. Porter thinks he has internal injuries as well. Can I go now?”
He pulled his hand from my grasp and headed for the door. “I’ll be right back!” and
he was gone.
The Dragonslayer, Chapter 18
Rene stirred in his sleep as Walter left the plane, his boots clanging on the metal deck
of the rear ramp of the transport plane. He opened his eyes and stared sleepily up at
me. “Is Daddy here yet?” Rene sat up and looked around expectantly. “Where is he?”
“No, baby, he’s not here, yet.” I pulled Rene into my lap and hugged him. “Rene, we
have to talk about your Daddy. He will be here soon.” Rene smiled and then frowned
because he felt the tension in my body as I held him against me.
“Mom, tell me. What’s wrong? Is my Daddy hurt? Tell me!” Tears started collecting
in his eyes and I could feel them forming in my own eyes as well. As a lone tear rolled
down his cheek, I started to tell him what had happened after we left Michael at the
farmhouse. The lone tear was soon followed by many others.
Walter soon returned with a young Navy captain in tow. The captain wore the white
coat of a doctor with a name tag that proclaimed him as Dr. Williams, Internist and
Surgeon. Walter was telling the doctor that he would be returned to Fort Worth as
soon as the transport landed at its destination, and that the doctor should keep in
mind that this was a top secret, highly classified operation. He was not allowed to
speak of anything he saw or heard while in attendance on his patient. Things would
not go well for him or his career if any information about this matter was leaked.
“I understand security and classified operations and you can count on my silence.
Now, where’s my patient?” Dr. Williams set his medical bag down on one of the seats.
“And where is this field hospital you told me about?” he looked around impatiently.
“Cool your heels, Doc,” Walter told him. “ Your patient is on the way. And follow me.
I’ll show you your hospital.” Dr. Williams followed Walter toward the front of the
plane. Neither of them paid Rene and me any attention, so focused on their task were
they.
Rene reached up and touched my face, wiping at the tear tracks. “Is that the doctor
who’s going to make Daddy better?”
“Yes, Rene, that’s him. And your Daddy will be here very soon.” I squeezed his hand.
“I’m just really worried about Michael right now.”
He smiled at me and said, “It’s okay, Mom. Daddy will be okay. He’s the
Dragonslayer. He indestructible, isn’t he?”
“I hope so, Rene, I hope so.” The com-unit that Walter had used earlier began to
beep. Walter left the doctor and hurried back to the communications array. He
spoke a few words and then waited for Carson to answer. I heard him say, “We’re
ready. You are cleared through the main gate all the way to the flight line. Drive
right up the ramp, secure the Suburban, unload Michael, and we will be in the air.
Okay, I’ll see you in fifteen.” He turned to me. “You heard?” I nodded. “Then give
me my gun and sit down. You and Rene are about to meet Section One. I just hope
you don’t regret your decision.” He pulled the gun from my hand and turned back to
the com-unit. “Birkoff, get me Madeline. I have news for her and I don’t think she’s
going to like it.”
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