by A. D. Winch
The nurse returned to her chair but kept glancing over at him. In his head, Eric made plans for his escape. He knew he could overpower the nurse, and he no longer felt so dizzy. He decided to wait, and when the door opened, he would make a run for it.
A fly buzzed through the open window and flew onto the nurse’s white trousers. In the blink of an eye, she brought her hands together and squashed it with a loud clap. She got up and washed the mess from her fingers in the metal sink next to the door. Eric reassessed his opinion of her but still felt that he could get past her and waited for the door to open. He didn’t have to wait long.
A key jangled in the door and Eric could hear a heavy lock turning. As the door started to open, Eric jumped out of bed. He took one step, and the room started to spin again. He thrust out a hand, groped for the wall and missed. Blurred and fuzzy images of people entering the room flashed before his eyes. Eric tried to stop himself falling, but it was no use. His legs tangled up beneath him; he collapsed onto the floor, and the heart monitor fell on top of him. He lifted his head and spewed the water he had just drunk all over the cool tiles. The last things he saw before passing out were three faces peering over him.
“We’ll have to wait until White King is in better shape. I think we should come another time when he’s healthier and more compliant,” suggested Jean Kurtz.
“I had hoped he would have been ready by now,” replied Agent Angel menacingly.
Professor Schwarzkopf was the last to leave. He looked at the boy on the floor and considered what, if anything, he could do.
If he suffers too much, thought Professor Schwarzkopf, I must put him out of his misery.
When Eric regained consciousness, he was dressed in his own pyjamas. They smelt clean, fresh and familiar. A kindly face looked down at him.
“Hello, I’m Doctor Noel,” said the white-bearded man with a smile, “and you, my friend, have been through quite an ordeal.”
His voice was warm and friendly.
“Can I offer you some water? You must have a horrible taste in your mouth.”
Eric nodded. As he did so, he noticed that there were no drips and no heart monitor.
Doctor Noel gently lifted a glass of water to Eric’s lips and said, “Just nod when you have drunk enough.”
Eric did as he was instructed. When he had finished, he tried to move but failed. Thick blue straps were wrapped around his body.
“Why am I tied to the bed?” Eric asked. His voice was quiet and croaky.
“For your own safety, Eric. None of us, especially me as your Doctor, and you as the patient want a repeat of what happened the last time you woke up. If you promise me that you will stay in bed, for your own safety, I will trust you and remove the straps.”
After much thought, Eric nodded.
“You’re like my own son, Eric, always weighing up the options. A nod is hardly a promise,” laughed Doctor Noel ruffling Eric’s hair, “but I’m prepared to accept it.”
Doctor Noel walked around Eric and carefully released the straps. He stopped at the end of the bed and picked up Eric’s notes.
“I’m a Doctor, Eric, I’m not a military man and all I care about is my patient’s well-being. With this in mind, I have acquired for you the very best medicine I can.”
From behind the patient notes, he removed a tablet computer and handed it to Eric. Eric took the tablet, but he felt weak and the tablet felt heavy in his hands.
“I’m not an expert on what is cool, Eric. So, I asked my son Sid, who is the same age as you, and he downloaded a number of games and films for you. I hope they’re okay.” He paused. “I am not a psychologist but I can imagine that, in your head, you are trying to piece together what has happened to you. Am I right?”
“Yes,” Eric croaked.
“In that case, may I be honest with you and help you to fill in the gaps?”
Eric nodded.
“My psychologist friends would probably warn me quite strongly about bringing up past traumas with a patient, but I think you need to know. Now I am not aware of the full details but I can tell you what I know from my perspective. You were shot by a tranquilizer dart which knocked you out. Then, for your own good, you were kept sedated in a safe place. You have had a lot of drugs going through your body, and it will take a long time for you to feel normal again. In addition, I have detected trace elements in your blood that indicate you have been poisoned over a substantial period of time. With your permission, I would like to run more tests and administer medication that will counteract the effects of this poison.”
Eric’s head was spinning, but this time it was due to the thoughts that were forming in his mind.
“You don’t have to worry about this now, Eric. We need to wait until the sedative has worked through your system. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” Doctor Noel shook Eric’s foot playfully. “I’ll come and see you later. If you need anything before then, just press the red button under your left hand, and a nurse will come.”
Eric lifted his left hand and saw a small box.
“What’s the blue button for?” he asked.
“It’s the ejector button,” joked Doctor Noel.
“I don’t understand,” Eric paused, unsure how to continue. “You…, the OSS…, kidnapped me.”
Doctor Noel stood by the frosted glass door and turned to face Eric. His eyes looked as if he was about to cry, and his mouth was sad.
“You’ve been fed a lie, Eric. In fact, you’ve been fed a pack of lies. You’ve not been kidnapped,” he paused. “You’ve been rescued.”
With these words ringing in Eric’s ears, he pulled the door shut and left Eric alone.
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Chapter 32 – The Truth
After a number of days, Eric could feel his physical strength returning. He no longer felt weak or frail, and he could move around the bedroom. However, his head still felt woozy. When he stood he suffered from the occasional dizzy spell, but overall he felt much better. He had yet to venture out of the room, and when he had neared the door, or put his hand on the handle, it had invariably opened. A nurse or orderly or Doctor Noel would enter breezily with something they had to do. They would let him stand in the doorway and look down the brightly lit, but ultimately plain, corridor and then usher him back into his room. The corridor held no interest for Eric. It had doors on both sides but apart from these it was empty.
The tablet computer that Doctor Noel had given Eric had proven to be a life safer. Admittedly he was unable to access the internet but the games were interesting and he had never played any of them before. There were saved films too, and they proved to be a welcome distraction. Once Eric had played the games or watched all the films, Doctor Noel arranged for his son to upload new ones for him.
On the occasions when Doctor Noel came to visit Eric, he was always pleasant, kind, funny and pleased with the progress. Eric cooperated and willingly gave blood when asked to. When the test results became available Doctor Noel would show them to Eric, and they would discuss the progress his body was making in fighting the poison. A selection of different medications was prescribed, and Eric was always consulted on these.
Initially, Eric was reticent to take these drugs but with each passing day he felt better and therefore had no reason to be distrustful. However, whenever Eric brought up his rescue, he got little response. Doctor Noel would apologise for what he had previously said and then continue by saying he regretted telling Eric so soon. He asked for Eric’s patience and promised him that all would become clear at a later date.
One evening, after the sun had set, Doctor Noel entered Eric’s room and went about his usual checks. Once he had finished he sat on the bed and asked if Eric was ready for a serious conversation.
“Nearly every time I visit you, Eric, you ask me about your rescue. Let’s be honest, I palm you off and avoid your questions. I should never have told you this news so early on in your treatm
ent and I regret that I created so much confusion in your head. You are recovering well, and we are starting to negate the impact of the poison still coursing through your veins. If you would allow it, I have someone who would like to talk to you. He may well have the answers that you are looking for. His name is Buddy. Would you mind if I showed him in?”
Eric agreed, and Doctor Noel left the room. Before the door had closed, a bear of a man entered. He was huge, and Eric saw that, in spite of his age, he obviously still worked out. His T-shirt bulged; his blue jeans were tight and in one hand he held a similar tablet to Eric’s.
“Eric Meyer, delighted to meet you, I’m Buddy Angel,” and he held out a large paw.
Eric took it and shook his hand. Buddy Angel’s grip was firm, and his hand engulfed Eric’s.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Better, thank you, Mr Angel,” Eric replied.
“Ah, Eric, please call me Buddy,” he said smiling, “We don’t stand on ceremony here. The Doc says you’re doing well. The poison inside you is a bit problematic, but the Doc’s got his team on it. They’re working hard for you.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m sure glad you’re appreciative because we just want you to be comfortable here until you’ve completely recovered. If there is anything you need, just ask. If we can get it for you, we will. You’ve probably guessed by now that you’re on a military base and what is most important is that you are safe here. Remember that, you are safe here,” he paused and sighed deeply.
“I have news for you, Eric, disturbing news that you may well find distressing but the Doc says you’re strong enough for me to tell you. Are you sure you want to hear it?”
Eric shuffled on top of his bed, “How can I know until I’ve heard it?”
Buddy laughed, “I’m sorry, Eric. I’m not laughing at you. The Doc said you were bright, and he isn’t mistaken for that, my friend, is indeed a smart answer. If you want to hear the truth then, you do want to hear what I have to say. If you want to remain in the dark and continue to live a lie then I’ll walk away. What will it be?”
There was silence in the room while Eric thought about his response.
“Obviously, I want to know the truth,” he replied.
Buddy sat on Eric’s bed and tapped at the screen of his tablet.
“You know this person.” It was a photo of Ursula. “You know her as Ursula but we cannot find any register of her birth. What kind of family does not register the birth of a child? What would you say - one that works within the law or works around it?”
He didn’t let Eric answer.
“Well, this one is a petty thief who successfully steals from drug stores. Who taught her to steal drugs and why would she steal drugs? Do you know who steals drugs, Eric? Drug addicts, that’s who. She’s used to stealing from drug stores but now she is stealing from you.”
Buddy slid his finger across the screen, and Alexander appeared. “You know this person too. His name is Doctor Alexander Johansen. According to the records we have found, he was born in Austria in June nineteen sixty-six. But, and think about this, his name is not Austrian. Austrians have names such as Gruber, Bauer or Fischer, but this man is not Austrian as there is no record of him having ever lived there. He has no medical or dental records, tax details, wage slips, cell phone numbers, driving licence, social security number or even a goddam facebook page. We doubt this is his real name and believe that this man adopts different aliases. From the behaviours we have observed, I think we can safely assume that he is a con-man of some description.”
He slid his finger across the screen, and Eric looked at an image of Andrea.
“We believe this woman’s name is Andrea but we can find absolutely no information about her. In today’s world, where everyone has records somewhere, this woman has simply nothing. Therefore, we can only assume that she is highly intelligent and somehow has managed to erase everything about herself. Would you not suspect something criminal and devious about such a person? I would.
So, what am I getting at? Since the sad and somewhat suspicious deaths of your parents, you have unwittingly been surrounded by a petty thief, a con-artist and a highly intelligent deviant. If you were worth nothing, and if your parents had not been multi-millionaires, I would not concern myself with the company you keep, but I’m a millionaire too and I have experience with parasites like this. You’re rich and these low-life-good-for-nothing-sons-of-bitches, sorry for cursing, are only after one thing, and that is your money. We’ve saved you Eric and in my opinion not a moment too soon. You’re under our protection now and we’ll do our damnedest to look after you until it is safe for you to leave.”
A beeper stopped Buddy talking. He stood up and took a pager from his pocket.
“I’m sorry, Eric, but I’ve been summoned again.”
He raised his arms and shrugged as if to say ‘what can if I do’, and left Eric alone.
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Chapter 33 – Gathering Intelligence
Time passed quickly in the cottage. Nobody felt trapped, and it wasn’t long before Andrea allowed them all to go outside. There were only two rules. Firstly, everyone had to stick to an alias and were not allowed to reveal their real names to the local people. Secondly, nobody was allowed outside without wearing a hat or hood.
Even with winter beginning, the bay was picturesque. It had a bleak charm which was appealing and saddening in equal measure. Occasionally, visitors from the nearby village walked along the shore. They were chatty and interested in what the new cottage owners were up to. Their questions were inquisitive without being nosey, and they respected the privacy of the new residents. Ursula enjoyed talking to them and loved their Irish accents. The adults were regularly invited out, and they gratefully accepted. It was felt that not to attend would cause more questions to be asked and raise more suspicion than they needed. Apart from Andrea, who always agreed to stay with Ursula, the others were only too keen to be welcomed into the community via the village pub.
In the eyes of the OSS, they were all officially dead. This gave them a certain amount of freedom that Ursula had not felt for some time. It did, however, come at a price.
Everyone in the cottage had agreed not to contact friends or loved ones until the turn of the new year. This was just over a month away. For the crew of the Orca, this was not an issue. There had been times in the past when they had been out at sea and unable to contact people, so they were sure that no one would worry unduly.
Ursula, on the other hand, missed her grandparents and knew they would be worried sick about her. All she wanted to do was make one phone call, just to say, ‘hello, I’m fine,’ but Andrea forbade her. Ursula understood why and instead focussed her energies into improving herself.
Captain Wang was truly amazed by the gymnastic skills that Ursula exhibited. Every day she pushed Ursula to achieve more. When Ursula climbed the drain pipe upside down using only her hands Captain Wang’s mouth fell open, and she seemed to lose the ability to move. The opposite was true when Ursula ran, cartwheeled and then sprang through an old hoop hanging from a tree two metres above the ground. This time Captain Wang clapped and whistled enthusiastically.
Ursula’s time with Arjuna was calming and peaceful. Practising yoga helped her deal with being separated from her grandparents and being unable to call them. Under Arjuna’s guidance, she sent them positive energy and messages which she felt they were receiving. She thought it would also help with contacting Eric, but unfortunately it did not.
Kim-Ly’s love for computers was contagious. Ursula loved the logic of circuits and programming. Together they built a computer and then created a piece of music on it. They also wanted to build a robot, but they were waiting for the parts to be delivered.
Of all the lessons she was receiving, Ursula enjoyed most the time she spent with Keiko. Keiko taught her unarmed combat, drills and military strategy which reminded Ursula of her Granddad. They wanted to pr
actise shooting, but Andrea refused. She said that it would draw unnecessary attention to the cottage and the bay. It wasn’t just Keiko’s teachings that Ursula enjoyed it was also that she liked to talk, and Ursula liked to talk with her. During their sessions, Ursula discovered a lot about Keiko and more than all the others put together.
Keiko’s father had been a tough man. All he wanted for his daughter was for her to marry and to become a dutiful wife, but Keiko rebelled against him. After finishing university, she joined the Japanese Self-Defence Forces as a reservist. He hated her decision and was convinced that this was not something a woman could do and would not help her to find a husband. This was his biggest concern and conversations always came back to it. When she lost her arm and leg his first words were, ‘how will you find a husband now?’
Keiko’s life story was a good education for Ursula. Her grandparents had never been disapproving of the things that she did. They taught her what they felt was right and wrong but never forced her to do things against her will. All they wanted was the best for her and for her to be happy. If they hadn’t wanted this, they would never have let her leave them. Ursula had never really appreciated their attitude before. However, with every passing day away from them, she wished that they had insisted more that she had stayed with them. Life would not have been so exciting, but she would not have missed their loving and supporting nature.
Ursula felt most at ease with Keiko. She confided in her and listened carefully to her advice. In doing so, she discovered that Keiko was brave but not foolhardy, logical but not humourless and driven but not blinkered. Ursula began to adopt similar characteristics.
