by Alice Addy
Sophie lowered her eyes and at least had the decency to blush. “Yes, Tony. He told me as much. I just wanted to hear you say it. I wanted to lighten the mood. This whole episode has been very hard for me to digest, but I knew you’d be fine. Nothing can happen to you, right? Still, I was scared to death.”
Tony paused. His wife had done very well, he thought. “You haven’t even told me how good I look. What gives?” Tony chided.
“That’s because you look like hell, to be honest. You look pretty busted up, to me. Does it hurt much?”
Tony nodded. “A little.”
Sophie leaned in close and whispered, “I thought you were immortal.” She trailed a finger down the side of his bandaged cheek.
“I guess I left some details out of my explanation,” Tony groaned. “It only hurts when I laugh. So Sophie, please do me a favor and be on your very best behavior. All of my ribs are broken, making each breath sheer agony. I had a collapsed lung, but it’s healing. If the water hadn’t been so cold, I would have bled out.”
He paused to think about that. “Mmm, that would have been interesting. Don’t know how that would have played out.”
“You’d still be alive, right?” Sophie’s little body began to tremble.
Tony noticed how pale Sophie had suddenly gone. He pressed his call button. “Sit down, sugar. You don’t look too good. This has been too much for you, I’m afraid.”
A nurse rushed in, expecting to see her patient in distress.
Tony pointed to his wife. “She’s pregnant and not feeling well.” He took his one good hand and made a baby bulge over his stomach, in case the woman didn’t understand.
The nurse nodded and smiled. She poured Sophie a glass of water and took her pulse. Very efficiently, she dampened a cloth and placed it across the back of Sophie’s neck. “She will be good. She is just happy to see you,” she said, in her imperfect English.
Tony sighed. “Merci.”
The nurse left, with her sturdy, white shoes squeaking loudly down the hall.
“I’m really glad to see you darling, but if I’d known you were going to fly here, I would have left instructions with Ibsen to detain you. I plan to be home at the end of the week.”
Sophie about fell out of her chair. “End of the week?” she squeaked. “You’re injured, Tony. It’s serious. They won’t let you leave the hospital for weeks yet…forget days.”
“I’m not their ordinary patient, sweetie. In fact, it is far more dangerous for me to remain here, than it is to disappear and go home. Once the lab results come back, they’ll know something is dreadfully wrong with me, and they’ll never let me out. People like me, never have lab tests. Technology has proven to be a bitch.”
Sophie stood and approached Tony’s bedside. She gently took his hand, marveling at the sheer masculine beauty of it. “Darling. I’m so confused. I know I’m not smart, but this makes no sense to me. It makes my head hurt.” Her bottom lip began to quiver.
“Aw, sugar. Don’t fret about it. I’ll explain it all to you. Crawl up here beside me, but be careful. I’m fragile,” he joked. “Lay your head on my shoulder, and just relax. This may take a while.”
“Are you going to tell me another story?” She sounded like a small child.
“I’m going to explain being immortal. It is not as well defined as you might think.”
Sophie loved resting in her husband’s arms. He smelled so manly, and his strength made her swoon. Within his arms, she felt as if nothing could harm her. She sighed and closed her eyes. “You may begin,” she whispered.
“The first thing you need to know, Sophie, is even though I am immortal and cannot die, that doesn’t mean that I cannot be incapacitated. Do you understand?”
She nodded. “Yes, that means you could lose your head.”
“No, sugar. That’s decapitated, and that is particularly troublesome to an immortal.
“What I mean to say, I do not catch disease and I heal from injuries at an accelerated pace. I’m immune to starvation and dehydration, although they require some attention. The one thing, we all fear, however, is the loss of a limb or one of our five senses. We do not regenerate missing limbs. If I were to lose my arm, today, I’d live for eternity without it. If I lost an eye, it would be gone, forever. So, you understand, even we, immortals, must be careful with our bodies.
“I feel the same pain as any man. I simply feel it for a shorter period of time, as I start to heal almost immediately. I’ve never heard of one of us bleeding out. I honestly don’t know what would happen in that instance, or even if it is possible.”
“You told me Thomas died. How was that possible, Tony?”
The time had come. There was no way that Tony could avoid revealing his deepest and darkest secret. Sophie had been patient and had a right to know. She needed to understand the conditions of his curse. Tony felt the bile rise, filling the back of his throat. He wasn’t ready to face his demons, but he could find no way to avoid it.
“I’ve put off telling you this, darling, because I dread going back there. My nightmares are real. The terror I felt then, was replayed many times in my dreams. For years, I was haunted by the actions I was forced to take. It’s a horrendous tale and one I would like to forget.
* * *
“It was 1900 when I found Thomas living in Kansas City; the beginning of a new and exciting century. However, I barely recognized my dearest friend. I knew he had taken the deaths of his wife and child badly, but it had been more than seventy-five years since they had died. Even for us, three quarters of a century is a long time. Thomas didn’t know me when I walked up and offered to buy him a beer. He was so drunk that he didn’t know his own name.
“Sadly, I discovered Thomas had turned to alcohol, opium, and whores. He gambled and lost consistently. He spent twenty years in prison for practically killing a man in a bar fight. This stranger…this pathetic man that I had found, was no longer the friend from my youth. I knew I had to save him from himself.”
Tony snorted. “It’s ironic. I saved him all right, just so he could die a most agonizing death!” Tony groaned and closed his eyes for a moment.
“I’m sure he knew you did everything you could. He knew you loved him, Tony.”
“Yeah, I suppose he did. It was necessary to separate him from all the vices he had acquired. After he dried out, we took off for England, and for a while he seemed to be more like his old self. We had some good times.” Tony grinned at his wife. “We even met some pretty women.”
“I’m not the least bit jealous, darling. Please continue,” Sophie entreated, gritting her teeth ever so slightly.
“When the Lusitania sank in 1915, we knew it was just a matter of time before there would be a war. We didn’t, however, realize the scope of it. World War I was declared, and naturally, being almost impervious to gunfire, we enlisted to fight.
“At first, it was as exciting as we had imagined. I had fought in the Civil War, don’t forget, but Thomas had stayed drunk for years. This was all fun and games for him. We garnered a reputation for fearlessness under fire. Nothing stopped us. We even managed to see a few of the places we had once occupied in another life, so many years earlier. Of course, that was our little secret.
“Then the tide of the war turned, and we took an awful beating. We were lucky, but our friends were not. I started to lose count of the friends and comrades we had lost. Thomas and I continued on, but even we started to pray for a quick end of the hostilities.”
* * *
The hospital room door opened, and a man in a white lab coat entered, giving a reclining Sophie the evil eye. He glared at her, lying on the patient’s bed, and cleared his throat loudly.
Sophie yawned and kissed her husband’s cheek, while Tony pulled her closer. She was not the least bit intimidated by the man in white. As far as she was concerned, she had traveled a long distance to be with her husband—not to mention, she was in a delicate condition—and if he didn’t like it, he could just piss o
ff.
“Yes? Do you need something, doctor?” Tony inquired.
The doctor turned his attention from the pretty lady, lying in the bed, to the patient. His English was heavily accented and hard for Sophie to decipher, but Tony had no problem.
“I am afraid for you. It is the cancer we have seen. Today, you will take the chemical treatment. I am sorry. It is different for us to treat. Yes?”
Sophie’s eyes were as big as half-dollars. She grabbed her husband’s arm. “Tony, did he say cancer?”
Tony smiled. “He did, darling, but I told you to expect dire news.”
Tony responded to the doctor’s analysis. “No. I will not take your chemicals. If I have the cancer, then I prefer to go home and die peacefully. Thank you very much for your concern. Please get my release papers in order.”
The young doctor began to protest. “No, no, no. You cannot do this thing, you ask. I will start the treatment today.”
Tony scowled at the man and raised his voice, which caused his ribs to hurt like hell. “No! I said, get out! I’m going …”
He gasped for air and waved the man away.
Sophie jumped down from the bed and took the doctor by his sleeve. “My husband wants to go home. See to it, now.” The next thing the doctor knew, he was being propelled out and into the vacant hall. The door closed securely behind him.
For the rest of the afternoon, Sophie and Tony waited for the nurse, or the doctor, to come in with the necessary release papers. There was plenty of time for Tony to finish telling his wife of the horrors that haunted his dreams. He felt the overwhelming need to purge the atrocity of his actions, from his soul. What would Sophie think of him, once she knew the unimaginable cruelty he was capable of committing?
Sophie was sharing Tony’s bedside. He ran his fingers through her soft curls and heard her sigh with pleasure. She’d never know the extent of his love for her. It was immeasurable. “Sophie, darling. We were interrupted, earlier. I need to tell you what happened to Thomas, if you’re willing to listen. It is more horrible than you can imagine, and I wouldn’t blame you if you got up and walked away. Promise me, that you will wait and hear me out before you judge me…before you decide that you can no longer be with me—before you leave me.” His voice broke off. He hadn’t been so afraid of anything, in many years.
Sophie took hold of Tony’s hand, and stared directly into his green eyes. She understood. “Oh, darling,” she whispered. “Don’t you know there is nothing you can say that will change my love for you? I know I appear silly and slightly air-headed, but I understand more than you think. I know you’ve suffered more than any man can be expected to, and I know you’ve survived. Your heart, mind, and soul are intact. I can’t expect more. As long as you still love me, you don’t have to worry about my love for you. I’m here, Tony. Forever, until death.”
Never before had his wife spoken so eloquently, or with such passion. Tony could feel his heart swell with pride and devotion for her. Not only was she breathtakingly beautiful, but she was, indeed, wise beyond her years.
Clearing his throat, Tony gave Sophie a little squeeze, and closed his eyes. He allowed himself to travel back to that unforgettable night…a night, long ago, in the midst of battle. A night that was to change Tony’s life, for all eternity.
“God seemed to have forsaken us. The weather was cold, wet, and miserable. For seventy-two hours, we had been under constant barrage. The enemy pushed forward and there was very little we could do to stop them. Two thirds of our ranks had fallen. Those that remained were demoralized and already defeated. Thomas knew that he and I could escape, but it wasn’t in us to run away. Thomas was very brave. Unfortunately, he was also, foolish.
“I don’t know if he planned on doing what he did, or if it was instinctual, but I see it replayed, over and over in my mind’s eye.
“It had been unusually quiet for nearly an hour. We knew that when the bombardment started again, it would be the last. We were too few in number, and had nowhere to retreat. Suddenly, and without warning, a grenade was tossed in our midst. Nine of us saw it lying there, and simply stared at it, realizing that it was going to be the last thing we’d ever see. I was too tired and stunned to worry about my immortality. It wasn’t until I caught motion out the side of my eye, that I woke up, and realized what Thomas was about to do.”
Tony’s eyes opened and he gazed straight up at the stark ceiling. His fingers ceased to caress Sophie’s curls, but instead, they gripped her skull tightly enough to cause her discomfort.
“Tony,” Sophie complained. “Darling, you’re hurting me.” She wasn’t afraid of him, but she wanted to bring him out of the horrors he was imagining.
Tony suddenly stopped. Looking down at Sophie, he released his fingers from her hair and stroked her wet cheek. “Sorry, beautiful.
“I screamed, as I watched my best friend launch himself over the grenade, just before it exploded. I sat there, motionless. We all did. Our friend, Thomas, was mortally wounded, although he was moving. All the men were astonished that he could have survived the initial explosion, but I knew he would. I knew that the worst was not over. I yelled for a blanket and covered his bloodied and dismembered body.”
Tony looked directly at Sophie. “I’d rather not describe, in full detail, the condition of his body. It is too difficult for me, and quite frankly, I don’t want you to know.” He could tell by the ashen color of Sophie’s cheeks that she was already badly shaken up.
“No, Tony. I can imagine.” Her voice was very soft and slightly tremulous.
“Thomas passed out, thank God. I convinced the men he was dead, and no one argued with me. After all, no one could survive his injuries. Just as the next salvo was launched, I dragged Thomas off into the woods. At that moment, I didn’t give a rat’s ass about the war. I needed to get my friend to a quiet spot and figure out what to do. I followed the river for a bit, until I found an overhang. It was far enough removed from all the craziness of battle.
“I unwrapped the blanket and got my first, really good look at Thomas …”
* * *
“Dammit, Thom. Why the hell did you do it?” Anthony was repulsed by what he saw. “What am I supposed to do?” he cried.
“The pain…it’s not so bad, now,” Thomas gasped. It was amazing that he was still breathing. His lungs and entire chest had taken the brunt of the explosion. “How bad?”
Anthony did a quick visual inspection. “God, Thomas. It isn’t good. I don’t know what to do!” Anthony was nearly hysterical. He and his friend had never been in these dire circumstances before. This was new territory for both of them.
Trying to lighten the mood and help his friend deal with everything, Thomas smiled. “See a gypsy anywhere?”
“How the hell can you joke at a time like this? What am I going to do?” Anthony shouted.
Thomas closed his eyes. His breathing was labored and blood soaked through the blanket and into the soft, black earth.
“Off,” he groaned.
“What? Off with what?” Anthony muttered. He had no idea of what to do to ease Thomas’s pain.
“Head. Gotta…do it.” Thomas never opened his eyes. It was just too painful. “Off. Only thing …”
“No!” Anthony shrieked as he got to his feet. “You can’t possibly mean that. It’d kill you!” Anthony didn’t realize the ridiculousness of his statement, but Thomas almost chuckled.
“Please, friend.” Thomas ceased his breathing.
Anthony stared down at his best friend, with a numbing sense of calmness, that he was unaware he possessed. Anthony assessed the true condition of his friend. His lungs no longer functioned. His legs were severed from the hips, and he had only a partial arm. There was no stomach, no intestines, or lungs that Anthony could see. He had to ask himself how Thomas had managed to stay conscious and speak lucidly. He knew it was the result of their shared curse.
Anthony nodded. Something had to be done to end the suffering, forever. Just as Anthony
was preparing to wrap Thomas’ body in the blanket, Thomas opened his eyes and stared directly into Anthony’s face. Anthony jumped back. How could it be his friend was still aware? He saw pleading in the man’s blue eyes. Unsure of what to do, Anthony located the heart, hidden and mangled up behind the collarbone. It looked badly damaged, but he thought he could detect a small, quivering of the muscle. Without thinking, he took his bayonet from its scabbard, and plunged it deeply into the organ.
Thomas’ eyes widened, his mouth moved in silence.
Anthony could barely see through his tears. Who was screaming, he wondered? He thought he heard his own cries of agony, while Thomas looked to be still.
“God,” Anthony begged. “Help me!”
Thomas had closed his eyes, but there was motion behind the eyelids. There was cognitive reasoning, there. Thomas was either dreaming or trying to convey his consciousness to Anthony.
Anthony walked in circles, stumbling over unseen obstacles. He pulled at his hair and scratched his face with his ragged nails. There was nothing else to do. Nothing but the most drastic… He would have to sever the head. Could he do it?
Anthony picked up his knife, feeling the coldness of the handle. He ran his thumb over the blade, slicing a long, deep cut down its length.
It took two attempts to separate the head from what was left of the torso. Anthony was covered in his dearest friend’s blood. Immediately afterward, he covered Thomas’ body.
Once again, Anthony walked in circles around the body. He was so tortured; he sought relief by banging his head against the rocky overhang. As the blood flowed past his eyes, he prayed he would somehow die beside his friend. For hours, he paced, unable to look at the blanket on the ground.
Anthony had been unaware of the passage of time. It had been late afternoon when the attack first came. By the time he found the rocky outcropping, it was dusk. As he opened his eyes, he realized he had slept until dawn. He had slept beside Thomas.
