Chapter 18 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Myles awoke with full knowledge of where he was and how he came to be there. The hospital at Mike Charlie was small, designed for no more than ten long-term patients but with the facilities to handle a larger number of treat and release situations. It was quite conventional, the institutional fixtures, including the bed he was lying in. The end where his upper body was had been elevated into a near sitting position, about sixty degrees or so, he guessed. He was wearing a standard hospital gown, and had a needle in his left arm, taped securely and connected to a tube leading to the container dispensing something into his blood. Antibiotics, he guessed. He had never been in a hospital, at least not as a client, but he had been shot, apparently in a rather critical area. The only pain he felt was a headache, and as he tried to raise his right hand he found it was secured to the bed rail. that point he noticed the straps across chest and waist. Don't want me moving around, he thought. At that point the door and a man wearing scrubs entered, holding a tablet and a clipboard. Doctor Nelson, he remembered. He had been at the freehold a long time - an older man with a successful practice in nearby Harrisburg, a small town of about eight thousand or so, conveniently close to the freehold. Dr. Nelson worked at his clinic two or three days a week, mostly to see long-time patients - most of the work was done by a couple of younger doctors and the usual clinical staff. Myles knew he had spent some time as a trauma surgeon in a big hospital, so it was likely he had been called upon to treat Sir Walter and Myles. The other three doctors likely to have been present would of course have assisted. Myles tried to speak, realized his mouth was so dry he couldn't make a coherent sound. "Just a minute" Dr. Nelson said, going back out the door. In a couple of minutes he returned with a glass of water, and handed it to Myles. The water was cool, but not cold. Myles wished he had a big glass of ice water, but this would have to do. He took another drink, then asked "How is Sir Walter?" "Better than you" replied Dr. Nelson. "He was extremely fortunate - both bullets hit fairly low. We were able to repair the damage quickly. As you know, the biggest danger with such wounds is infection, so he'll be on antibiotic drip for a couple of days, as you are. You, on the other hand, took one through the lung. Not especially serious as bullet wounds go, but I'd like you to remain immobile until tomorrow, just to be safe." "How long have I been here?" Myles asked. "A little over two days" replied Dr. Nelson. "We had you sedated to allow your body to heal. At around seventy-two hours the damage is sufficiently repaired that you won't reopen the wound by moving around. "So, about this time tomorrow you and Sir Walter can both get up and go outside for some air." He looked at the window, through which a tree-shaded courtyard was visible. "After all these years spent in hospitals, I don't find the atmosphere appealing. I can imagine it drives the patients crazy." "Can I see Sarah and Tania?" asked Myles. "Of course" said Dr. Nelson. "They're waiting outside - as soon as your monitor indicated you were awake I notified them, and asked them to give me a few minutes to brief you." "Thanks, Doc." said Myles, as the doctor went out. Less than a minute later, Sarah rushed into the room, followed by Tania. Before saying a word, both women leaned over and kissed him. "How do you feel?" asked Sarah. "Better than I deserve, I'm sure" replied Myles. "Presumably I didn't need to die, since I've already got all the angels I need. Tell me you haven't been worrying - they must have told you fairly soon after they brought me in it wasn't serious." Both women were silent for a moment - Myles could see they were somewhat pale and somewhat fatigued. "Never mind," he said. "I won't ask you to lie. But you can get some proper rest now, so see that you do". Sarah smiled, placing her hand on his free hand. "We will, I promise. Right?" she looked at Tania. "You have to admit, though, it's been a little rough for Tania. Having Tyler back, and then almost losing you and Sir Walter." "We'll be more careful in the future" said Myles with a slight smile. "The word about what happened was all over" said Sarah. "Jerry gave us the straight story. I wish you hadn't had to go through that." "Yeah" said Myles. There wasn't much to say, but he felt like some more words were needed. "It's an ugly world sometimes, when people do bad things. We can either fight it or become victims ourselves." He looked at Tania. "How's Tyler?" he asked. "Not bad, considering" said Tania. "We've had time to talk a lot, and it will probably take some time for him to feel really normal again. Like you said, it's ugly sometimes." "Just remember," Myles said. "It doesn't have to be that way. Believe in yourself, and in your comrades. What we do, we don't do just for ourselves. There are millions, many millions of people in this country, and all over the world, who will never have the courage, the foresight, or the inspiration or initiative to do it. That doesn't mean they are bad people, they just don't have what it takes to be fighters. Some of them will fight, at the end, when it's too late - but most people will accept oppression in small increments, and while they may notice what has happened to them, they won't fight, without leaders. We are the leaders. "There is a well-known proverb, usually attributed to one or another revolutionary figure of the past - that it's better do die on your feet than to live on your knees. What people often don't seem to consider is that, if you do decide to live on your knees, you will still die eventually. Probably after a pointless and rather miserable life. "Still, human nature seems to be to avoid dying at all costs, at least for most, regardless of the inevitability of eventual death. And that makes it difficult to motivate people in times like these." What am I doing giving depressing lectures? he thought. "Dr. Nelson says we should be out of here tomorrow." he said. "Why don't you two get Tyler and have an early celebration, and I'll see you tomorrow. OK?" The somber mood lightened somewht, they both smiled. "You got it", said Sarah. They each administered another kiss and left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Myles sat on the edge of the bed for a few moments after the IV and restraints were removed. He felt quite well, the headache gone. He wanted a shower and a shave, a cold drink, and a few other things - but first wanted to see Sir Walter. He stood up, took a few steps, looked at the doctor. "Am I ready to go?" he asked. "Just let me know if anything doesn't seem right." Dr. Nelson replied. "I've got some antibiotics for you, take them for the next ten days just to be safe. I believe Sarah and Tania are here with some clothes for you. They'll get you home." "Thanks" said Myles. "Has Sir Walter left?" "An hour or so ago" replied the doctor. "I'll let you go now. I'll be here every day for the next week or so, in case either of you need me." As he exited the room, Sarah and Tania entered. Sarah set a small duffel bag on the bed - Myles fended off her initial attempt to hug him. "I've been shot and in a hospital bed for three days" he said. "Give me a few minutes." Sarah smiled. "Always the practical one, aren't you? OK, we can wait that long." Myles took the bag into the bathroom and opened it. All the essentials were there, and he was ready for a shave. He had had a beard at times a few years back, but preferred for the time to be clean shaven. One advantage to the freehold hospital was that it wasn't quite as starkly institutional as most hospitals. The bathroom was large and even had a bathtub. He quickly shaved, showered, and brushed his teeth. In less than fifteen minutes he was done, and allowed both Sarah and Tania to hold him for as long as they wanted. Or almost - eventually they had to go. Outside one of the ubiquitous Bobcats waited. About the size of the average personal automobile, but normally with no doors or roof, they were the most commonly used vehicles in the freeholds, all over the country. In production for over a dozen years, a modified version was sold in considerable numbers into the outside world. Sarah drove, and Tania sat in the other front seat. The area where Myles lived was just a few minutes away, and soon they were back in Myles' comfortable quarters. Evening was approaching, and it seemed that a few drinks and dinner were the only likely immediate activity. A message from Sir Walter was waiting - "No rush, tomorrow morning is soon enough. See you at breakfast. Bring the ladies." Myles didn't cook much, beyond the basics of making breakfast and simple dinner dishes for the rare occasions when he was home alone. Apparently Sarah and Tania enjoyed it, and told him to stay out of the way while they got dinner ready. He complied, sipping brandy and listening to music while watching television with the sound off. Television had long ago ceased to have any entertainment value for him, as the entertainment programs were so inane as insult even a mediocre intelligence, and the news seemed to be little more than a government propaganda program. The dedicated movie channels continued to produce new material, a little worse with each passing year - he doubted a decent film had been made in twenty years or so. He wanted a smoke, but didn't know if he should. He smiled slightly at the thought of asking the doctor if he should smoke - with or without a bullet hole in his lung the answer would be no. "Want to share the joke?" asked Sarah. He had not heard her approach, she must have seen his smile. "I was just thinking of having a smoke, and if I should have asked the doctor." he said. Sarah laughed. "I would have liked to see that." she said. "Dinner's ready." It was still early in the night, so they were able to enjoy some quiet time together. The insanity of the outside world seemed so far away at times like this, sitting on a comfortable couch with a beautiful woman on each side - soft, warm, sweet and even now, after what they had seen recently, with an aura of innocence about them. He began to become drowsy, noticed that Sarah and Tania were likewise beginning to drift towards sleep. He gently roused them. "We'd better get to bed" he said. "We're back on regular duty now." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sir Walter showed no evidence of having been shot and hospitalized for several days. Myles had studied his own reflection under the bright bathroom lights and decided he looked all right, but Sir Walter was much older. As was usual, there was no discussion of business until breakfast was over, at which point Sir Walter updated them on the action they had missed. "They got us off to the hospital quickly" said Sir Walter, "so you didn't miss much more than I did, even though you passed out. Jerry and Alan kept the situation under control, and got the prisoners moved out. My fault, I'm afraid. I tried to be as civil as possible about evicting her, didn't order her restrained or even searched. So she had had that weapon. Live and learn, I guess. If you live." Myles noticed he had not used her name. He was a man who had experienced violence, and the associated unpleasantness of war, but to him treachery was another thing entirely. "Do you think she was acting on orders?" Myles asked. "Possibly," said Sir Myles. "We aren't likely to find out. If so, it was yet another big failure on their part. I noticed, though, that you reacted to something you saw as she turned - otherwise I'd have taken the full magazine. Thanks for keeping me on the active roster." Myles didn't know what to say. He knew, in an elemental way, why he reacted as he did. Not just because Sir Walter was a good friend, mentor, and like a father to him - he would have done it, he realized, for anyone. Not just Sir Walter, or Sarah or Tania. And he knew the freehold was full of men who would do the same for him. "We are different here" said Sir Walter, as if aware of his thoughts. "What we are fighting to preserve is the best of human nature. It doesn't survive so well under tyranny." "But enough of that," he continued. "As I said, the prisoners were transferred without further incident. We have had no further communication. If they don't make contact and arrange for a parley, we won't push it for now. We have done them serious damage, without much effort on our part, and no casualties of you own. They are quite aware of this, and I believe it will curb their activities in the short term. "Meanwhile, we have much to do. Since my fellow knights, and most of the major leaders, are interested in what happened here, they will be visiting a few a time, but probably a conference of all nine of us will take place soon, and perhaps a League conference, in person, probably at November Alpha. We all want to get out there and see what is happening. We'll be under increased surveillance, but as our enemies will be quite cautious about any action, this is a good time. "After that activity levels off a bit and I don't have to have you here full-time, you might think about how you want to spend some time off. I'm sure that at some point in the future, leisure time is likely to be in short supply again." Myles looked at Sarah and Tania. Their lives had certainly changed in a big way and in a short time. They would probably want some time to relax and adjust, and he wanted to have some quiet time with them, ideally back at his estate. "Meanwhile" said Sir Walter, with one of his quiet smiles, "we have a few things to to. Whenever you're ready." "How about now?" said Myles. "See you girls later."