Viki slept well, finally. She must have really needed the sleep, too. Her eyes were matted, from the tears she’d shed during her sleep. She tried to put the impossible out of her mind. Clint was going to get well and things would be right. They would be going home and back to their children. It was just a matter of time. Clint would bounce back, he was strong and healthy, otherwise. She knew he’d be okay, she’d prayed. She’d told God how much she needed him, had always needed him and always would. She believed in miracles and she thought they definitely needed one now.
Going into the bathroom, she straightened herself as best she could. Her makeup was smeared and she decided to give her face a good washing. There wasn’t much makeup left, anyway. She always wore makeup, except when she stayed at home, she felt undressed when she didn’t have it on. But her skin was beginning to beg for air. It was warm in the hospital. It had window units, but they apparently weren’t enough to keep the whole hospital cool. The staff seemed used to it, though. It was cooler inside than out, and that she was grateful for. Clint was a Texas boy and could stand the heat, but Viki was used to air conditioning. Even at the ranch, she always ran the air, full blast. Running her hands through her hair and using a little water to perk up her ‘do, she wondered where she could find some coffee.
“Later, after I check on Clint,” she thought.
She was almost scared to open the door. Every time she walked through it, she was afraid she would find something she didn’t want to see. She could see him lifeless, again. She could see an empty bed, the rumpled sheets where his warm body had been. Mustering her courage, she pushed on the door and bolstered her spirits to match a mood she really didn’t have. But she had to put on the ‘happy face’. He couldn’t sense there was fear in her. It was hard; no, it was impossible. This fear was the biggest wall she’d ever had to scale. Her illnesses had been one thing, but she loved Clint more than herself. She could take the pain and infirmity, the mental anguish. However, her heart ached with a powerful, stabbing twinge. It poked her over and over again. She thought she could hear it, pounding in her head, screaming at her. She wanted to scream back. “Go away, leave me alone. Go somewhere else!” Could someone really die from a broken heart? She would, if she lost Clint. Her life wouldn’t take the void, wouldn’t accept the hole that would surely eat her up.
“Clint, darling!” He was still asleep and her hopes were dashed. She walked over to him and kissed him gently on the forehead. It seemed normal. The nurse had raised the bed and he was almost sitting up. She looked at his handsome face and leaned over again to brush some sleep out of the corner of his eye. All at once, he raised his arm and grabbed her. “Got you!”
Viki was so startled she turned around and sat on the bed. “Don’t you ever do that to me again! You scared the life out of me. You are awake, you big bear!”
“You didn’t expect me to be awake or maybe you weren’t expecting me to be alive, huh?”
“Of course, I did. But no one told me you were awake! How long have you been this way?”
“I guess, pretty much near all my life, ma’am.” he said grinning the biggest grin.
“You . . . , you . . . , you beautiful man! I’m so happy!”
“I keep telling you, men aren’t beautiful. You’re the only beautiful one in this room. Come give me a kiss, quick!”
“Are you sure we should? Aren’t you sore or something?”
“Well, not on my lips, for goodness sake! Get over here!”
Viki stood up and leaned over and expected a sweet, little kiss. Instead, she got a long, hungry, passionate kiss that nearly knocked her off her feet. She then went around to the other side of the bed, put down the bed rail and climbed on top of the bed. It was a small hospital bed, but they fit together just fine. She put her arm around his pillow and rested her head on his. He felt so good. He was alive and vital and so loving. He reached up and touched her chin and stretched to kiss the tip of her nose. Scooting down in the bed, she cuddled next to him and tried to put her arms around him. But there were too many “wires” on him. They were about to get tangled up, IV and all. Viki started to giggle and Clint laughed. “Ever done it in a hospital bed?”
“No, and I don’t want to know if you have, Mr. Buchanan.”
“Want to try something new, Mrs. Buchanan?”
“Yes, but not now. This is a little too lacking privacy for me. Anybody could walk right in, any minute. The last thing I want to do is be somebody’s personal porn flick.”
“Shucks,” grinned Clint. “I was beginning to feel so good, too!”
“Another time, Romeo.”
At that precise moment, Mark walked in. He took one look at the two of them in the bed and whirled around. “Sorry, I should have knocked. I’ll come back.”
“My point proved, I think. No, Mark, it’s okay. Come on in.”
“No, it’s okay that I don’t come in. I just wanted to tell you that I’m leaving now for the airport. Clint, glad to see you’re . . . you’re back to normal.” stuttered Mark. He was so embarrassed, he turned a bright red, from his neck to the top of his ears. The whole time he was just dying inside. He couldn’t believe he had walked in on them. What was he thinking? Well, Clint had been on the brink of death the night before. It was only natural to assume that he might still be unconscious.
“We’ll be here. Good luck. Hope you don’t have any problems. Is Larry going with you?”
“I hadn’t asked him, I assumed he’d be tied up here.”
“No, the only person tied up here is me. They’ve got me hooked up like a TV antenna. There’s no way I can fly away.”
“Clint, I hope you get real better, soon. Actually, you surprised me. I was fearing the worst last night.”
“A Buchanan doesn’t give up easy, son. I have too much to live for.”
“Mark, you can turn around, really. I just laid down to give him a hug.”
“OK, but I really have to be running anyway. Take it easy, both of you. I’ll be back in several hours.”
“That long?”
“Remember the limo ride from Rio? We have to do that in a school bus! I’m really dreading it, too.”
“Why’s that?”
“Can you imagine all these high-rolling doctors riding in an un-air conditioned school bus? You think they’ll stand for that?”
“The way I look at it, Mark. If they got no choice, they got no choice. I’m already paying for their vacation. They didn’t come to downtown London. And you can tell them that for me, if you find it necessary.”
“Thanks, Clint. That helps, but it still doesn’t address the living quarters.”
“Same goes. Don’t take any flak from them.”
Larry had wanted to inspect the operating rooms, equipment and supplies, so Ivan had given him a brief tour and allowed him to inspect the rest of the facilities alone. He was sorely disappointed. The surgery site was as old and out-dated as the part of the hospital Clint was in. But Larry had noticed that there was another part of the hospital that no one ever went in. It was locked up and inaccessible from the end of the corridor. He thought he heard activity, but he couldn’t be sure. Even though the building was old, it was solid and the ancient brick walls were thick, strong and virtually soundproof. Once, he thought he heard a scream. But he wasn’t sure. Then he heard it again. No, it could be an animal. A tortured animal, maybe. He squinted through a crack in the door, but couldn’t see much. There was a dim light very far away. He couldn’t make out any shapes or forms.
There didn’t seem to be anything moving. There, he heard it again. He pressed his ear to the door. It was thick, too and not only locked, but chained. There was something in there that Ivan didn’t want anyone to know about. It was definitely a secret that Larry intended to find out. If someone was being kept prisoner, being tortured even, he had to know about it. He would ask Ivan, but only after he’d exhausted all other areas, because he knew Ivan would never tell him the truth. And he would bet that Ivan was up to no good. Maybe he would ask one of the nurses.
Following Ivan’s plans, Mark went to the airport and met everyone. There weren’t enough taxis, so he had had to “borrow” a local school bus. Well, it wasn’t exactly borrowing. He had slipped the driver a fifth of Tequila and pointed out a very shady spot in a field not too far from the school. He would return the bus after transporting passengers and luggage. It was after school hours, so, hopefully, no one would know the difference. The only problem was, the bus wasn’t air conditioned. He hoped everyone would be a good sport about it. But if Ivan was a good example to judge by, he might be tarred and feathered before the day was over. Maybe he could fake them out and tell them they were experiencing a cold snap. Wouldn’t work. He’d just have tell them what Clint thought about it. Tough luck!
He had been told to take the professionals to the far side of the compound. He had checked the place out earlier in the day and wasn’t very impressed. He hoped that the docs liked camping. It reminded him of the Boy Scout barracks that he had spent summers at. 50 cots, 6 toilets and 4 showers. That and the fact it also wasn’t air conditioned, would definitely factor into the equation for unhappiness. He was surprised that Ivan had expected the others to go for such primitive conditions. After all, they were used the to palaces of the world. Not this. But Ivan waved off his concerns with a cavalier attitude. ‘They’ll adjust’ was all that he said. Seemed rather basic, but then Ivan did have an amazing power over people. He could get them to do anything, as long as they didn’t know him. Then they got suspicious. Mark wondered how many of the visiting entourage would know Ivan. Hopefully, none of them. That would make for a bad start. It was going to take all Ivan’s persuasive powers to convince people he didn’t know to do this dirty work for him. If there was anything to be said about Ivan, it was that he was persistent, self-assured and totally oblivious to what others thought of him. Which could be an asset, sometimes.
The hot, dusty road created huge swirls of clouds as he drove down the road. The group seemed nice enough, for now. They’d been smart and dressed very casual. Good thing, it was ninety-eight degrees and eighty percent humidity. But the idea of a free vacation tempered just about any amount of rage. It wouldn’t be long, though. They still hadn’t seen the barracks. It was just a matter of time.
Meanwhile, Ivan was with Karen. He had made arrangements for her to come earlier to Macao than the rest of the party. She was lying in a chaise lounge, sipping a margarita in an inside courtyard. It was hot and Karen had on a swimsuit, attempting to tan.
“Are all your plans solid, Ivan?”
“Rock solid, Karen, my dear. And I couldn’t have done it without you. You have been a dream the entire time. I am impressed by your cooperation, really.”
“Well, when you explained the risks and the benefits, I just naturally wanted to help out. And getting a free vacation to boot, was a great incentive, too. And you did threaten my friends and family.”
“Just like my old Karen, always ready to believe the worst. Glad to see you haven’t changed, Dear. I mean, there was a time when only money could buy you. Money and nice things.”
“I don’t settle for just nice things anymore, Ivan. I’ve lost it all. I lost my husband. My career is washing up. I need Larry. I need someone to take care of and someone to take care of me.”
“Oh, Karen, if I had only known earlier. Perhaps, we could have had each other.”
“No offense, Ivan, but I don’t think I’m your type. You are better off with Monique. She’s a real doll, too. I’m not sure you deserve her, though.”
“I’m positive I don’t deserve her. And she deserves better. I do love her, Karen. I’m sure you have a hard time believing that. But I am not the monster I used to be.”
“I think that proving that will be hard. After this week, though, your name will be legend. ”
“Legend?”
“I mean, even more legend than it already is,” Karen said sarcastically.
“That’s better. I will have my day in court, so to speak. It’s unfortunate that Clint has been hurt. I did so want him to witness the beginning of our little project, which will occur soon.”
The patio door opened and Monique walked out in her crisp, white uniform. Looking rather distastefully at Karen, she addressed Ivan.
“Mr. Buchanan is awake. Seems to be doing fine. Larry Wolek is with him now. I think he will recover nicely.”
“Do you think he can make it to the festivities today? Mark should be here anytime with the rest of our guests.”
“Oh, I think he could manage it in a wheelchair. The IV should probably come out. He has walked to the bathroom. He’s unsteady, but that didn’t stop his wife from crawling on top of his bed!”
“Viki! How sensational! Go for it, girl!” Karen seemed pleased at this image she had pictured.
“Don’t worry, Monique. I’m sure there was no harm done.
“They always were a very passionate couple. Used to, they would fight hard and l assume love hard, because they always were good friends, faithful confidantes and loving partners. I admire them. I’m sure Viki had some very fearful, tense times.”
“Yes, Karen, you’re right, I’m sure Viki was concerned. And I was, too. Who else will pay for my little scheme?”
“Monique, I’ll go and check on Clint myself. You go out to the quarters and double-check that everything is ready. The maids have been there, it should all be done. I do want the place to be clean and for them to have everything they need. They will be working around the clock, in shifts, so we must make them comfortable.”
“Yes, Ivan, I will do as you ask.”
“Not really going to be on vacation for those chumps, huh, Ivan? You may have a major revolt on your hands.”
“Karen, I think after I have a little talk with them and use my famous persuasion techniques, they will gladly do what they can.”
“That or you’ll send them into the jungle without a guide,” laughed Karen.
Mark dropped the visiting medical team off and drove as fast as he could to the school to return the bus. He’d left a jeep close by and he needed to get back quickly. The old man was still asleep in the grass, the bottle long empty. He woke him up and helped him get aboard. He left the keys on the last seat so he wouldn’t try to drive drunk. He didn’t want that on his conscious. He had enough of that already. Speaking of things that were on his mind, he had to find Karen. He knew Kipling would have her here, it was instrumental in getting Larry to do what Ivan wanted. But if he could get there first, there might be a chance to put the odds in their favor!
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