The Elders (Mind Dimensions #4)(86)

“James is alive. Eleanor and Caleb knocked him out. Even John survived, though he’s in surgery.” As she talks, her eyes become suspiciously moist.

Making sure I don’t infuriate my injury, I loudly whisper, “What about the police officers? The ones George—”

“If you’re talking about the ones at the Temple, we tried to save as many as we could, but I won’t lie—there was collateral damage. Same goes for the monks. If you mean the officers who accompanied you when George was running away, then I’m afraid none of them made it.”

A wave of intense guilt washes over me. My Guiding cost the sheriff and his deputies their lives, which wasn’t my intent. I was only trying to reverse George’s compulsion. As if sensing what I’m feeling, Mira places her other hand on top of my palm, as though to warm me up.

“None of this is your fault,” Kate says, shrewdly picking up on my tension. “It’s all on George.”

“No,” Rose interjects. “We bear some of the responsibility.”

“Sorry to interrupt.” A tall man in a white coat enters. He stops, Kate standing between him and my bed. Though she isn’t wearing her sword, her body language speaks clearly, and the guy instantly grows roots.

“ID,” she orders.

The guy points at his pocket and then to his face. Kate does her best imitation of a TSA agent, first staring at his badge, then at his face.

Finally, she says, “Okay, speak.”

“Umm, I was going to introduce myself. I’m Doctor Churin,” he says.

“Hi Doc, I’m Darren.” I try to sound friendly. It’s always been my policy to keep doctors happy with me, especially while I’m in their hospital. “You can tell me about my condition in front of my friends and family.”

He looks at the chart, then around the room. Clearing his throat, he says, “You have a mild concussion, and your x-rays show a cracked rib.”

Kate whistles, Mira narrows her eyes, and Rose worriedly exhales.

“You should be fine,” the doctor says, half to me and half to the women. “We’ll just need to make sure to provide you with proper pain management so you can breathe, cough, and laugh normally. The painkillers will also help your right ankle. It’s swollen and might be painful to step on. Now tell me, how do you feel?”

I give the doctor a big list of complaints, which he writes into my chart.

“I’ll check back in an hour.” He returns his pen into his breast pocket. “Meanwhile, I’ll send in our best nurse to give you something for the pain.”

“Wait, doctor,” Mira says. “Can he sleep? I heard you can’t sleep with a concussion.”

“Since he can carry on a conversation, I wouldn’t worry. If you’re extra conservative, you can rouse him every few hours to make sure his condition isn’t deteriorating. We do that with children.”

“I’ll do that then,” Mira mumbles, more to herself than to the doc.

Rose looks at her with unabashed curiosity.

The doctor leaves. He was so helpful that I wonder whether Thomas Guided him.

Now that I know my body will recover, I allow myself to worry about my Inert state. What if Eugene was right? What if I never recover my abilities? Imagining myself without my abilities is like imagining being blind.

The nurse comes in next, distracting me from my blues. Before she’s allowed to do anything, Kate gives her the same ID treatment she gave the doctor. Thankfully, she clears her, and the nurse administers my feel-good juice.

“I’m going to get something to eat,” Kate says when the nurse leaves the room. “But don’t worry. Eleanor is just outside this door.”

“Are you guys protecting me?” I ask.

“You and her people.” Kate waves at Rose. “The Elders want you and the Enlightened safe.”

Warmth and contentment spreads through me, though I’m not sure whether it’s brought on by the knowledge that Kate’s team is protecting me, or by the drug the nurse gave me. Whatever it is, it spreads nicely through my body and makes it very easy to breathe.

“They’re a little overbearing,” Rose says after Kate leaves the room. “But we’re putting up with it, for the sake of peace.”

“Speaking of overbearing,” I say, feeling giddy at the joke I’m about to make. “How is Paul?”

She chuckles. “He’s got some bumps and bruises, but he’ll be okay. He’s grateful to you, even if you won’t hear him admit it. When that woman told him about Caleb trying to kill you, he was livid.”

She stops talking because there’s some kind of a scuffle coming from the hall.

A few seconds later, Eleanor walks in. Her hands are on her hips, and she has Eugene’s head between her body and her right elbow. On her left, she has Bert’s head in the same position.

“Do you know these two?” she booms.

“Yes, please let them go,” I say at the same time as Mira snaps, “Let my brother go, you bitch.”

Eleanor complies, giving Mira a dirty look.

“Thanks, Eleanor,” I say. “Please wait outside.”

To my shock, the big woman nods and exits. It might be the drugs, but I thought I saw a hint of respect in the gesture.

“Darren, how are you?” Eugene exclaims.