The Sister(205)

He changed the subject. ‘Where’s Kathy? Is she here, in the hospital?’

‘No, she isn’t, as I was coming down the hill; a four wheel drive with blacked out windows came past on a fire road; they'd almost caught you up before you went in.’ She poured herself a plastic cup full of water. ‘As soon as Kathy was out, they resuscitated her and took her with them.’

‘Who did?’

‘The Sister and a younger woman, I’m guessing her daughter.’

‘Where was I?’

‘You were still in the water. By that time, the emergency services were coming down the fire road. I think they just wanted to get out before anyone challenged what they were doing.’

‘You saw her?’

‘Yes, I recognised her from Ryan’s funeral.’ She looked at Miller and paused, as if considering the credibility of her next statement. ‘I didn’t try to stop them taking her. I know this probably sounds odd, but I just felt everything would be all right.’

‘It will be. She’s like the last survivor of a forgotten tribe...’ Miller’s voice trailed off as his thoughts caught up. ‘I often wonder why it is God made such people. Was it by design, or accident?’

‘You’re getting too deep for me now. Come on, you need to rest,’ she said. Picking up her bag, she stood, ready to leave.

‘Wait, she – they – Tanner and Marshall, what’s happening about that? They must have said something about Kathy?’ he asked.

‘I telephoned Marshall and asked if we could extend the paperwork to cover a few more days and after I'd told him she was responding very well to being with us, he agreed.’

His thoughts touched on Tanner. If Marshall had agreed to a few more days, he might not like it, but he couldn’t object.

Miller sighed. ‘I’m so tired; I could sleep for a week, but at least we know she’s in good hands.’

‘I’ll leave you to get some rest. I’ll be back later.’ She took no more than six paces and stopped, delving into her handbag. ‘Oh, by the way, they gave me this.’ She held out a clear, sealed plastic wallet.

‘What is it?’ he said, raising himself onto an elbow.

‘They told me you were holding it so tightly in your hand, they had to prise it from you.’ She patted his arm. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’

Mystified, he took the bag and held it up in front of him. Something inside was wrapped in tissue paper. His forehead creased in puzzlement, as he pulled the seal apart and reached in to retrieve the object. Placing it on the bedclothes in front of him, he slowly stripped the thick layers away. An edge exposed; he hardly dared to conceive its meaning, his heart hammered, expectant. What? Feverish, his fingers tore at the rest of the paper, setting the object free. Joy and confusion mixed with surprise when he realised what it meant. His face lit with wonderment, and he beamed as he held it, felt its curve against the inside of his palm.

It was his seashell.

The meaning of many things he’d never understood before became clear. He’d cheated death so many times. Now, what Kirk had said to him once summed it up perfectly. I escaped, but I never got away.

‘Kirk, old friend,’ he whispered. ‘Maybe that’s so. Maybe I’m not meant to get away. Maybe this is my life; only ever a heartbeat away from dying. Maybe I haven’t escaped, but I have bought myself some more time.

An hour later, he discharged himself from the hospital.





The jangling sound of a telephone infiltrated his dream, louder and louder, until finally he sat up, exasperated at the thought a dream phone call could wake him. His mobile buzzed almost immediately, spinning in a clockwise arc on the bedside table. The caller display told him it was Tanner; he disconnected the call. It immediately rang again.

‘Yes!’ he barked, and was met with silence. He checked the display. It wasn’t Tanner. He softened his voice. ‘Sister...is that you?’

‘No, it’s Rosetta. I’m coming to collect you. Bring Kathy’s sister. It’s time to set things right.’

‘How is she, Kathy?’

‘She’s better. I’ll see you soon.’





Stella’s hotel room was opposite his. He knocked on the door. Come on!

A two inch gap opened; the frown on her face disappeared when she saw it was him. She'd turbaned her hair in a towel, and she checked it was securely wrapped, before stepping back to allow him into the room.

‘Are you coming in? I have to warn you, the house is a mess—’

‘Stella, Rosetta is on her way to pick us up to see Kathy. We need to be ready.’

‘I’ll race you,’ she said and shut the door.

With just enough time to freshen up, pack and ping a quick email to Carla, he checked his watch. No way would she beat him. He turned on the shower.

Using his phone, he drafted an email and pressed the send button.

Hi, just touching base. I haven’t heard from you for a while. I won’t call you in case you’re spying on someone, ha ha. Ring me this evening.

Miller.

He debated on whether to add an 'x', and decided not. As he pressed the send button, there was a knock. Throwing the last of his belongings into a small carrier bag, he opened the door.