Dar as Daylight

Chapter 21E

PROLOGUE:

Dear friends and readers of my past works. I wish I had better news for you, however

She

, apparently

,

has other ideas about where my life will go from here. Since I last wrote doctors have removed a part of the right side of my brain, because of an abnormal venal malformation which was going to kill me one way or another when it burst. Now, that I am recovering from that operation, I was just diagnosed with

Cancer

again. This one is inoperable, and if possible is only curable through long term chemotherapy, which I started recently. The cancer is in my

Bone Marrow and Spinal Cord

, as well as the bones of my hips. I was feeling absolutely fine recovering from the brain surgery, until one of my blood tests came back and my white count was through the roof. They drilled a hole into my hip took out a sample of the material and there it was.

I ask myself every day what

She

wants from me. I am 74 years old and only using the benefits of this earth. Meanwhile, in a small town in Texas, some idiot with automatic weapons, kills two dozen church going people, including an 18-month-old child, with a whole life ahead of her. Why am I still here, and that child has been taken to

Her Bosom?

No, I am not suicidal. I just wonder what

She

has in store for me, and I hope that it is worth the time and effort I have to put in to it to make

Her

proud.

As to the story, I am not going to be able to finish it. I have absolutely no energy. What you will find below was the beginning of the end. The start between the recovery from the brain surgery and the diagnosis of the cancer. Trust me, it is not much. What I will do is try to give you a series of vignettes to tell you how the story would have progressed in the coming weeks or months; probably months. Chemotherapy takes everything away from you, except your will to live. I have the complete outline of the story stored in my head and if I can get it into this computer I will get it out to you my friends.

I have written this one page and I am perspiring like crazy. I'm going to have to go lie down now but I think I will send this out as it is, hoping you'll understand my plight. If you pass a tree say Hello for me. If you look up into the stars at night, tell

Her

you are thinking about me. That's all I ask, because I will be thinking about you. Bob

Ch. 78 ...And Away We Go

"How are you feeling this morning, sir?"

"Get me out of this hospital, Paul, before I start tearing it down brick by brick."

"Let me see, sir. I am carrying a cleaned and pressed uniform, shoes, socks, and skivvies. What could that possibly mean?"

"You mean they are really letting me go, voluntarily?"

"Sir, this is Canada. I have the 2 idiots waiting outside his office. Prior to coming up here, the 3 of us walked into the director's office, bypassing his secretary, who nearly fainted because of the way we acted. We just barged in there. I asked Jeffrey in what century he wanted to receive payment on your considerable medical bill? I said to him, "If you don't allow me to take him home today, you may never see payment while you continue to breathe, because of the rules of the Canadian Healthcare System. On the other hand, I could go, and leave you with these 2 very talented men, and return in 5 minutes. They are only talented in one very specific area, and if you are alive when I return, these 2 men will have abrogated a major codicil of their contract, and they will be out of their type of work permanently. If you are in a coma when I return, I will put a drop of venom from the Olive Sea Snake under your tongue and you will die within a minute of respiratory arrest. The venom is extremely toxic, and exceedingly hard to trace.

While the police are chasing their tails trying to figure out what happened to a healthy young man, I will buy this fucking building out from under your ass. According to your bank, you are 5 months in arrearages, and they are already petitioning the government to take it over from you. If that falls through they will try to form a Federation of Doctors, with working knowledge of this hospital to take it over. The doctors they have approached so far want no part of you, and I can't say I blame them.

I will bring the buildings note up to date, and install nurse Constance in your place as the Chief Operating Officer. That is how hard your job is. Hampton Evers will be put in charge of the physical plant, and Doctor Llewellyn will be put in charge of all Medical Services, including the Emergency Room. I don't know why, Colonel, but Jeffrey kept looking up at me, as if he were in his coffin, already."

"I knew you had it in you, Paul, you handled it perfectly."

"You had to know it was in me sir, you put it there. Now, I am going to dress you. You are not going to move your injured leg 1 inch, are you, sir? If that artery springs a leak, we may never make it to the island, and back here again in time for me to save you. Are we agreed on that sir?"

"Yes Paul, we are."

"Would you like me to wash you down before I dress you?"

"Do you want my arm up your ass while you are dressing me, Sergeant?"

"I guess we can both do without ruffling the others' feathers, can't we sir?"

"Okay Paul, I'll be nice."

"If you are nice, I'll know they switched bodies during the evening hours. Just be yourself sir, and we will get along just fine."

"That sounds like a plan, you may begin."

"Here we go sir. I am going to uncover you completely. Then I'm going to take off that wonderful pink gown you are wearing. As soon as I have completed that task, I want your left and right foot in that sling. I will put your shorts on and shimmy them up until they are properly aligned at your waist. Are we in agreement sir?"

"Why don't you put the shorts on my left leg, bring it up to my knee, and let me slide my good leg in the open side. I will be able to lift my ass off the bed high enough, and you will be able to lift my shorts into the appropriate position."

"Who is running this operation, sir?"

"You are Paul."

"Thank you for acknowledging that Colonel. Now we will do it your way, because there is no harm doing this to your leg while leaving it in the sling the entire time, and not being touched by your sound leg."

"Thank you, Paul, let's get on with it."

Paul threw the blankets to the end of the bed, untied the gown from around the Colonel's neck and back, then removed it and threw it onto a nearby chair.

Paul looked at his commanding officer he found no fault. For a man, of his height, weight, and age; any other man would have been jealous of what he saw. Others might call him a fairy, because he was tiny in all aspects of his body. However, the way God made him, Lucius C. Canyon was one row after another of taut, leathery muscle reaching out to greet the next row of muscle.

"Shall I dress you left or right, sir?"

"I'll put the damn thing where it belongs."

"I love when men play with each other's private parts."

"That will be enough nurse. You seemed to like playing with my 'private parts' yesterday, when you bathe me."

"I was amazed when that tiny pimple woke up yesterday, Mr. Canyon."

"Connie, I will have Paul lay you on this comfortable bed, then close and lock the door from the outside. I will have the item you referred to as my tiny pimple, visit your rectum, if that is your pleasure? It does stand very tall, and at attention for long periods of time, when he is insulted. In my opinion, I believe you just insulted him. If you have a condom with you, I would be more than happy to visit your 'Private Garden', but I have no wish to leave a child behind at this late date of my life. Even Paul does not have a child to carry his name on to future generations."

"Are you looking for a little extracurricular activity prior to your leaving us, Lucius?"

"I would never prevail upon a very dedicated worker by putting her in danger of losing her prestigious staff position, by just helping to alleviate the tensions of an elderly gentleman preparing to go home after major surgery."

"You are a wonderful bullshit artist, Lucius. I would be checking your leg tolerance for pain, the position of the bandages, and trying to ascertain if you would be better off sitting or lying down during your long trip back to Vancouver Island, in comfort. Paul will be standing by the entrance to the room. We should have no time constraints with this arrangement."

"I believe you should get some room spray disinfectant; a change of bedding, and any articles of clothing that might be useful for me, or you, after our exchange of ideas; don't you?"

"I see you've done this before, Lucius."

"I have never been in a hospital post-operatively, Connie."

"What do you mean that you've 'NEVER' been in a hospital post-operatively, Lucius?"

"I have visited others who have been in a hospital, but this is the 1st time I have ever been in a hospital as a patient, Connie. Is that so hard to believe?"

"How old are you Lucius, and don't lie to me? She hit him on the bottom of his injured foot to make her point clear.

Lucius howled in pain. "Paul get in here, she is torturing me."

Paul walked in. He walked past Connie and the Colonel and picked up a bag that was sitting on the window ledge.

"Where do you think you're going soldier?"

"I'm going to look at a rerun of the view of you being tortured by your nurse. Then I'm going to think about all the money I'm going to make when I send it out to our unit."

"You wouldn't do that to me Paul, we've been together too long. Everything I have is in your name."

"Sir, I may not be able to buy Montana like you can, but I have enough money saved to live my life very comfortably. Either the government paid me, or you paid me, and I never spent a penny of it. I invested most of my money following your advice and I have done very well as have you. I don't believe I will ever be on food stamps, or public assistance in my lifetime.

Connie said, "Paul go outside and put your ear by the door. This elderly gentleman may teach us both something."

"Yes ma'am; have a great time Colonel. Please don't break the leg again. I'll have to buy this hospital to keep you happy."

"There are certain benefits if you have to buy this hospital Paul. One of them is getting undressed while you are wasting my time."

"Are you going to answer her questions, sir, or am I going to have to tell her?"

"I am a citizen of the United States, and I wish to talk to the US counsel."

Connie replied "You may be a US citizen, but you are in Canada, a very friendly country to yours. Answer my question, you old fart."

"I am 82 years old."

"Go outside Paul, I'm going to check his heart rate, and muscle function."

"Enjoy yourself Connie. You too Dad."

"Thank you, my son."

"Remember, slow and steady wins the race."

"Is that what you did when we let you off at the college sorority for the weekend?"

"I was 27 years old, and in my prime, dad."

Connie said, "You let Paul stay at a college sorority house for 3 days?"

"Yes, Connie, he was 1st prize in their Olympics. He had the kind of torch they wanted for first prize. When we picked him up Monday morning, some of the girls were crying and begging him to leave the Army and start taking college courses immediately."

"Can I ask what school this was?"

"As long as you don't spread it around I'll tell you."

"Dammit, you men and your secrets."

"Women don't keep secrets from us men?"

"The secrets we keep are only to keep you happy and safe."

Lucius said cagily, "I see women stack bullshit over their heads also."

Connie said, "Fuck you, Lucius."

"You're going to Connie. You have a pair of 34C's uncovered, and looking at me. Do you want Paul to spread that around the hospital?"

Connie growled at him. "No, I guess not.

"We were doing mountain training in upstate New York, and while the bigwigs were redoing our training schedule, they gave us a four-day weekend. We went south to an area just north of Syracuse, and ran into a female track and field meet. There were running sprints and long-distance races, throwing the discus and javelin, the high jump, and finally, archery. The crowd had thinned out considerably by the time the archery contest started and they allowed us to stay outside the ropes. There were two sets of ropes. The female athletes, cheerleaders, and students were on the inside, and the crowd, including us on the outside ropes. As the contestants did their thing, something happened, and the girls by the inside rope started looking at Paul. There were 120 of us, and they were all looking at Paul. There were giggles, waves, and laughs. The girls started yelling, "What's your name handsome?" Paul wouldn't answer. I ordered him to stand at attention. I said to the young ladies, "Is this the soldier you are speaking to ladies?"

They all cheered, "Yeah!"

"What do you want of him?"

"We need a piece of him for first prize."

"Will he be fit for duty Monday morning?"

"Probably not."

"Who is the leader of your group?"

"I am, Sir. My name is Sylvia Davis. I am the president of Alpha Gamma Delta. To stay in our 10 sorority, you must have a straight A average, and compete in a competitive sport."

"That's very admirable. Who are you competing against today?"

"They are competing against us, Colonel; Alpha Chi Omega. We don't look at averages. We look at the whole person, and evaluate her at the years end. We look at her value system, and her outlook on life. We don't care if they came from Park Avenue, or the ghetto. It is the person not the place."

"Very admirable outlook on life just like the United States Army. Paul, you are placed in the charge of these two women until Monday morning at 5:59 AM. At 6 AM you will meet us in front of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house, in full battle dress, is that understood?"

"Sir, yes sir."

"Ladies, you may take your man."

The screaming that went on when I turned Paul over to them probably set off a minor earthquake in the Syracuse area.

Connie said, "I hope the girls supplied you with condoms?"

"I would not have taken part of any young lady's body without one, and not one young lady was a virgin before-hand."

"You two are going to be the death of each other. You know each other's stories, you know each other's secrets, and you know each other's heartbeat. You know each other's friends, but most of all you know each other's enemies. Do either of you have lives of your own?"

"No Connie, we don't. Our lives depend on each-others' so symbiotically that if he can't read what I'm thinking 5 miles away, I am as good as dead, and so is he. That is what this weekend was all about. Even though I did not plan on breaking my leg, I guess you can say it was a happy circumstance that it did happen while we were together. If either one of us was out of position, many lives could have been lost. We are the heads of the very elite unit, and we only function properly with the other backing us up."

"Paul, you can back him up from the other side of the door, while I keep track of his heart."

"Yes ma'am, if it stops call me. I'll back you up while you get dressed."

"Thank you, Paul, I don't think that'll be necessary."

"Neither do I."

"Now, Lucius, where did you hide that pimple?"

"Did you want front entry or rear entry, my dear?"

"If you're up for it, I'll take 1 of each."

"Now you are a girl after my own heart. However, I love foreplay, I hope you do?"

"A soldier, and a gentleman, how did I get so lucky?"

"You are going to make me two blackout cakes as soon as I get home. I hope there is more to come afterwards, like I am, sooner or later."

"Oh Lucius, you are a dirty old man."

"As you can see Connie, my pimple has risen to the occasion. Less talking now, and more lovemaking."

"I can't wait to see what happens when I break that pimple for the 1st time, Lucius. I bet it's been quite a while since you've had female accompaniment."

"Yes, it has Connie, but this body is used to it. Now, less talking, and more action please."

"Are you in a hurry, Lucius?"

"No, Connie, it's just that talking tends to move one's mind away from the action at hand, and at this moment, I have two very cute puppies I am enjoying playing with, and I'd rather concentrate on them, if you don't mind, that is?"

"Since those puppies you are talking about belong to me, and your causing me to begin to perspire, I believe I will let you continue without further conversation. You have wonderful hands Colonel. I can see you have been over many maps in your time."

"Yes, I have been over many 'Relief Maps' in my time, and those little lines have helped my fingers become very accurate in the placement of men, artillery, supply drops, and inbound friendly aircraft fire. My fingers became very accurate in all things, and that includes a woman's body."

"Lucius shut up. I'm on fire, and you are the one that's talking."

"My apologies, Madame. I will get back to work instantly."

"Hurry up, you ancient bastard, before I explode without you."

"Follow your body's wishes, Connie, don't hold back."

"You're not giving me much of a choice, you ancient bastard. Would you please kiss me?"

"What do you think I have been doing for the last half hour?"

"I swear Lucius, if you don't kiss me properly, I'm going to grab you by what there is of your hair and pull it out. Your son will think you're being tortured again."

"Knowing Paul, he probably has 2 or 3 more cameras in this room focused on both of us at this moment. Do your worst, woman, but give me your lips now so I can kiss you properly."