Starting from scratch part 11
Marissa had spent three days with Auggie in his flat. During these days he had shown her some basic things that she would need to get around as a blind person. He had shown her how to pour hot and cold drinks, he had given her a few Braille lessons and he had given her some tips about how to get around a kitchen without burning or cutting herself. Now she was back in her own flat and the following day would be her first day at blindschool. Marissa sighed, she was not sure that she would be able to learn all the things that she needed to live independently as a blind woman.
Auggie prepared himself for a new day in Langley. He stood in the bathroom in front of the mirror and shaved. It was not like he could see his own face in the mirror, but it was an old habit and of course it was more convenient. In his mind he went back to the days he had spent with Marissa. He missed her and he could not believe that he did so. He had spent a lot of time alone since he had gone blind and therefore it was strange how quickly he had adapted to living with someone. Auggie had finished shaving and made his way back to the bed where he grabbed his shirt, his trousers and his tie. Since he had lost his vision the selection of clothes had become a special issue. Now he preferred black, grey and dark-blue instead of the sometimes colourful shirts and T-shirts in red, green or white that he had worn before. The selection of clothes that he had now, made it easier for him to dress himself fashionably and neatly. He did not have to worry about being dressed like a clown for Carnival.
Auggie made his way to the kitchen, took a last sip of coffee and grabbed his cane and his messenger bag. Outside, he already heard the honking horn of his car service that would take him to Langley. He used his cane to find the car, trailed his hand along the side of the car and finally found the door. He took a seat in the back and was quickly lost in thought. He wondered what Marissa was up to and at the same time he thought of Annie. These thoughts that he could not ban from spinning around in his mind confused him. Why couldn´t he stop to think of Annie well knowing that she was with Ryan and why did he think of Marissa so often? After all Marissa was only a good friend who needed his help. Annie, however, was his former lover and he could not deny that he still had feelings for her.
Arriving in Langley, Auggie got out of the car and walked towards the entrance whilst sweeping his white cane back and forth. And again he thought of Marissa when he remembered how he had come back with his cane in his hand on his first day as a blind man in Langley. His first encounter had been a column. He had directly walked against it and he had hurt his shin. Joan Campbell had planned to welcome him at the door but before she could get to him, she saw him walking towards that column. It had been gut-wrenching for her to see one of her best operatives so helpless. When she had finally met him, to take him to his new Tech Ops office she had been glad that Auggie could not see her, because the tears of pity and shock in her eyes were clearly visible. Joan had the reputation to be always cool and to keep her feelings well under control. But when it came to Auggie, she felt like a mother who wanted to protect her child from harm. She had always liked him and a couple of times they had gone to the field together when he was still sighted. She knew so well about his capabilities. But now, that Auggie was blind she felt even more the need to protect him. And if she was honest, there was some sort of guilt, too. She felt a bit guilty, because she had not been able to persuade Auggie to stay, when he had requested to leave Langley and to serve in the Special Forces Unit in Iraq. If she had not given her permission, he would not be blind now, at least that was how she thought.
Auggie had taken a seat at his desk and was booting his computer when Barber came in. „Hey buddy, how is it going?" He asked and grinned while he was munching on a donut. Auggie turned his head towards him and replied „I am fine but I have a lot of things on my schedule for today." „Would you like to go for a beer after work?" Barber asked and Auggie smiled „Hey, what a stupid question and to use the words of a certain operative I AM IN". Barber was not only a colleague for Auggie, he had also become a true friend to rely on whenever Auggie needed help. He had been by his side when Annie was in a coma, he had helped him to deal with the whole Henry story and he had encouraged Auggie to start a relationship with Annie when he realized that there was some chemistry between Auggie and Annie. Barber and Auggie had met when Auggie had already lost his sight and Barber´s admiration for Auggie and his capabilities had turned into friendship after a while.
Auggie grabbed the folder from his desk and slid his hands across the Braille label. Joan had given him the latest information about the mission that was planned next. Auggie´s fingers flew across the page, reading the content until he had all the details that he needed. If somebody had told him when he was recently blinded that he would read so easily with his hands one day, he would not have believed it. He wouldn´t have believed either that it was possible to adapt to living in eternal darkness but he had managed to give his life a new direction even without being able to see.
Auggie touched the glass lid of his watch, flipped it open and felt for the time. It was around noon again and he needed something to eat and a coffee. He grabbed his cane from the top drawer of his desk, unfolded it and left the office. He had decided to use his white cane a bit more often than the laser. Around the office the laser came in handy but in the course of time he had noticed that outside the office and in the halls of Langley he was more confident when he used the white folding cane. Auggie reached the cafeteria and waited for his turn. „A coffee with milk and a cheese sandwich please" he said when the young waitress asked him for his wishes. „Would you mind finding a table for me?" He added and the young waitress took the tray and Auggie followed her by listening to the sound of her heels when she walked. „Thank you" he smiled, folded his cane, felt for the back of the chair and took a seat. He had already finished the first half of his cheese sandwich when a familiar voice called him „Hey Auggie how are you doing today?" It was Annie. „May I take a seat?" She added and Auggie´s eyebrows shot up in surprise „Since when do you ask?" He replied. Annie hesitated a bit and then she said „Well...we have had some problems recently so maybe you are not comfortable with me keeping you company" „What a nonsense" Auggie said. You are my closest friend so why should I mind your keeping me company" And then he sneaked his hand across the table to find Annie´s hand and squeezed it a bit before he continued eating his sandwich. Annie sipped on her coffee and watched her best blind friend while he enjoyed the rest of his sandwich.
Marissa had her first mobility and orientation lesson. She was scared. She stood on the sidewalk and listened to the instructions of the mobility trainer. Walking straight ahead into the black nothingness before her was weird and scary. The sound of cars, the steps of people walking by, the honking horns of cars and the sirens of an ambulance were so overwhelming, that she could barely concentrate on what she was supposed to do. The mobility trainer walked next to her and gave her instructions about how to use the cane properly showing her the perfect grip. When they finally reached a traffic light he said „Extend your cane a bit and feel for the curb" Marissa did as she was told and found the curb with the tip of her cane. „Now listen to the beeping sound" The trainer said and then he added „As long as you can hear the beeping, the lights are green. When it stops, the lights are red again" Marissa finally heard the beeping and crossed the street whilst her instructor walked right behind her. When she reached the other sidewalk, she was trembling and sweating. „Will I ever get used to this?" She said and waved her hands before her eyes. „You surely will" the instructor said and squeezed her arm for a bit of reassurance.
After the break at the cafeteria Auggie returned to his office. There were still lots of things to do for him and he wanted to get everything done by the end of the day and before he went for a drink with Barber at the tavern. When he started his e-mail programme he noticed that he had lots of new messages. He scrolled through the mail box and all of a sudden he was startled. He opened the last message and listened to the voice reading the content to him.
Dear Auggie,
I know this must be a surprise, even a huge shock for you to read this message, and honestly I don´t know how to explain all that in a few lines to you. All I want you to know, is that I am alive and recovering from the events of the past few months. If you want to get in touch with me, please send me a reply to thise-mail. I will be able to give you more details when we meet.
Regards your friend
Tony
When the computer voice had read the last words of the message to Auggie, he was startled. His heart was racing and his hands were trembling. How was it possible that Tony was still alive? He had talked to the medical examiner at the hospital, the man had confirmed Tony´s death and now all of a sudden he was told that his friend was still alive. Of course, things like this could happen in the life of a spy. Annie had gone dark and Helen, too but this was scary. At first Auggie thought that the message was a bad joke and that somebody wanted to play tricks on him. If so, it was a very bad and macabre trick. Auggie mused. How could he find out if the message was really from Tony? He had to check on that. Too many bad things had happened to him lately and he did not want to get into danger again.
Two hours later Barber entered Auggie´s office. Auggie was still busy with his research to find out what had happened to Tony. He was so immersed into his work and had his headphones on, that he did not realize Barber´s presence „Hey man" Barber said and then he noticed that something was wrong „What happened, you look strange" He said.
Auggie tilted his head, slid down his headphones and turned his chair into Barber´s direction. For a second he contemplated the idea not to tell Barber what had happened. But then he decided to talk to him. Barber was his friend and he trusted him enough to read him in.
„I got a message from Tony" Auggie said. Barber gave him an incredulous look and stammered. From Tony...I...I...I mean from Tony...the Tony who died recently by alcohol abuse? How is that?"
„I don´t know either." Auggie replied „I have to find out whether this message is really from him or just a fake, a bad joke." He explained. But I am gonna leave that for later. I need some distraction and I think a cold beer at Allan´s is just the right way to relax a bit.
„All right" Barber said and Auggie shut down his computer before he fished his cane out of the top desk drawer and took Barber´s arm. Twenty minutes later both guys were sitting at a table at Allan´s drinking beer. „So what´s up?" Barber asked. „You wanted to tell me more about the e-mail you received so spill it!"