The second night passed much the same as the first, with Douglas awakening several times as Simen came in to check on Martin and do various things. Breakfast was the same, and Douglas almost felt like it was a routine. Imagine that. Two days and it was becoming a routine already.
They took another chest x-ray before breakfast, and as Douglas expected, the results were back before rounds.
Rounds commenced similarly to the previous day's, and Irene told him that the doctor was planning on extubating Martin later that afternoon.
"Excellent news," she told him, smiling.
Douglas really didn't have it in him to feel happy about that. Relieved maybe, but what was Martin going to say now that he could speak? Was he going to be angry at Douglas for dragging him to hospital or confused by Douglas holding his hand all the time? Had he picked up on the fact they were supposed to be partners?
Carolyn and Arthur showed up shortly after rounds again, and Douglas filled her in while Arthur chatted to Martin, who was mostly conscious, having woken up from the sedative, seemingly with no memory of his struggle.
"Mum took me out to see some of the sights yesterday," Arthur told Martin excitedly. "There really aren't many sights, but mum took me out anyway."
Martin was doing his best to look interested.
"Oh, but guess where we did go! Guess, guess!"
Douglas smirked. Arthur seemed to have forgotten yet again that Martin couldn't reply. "I think that would be a bit difficult," he commented from behind his newspaper.
"Oh, right. Well, they have an aviation museum here, and mum says we can go again when you're better, before we leave."
Douglas peered around the newspaper. Martin looked absolutely thrilled about that news.
"Does that sound good Skip?" Arthur asked, just as excited as Martin was.
He nodded in reply.
Arthur beamed. "Brilliant! It was my idea you know. Mum let me get a guidebook, and I've practically finished it!"
Martin raised an eyebrow and Douglas set his paper down loudly.
"Really Arthur?" he said skeptically.
"Well, it's not very big," he said defensively. "And it's about all of Norway really. But I've almost finished the chapter!"
"After spending the whole night asking me how to pronounce some of the funny letters," Carolyn muttered.
"O's should not have lines through them," Arthur said firmly.
"Just like Q's always have to have U's after them?" Douglas asked. Martin smirked, which Arthur didn't take notice of.
"Yes. Exactly. Because it's the law." Arthur said this very matter-of-factly, and it would have been amusing except for the fact that Arthur actually believed it.