28. Scott and Virgil – Courage and Voiceless
Cowards die many times before their deaths.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
- Julius Caesar, Act II Sc II
Neither Scott nor Virgil ever really thought about how dangerous their jobs could be. That thought in itself was dangerous and not something to dwell upon.
To the outside world, they were the mysterious heroes of International Rescue. They were the daring band that nothing seemed to faze. They were the ones who always came through in the end, the ones that always showed up just in time to save the day.
In the burning light of day, they screwed their courage and battled on. Nothing could stop them. Nothing would get in the way. Scott would leap from One and fly by jet pack and fling himself headlong into the raging fires of death and destruction with wanton abandon. Virgil would be cool and collected, always there with the right tools, always in the right place at the right time. They were symbols of courage, of the greatness of man.
But in the dead of night, slumped over the kitchen table and nursing tea or beer, the two brothers didn't say anything about it. Scott and Virgil never discussed the dangers. They didn't talk about their fears for themselves or each other or their brothers. Their meaning was voiceless. It didn't need to be said to be understood.
You nearly died today. I would have had to watch you lose your life. We're too young for this. We're all too young for this.
They didn't say a word because they feared, if anything was said aloud, it might come true. There's a thin line between being valiant and being stupid.
In real life, fortune doesn't always favour the bold.
