CHAPTER 37
Lucille drove for a few minutes without any destination in mind until she decided she had to know how Eric was faring in the hospital. Lucille couldn't get those ghastly images out of her mind. It was as if a monster had sprung to life out of a horror movie or a ghost story. Lucille was still shaking all over trying to remain calm, but the more she thought about it the more nervous she became, and the more questions that demanded answers. It was too much at one time. She turned the radio on and started singing anything she could to keep her mind off what had happened. Without warning a car came flying at her head on beeping and she swerved to the side of the road barely missing it gasping for air.
"I've got to calm down" Lucille said to herself as stopped for a moment to gather her wits back. Then she got back on the road and continued to the hospital in Colchester. Traffic was bad once she got into town. She waited almost twenty minutes trying to get to the hospital.
When she arrived she quickly ran to the reception desk as a reception lady looked at her strangely. Lucille still seemed to be hyperventilating.
"Are you ok young lady?" the receptionist asked.
"I'm here to see-Eric Walker" Lucille said slowly.
The receptionist took a look through the files, "Are you a relative or friend?"
"My husband is friends with him" Lucille replied.
"We really aren't supposed to give out this kind of information to non-family members" the receptionist replied adjusting her glasses.
"Please, I was there when this person was picked up near my parents' house when my children found him" Lucille pleaded.
The receptionist regarded her carefully, and then threw her hands up in the air.
"Fourth floor, speak to the nurses up there, they can tell you his current condition" the receptionist said putting the file back.
Lucille took the stairway up to the fourth floor and each step she took the echoes in the stairwell seemed amplified ten times. By the time she reached the fourth floor she was trying to catch her breath. She stepped out into the main hall and walked down the corridor toward the reception desk. Lucille did not like hospitals because she remembered being a young girl coming to the hospital to seeing on different occasions each grandparent before they passed away.
She walked up to the nurse at the reception nurse's station and asked her the same questions. The nurse seemed friendlier.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for the room of Eric Walker" Lucille asked.
"Who are you?" the nurse asked.
"I'm his co-worker's wife…the incident happened near my parents' property" she answered.
The nurse started looking through the files and began reading.
"Yes, he is in surgery at the moment" the nurse replied holding the file reading the rest of it.
"Was anyone able to reach his wife?" Lucille asked with concern.
"Yes, she knows" the nurse said putting the file down.
"Will he…make it?" Lucille almost didn't want to ask.
"He's fighting for his life, but they say he's got a good chance of making it" the nurse told her.
"I hope so…" Lucille sighed not knowing where to go from there.
"Thank you" Lucille smiled and walked away.
Lucille started thinking as she walked out of the hospital what her next move would be. Then she decided she knew what she was going to do when she saw a couple of officers. She remembered writing Alyssa's phone number down at the house, but what if that man in the dark robes was waiting with the other beast? Going back alone was out of the question she thought.
"Excuse me officer, I need to make a report…" Lucille said anxiously.
"Calm down madam, now what is it you would like to report?" one officer asked with concern.
"I was assaulted in my house" Lucille replied.
"Tell us what happened from the beginning" the other officer smiled taking out a note pad.
Lucille thought it may be wise to get some protection before returning back to the house. She took a deep breath and retold her tale leaving out the abnormal transformation the Doberman made. The officers were stunned by such an attack as were curious as to what was taken. Lucille said it was a family heirloom of sentimental value. The officers nodded and afterwards they decided to accompany her back home.
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Tintin and Captain Haddock waited anxiously as the plane touched down in Glasgow. The flight was uneventful, and there were a lot of empty seats so the flight was quiet.
"I can't believe it captain! I'm going to see Chang again! After all of these years!" Tintin was so happy.
"Well as long as he doesn't try to take you from me" Haddock joked but was really serious.
"Oh captain, I would never abandon you, my heart belongs to one man and one man alone… and that's you my dear captain" Tintin said grasping Haddock's hand. Haddock's concern dropped as such positive emotive language from Tintin always put him at ease. Haddock gripped Tintin's hand back as the plane began to slow down to a stop.
"Have faith in us Captain, just understand Chang is dear to my heart just as Chester is to yours" Tintin explained.
"You're right lad… it's just that…" Haddock started to say as they got off the plane waiting until no one was within earshot.
"It's just that, Chang is your age and much better looking than me… I always wondered what if Chang stayed…" Haddock said a bit insecurely.
"Captain, your looks are just fine, and I love your heart. Chester is your age too, but I have faith in our love" Tintin said confidently, but in the back of his mind he knew the captain's fears weren't unfounded. He realized he did have a deep love for Chang after the whole trip to Tibet; but, the attraction was different. Chang stayed in London only a couple years afterwards but seldom came to visit. Tintin had not seen Chang since he was twenty-one during the whole episode with Martine and a real insecure Captain.
Tintin had dreams where he would see Chang and they would talk to each other, and each time Tintin noted how Chang seemed to change in appearance the more he saw him. Tintin knew that had Chang stayed it was very possible a serious problem could have arisen deep in his heart being forced to choose the Captain or Chang. Tintin knew that would be a choice that would tear him apart from the very foundation. At least Chang had a new family, the Captain only had Nestor and Calculus.
"Everything happens for a reason" Tintin thought although a part of him wished Chang would have stayed.
As they walked down the terminal the captain seemed to be watching Tintin's facial expressions as if he was trying to read him. The last thing Tintin wanted was a rivalry between friends and lovers.
"So do you have the address to the Sea Breeze?" Haddock asked as they waited for a cab.
Snowy and Cocoa trotted quietly next to them.
"Such worries humans have" Cocoa commented to Snowy.
"When it comes to matters of the heart, humans lose sense of rationality" Snowy replied.
"You're really wise Snowy" Cocoa barked.
"It's years of living with these two that I have learned a lot about humans. Most of us dogs never understand humans completely" Snowy finished.
"Romance is romance I guess…" Cocoa commented.
"I have it right here" Tintin said as Haddock got a cab driver's attention.
Tintin and Haddock put their luggage in the trunk and gave the address to the driver.
"The Sea Breeze Bed and Breakfast?" the driver asked already familiar with the place.
"Yes, that's the one" Tintin nodded.
"I can have you there in just ten minutes" the driver said as they left the airport.
"Thank you sir" Tintin smiled.
"I'm really curious how Chang became mixed up in all of this" Haddock suddenly thought out loud.
"I'm curious about that too. I'm sure Chang would be more than happy to explain to us when we see him Captain" Tintin agreed.
"I also wonder if Scotland Yard managed to figure out who or what was behind those murders in London" Haddock mentioned.
"It's hard to tell Captain, I haven't really been keeping up with current events lately…which reminds me, I need to pick up a paper after we arrive at the bed and breakfast" Tintin remembered.
"So do you think the Detectives have stumbled onto something?" Haddock asked as he took out his pipe.
"It's hard to tell with them, they're always 'stumbling' on something" Tintin giggled.
"Good one lad!" Haddock chuckled.
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Chang sat in a pub with the Detectives as they drank a pint of ale and ate fish and chips. Chang tried to drink the ale but he really wasn't fond of it. He nibbled at the fish and chips even though he really wasn't that hungry. The visit on the Sea Serpent made Chang realize what they were up against. The Grand Abbott and Blessed Lightning were correct. This was a foe beyond any that he or Tintin had encountered before. Chang couldn't put his finger on it but he was sure even his brother and father would have second thoughts about facing such a foe.
Chang knew that his mission was to get on that ship and find that young woman to fulfill his promise. Chang knew the clock was ticking and with each hour that passed could be the difference between him finding 's daughter dead or alive. He finally decided that if the Detectives hadn't decided what to do by tomorrow evening he was would go on his own despite the dangers he knew that awaited him.
The Detectives were drinking and eating while talking to Glasgow officers discussing the strange ship. Chang knew they would need all the allies they could get if they were to go and confront them head on. Chang also wondered if this was his destiny. It was saddening for Chang, but he knew he was honor bound.
"So this young foreigner here is your associate?" one officer asked.
"Indeed he is!" Thomson smiled.
"…and a fine one he is too!" Thompson said patting Chang on the back since he sat right next to Thompson.
"Let the lad speak for himself" one officer said.
"I am here duty bound" Chang responded as both Detectives and three officers listened.
"He sounds so serious" one officer nodded.
"You can be at ease around us" the second officer agreed.
"Yea, we're not going to think any less of ya?" the third officer responded.
"Thank all of you!" Chang said gratuitously.
"So you want us to do a further inspection of that ship?" one of the officers asked.
"To be exact, yes…but" Thomson started.
"We are a bit short on evidence" Thompson frowned.
"So all of you have already interviewed the captain once?" One officer asked.
"I'm afraid so…" Thompson lamented.
"The ship seems completely legitimate Detectives, we've combed through their records and we can't find anything out of the ordinary" the second officer reasoned.
"You three didn't find Allan Thompson that Scotland Yard has now made a person of interest for that pub fire in London" the third officer mentioned.
"Sadly not…" Thomson regretted.
"We can see about making charges up, but if it's not legitimate and the courts find out, our jobs would be on the line" the third officer explained.
"We can stand by just in case you were to um…discover something" the first officer suggested.
"I got ya!" Thompson nodded.
"Me too… now all we got to do is…" Thomson started to say.
"Shhh… don't tell us" the second officer put a finger over his mouth.
"That's right, you're Detectives, so you'll need to do some super sleuthing before we can step in" the first officer finished.
Chang sat listening to them talk in circles and realized they may be on their own. The three officers bid their farewells for the evening. Chang made himself eat some more and took one more swig of the ale.
"You don't drink much do you?" Thompson asked Chang looking at his glass.
"I don't like to cloud my mind with substances that could harm me" Chang said truthfully.
"One drink isn't going to hurt you? You've barely finished half of it" Thomson said a bit more surprised.
"…and you barely ate half of your meal! No wonder you never grew up to be big and strong" Thompson pointed out.
"I think this is all I need, I'm just not hungry" Chang shrugged.
"You're not going to keel over on us are you?" Thomson asked a bit concerned.
"Oh no Detectives, I promise I will be just fine" Chang replied confidently.
"So you miss home?" Thompson asked trying to draw Chang out a bit.
"Of course I miss my family, but I have learned that many things are sometimes out of our control and we must accept them and do the best we can" Chang said sincerely.
Both Detectives never ceased to be amazed by the resilient attitude Chang seem to have. Both Thomson and Thompson had another pint of ale while slowly but surely Chang took small sips of his ale to keep his mouth from becoming too dry. Chang's mind was focused with his preoccupation of the situation.
"You know what Chang, I think I do remember you now!" Thompson laughed.
"Me too!" Thomson continued.
"What do you remember?" Chang snapped out of his thoughts curious what it may be they remembered.
"You're that kid that Tintin was with when we tried to arrest him back in Shanghai with that phony warrant" Thompson laughed.
"Yea, it's amazing! I would have never guessed that was you even though we've heard Tintin tell us a few times about yours and his adventures in Shanghai" Thomson said finishing his pint.
"Tintin has spoken to you about everything that happened?" Chang was a bit surprised.
"Oh yes, I remember a time where Tintin was really sad… and you know Captain Haddock had to go move some old rotten ship called the Golden Fleece Captain Haddock inherited from an old mate of his. Tintin insisted on staying and helping us out with a case, even though we gave him leave to go with the Captain" Thompson began to think back.
"Why was he sad?" Chang asked a bit puzzled. The conversation just kept getting more interesting with the more ale the Detectives drank and Chang began to feel the weight lift off his shoulder. Thompson finished his pint then took his last bite of fish. Chang decided to try to force some of the ale down to get more conversation out of the Detectives.
"I thought you said you didn't like the ale Chang?" Thomson seemed confused.
"Blessed Lightning says 'one must open one's self to new experiences'" Chang quoted.
"Blessed who?" Thompson asked curiously.
The server came by and both the Detectives motioned for him to get them one more pint.
"Blessed Lightning was one of the monks back at the monastery who had visions. He is a very wise man" Chang answered.
"What were we talking about?" Thomson asked looking up at the ceiling.
"Oh about why Tintin was sad!" Thompson remembered.
"Yes that's it" Chang smiled.
"He doesn't get sad too often but only when certain things are talked about" Thomson mentioned.
"I don't think I should be asking such questions" Chang suddenly felt like he was prying in an area that should involve speaking with Tintin directly.
"Well to be precise, you see when Captain Haddock goes away…" Thompson started.
"…and that's hardly ever without Tintin" Thomson added.
"Tintin seemed to get a bit sad" Thompson finished.
"Well he just misses his Captain, nothing wrong with that" Chang smiled.
"You see Chang… he was actually talking about you though instead" Thomson whispered.
"Me?" Chang asked a bit surprised.
"Yes, he said he had a dream about you, and that you and he spoke about you know, stuff you've been doing" Thompson continued.
Chang stopped for a moment and began to think back a little remembering several months ago a vivid dream where he and Tintin did indeed have a conversation about how they were doing and how they promised each other they would write soon. Chang wondered if his dream had somehow connected him with Tintin.
"He said you were doing fine and that you were on a quest of some sort" Thomson couldn't remember the rest.
"…anyways he said the dream made him miss you and wonder why he hasn't heard from you in so long" Thompson said finishing his last ale with Thomson.
Chang forced down the rest of his pint, but began to wonder if his spiritual experiences in Tibet had made him more spiritually aware. Chang began to think back to his training with Blessed Lightning when he had his first vision. The more Chang thought about it, he remembered going on a spiritual journey with the help of Blessed Lightning and he saw his real mother and father.
"You must free yourself from the pain of the past..." Blessed Lightning told him.
Chang could feel a sensation as if he were flying.
Chang remembered the warm sensation of light enveloping him as two bright lights approached him. Then he saw a young man and a woman. The young man looked a little like him and his mother looked similar to young woman he once saw at a shrine when he was a child.
"Go forth my son and shine brightly for us" the young man said.
"Do not weep for us, we are here with you always" the young woman whispered.
Chang could feel a tugging as he was pulled away then he was back with Blessed Lightning. Chang shed tears of sadness and joy as he told Blessed Lightning of his vision.
"Chang!" suddenly Chang was brought back into the present.
"Well we chatted enough…HICCUP!" Thompson said going off to pay the server.
"We need to get back and get some rest...hiccup! And figure out what we're going to do tomorrow...hiccup!" Thomson nodded.
"I'll help you" Chang nodded with a genuine smiled feeling for the first time he felt like he connected with the Detective a little.