Chapter 3

Glenda was right. From that night on, Gordon's condition improved, slowly but surely. The toxin levels in his blood tapered off, and after another five days the doctors turned off the liver and kidney machines to see if his body could cope on its own. Two days later he was removed from the cryo tank and transferred off intensive care into a side room on the orthopaedic ward. However, he still remained in a coma and the family were encouraged to talk to him, read him books and play his favourite music. John transmitted a tape down from the station with his own 'wake up' message on it. The family was still phoning John morning and evening to report on Gordon's progress. On the station, the crew had grown accustomed to these times, and tried to leave John on his own in the control room to give him some privacy. Tonight Virgil had made the call. "We've been reading him '20,000 leagues under the sea' today," he told his brother. "I know that was one of his favourite books when he was a kid."

"You could always try 'Swallows and Amazons' next," suggested John. "That was another one he enjoyed. I had another idea this morning. You know I mentioned there being dolphins in the bay on the tape I sent down?"

"Yes, I thought that was brilliant, knowing how fascinated he is by them."

"Well, maybe you could get hold of some recordings of dolphins. The WASPs might have some, or even Sea World."

"Great idea - I'll see what we can do in the morning." He paused. "Oh, John, it gets so frustrating. Sometimes he moves his head, or mutters to himself as if he's dreaming, but he just won't wake up. I feel I want to shout at him, shake him, throw a bucket of water over him - anything to get a response. Glenda, the nurse who looked after him in intensive care, came down today to see how he was. She says sometimes if a person has been through as much as Gordon has then it's as if their mind has retreated so far inside themselves that they can't find the way out." He continued, "I don't know how much longer Dad will let us stay here - this could go on for months, and now Gordon is out of danger he might want Alan and me to get back to our studies."

"Well I'll be down in a week, and I'll have a whole month off, so if necessary I could take over."

"Thanks, John. Well, goodnight then" Virgil signed off, leaving John staring blankly at the control panel. He left the control room, calling goodnight to the rest of the crew as he walked past the lounge, and went to his cabin. As he got ready for bed he was thinking about what Virgil had said about Gordon being lost inside himself, unable to find his way out. 'How do you help anyone out of that?' he mused.

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Down in the hospital, Jeff and Alan sat by Gordon's bedside, talking in low voices. Up on the space station, John slept, and dreamed. In his dream he could see himself floating above the Earth. He turned to see the space station nearby, glittering in the sunlight. He was looking for something. No, not something, someone. His brother. 'Gordon' he called, 'Gordon, where are you?'

In the distance, a tiny speck. 'Gordon, is that you? What are you doing over there? We've been looking for you. Come on, kiddo, come over here.'

The figure of Gordon approached. 'Where are we?' he said.

'We're in space' replied John. 'Look, you can see my space station'

'Oh' said Gordon, 'I often wondered what it looked like'. He looked down at himself. 'If we're in space, why aren't we wearing space suits?'

'Because this is a dream' responded John.

'Oh, well, that's all right then' Gordon paused, then wrapped his arms around himself, looking uneasy. 'Johnny, I don't like it up here - can we go somewhere else?'

'Sure' replied John. 'Anywhere you like. Why don't we go to the caverns under the island? You always like it there.' At once the scene changed and they were swimming through the undersea caverns. This time, John noted, they were wearing scuba gear. Well, now they were in Gordon's world. 'Why don't we swim out into the open sea?' suggested John. 'I like to see all the colours on the corals'

'Good idea' replied Gordon.

'OK, well you lead the way - I don't know my way around these caverns as well as you do'.

Gordon swum ahead through a series of caverns. A couple of times he seemed to falter, but the calming presence of his elder brother reassured him and he soon picked up the trail again. After a while they reached a point where daylight could be seen filtering in through the cave mouth. Once out in the open sea, John looked up. 'Look' he said 'There's a boat up there, and isn't that Dad leaning over the edge? Let's swim up and surprise him'. They swam towards the surface. As it got brighter, John paused. 'You go ahead, Gordy, I'll catch you up. Just swim towards Dad, he'll help you out.'

Down in the hospital, Alan was watching the monitors closely. "There's definitely a lot more brainwave activity, Dad. Try calling to him."

Jeff leant over the bed, "Gordon! Gordon, can you hear me?"

"Again, Dad, there was definitely a response that time!"

"Gordon!" Jeff put his hand on his son's shoulder and gave it a little shake. "Come on now son, time to wake up"

To his amazement, Gordon's eyes opened. "Dad? What are you doing here?" He paused, then a look of concern crossed his face. "Dad, what's wrong? I can't move." He blinked, hard, trying to get the sleep out of his eyes.

Jeff tried to sound reassuring. "It's all right. son. You've been in an accident. You're in hospital" He called over his shoulder to Alan. "Pass me a cloth - I want to wipe his eyes".

Gordon looked over his father's shoulder blurrily and saw a blond head. "John?"

"No, it's me, Alan," said his younger brother, coming closer.

Gordon looked round the room, confused. "Where's John? He was with me a minute ago"

Jeff and Alan looked at each other. "No, John's up on the space station", said Alan. "But we've been playing you a tape of his voice - maybe that's what you heard".

Jeff spoke again. "Do you remember what happened, son? The race?"

Gordon thought for a minute. "I crashed, didn't I?" He paused, "Did anyone else get hurt?"

"No," replied Jeff, smiling at his son's concern, "only you." He looked across at Alan. "Do you want to go and call Scott and Virgil?"

"Good idea. What about John?"

Jeff looked at his watch. "No, they'll all be asleep on the station by now. If we phone in the middle of the night John will assume the worst. Good news can wait till morning."

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A few minutes later the door crashed open as Scott and Virgil pounded into the room, skidding to a stop at the bedside. "Well, hallo there, sleepyhead," said Scott, ruffling Gordon's hair, "You finally decided to wake up, did you?"

At that moment one of the nursing staff entered and came over to the bed. "Good evening, Lieutenant Tracy. Glad to have you with us at last. I'm the ward nurse, Tessa Barrett. My monitors told me you were awake so I thought I'd better come and check up on you. How do you feel? Is there any pain?"

"No." said Gordon, shaking his head, "In fact I don't feel anything at all - should I?"

"No, don't worry - we've got you on nerve blocks. Would you like something to drink?"

"Yes, please, my mouth is really dry."

"OK, I'll be back in a minute, and tomorrow after the doctor's seen you we'll see about getting you off that drip and onto some proper food." She turned to the rest of the family. "I'm sure you all want to celebrate now, but please remember it is the middle of the night and other patients are asleep nearby." She went out.

Jeff stood up and stretched. "As a matter of fact, I think I'll go back to the hotel and get some sleep myself." He looked towards the bed. "I'll see you again in the morning, Gordon. Goodnight boys" and with that he turned and left the room.

Scott watched him go. He knew his father was tired - he'd hardly had a proper night's sleep in the last two weeks. But he also expected the Old Man wanted to get away before he lost control. A man like Jeff Tracy would not want his sons to see him cry.

The boys spent the next hour chatting with Gordon, filling him in on all that had been happening. Then Scott looked at his watch and turned to Virgil and Alan. "Why don't you two go and get some rest now, then when Virgil takes over from me I'll get some sleep before I fly back to base tomorrow. They've been good about letting me have so much leave but I suppose I'd better get back soon - they'll be wanting their aircraft back!"

After saying their 'goodnights' the other two boys left the room. Scott settled back in his chair. "What about you, Gordon? Are you feeling tired?"

"You must be joking - from what you all tell me I've had enough sleep lately to last me a month!" replied Gordon.

They carried on chatting, then Scott went out for a few minutes to get some coffee. He returned but as he sat down and looked at his brother he realised something was wrong. Gordon's bruised face was still difficult to read, but he could see the concern in his eyes. "OK, kiddo," he said, "What's bugging you? Come on, you can tell your big brother."

Gordon hesitated, licking his dry lips. "Scott, if I ask you a question, do you promise to tell me the truth?"

"Of course I will," replied Scott, "What is it?"

Gordon paused again. "I can't feel my legs".

"That's because of the medication you're on".

"They - they are still there, aren't they?"

"What!" exclaimed Scott, drawing back in horror.

"I can't feel my legs, I can't move them, I can't even see them" said Gordon, a note of panic in his voice. "I'm scared, Scott, scared the doctors have cut them off and you're all just waiting for the 'right' time to tell me."

Scott leant over the bed so he could look straight into Gordon's eyes. "Gordon Cooper Tracy" he said, slowly and clearly, "I swear to you on our mother's grave that your legs are still there." He glanced down the bed. "Admittedly they're in one heck of a mess, but they are still there." He paused, "Hang on, I've just had an idea. Wait there." He straightened up and turned towards the door.

"Scott" called Gordon.

"Yes?"

"I'm not exactly going anywhere."

Scott thought about what he had just said. "Yes, that was a pretty stupid thing to say, wasn't it?"

"That's what I thought. And Scott?"

Scott turned again, "Yes?"

"Thanks"

Scott was back a few minutes later. "I thought one of the nurses would have a mirror in her purse. Now let me see if I can get the angle right." He squatted down beside the bed, holding up the mirror. "I'd better warn you, you're going to have a shock when you see your face".

As his bruised and battered features came into view Gordon exclaimed "Ugh! Is that what you've all been looking at for the past two weeks? I look like something out of a horror film!"

Scott moved the mirror. "OK, left arm - check. Right arm - check." He lifted the mirror higher. "Left leg - check. Right leg - check. See? All present and correct, Lieutenant."

"Sorry for making such a fuss. I feel a bit of a fool now."

Scott straightened up and patted his shoulder. "No, you were quite right to worry. If it had been me, I don't know if I'd have had the courage to ask."

They carried on chatting, then a bit later there was a tap on the door, and one of the nurses came in. "I'm just going off duty now" she said as she came in.

"Oh, sorry Megan," said Scott, "you'll be wanting your mirror back." He turned to Gordon. "This is Megan, one of the nurses who's been looking after you."

Megan approached the bed. "Nice to meet you at last, Lieutenant Tracy" she said.

"Please, call me Gordon"

"OK then, Gordon. We'll be moving you onto the main ward tomorrow so you'll have a bit of company."

Scott looked at he nurse. "I probably won't see you again for a while. Now that Sleeping Beauty here has woken up, I've got to get back to my squadron. But I will be dropping in now and again, so if this one, " indicating the figure in the bed with a jerk of his head, "gives you any trouble, just remind him that his big brother will be back to sort him out!"

Megan smiled at Gordon. "You won't be any trouble, will you Gordon?"

Scott snorted. "Don't you believe it. He's not known as the joker in the family pack for nothing!"

Gordon started to laugh. "Remember the fried egg?"

Scott winced. "Remember it? I can still smell it!" He turned to Megan. "Gordon had this imitation fried egg he had bought from a joke shop. He kept leaving it lying around everywhere - on the table, on the carpet, in the bath, but most often on my things - my books, my papers, my favourite jacket. Then I came into my room one day to see this egg lying in the middle of my bed."

"It wasn't directly on your bed" interrupted Gordon, "it was on a piece of plastic - that should have given you a clue."

"Well, I was getting pretty tired of this joke by now, so I gave it a swipe and sent it flying - only it wasn't an imitation egg this time - it was a real one. It splattered all down the wall and across the carpet."

"Yes, and Grandma made me clean it up, which wasn't fair. It wasn't me who had made the mess. And I got banned from the pool for a week!"

Megan was laughing. "Right, I can see we're going to have to keep a close eye on you then, young Gordon."

Just then Virgil came in. "OK, Scott, time for you to get your beauty sleep."

Scott turned to Gordon. "I'll drop in to say goodbye in the morning, before I set off."

"OK, Scott, goodnight - and thanks again - for everything."

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The following morning it was Alan who made the call to John. "Where's Dad this morning?" said John, puzzled. Alan didn't usually call, and he sounded like he had some secret joke going on.

"Oh, he's asleep. But there's somebody else here who'd like a word with you. Just let me move the phone a bit closer."

Then another voice came on the line. "Hi, Johnny. Guess who?"

"Gordon?" John could hardly believe his ears. "Gordy? Is that really you?"

"The one and only. I woke up last night."

"Are you OK? How are you feeling?" John hardly knew what to say. After the weeks of worry he could hardly believe he was talking to his brother again.

"Well, I'm a bit of a mess right now, but the docs say I'm going to be all right eventually I had a visit this morning from the surgeon who put me back together. He said next time I decide to hit something at 400 miles an hour I should choose a brick wall - it would do less damage than water."

"That's great, kiddo. I'll be coming down next week, so I'll be over to see you as soon as I can. Meanwhile, you just take care, and give my love to Dad and the boys."

"OK, John. Bye now."

The connection ended and John sat back and looked at the control panel. Then he pressed a button "Houston control here" said a voice.

"Hi there Maxine" said John recognising the voice. "Just thought you'd all like to know, Gordon's awake, and it looks like he's going to be OK."

"That's wonderful news, John," replied Maxine. John heard her repeat the message to her colleagues, and the cheers and good wishes that came in response. "We're all so pleased for you down here."

"Will you tell Uncle - tell the Colonel for me when he gets in?"

"Of course I will, John. Thanks for letting us know."

John left the control room and went to find the rest of the crew, feeling lighter than even one third gravity could account for.

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