Chapter 15: Safety
"This morning's tops stories," the FCB newsreader, a lioness, said, "the King and Prime Minister will be attending a memorial service in St. Michael Cathedral at noon and touring Diamond.
"The Home Secretary will set out emergency legislation to counter terrorism…"
"Winston, turn the TV off," Marie said lying on his bed.
"Sorry," Winston answered. "I just want to keep up to date with the news. I need to know what the big wigs want us to do."
Winston looked at his alarm clock. The time was 7:31 am. Both of them had to get ready for work very soon. He was still coming in even after his hard work five days ago; he even met the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary who gave him a special medal and a cheque from the treasury for £50,000.
Seconds later his phone started to ring. Winston picked it up.
"Hello," he said.
"Morning Winston," a male voice said. "It's Daniel."
"Sir Daniel?"
"Yes. I'm calling to congregate you about your good work on Saturday; you don't know how many lives you saved on that day."
"Thank you sir," Winston said.
"I also want to offer you a promotion as a deputy-dictator of the Counter-Terrorism Division," Sir Daniel said.
"You're kidding!" Winston answered in shock.
"I am not," Sir Daniel said. "I tell you what; you and Marie Kingsley can have the day off and you can come into my office tomorrow morning; around ten o'clock."
"Sure sir, thank you sir."
Winston put the phone on the hook.
"Who was it?" Marie asked.
"It was the DG," Winston answered. "I got a promotion and we both got the day off." A thought then clicked into his head. "How did that old git know you were here?"
Amy was in physiotherapy when Sonic and Jessica arrived to pick her up.
Amy was on her back on a table with the physiotherapist, a female black and white cat with brown hair, pushing her right leg. The aim was for Amy to push back but it was a struggle for her.
"That's enough for today," physiotherapist said and let go of her leg.
Amy sat up, turned around and swung her legs round whiles the physio went off to get her wheelchair.
"You did very well today," the physio said. "You'll be back on your feet in no time."
"Thanks," Amy said with a hind of disappointment.
The physio helped her into the wheelchair. Amy hated it; it was a cheap NHS one which had no style to it and was hard to use. But she hated the most was the fact that she was disabled which made her feel guilty because at least she had hope that she could walk again; some people, including her friend Roo will never be able to walk.
"Heyya," Sonic said when he walked up to her.
Amy looked up at him, trying to mask her sadness.
"We're here to pick you up," he said.
"I got these for you," Jessica said giving Amy a box of her favourite chocolates.
"Thanks," Amy answered. Tears were in her eyes and she started to cry.
"Amy," Jessica said sympathetically. "It's going to be right."
"No it isn't," Amy cried. "I couldn't fell or do anything during physiotherapy just then."
"You've been through a terrible shock," Sonic said. "You're bound to feel this way. I know you and you'll change in a few weeks. You will walk again."
"You have to say that."
"But I believe it."
"Calm down Amy," Jessica said. "We're going to take you out for lunch in an hour and then go and explore the shops. I spoke to Kerri and she said she'll get you notes from your lectures and you don't have to do your essays, just reading and research."
"That's lucky," Amy said a tiny bit more cheerful.
"And we're going to put in everything you need and you can swap rooms with me or one of the blokes until you can walk again," Sonic said.
"Thanks."
"So cheer up," Sonic said. "We'll go and get your stuff then we'll go to the city."
Amy gave him a little smile and then he went behind her to push the wheelchair.
"The doctors think I might have post-traumatic stress disorder," Amy said to them as she was being pushed towards the lift. "They say it common with many victims of bombing. They want me to see a counsellor."
"Are you going to?" Jessica said.
"I guess I'll have to very soon."
Agolo was sitting up in his bed reading a book. It was a spy novel and he thought it was shit; totally unrealistic. But what he got up to on Saturday was on the extremes of espionage.
The bullet had been removed from his stomach and he had a patch over the wound. It was still sore but he would live. The only reason why the hospital wouldn't let him go was the risk of infection.
He put the book down on the bedsite counter; he couldn't stand it anymore.
Two minutes later a female flamingo in her early thirties entered the room.
"Morning Sarah," Agolo said cheerfully in his African accent.
"Morning Agolo," she answered back. "How are you feeling?"
"Better then I was on Saturday," he joked.
Sarah gave him a smile.
"I have a surprise for you," she said and opened the door.
Agolo was taken completely by surprise and his mouth dropped. It was Swa Kwowo at the door.
She walked slowly toward her husband. Once she reached him she bended down to hug him and kissed him. He responded by kissing back and stroking her hair.
"Oh Swa," he said. "I've missed you so much. You don't know what it's been like for me."
Swa was speechless; she just wanted to enjoy the moment.
"We arranged a new identity for you and we're going to relocate you here," Sarah said. "We already arranged jobs for both of you and school places for you kids."
"Thank you," Agolo answered. "You don't know how much this means to me."
"Ah well, it's the least we can do considering you help save the city."
Agolo was happy to get a new identity because his live would be in danger if he returned to Gualand. But what he was most happy about was being reunited with his wife and children and live seemed a lot brighter for him from that point onwards.
Winston and Marie had been very lucky with their day off. They left Winston's flat at 10:30 and when to look at the famous sites like Parliament, Davingshire Palace and Moore Park. But an affect of the Terrorist attack in Diamond was making security tight and both saw armed police around the city. This was the scenario which both MI5 officers fear, a complete change in government security policy making the country into a police state.
Winston and Marie also partake in a bit of shopping whiles they were out. Winston had brought videos, CDs and a new suit and Marie brought herself some new suits and dress ready for her missions of recruiting agents and attending embassy repetitions.
The time now was one o'clock and Winston and Marie ended up in modern restaurant for lunch.
"Anything you want to do this afternoon?" Winston asked.
"I wanting to meet up with an old uni mate," Marie answered. "She's now a professor of Politics at the Emerald School of Economics."
"A bit left-wing radial then," Winston joked.
"Not really, she was just lucky. She tried to run in the General Election."
"Really? Which party and which seat?"
"Liberal," Marie answered. "She ran in a rural constituency in the west but lost out to the Tory by a thousand votes."
"They isn't much different between the parties at the moment."
"I know."
The waiter arrived for they order. Winston ordered the salmon and Marie choose the chicken in white wine sauce.
"What about you?" Marie asked. "Is they anything going on you want to see or something?"
"Not really," Winston answered. "They is a gig at the Jazz caf; I might as well and go and see that. Otherwise I might as well meet up with Will and Kea later and go down the pub."
"Fare enough," Marie said and took a slip of her wine.
The waiter arrived with they starter. They continued talking until they finished and the waiter took it away.
Winston then looked in to Marie's eye and held her hands.
"One thing Marie," he said. He had been a top agent for MI5 for most of his adult life and had to tackle some tough field missions; but it was now that he felt nervous. "Marry me."
Marie was taken aback at first. She didn't expect him to ask that question. She loved him but he wasn't a traditional romantic. Then she knew her answered.
"Oh Winston. Of course I'll marry you."
Well I hope you enjoyed that if anyone continued to read up to this point. My next instalment will be along as soon as possible.
