Sawyer Fan – This chapter is for you. Thank you so much for your support and everything.
"Rubicon 2 – Africa" Chapter 7
by Ten Mara
Rating: T
CATEGORY: Story, Drama/Angst, Supernatural aspects, hints of potential Tom/Mina
DISCLAIMER: The literary characters referred to are copyright their respective authors, and "LXG: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" is copyright 20th Century Fox, based on the comic books by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. The characters and movie universe are used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended, no profit will be gained. Characters not recognised are mine. This chapter has quotes from "Allan's Wife" by H Rider Haggard.
xXx
Tom dreamed.
Of plunging face first into a bottomless crevice, only for Hyde to grab him by his dangling braces and haul him up.
Of firing his pistols desperately at the armoured giant in the fortress, only to have one of the bullets ricochet and hit him.
xXx
The rest of the League arrived at the plantation, to be greeted by a very worried Henry.
"Is Quatermain really alive? And where is Thomas?" Nemo asked.
Out of the two questions, they got one good answer, and one alarming one.
"Damn, not the kid," Skinner muttered, while Mina went very white and quiet.
The worry the news set off for them was contrasted with the joy of the natives at knowing that help had arrived. The ones who were still well enough to come out to meet the new arrivals were happy that their deliverance had come in the form of the League.
Quickly, the group set about unloading what they had brought in the wagon, and were escorted into the house. There were some reactions at Skinner's appearance, or lack thereof, but overall there were more important things to concentrate on.
"We have a room ready through here for you; for the medicine to be made in."
Mina looked the way that Dale was gesturing, then across at the room where she had been told that Tom was lying. Then she looked around, at all the sick people. She desperately wanted to see Tom. But these people were all counting on her. She had to start making the medicine straight away. And Allan was with him, there was no doubt of that. The young man would be so happy about the hunter being back, if of course he was aware enough to know.
That could even be the deciding factor in what brought Tom himself back from the brink.
Henry saw the conflict on her face. "Nemo, Skinner and I will unpack and start setting up this equipment. While we're doing that, you go see Tom."
"Thank you. I will be just a minute, I promise."
Mina entered the sickroom. She went over to the American's bed and for the first time saw the resurrected Quatermain and the sick Tom. She nearly faltered.
"Mrs Harker," Allan said with the voice of someone who was close to the verge. It was a wonder he even noticed that she was there.
Mina looked down at the unconscious Tom. It was like seeing her husband Jonathan lying in that hospital in Buda-Pesth after escaping from Dracula's clutches.
Where was the bold and fearless young man who had flirted with her, displaying a cockiness that was so good-natured it was hard to be irritated by it, the gatecrasher into the League who had proven himself more extraordinary and courageous than the rest of them? Tom belonged just as much as those who had been 'recruited'.
For a moment Allan pulled himself out of his ministrations and prayers and mired thoughts, belatedly realizing that courtesy meant he should have at least stood when Mina came up. But he doubted very much she had noticed or would care at his slip under these circumstances. He watched Mina watching the spy.
And to think I told Tom that she was out of his league. But that was beforehand. Before we truly knew him. Before Venice, before the trip to Mongolia. Before he had heard their little exchange on the conning tower as the repaired Nautilus hurried along as fast as it could manage. Tom had been true Southern Gentleman in his manner and apology, only to be stunned by Mina's seeming change of heart.
Allan also recalled how he himself had told Mina soon after they met how he had buried two wives and many lovers and was in no mood for more of either. Now that I know her better, I'm amazed she was able to restrain herself from saying something like: "And what makes you think I would be interested, you arrogant presumptuous dried up old relic?"
The inward spark of wryness quickly died.
Mina and Allan looked at each other then, across the body of the young man who meant so much to them, struggling to find words of reassurance for each other and themselves, but failing.
"I'm . . . I'm about to start working on the medicine," Mina said quietly. "But I just wanted . . . ." Needed. She could not finish the sentence.
Allan nodded in understanding, then got up stiffly and moved away from the bedside a little, stretching, giving her a few moments with Tom.
Mina leaned down and whispered in the American's ear, then kissed him on the cheek. She just managed to stifle a gasp at how hot his skin was. Tom barely stirred. With a final touch, the woman rose, nodded quickly to Quatermain, then turned and left, brushing at her eyes.
xXx
Skinner helped the now-outwardly composed Mina bring in the last of the equipment and, with her instructions, helped her set it up and fetch what she needed. Soon the leaves and other ingredients were being prepared.
"Is there anything else I can do for you, love?"
"Not at the moment, thank you."
"Then I'll go see how Tom's doing."
"Rodney –" Mina began, then hesitated. It was the first time she had ever called him that.
The former thief didn't need for her to say anything else. He nodded. "I'll come back soon and tell you, I promise. Will give you regular updates. And Henry might be able to monitor this at some stage for a little, while you have another visit yourself."
"Thank you."
xXx
When Nemo first saw Tom, even his usually controlled face faltered. He would have gladly taken the spy's place. He had lived his life, Tom's had barely begun – though the young man had certainly packed plenty of adventure into his short span on the Earth. Perhaps that was why. Just like with Alexander the Great; so much achieved early, because it was to be a short life.
No. He was not dead yet.
And it was painful to see the broken look on Quatermain's face.
Kali, please spare Thomas.
"I'm trying to remember any sayings about young tigers," Allan said quietly, referring back to some of their conversations from the mission to save Venice.
"I do know this one. A true fighter." Nemo sat down, then quietly addressed the unresponsive Sawyer. "Thomas, we are here for you. All of us." He talked to him encouragingly some more, before turning to regard Quatermain again. From the look on the hunter's face, he was lost in memories, and not happy ones at that.
Nemo said his name, hoping to distract him from them somewhat. Instead, when Allan looked at him and spoke, the Captain knew it was about those memories. "When I was a young man, I knew a witch doctor called Indaba-zimbi, who said he could see into the future. At one point he told me, 'And so I tell you now to ride north, Macumazahn, for there you will find great happiness - yes, and great sorrow. But no man should run away from happiness because of the sorrow.'"
"And what happened?"
"What Indaba-zimbi prophesized. He and I nearly perished in a desert, along with a young orphaned Boer girl I was looking after. But just in time we were found by a beautiful young woman called Stella, who became my second wife."
He sighed. "Within a year my son was born and Stella died. You know what eventually happened to Harry, but there was also Tota, the little Boer girl. For almost two years she was under my charge, and I felt for her as if she were my daughter. But during that time when I went on my trips to provide a living for the three of us, she and Harry were left in the care of a lady, the wife of an English colonel. The lady and Tota became very attached to each other and when the couple planned to return to England, I let them adopt her. Tota and I kept in contact. She grew up in England, married and had a family, and died before I returned to that soil. In a way, I lost her twice."
When Allan's eyes went back to Tom, Nemo did not have to possess special powers to know what was going through his mind.
"No man should run away from happiness because of the sorrow," the Captain reminded the hunter. "And not everything becomes sorrow."
The adventurer nodded, trying to pull himself out of the mental mire. Tom would not be happy with him for being so defeatist about anything, let alone this, and Allan also belatedly hoped that the American had not heard the conversation. Should have kept my damn mouth shut! Or talked in private. I can't have him thinking that I've given up on him. But also in two ways it was understandable he was opening up like this now: his state of mind and that it was Nemo he was talking to. The Captain understood loss of an entire family all too well.
xXx
"Allan?"
The hunter pulled his gaze away from Tom and looked at Skinner. The only thing he could see was the floating hat, and if it were possible for a hat to look anxious, this one was doing exactly that in spades.
Things must really be getting to me. Or it's a testament to how much Tom means to us all. He hadn't missed Nemo's reaction either.
Allan stuck out his hand and felt the former thief grasp it.
"Henry told me what you did, Skinner, and what it cost you. I'm glad you've recovered so well. Thank you for saving Tom's life in the fortress." He almost found himself saying 'my son's life'.
"We've got that in common then. The kid means a lot to all of us. Actually, from what I've heard from the people here about what he's done, I should stop calling him that."
The hat turned again to regard Sawyer. The hunter heard Skinner's slow, worried exhale. Tom still had a high temperature – the highest of anyone on the plantation.
"I recovered from the burns a lot quicker than Tom recovered from his guilt over them, even when I insisted it wasn't his fault. I guess that's another thing you and I've got in common too." The invisible man tried to find a cheerier angle. "But I've healed and you're back, so he'll be stoked."
If he lives.
Allan nodded. Then Skinner said, "Tom told me how you shot the invisible guy who was holding him hostage. At the time, did you think it was me, that I'd lured you all into the fortress to trap you?"
"I was pretty sure it wasn't you. We were aware that the invisibility formula had been replicated and probably used on others."
If it had been the Queen herself holding Tom hostage, I bet you'd have fired, Skinner thought.
xXx
Skinner and the others had been giving Mina regular updates, but the news was always the same: their youngest member was still at the mercy of that fever, being drained away by it. The medicine did not appear to be working – as Henry had feared, Tom may have gotten the full dose too late for it to be of help. The doctor doubted he could hold on much longer. Something had to give. Either the fever, or Tom.
Skinner had told her, "And lately he's been babbling a lot. Some of it makes no sense, sometimes he's calling for his friend Huck or for Allan. Then other times it's like he's reciting things – from 'Alice in Wonderland', or about Robin Hood, the Arabian Nights and Walter Scott romances. Just wearing himself out faster, I reckon." He gave a sad, helpless sigh.
"And Allan?"
"Worrying himself into his second grave and ready to bite anyone's head off if they try to get him to leave, even for a few minutes."
Finally, enough medicine had been produced and distributed, and in time to help those who had been given a spoonful on the first day of the outbreak. Enough had also been made to have on hand for others who would become sick.
Then Mina had the chance to visit Tom again, which she did, a priority before getting any rest.
Not that rest would be likely after she got to see the state Tom was in.
As Mina entered the room, Skinner was just leaving, now in his light coat and hat. The hovering hat cocked back towards the relevant bed. "He's onto 'The Declaration of Independence' now," Skinner said to her quietly, as subdued as she had ever heard. She did not have to see his face to know how crestfallen he felt. Then he exited.
Tom was rambling faintly, his words running on and on, his eyes shut. His tongue seemed to be the only part of him still capable of movement.
Allan tried again to gently shush him, but the American was clearly on a different plane.
Mina sat down in the chair that Skinner had just vacated and stared at Tom.
There was a long pause.
Then Allan said to her, "One of the hunters in Nairobi told me that Tom didn't go with the rest of you because he wanted to learn more about me from the doctor."
"That is one reason. When Tom announced that he wasn't joining us, I was worried that he was going off because he wanted to leave us or still felt uncertain about his worth to the League. I asked him in private, and, apart from wanting to learn more about you, he also said he had a feeling that accompanying Doctor Ben was something he was meant to do. That it felt right."
"Some destiny! He wouldn't even be in Africa at the moment if it weren't for me," Allan said bitterly, keeping his eyes on Tom. Then he got himself marginally back under control. "He's saved all these lives. I just need him to save his own now."
"You being here will be a help in that regard."
"I don't know if he realises I'm here or not."
"I'm sure he does. He missed you very much and had a hard time dealing with your death. He blamed himself. We tried to make him see the truth. He thinks of you like a father, you know. He knew you felt the same way."
The adventurer nodded, and he struggled with eyes that were growing moist. "I am not going to lose another son," he vowed, unconsciously echoing Mr Barrington's own words.
Together they kept trying to help Tom win his war against the fever, doing their best to cool him down and get nourishment into him. Soon Tom's voice gave out, but he kept mouthing words, reciting who knew what.
After a while, Allan slept, even if it was reluctantly. But he knew that Mina was there to keep tending and that she would awaken him if there was any change.
As for Mina, she remembered what Tom had said to her on the conning tower of the Nautilus.
Tomorrow's where I live and breathe.
Tomorrow he may no longer be breathing, she thought, and shuddered. She has always been rather afraid of the future and now there was another reason to be.
No. She could not think like that. "Tom, do you recall how I thought that Americans don't give up easily? At anything? Please prove me right." She would do anything for his youth and sweetness now. "You have so much to come back for." He was young and strong and a fighter. Those were good odds on his side.
Jonathan had survived six weeks of brain fever, coupled with horrifying nightmares of his ordeal in Dracula's castle. Just like Tom, he ended up winning all hearts by his nature and gentleness at the hospital. The recovering natives here in the house and the helpers kept enquiring anxiously about the American, constantly praising him.
There was one possible way of saving Tom. If I could call it that. To turn him into a half vampire like herself. But that would entail him drinking some of her blood. And by the time that they would know for sure that Tom wasn't going to pull through, it would be because he had stopped breathing. And by that stage, it would be too late to get him to drink her blood. And how fair would it be on him even if they did manage to get him to consume it anyway? It wasn't like he had been given a choice in the matter. He had not been lying there conscious and coherent enough, able to give his consent or refusal.
Would he want to become like her?
She prayed it would not have to come down to such a decision.
xXx
Somehow Tom knew the end was near. It made him think of the time he, Joe and Huck had listened to their own funeral service in St Petersburg, before walking in on the stunned congregation.
He wondered what would be said about him this time.
Tom saw that he was standing on the banks of a strange river. It was definitely not the Mississippi. The Styx? There's no boatman to take me to the other side. Is that a good or a bad sign?
He realized his clothes were wet and his hair too. I've already crossed this river myself. The Rubicon? That's it? I'm already on the other side.
On this side there was no one in sight, but there was a distinct sense of peace and tranquility. It felt stronger with every step away from the water.
He turned and looked across the river. He could just make out the far shoreline. It was hazy with mist, but there were people standing there. The League? He moved to the water's edge and tried to count the figures, or to see some distinguishing feature to clue him in, but the mist thickened, thwarting him.
I need to go back. I want to.
But I'm so tired. Every step towards the water had increased that feeling. And it's too late – can't be undone.
No. Not everything is irreversible, no matter how impossible it seems. I have to try. I crossed it once. I'll find a way back.
Determinedly he strode into the water.
xXx
Henry came in, and Mina moved over so that he had all the room he needed to examine the agent. While he was doing so, Allan woke up and anxiously watched the proceedings. The look on the doctor's face said it all: Tom was still in grave danger.
Allan bowed his head, struggling to control his emotions. Henry looked across at him, and tried to find the optimistic side. "Where there's life, there's hope."
"Where there's Tom, there is hope," Mina immediately amended, and Allan made a noise of agreement.
And within an hour the American proved their faith in him, not so much breaking the fever as in shattering it.
xXx
Tom's fever had broken, but he had not yet regained consciousness.
Henry looked from Tom to Allan, then took a deep breath. "Now, as much as I hate to have to say this, I think it would be for the best if, now that Tom is . . . ." The young doctor trailed off at Allan's hard gaze, knowing that the hunter had worked out what he was about to suggest.
"Do you realize what you're asking me to do?" The older man's voice was nearly a growl. His emotions were rubbed raw and overstretched, and this was the last thing he needed.
"Yes. But we've got to consider Tom's condition," Henry insisted. "He's still extremely weak and we can't afford to unduly disturb him in any way. Seeing you sitting there might be too much of a shock for him."
"But what if he remembers that I was here? Then not seeing me would have just as bad an effect!"
Henry gave him a compassionate look but kept his resolve. "Then we can take it from there. All he has to do is ask. If he does, we can have you at his side in a matter of a minute, if even that. For now you need to stay out of this room, until we know for sure that Tom is going to come through this all right. There is still the danger of pneumonia, which he isn't in any condition to fight off if it does develop. And until he wakes up we can't be sure if the fever did some damage."
Allan reluctantly nodded. He would do anything for Tom, even this if necessary.
xXx
Summarily 'banished', Allan sought out Hanrahan.
The doctor's recent pre-plantation illness had caused him to get a lingering dose of the fever, even though he had been given the tablespoonful of medicine in good time, and even though his condition had been nowhere as severe as the young spy's. So Ben's recovery time in bed was going to be longer than most of the others.
"Sorry I haven't come by sooner, but I've been with Tom," the hunter explained.
"I know; I understand. Still getting used to the fact that you're alive again anyway! And how is he?"
Allan filled him in.
Then the doctor said, "I misjudged Thomas at the start. I should have known that even ordinary people can do extraordinary things, but there's nothing ordinary about him."
Allan nodded with undisguised pride. "Skinner said that optimism should really be named 'Op-tom-isim' after him."
Hanrahan gave an amused groan at the bad pun, then sobered. "So Henry thought it best that you stay away for now?"
"Yes. Tom's still very weak. But he's got a great love for life, so I'm confident he'll hold on and be all right." Allan wouldn't accept anything less. Not wanting to dwell on that topic, he said, "Anyway, how are you and would you like me to get you anything?"
Before Hanrahan needed more rest, he was able to fill Allan in more on the African adventures of Thomas Sawyer.
I started this trip telling Thomas of stories about Quatermain, and now look how I'm ending it!
xXx
The American slept for a long time, his body in recovery mode. Meanwhile, Skinner and Nemo both started showing symptoms of the fever and were given a cupful of medicine each right away. That and rest allowed them to recover a lot quicker. However Nemo was on his feet again faster than Skinner, most likely due to it not being all that long since the former thief had been in the infirmary himself.
Jacob also contracted the fever, but like the Captain was not inconvenienced by it for all that long.
xXx
During the time when Nemo and Skinner were in their sickbeds, Tom started to regain consciousness.
Mina was fully alert at the first change in his breathing, the stirring. He was waking up. But how much of him is still in there? His head was angled a little away from her side of the bed, but there was no time to hurry over the other side. Mina leaned in near him.
Slowly his eyes opened.
"Tom?"
His head turned, and those beautiful green eyes were clear, focusing on her with recognition. She gently touched his hair.
Despite his weakness, Tom realized as soon as he opened his eyes where he was, and when he saw the woman at his bedside he knew that help had come, hopefully in time for the stricken.
"Mina," he said happily, or rather mouthed. He had no voice.
There were tears in her eyes, and an expression on her face that he'd never seen before, but was quite willing to live off for years. She looked so beautiful and happy.
"Oh, Tom, thank God. For a time I thought I'd never see that smile again. You're going to be fine." She realized she was on the verge of babbling on in relief, any trace of a calm and cool exterior gone, and she carefully raised his head up enough to give him some water, then lowered him back down.
"Everyone?" This time he managed to ask the question with a bit of noise in his vocal chords, even if it was one word and a barely hearable whisper of sound. To his relief she knew what he meant by that brief question.
"Everyone is fine, thanks to you. They've all had the medicine. You were the one we were all worried about." Her fingers were running soothingly, hypnotically, through his hair and across his forehead.
He gave that grin of his. "No need. Got a new century . . . that I was determined . . . to see."
"You're not going to miss it."
He managed to squeeze her other hand, then slipped easily back into sleep.
Mina was relieved that he seemed to still have all of his wits, but he was still in quite a weakened condition. She let the tears fall then, before making herself get up to tell the others the good news.
xXx
The next time Tom woke up, Mina was still by his side, and this time Henry was as well. He managed to smile at them, despite feeling like he'd been trampled by a herd of elephants.
"Do you know where you are?" Henry asked him.
His voice was still very hoarse and faint, but he managed. "The plantation. Africa."
"That's right," the doctor said, relieved.
"Though . . . also looks like heaven to me." Tom commented, turning his head to Mina, eyes twinkling at her.
"You must be better! Or channeling Skinner," she replied. Together she and Henry gave him some water.
Tom was stunned to find out how long he had been in bed for.
"You were the sickest, thanks to being so noble and pig-headed," Mina commented. "Some of the others are already up and about."
"Doctor Ben?"
Henry said, "Still in bed, but recovering well. Now I need to check you." Among other things, the doctor took Tom's vitals, listened to his heart and tested the movement of his limbs.
"Very good. But you are not to overdo things."
"At the moment I don't even feel I can do anything . . . ." Just breathing and being awake was wearing him out.
"I know. You'll tire easily and have muscle weakness from the fever and from the extended bedrest. But we'll start you off with some gentle activity and build it up. Now I am going to go get you some broth."
Tom watched him go, then looked around as much as he was able. Mina held her breath, wondering if he could remember Allan, but instead of asking about the hunter, Tom asked, "So, what have I missed?"
To his embarrassment, he dozed off while she was talking, then woke again when Henry came back. The American's apology brought a laugh from Mina. "I can forgive that more easily than you dying on us."
Mina and Henry seemed pleased with the amount of broth he managed to consume. Neither of them had mentioned Allan and he wasn't around anywhere. That just made Tom all the more sure that his mentor had been a hallucination, dream or ghost during his most critical moments. But that made the memories – hazy as they were – all the more special. He had gotten to speak to Allan again, to apologise and thank him, and was left with a definite sense of absolution and healing.
The League's real reasons at keeping mum were something that did not occur to Tom. From his point of view, he was out of danger, and did not realize just how weak he still was. Yes, he was extremely tired, but surely some sleep and rest would cure that, and Henry had said this and that about his having to take it easy, but didn't all doctors? Jekyll was probably exaggerating in an effort to make sure that Tom didn't overdo things for once.
Sawyer was also now assured of his own capabilities. His baptism of fire, even before the fever had struck him, had shown him just how well he could handle a crisis and take charge.
xXx
A full day passed, during which Tom spent a lot of time sleeping, but with every subsequent waking he was able to remain awake and alert for longer. During some of those times Henry helped him to sit up for a little. On the first few occasions the American got dizzy due to no longer lying flat, but recovered from that feeling progressively quicker.
He got to see Captain Nemo, who was recovered enough from his brush with the sickness to be up again.
"Hi, Nemo. I guess it'll be a while until our next martial arts lesson. They came in handy though."
"So I have heard. Well done." Nemo was smiling. "And in regard to hobbies, I have had an idea. When we are next in a position to, I will purchase baseball equipment for you and the crew to use. I think I have come up with a device that will allow a large amount of the balls to be put into it, then fired out one at a time, at set intervals, so you can have batting practise. Especially since I think it will be a while until any of us or the crew becomes a good enough pitcher."
"That would be great, thank you."
Henry was relieved that Tom was showing no signs of developing pneumonia, but continued to monitor him carefully. Henry and Mina also noticed something else about Tom that they discussed together.
"There's a peace in his eyes now," the doctor said. "His self-confidence and resolve is back. Even if he doesn't remember Allan is alive, subconsciously I think Quatermain's presence succeeded while he was sick. That and what Tom was able to do here for these people. What he lost in Mongolia, he's found again."
Mina agreed. "And it's stronger too. Just hopefully it won't be too long before we can give him the best news possible." They both felt guilty at the deception, though it would have been even harder if Tom had actually mentioned the adventurer, which he hadn't. "When can we tell him?"
Henry considered, then said, "I think he's strong enough now to see Allan without ill effects, but Allan is over at the village at the moment and will be gone most of the day. They needed help there, and he was going crazy at being on the plantation but not being able to stay with Tom. So if we tell Tom tonight, then we can have Allan right here to see him."
xXx
Later that day:
It was time for Mina's next 'shift' with Tom. It was an unspoken agreement between the team that at least one League member would be with Tom at all times, and not out of any distrust of the other care-givers. After Henry left to get some sleep, the half-vampire regarded the American.
"You're looking very cheerful. If Skinner were up, I'd think that he'd told you some totally improper jokes. Henry hardly seems the type."
Tom smiled. "No. I was just thinking about Allan," he revealed in his still hoarse and faint voice.
"Oh?" she replied, striving for a neutral tone. The hunter was not back yet and was not due for a while longer.
"Mina, I saw him. When I was sick." He rushed on before she could say anything. "I know it was his ghost or a hallucination, but it was so good to see him again. To talk to him again. It was like a second chance." Then he noticed the strange expression on Mina's face. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked . . . guilty? She was definitely being uncharacteristically hesitant, and that scared him.
Actually, come to think of it, the rest of the League and the others had been acting a little oddly too, but he'd been too exhausted and either heading to sleep or just waking up from sleep to really ponder it or ask questions.
Mina tried to cover for her uncertainty, but it was too late. His heart beat faster. "What is it? What's wrong?"
She confessed.
Alive? Allan's alive and here? He was with me all that time?
She was being serious, and he was not dreaming. His heart pounded madly. He ignored her pleas to try to calm down and stay still.
"But how? Where is he?" A horrible thought occurred to him. "Is he sick?"
"No – that witch doctor somehow managed to resurrect him after we all left Nairobi. Allan is over at the village at the -"
Tom didn't fully hear her last sentence, a remark of Skinner's at Allan's graveside flittering through his reeling mind.
Remember how he said that Africa wouldn't let him die? I wish the old boy had been right.
Tom recalled the strange storm as he and Doctor Ben were riding away from Nairobi in the wagon . . . .
"Oh God," the agent whispered, staring up at nothing.
"Tom, forgive us please. We came so close to losing you, and you were – still are – so weak that we didn't know if you'd be able to handle the shock." Tom saw that there were tears in Mina's eyes but it wasn't until later on that he registered just how upset she was. At the moment the fact that Allan was still alive was about all he could handle. He almost missed Mina's next words. She was on the verge of rambling. "Quatermain wanted to be with you once your fever had broken, but he agreed to wait until we knew if you could remember he was there, or when you were stronger. I think he's popped into the room a few times when you've been sleeping though."
Mina for her part was horrified about being the one who had let the cat out of the bag, as well as guilty at all the secrecy. It had to end some time. But was now still too soon? Tom's heart and breathing were very fast.
"Please, calm down. I'm sorry –"
"Where did you say he is now?"
"Over at the village. He –" She stopped and suddenly listened intently, as if trying to catch a distant noise. "I can hear horses. People have just arrived outside the house. But it may not be him."
"Please go see. If he is back, I need to see him. Now. I promise . . . I won't try to move. Please."
"All right."
It seemed an eternity as he waited. He even began to doubt that he had heard Mina correctly.
Then a blessed, familiar face was looking down at him, the worry on it being overtaken with joy. Allan Quatermain leaned forward, mouth open to speak, and Tom somehow found the strength to launch himself upward, his upper torso at least, towards the hunter, arms going out. Allan hastily bridged the gap, in alarm and delight, catching the young man and holding him safe in his embrace, one arm around his back, the older man's other hand supporting his head.
Real cloth and solid flesh was against Tom; Allan's happy - though startled - exclamation sounded in his ears. The American wanted to say 'sorry' again, but he couldn't get any words out, and also he already knew that Allan did not blame him for his death. Besides, at the moment there was really no need for words. There was time. They had time again. A few tears started to run down Tom's face, but he was too worn out and overloaded for more.
Allan was surprised at Tom's sudden show of agility and the strength in the invalid's arms as he held tightly, as if fearful to let go. Allan could well understand that sentiment, but he tried not to return the hug too fiercely, not out of any lack of feeling, but instead all too aware of the thin and frail body in his grasp. Hopefully Tom had not dangerously overexerted himself just now.
But he was alive and awake and the adventurer was happier than he had been for a long time.
However, Allan was arched over the bed, and his body recognized the pain that posture was giving his back, even if his mind didn't. It made him sit down on the edge of the mattress, still holding his protégé.
"It's all right, son, it's all right." Allan repeated the words soothingly, patting the younger man's back, tousling the curls, rocking slightly back and forth, gaining as much comfort and reassurance as he was giving. After all, he'd had a few seconds of terror upon arriving back at the plantation, when Mina rushed out onto the verandah. He had known it was about Tom, and had been relieved at the good news.
Now, Mina and Henry watched the reunion from the end of the bed.
And Tom's surge of adrenalin was ebbing. Added to that was exhaustion and threatening dizziness.
Allan found himself supporting more and more of Tom's weight, then the young man slumped against the hunter, arms slipping unwillingly from their hold. Allan swung from joy into horrified panic. But even as his fingers went frantically to check for a pulse and even as Henry hurried forward, Allan realized that he could feel a reassuring heartbeat and breathing against his chest and neck. But had the young spy passed out or just gone to sleep?
The doctor examined Tom and nodded reassuringly. "Asleep," he mouthed.
Allan lifted his head, relieved, meeting his eyes and then looking over at Mina. Now he was truly alive again too.
The half-vampire and doctor watched them, knowing that all of the League would rest a lot better tonight.
END PART SEVEN
Notes: Indaba-zimbi and Tota are from the H Rider Haggard novel "Allan's Wife".
Also, any similarities between the final scene above and the final scene of Chapter 10 of Cheryl Witman's story "Peace" were unintentional and completely co-incidental.