27th January

01.30 a.m

I am not at home. I am staying in UNCLE headquarters in one of the guest rooms so that I can watch over Katiya. The doctors here it seems feel that it might be beneficial for the child to be with her father, for her for obvious reasons, but also because they are desperately seeking some way to help the two men.

A car arrived for us just before school, so I had to call miss Borrowdale (Katiya's teacher) to explain why she would not be in school today, and then whilst Wint took Polly to school, I went to UNCLE medical with the UNCLE section three man, Jackson. Winston promised to follow us later, once he had arranged for Poll to stay with a school friend overnight. Tomorrow, whatever happens, we will sort something else out. Today, actually, seeing as it is now after midnight.

Sorry if I digress a little, my thoughts are all over the place.

We went down into medical, and found both the men in the same room. They looked as though they were both just taking an afternoon nap. A few almost healed cuts and grazes to be seen, but nothing out of the ordinary. They were hooked up to various machines, monitoring them, but to my uneducated eyes, it all seemed so normal, I could not help but ask myself why were they not waking up?

Doctor Simpson very gently explained that as they had been injected with some foreign substance that was clearly doing some kind of damage to their bodies, the best way for the brain to fight it is to shut them down, put them to sleep so that it could channel all its energies into fighting off…whatever it is.

I wonder if he thinks I am as silly as I look? It was kind of him to try, but really, that kind of explanation I could have worked out all on my own. However, I smiled as sweetly as I could and thanked him. Winston came in at that point, and I watched him standing over the inert form of his younger brother, and I could guess what was in his mind, as the same thing was in mine. Would they be okay?

It is strange you know, but once Katiya saw that her papa was breathing, and felt his heart beating strongly, she smiled and told me confidently that he would be fine. Considering the uncertain looks and speeches I had received from the medical personnel, I hated to be the one to burst her bubble; and anyway, who could tell?

We sat next to the two men for an hour or so, and when we went to move, Katiya refused to go. That was when I was asked if I would mind staying around so that Katiya could be with Illya. By talking to him in their native tongue, it is hoped she can get through to him. I agreed readily. How could I not? Tomorrow, or rather, today is Saturday, so Polly is not at school. I wonder what will happen? Waverly won't want all of us hanging around getting in everyone's way, that I do know. I might have to leave Wint to take care of Polly at home for a few days?

Sorry, I am digressing again. What I was about to say was that out of the blue, Katiya gave her papa a shake and said in his face' "Papa! Open your eyes!"

Then she turned to me and remarked; "Aunty Ce, it is like papa has been turned off. Like he is awake, but they made him sleep on the outside so's we can't tell."

I frowned at her, and asked her what made her say that. She shrugged and said;

"Well, it's just that his left eye is twitching."

The nurse assured us that it was just a muscle spasm, that was all. Katiya looked puzzled, and she said; "But papa is making it happen."

"I know it seems that way, but…" the nurse began but Katiya looked obstinate.

"It is my papa doing it, because it teached it to me. The dot dot dot dit dit dit talking."

The nurse stared at her for maybe up to five seconds, then she turned and ran. I have never seen any nurse running as fast as she did then!

Presently, three doctors, a scientist, Mister Waverly and Slate and Dancer were all crowded into the room to see for themselves what little Katiya had noticed. After a few minutes of observation, Waverly leaned in and whispered something into Illya's ear, so that no one else could hear. Then he said aloud;

"Katiya, if you can read your papa's message, can you say out loud what he is saying now?"

Katiya stared at her papa for several seconds, and then turned to the old man with her eyes opened wide.

"Mister Waverly…papa's eye said…he said…"

"Yes, my dear?" Waverly asked, his eyes twinkling. Katiya started to giggle.

"He said he does not like pink. Can you make it a black tutu?"

We all stared then, and Waverly turned to doctor Simpson.

"The child is correct, doctor. I whispered to Illya that if he does not wake up soon, I will make you dress him up in a pink tutu. This proves that she is right. Illya at least is awake and aware of what is going on, but unable to respond."

That is as much as I can tell you for now. It seems Illya and probably Napoleon too are awake after all, but are in some form of sedation that sedates the body but not the brain. I cannot imagine the hell Illya must have gone through trying to get people to notice his coded message. Thank goodness for Katiya!