And Not to Yield

Chapter 4

Words: 4,720

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"Really TC, you should be getting back to your office as I am perfectly fine. Agatha said she will be coming over shortly for brunch so I won't want for company." Higgins sat at his desk shuffling papers around trying to look busy, but the attempt was spoiled by the slump of his shoulders and the paleness of his complexion.

"I have a little time, Higgy. My first clients today are for one of my Hawaiian Afternoon Champagne Flight Specials." TC tried to keep the concern from his voice as he knew it would only irritate Higgins further. "Besides, I told Agatha I'd try and wait until she came over, although I don't know what to tell her."

"Yes, I know. She was so upset about the missing contract and now these totally unexpected events..." Higgins' gaze wandered off and suddenly he blinked, shook his head, and rubbed his temple as he closed his eyes.

"Higgy. Are you all right?" TC came forward and placed a hand on Higgins' shoulder.

"No, no. It's all right." Higgins shook his head slightly and gave TC a wan smile. "Just a slight twinge. Nothing to worry about."

As TC started to say more the speaker connected to the front gate came to life. "Jonathan? This is Agatha. I brought you some nice chicken soup. Are you there?"

Higgins reached over, toggled the gate opener, and pressed the communication switch. "Dear Agatha. Please drive through. I'll meet you at the house entry way." Higgins gave TC a smile and placed both hands on the desk top to push himself erect. He briefly closed his eyes and wavered for a second but then stood up straight and marched out of the room. TC silently shook his head as he watched Higgins leave the room and then followed.

The old immaculate Rolls purred up the driveway and stopped in front of the entry just as Higgins emerged from the house. He opened the car door for Agatha who stepped out carrying a large wicker basket. As Higgins took the basket from her, her eyes teared and she reached out an imploring hand to place on his arm. "Oh, Jonathan. I am so sorry. Since I've learned of you, and Rick, and Theodore...," she looked at TC and stifling a sob, dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. "I feel so responsible, nothing is worth any of you being hurt over... I just don't understand how this could happen..."

"Now, Agatha, its all right." Higgins placed a hand on her elbow and turned to go. "Everyone is fine. We did find the contract... there's just been an unexpected set back, that's all."

As they approached the door TC reached out and took the basket from Higgins. "Let me carry that, Higgy. Should I take in to the kitchen or..."

"Oh," Agatha gave a little smile. "I put everything in those little Styrofoam coolers so it would stay hot."

"Well, lets just go straight out to the patio then." Higgins patted her hand.

She reached out and touched TC's arm. "Theodore, are you sure you are quite all right? I feel simply horrible to have put you in danger."

"Oh, don't worry about me Miss Agatha, I'm," TC said with emphasis, rolling his eyes at Higgins, "fine."

Agatha glanced quickly at Higgins but, holding on to her arm, he started off down the pathway leading around to the back of the estate. "Now, Agatha, I can't wait to try your marvelous chicken soup. Did you use your lemon grass recipe? The Thais make the most delicious soup. I prepared some Mahi Mahi along with some organically grown Jasmine rice that one of the university agricultural researchers raises here on Oahu, that should make a wonderful complement dish. I am reminded of the time I was stationed..."

TC frowned at the back at Higgins' head as Agatha glanced back at him over her shoulder with a worried look.

"... and then the admiral's wife, who was..." Higgins had reached over to pour a little more wine into Agatha's glass, when his voice faded off and the hand holding the bottle started to tremble. A strange look came over his face and he suddenly put the bottle down hitting the edge of a dish as he did so. TC grabbed the tottering bottle and sat it aside as he jumped up to go to Higgins.

"Higgy, what's wrong?" TC had an arm around Higgins' shoulder and Agatha had moved quickly to his other side, her eyes bright with alarm.

"I... I... " Higgins blinked and rubbed his right eye, "I feel quite strange... I seem to be going... blind."

"Oh, Jonathan. Here, look at me. Can you see my hand?" Agatha bent close to Higgins and holding his face with one hand waved her other in front of him.

"I... can see you, dear Agatha...dimly, but... not my right eye." He suddenly shut his eyes and gave a little groan. His face paled and was suddenly covered in a sheen of sweat. TC gripped him tighter.

"Jonathan, Jonathan?" Agatha gently held his face with one hand and wiped his brow with the other. "Can you open your eyes just for a second so I can see them, please, dear."

Higgins breathing had shorten and he was obviously fighting to stay conscious. With a great effort he opened his eyes. His left eye was focused but showed the pain he was enduring. His right eye stared blindly without seeing anything.

Agatha covered his eyes with her hand and spoke gently to him. "That's fine, dear. You just close your eyes now." She looked up anxiously at TC. "Theodore, his right eye is quite dilated, he must be gotten to the hospital immediately."

TC bent down and pulled Higgins' arm over his shoulders and then gently helped Higgins stand up. "Okay, Higgy. Now we're going to get you to the hospital. You just got to help me walk you to the van and then we'll be off. Now we're just going to turn around here and walk down the path, okay." He could feel Higgins try to support himself but his effort was weak and seemed to be getting fainter. "Now you just hang in there, Higgy-baby. Everything's going to be okay, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. You got that, Higgy? You listenin' to what I'm saying to you, sergeant major?" Higgins gave a faint mumble and his hand clenched at TC's shoulder.

Agatha suddenly ran up by his side and touched his arm. "Theodore, lets take the Rolls. The back seat is quite large enough for Jonathan to lay down and I can sit on one of the companion seats while you drive." TC gave a short nod and she awkwardly ran ahead, disappearing around the corner of the house, one hand on her wide brim lace hat, her huge purse clutched in the other.

TC kept his patter going trying to give Higgins' failing mind something to focus on. "You hear that, Higgy? I'm actually going to get to drive a Rolls. Why I bet that Rolls costs nearly as much as my chopper. I always thought maybe I should get into the limo business, sort of a horizontal integration thing. The way it is now I'm always making arrangements for a limo to pick up my clients and if I had my own then I could provide a door to door service. What do you think of that, Higgy?"

A note of desperation crept into his voice as Higgins' grip loosened completely. He now had to hold Higgins' hand in a tight grip to keep it around his shoulder. As they approached the corner of the house he heard the muted rumble of the big Rolls engine and then they were around next to the drive. Agatha had backed the Rolls close up to the path and now jumped out and hurriedly opened the back door. As they got close Higgins' weak step faltered even more and TC had to almost carry him the last few feet.

"Now sergeant major, you listening to me? We just got to climb into this here fancy automobile, and then you can lie down for awhile. Okay? But I don't want you going to sleep. No sleeping while on duty, sergeant major. Now just bend your head a little here." Agatha put her hand on Higgins' head as TC tried to maneuver both of them through the large doorway. "Okay, now. Watch that door sill, Just lift your leg a little there, Higgy." TC's face turn red with the effort to keep from falling as Higgins' leg collapsed throwing TC perilously off balance. "Its okay, Higgy, I got you. Don't you worry none. You gonna be okay." He gently manhandled Higgins' inert weight until he could gently lay him down on the plush polished leather. He quickly arranged Higgins' limp limbs as Agatha climbed in by him. "You hang in there, Higgy. Theodosius Calvin is not going to let any thing happen to you."

There were tears in his eyes as he jumped out, gently shut the door, then wrenching the front door open he jumped into the front. He sat momentarily stunned for a second as his hands encountered empty air where the steering wheel should have been. Shaking his head he grimly pushed himself almost violently over to the other side and throwing the transmission in gear sent the huge gleaming Rolls thundering down the drive.

Agatha and TC jumped up as the swinging doors pushed open and the white smocked figure entered the waiting lobby. The doctor raised his hand and motioned for them to take their seats as he approached. He pulled a small chair close to where they sat and rubbing his face sat down.

"How's he doing, doc?" TC asked worriedly.

"Yes," joined in Agatha's concerned voice. "Will Jonathan be all right?"

The doctor sighed and looked at both of them frankly. "I have to be honest with you. We've sent him down for a brain scan and that should tell us the full extent of the problem, but from the preliminary exam it appears as if a blood clot has formed and is affecting blood flow to some of the blood vessels, which is why he lost the vision in his right eye."

"But you can fix that sort of stuff, right?" TC cut in. "I mean he'll be okay, right?"

The doctor rubbed his neck and grimaced, then clasped his hands in front of him as he leaned forward. "There are surgical and non-surgical measures that can be done, but I have to tell you that the area we think the blood clot is in is a very difficult one to operate on. We have already taken certain measures to try and mitigate the growth of the clot but until we have the results of the brain scan and other tests, we don't know exactly what it is we are dealing with.

"We are also contacting Dr. Vennama's office to alert him for a possible emergency surgery. He's the only surgeon in the islands with the required expertise if in fact the clot is where we think it is. If so then we'll need to perform surgery as quickly as possible since there is the acute risk of permanent damage."

Agatha leaned forward and placed her hand on the doctor's arm. "What exactly do you mean by 'permanent' damage?"

"If the clot spreads and affects too many blood vessels, he could lose his sight, and..." he covered her hand with one of his own, "there is the possibility there could be irreversible brain damage."

"Oh!" Agatha pulled her hand back and covered her mouth as she gave an anguished gasp.

Before she or TC could say anymore the doors swung open again and a nurse came over and nodding silently to Agatha and TC, bent down to speak quietly to the doctor. "Sir, we just talked to Dr. Vennama's answering service and they say he has gone to Molokai to attend a Hawaiian Historical Society ceremony in memory of Father Damien."

"Did they say when he'd be getting back?" the doctor asked anxiously.

"I'm afraid not until tomorrow afternoon, doctor."

"Oh.. Thank you." The nurse turned and went back through the door, as the doctor twisted his hands in front of him. "I am afraid that seriously complicates things."

"Well, can't someone else do the surgery?" TC perched clenched fists on his knees.

"Dr. Vennama is the best. If we must then, yes, someone else will have to try, but these procedures are very very delicate, and a slight error in judgment can..." the doctor stood suddenly. "I have to make some phone calls. If you'll excuse me."

"Wait, doctor." TC bounced up as if on springs. "You say this doctor Vennama is on Molokai, then I'll just go get him."

The doctor looked at TC with a puzzled frown. "I'm not sure how you'd do that. We probably have no more than a few hours at the outside before we must operate, and to get to the old leper colony and find the doctor and get him back here..."

TC held up a hand. "I can do it. I'll get this Dr. Vennama here come hell or high water." TC turned and started to run down the hall toward the stair well. "You just wait until you hear from me," he called over his shoulder.

The doctor shook his head. "I don't understand."

Agatha stood up and looked down the now empty hallway. "Theodore owns a helicopter, doctor." She turned and gave him a steady look. "If he says he can do it, he will."

The red and yellow striped Island Hoppers' chopper clawed skyward in a roar of straining turbine blades and shot off like a bullet. Racing southeast from Oahu over the channel to the cloud bank sitting over the smaller island's mountains, it was a blur of orange and red against the ocean's blue green, while its spinning rotor blades hurled shafts of sunlight across the heavens.

Behind tinted aviator's sunglasses, TC's face was a mask of concentration as he spoke in brisk tones into his mike, and watched his instrument dials hovering on red lines as he pushed his craft to the limit. The urgency and sense of mission brought back memories of similar times in Vietnam where Rick had been his crew chief. "Oh, Or-ville, where the hell are you?" In the isolation of his howling aircraft cabin he shook his head at the vagaries of fate that had conspired to place the destinies of two of those closest to him in such doubt. Then he shoved those thoughts aside and focused on his instruments and the quickly approaching island that held the key to Higgins' fate.

As the chopper slowed over the grass lawn in front of the Molokai Resort, TC spied two children kicking a soccer ball under him. As the chopper slowly lowered itself, the rotor wash sent waves across the lawn and the soccer ball suddenly went off on an erratic tangent with one of the children madly chasing it. The other young boy stood looking up at this strange apparition, with one hand up to shield his eyes from the lowering sun.

"Come on now, kid," muttered TC, "lets move. I got to sit down." Suddenly a woman dressed in a white sun suit rushed onto the lawn and turning the child back in the direction she had come began to run, pushing the child ahead of her. When they had reached the edge of the lawn TC slowly descended the rest of the way, his eyes darting in all directions, on the look out for any other dangers. As soon as the skids touched down he killed the turbine, safed the controls and jumped out of the chopper. Locking the door he stood impatiently next to the chopper waiting for the rotors to still before he left in case another child or someone rushed over in unthinking curiosity. Finally with a soft swish the rotors stilled and he sprinted for the resort entrance. Passing the woman who had her arms crossed over the fidgeting child in front of her, TC tugged at the brim of his cap. "I'm sorry, ma'am. There's been an emergency." The frown of puzzled annoyance that had been on her face cleared and she nodded as TC sped up the steps.

Several tourists and resort employees had gathered on the veranda to witness the somewhat novel sight of a helicopter landing in their front lawn, and as he hurried past them a majordomo dressed up in a magnificent uniform of brass buttons and distinctive colors, hurried over and opened the main door to admit him. The interior was cool and dim, a vast high room in the best tradition of colonial British empire architecture. TC whipped off his sunglasses and spotting a table with a large sign that read 'Hawaiian Historical Society' behind it, raced over to confront the two women who had paused in mid-conversation to stare at his unusual entrance.

"Ma'am, I'm trying to locate a Dr. Vennama, who is supposed to be attending your conference. Do you know where I can find him? Its an emergency." TC stood tensely in front of the table holding his cap in his hand.

The older of the two ladies, looked up at TC over the half rims of her reading glasses and nodded her head. "The front desk told us a few minutes ago that there would be someone coming for Dr. Vennama so we have been going through our notes." She picked up a list of names and holding her glasses up higher on the bridge of her nose peered at it. "Dr. Vennama and his wife are listed here for the Mule Trail familiarization walk that started after lunch. They were only going part way and are scheduled to be back here by 4:30 or 5:00 pm. So I would imagine that they would have began the descent and be on their way back now." She turned and looked at her younger companion. "Miriam, you've been on the trail more than I, don't you think they should be headed back by now?"

The other woman wore no makeup, but plain, frame glasses made her beautiful gray green eyes stand out, accenting a rather attractive face. She had a hand pressed to her chest and was gazing somewhat distractedly at TC and didn't seem to hear the other's question. Then she gave a start and gave her friend a rather disconcerted look. "What... oh... why... yes," she suddenly peered at the slim gold watch on her arm as if it held the key to this riddle's answer. "Yes, that's right." She gazed back at TC and her hand strayed unconsciously back to her chest.

"Thank you, ladies." TC started to turn then catching sight of some Society papers with pictures on them stopped. "Ma'am, would you happen to have a picture of Dr. Vennama? I don't know what he looks like."

"Oh," the elder of the two reached for a Society publication and turned to the inside cover. "Of course, Dr. Vennama is our acting vice-president this year... and... yes, here it is." She folded the cover back and handing the publication to TC pointed at a picture of a smiling white haired man in his early sixties, with distinctive Slavic facial features and lively intelligent eyes. "Please keep it, we have lots." She said smiling.

"Thank you again, this will really help." But again as TC started to turn away he suddenly turned back. This time he pointed at the small white board sitting on a small tripod next to the younger woman. "Ma'am, do you think I could borrow that?"

Miriam gave him a startled look, glanced at the white board, then back at TC, and then jumped up and started to pick it up, and then put it back down. "You need to borrow it?" She asked in a confused tone.

"Yes, ma'am. If I fly up there and see Dr. Vennama on the trail I won't have any way to talk to him, but if I have that board I can write a message on it and he can read it." TC moved to the end of the table close to Miriam and the white board but refrained from grabbing it, although it was evident that was what he clearly wanted to do.

"Oh, you're going to fly up there... oh, of course, you have a helicopter." Miriam's hand fluttered to her cheek and then to her hair. "Well, of course you shall have it, its mine after all." She turned to pick it up and then put it down again and turning to the table reached under it and pulled out a small brown paper lunch bag. Unrolling the folded top she started to pull something out of it and then in confusion turned slightly as if to hide the bag, and then thinking better of it, turned back and pulled out a banana and laid it on the table, she then pulled out an apple and placed by the banana. "Its just my snack..." her voice got very low, "the prices here are really dreadful so I just..." She turned suddenly back to the white board and grabbing the eraser and marking pen thrust them into the bag and folding the top handed it shyly to TC. Then she grabbed the white board and handed it to him as well. His hand touched hers as he took it, and a faint blush suffused her face as he thanked her and hurried to the door.

As TC disappeared out the entry way, the older gal gave a small smile and shook her head. "Aviators really are something different, aren't they, dear?" When no response was forthcoming she turned to find Miriam still standing, gazing at the door way with her hand pressed over her heart again. "Miriam, are you all right?" she asked with some concern, never having seen her friend look so strange.

"Oh, wasn't he simply magnificent?" Miriam whispered without taking her eyes from the doorway.

Her friend gave her a look of utter astonishment and then shaking her head began to laugh. "Why, Miriam. I do declare you've been hit by a thunderbolt!"

Miriam's eyes widened and she suddenly sat down as if her legs had given way. "Oh... is that what it feels like... oh, my... I think you're right... oh, my..." She sat slack for a moment but then her face lit up and jumping from the chair she raced for the entry way.

As TC trotted down the steps and ran for the chopper he found it surrounded by several more children, along with the woman and her young son. Stopping next to them he cleared the frown from his face and smiled at them. "Ma'am could I ask you and the young gentlemen here for a favor?"

The boy's face lit up. "Oh, yes!" he exclaimed.

"Certainly," the woman gave the white board a puzzled look, as if she was wondering how it could constitute an emergency.

"Well, back at the airport I have a ground crew to help me with making sure everyone is a safe distance away when I take off. But of course I don't have a ground crew here, and I was wondering if you'd like to be an honorary ground crew. All it would mean is for you to stand where you were before, along with the other children and then keep a look out to make sure no one else runs out on the lawn behind me." He knelt down with his eyes on level with the young boy. "Now when everything is clear and I'm ready to fire up the turbine I'll give you a thumbs up," TC made a fist and thrust his thumb up, "and then if everything is okay you give me a thumbs up in return. But if you see something wrong then you give me a thumbs down, like this." He turned his fist down with his thumb pointing at the ground. "Okay?"

The boy nodded his head eagerly, and looked up at his mom. "Is it okay, mom? Can we be the ground crew? I know I can do it, really." She gave him a smile and rubbing his hair bent her head and kissed him on the forehead. "Of course, dear."

"Okay, my man," TC reached out and gently socked the boy on the shoulder. "I knew I could count on you. Now after I start up the turbine and the rotors start turning, you keep a sharp look out, and then when I am ready to lift off I'll give you a thumbs up again to let you know, and if every thing is clear you give me back two thumbs up, okay?"

"Sure, okay!" he said with delight and thrusting out both hands produced two thumbs up.

"All right." TC jumped up and turned to the small crowd of kids that had gathered around to hear what was being said. "Okay, gang. Now I'm making you all my honorary ground crew, okay?" The kids all got big smiles and amid the jumping up and down and the clapping hands all called out yes. "Okay, now..." he hesitated and smiled down at the boy. "and what is my main man's name?"

"Carson, sir!" the boy exclaimed in delight.

"All right, now listen up. You are all honorary Island Hoppers' ground crew, and Carson here, is the Molokai Island Hoppers' Main Man, so you all listen to him. Now the first thing is to form a safety perimeter along the edge of the lawn, and then we'll get this show on the road. Okay, lets do it." Tucking the white board under his arm he pivoted his arm in an arc to point to the edges of the lawn and then clapped his hands. As the small mob of kids raced away laughing in delight and clapping their hands, TC called out, "Hey, Carson."

The small boy spun to a stop and looked eagerly back at his new hero. "All right, now." TC called to him and gave him a thumbs up. "You're in charge. You the man." With a smile TC ran to the chopper, quickly unlocked the door, tucked the white board and brown paper bag in front of the passenger seat, and then jumped in. As he put on his sun glasses, slipped the head phones over his cap and adjusted the mike, he noticed the children all in animated conversation spreading out along the edge of the lawn with Carson and his mom directly in front of the chopper.

Glancing at the big rear view mirrors on the sides, he turned to face Carson and gave him a thumbs up. Carson immediately leaned forward and looked left and then right with all the kids giving him a thumbs up as he looked at them. Straightening up he assumed a very erect stance and gave TC a thumbs up. Shooting him a smile, TC reached out and flicking switches fired up the turbine. As the turbine gained in power the rotors started to turn and soon the kids were being buffeted from the force of the down draft.

Checking the mirrors again, TC shot Carson another thumbs up and again the boy leaned forward to look left and right, then standing erect he could hardly contain his excitement as he thrust his fists out toward TC with both thumbs raised. With a sudden burst of power TC raised the chopper up and back. Flashing the young boy a smile, he banked the chopper and powered off toward the faint trail etched against the distant cliff face. Behind him the resort lawn was covered by a mob of racing laughing excited kids.

On the veranda a slight figure dressed in a sensible brown dress and large framed glasses stood with a distant look in her eyes and a hand pressed to her heart.

---- Dissolve----