Chapter 26: Sion

Basta moaned. His head was in Anna's lap, but he felt as if his head was swimming. His entire body ached, and his shirt felt damp against his body. He lolled his head in pain, until Anna stroked his hair and murmured Shhh shhh to him. He drifted out of consciousness.

When Basta came to again, half an hour later, he managed to open his eyes. He was still in the cab of the truck, his head still in Anna's lap. His face was sore, and felt crusty and broken. He started crying. Usually, under other circumstances, he would have been humiliated. But he was so, so sore, that he didn't care if Anna heard him cry. His body was quivering, and Anna's hand passed over his forehead.

"He has a fever" he heard her murmur, though he couldn't be sure. His ears felt like they were full of cotton, and everyone's voices were hushed wisp, wisp sounds.

Every time the truck bumped, sharp pains shot through Basta's body. He would whimper, moan, or cry whenever it happened. Tears leaked from his eyes. There was one spot on his body in particular that made him wince: his left side. He vaguely remembered Landa stabbing him with a shard of glass...

He lost consciousness.

Basta awoke, hours later, in an unfamiliar room. He was lying on his back on a narrow bed with railings on both sides. A white, textured blanket was draped over the lower half of his body. Basta blinked his eyes, and noticed that he had a needle in his wrist. It was taped to his skin, and connected to a long, narrow tube, that was attached to a bag of clear fluids hanging beside his bed. He was dressed in a different shirt, a terrible looking white hospital gown. His face didn't feel crusty anymore, and when he raised a hand to his nose, he felt the texture of several stiff bandages shaped over the bridge. His lips felt split and cracked, and he didn't bother touching them. All he wanted to know was where he was.

Basta tilted his head to the side, and nearly cried out in pain. His neck was very sore, and he found it hard to move it. He figured the muscles were badly strained from when he had braced his neck against Landa.

Landa. Basta's stomach dropped as the gritty details of the fight came back to him. Suddenly he could see Anna. She was sitting in a chair at the other end of the room, her head in her hand. She was staring blankly ahead, looking as if she were a thousand miles away.

"Anna?" he called hoarsely. Her head snapped in his direction instantly.

"Basta! You're awake!" She was still wearing her gown, but the fabric had spots of blood on it. Basta knew it was from him.

"Where are we?" he asked, too sore to reach up to her. Anna pulled up a chair beside his bed and sat down.

"We're in a hospital in Sion." She murmured.

"What? Where?"

"Sion, sweetie. It was the closest city to the lodge." She gently stroked his arm. Basta frowned, and a headache started up.

"Where are Daniel and Jerry?"

"They headed back home..."

"How long of a drive is it?"

"I'm not sure." Anna's tone was sympathetic. Though he loved her, Basta was in a foul mood.

"What are we going to do?" He asked.

"We need to go to France."

"Because you completed your mission?" He asked. Anna's face turned red, and her eyes flicked away for a moment.

"Yes" she said, in a hushed voice. "Thank you."

"I couldn't let you kill him. You shouldn't have to do that."

"Well I appreciate it, I really do."

"Don't mention it." And he really meant that.

"They're going to release you tomorrow" said Anna.

"What time is it?" He asked, frowning.

"It's 2:00pm. Merry Christmas, Basta."

"2:00? Are you serious?" Basta's head swam. He felt as if he were underwater for a moment, floating in suspended animation. "Uhh, Merry Christmas to you too, Anna." He sighed, and Anna smiled briefly. "I need to go back... I need to visit the family that took me in."

"It's too risky to go back" said Anna, her tone apologetic.

"I have to! I owe them rent."

"Basta, I'm so sorry." Anna shook her head. Basta sighed deeply, and closed his eyes.

"Fine, alright." He made one brief nod. The pain in his neck was beginning to subside.

"I uh... I read the book. Titen Herz." Anna spoke slowly, and folded her hands in her lap.

"Is that what it's called?" He asked. He briefly remembered Anna mentioning this the night before, but he hadn't been paying attention. Anna nodded.

"I had no idea you had it so... rough..."

"What happens to me?" He asked. Anna fell silent. "How does the book end?"

"Do you really want to know?" She asked, frowning.

"Yes, I do." Basta sighed again.

"See, I don't really think I should tell you... and, why does it matter? You have a chance now, a chance to change your path. Which, believe me, you have already done to a point that is hard to believe." Anna touched her forehead, and glanced away. Basta's heart drummed nervously. "You really are a good person, Basta, and shockingly, this war has brought that person out. I don't know what was going on in that other world of yours; surly something was happening between the lines, but you... you are like someone completely different."

Basta's heart sunk. Surly Anna wouldn't have said that if she knew how brutally Basta had murdered Hans Landa. And his heart also sunk because he knew precisely what was going on between the lines.

The word abuse made Basta's mouth curve in disgust. It was a stupid word. Abuse didn't even begin to cover what he had gone through with his boss. And yet... it was the only word he could find that described what he had dealt with. But he wasn't about to say to Anna: I was abused! Because that just sounded stupid and immature. It was something a woman would say. So Basta just made himself look impassive, and built up that wall of his. He didn't want to let Anna in on his pain and struggling. What Capricorn had done to him would never be spoken of.

"I don't need to know" he said thickly. Though the curiosity had already started to gnaw at his thoughts. Just as Anna opened her mouth, and prepared to speak, Basta spoke again. "How are we getting to France?"

"I've already arranged for a ride" she said, under her breath. "We're flying in."

A/N:

Thanks to those of you who reviewed my previous chapter. To be utterly honest, that's the most exciting chappy you're going to be seeing for a while. I spent so much time on that one, creating the perfect mixture (in my humble opinion) of sex, anger, hatred and pain. I think I have some problems. Lol.

Thanks for taking the time to read my story. It is much appreciated.

Now for some shameless self promotion:

I have posted an updated version of "My Inkheart Cast" on my website. See the classy, old school actor I picked for Basta! (Vote and rate! Find it under: "Inkheart/Inkspell Cast" on my homepage).

Ever seen the movie Passchendaele? Join my 16year old self on an adventure in a time bending vending machine in "Passchendaele: My adventure in Paul Gross' Movie". Reviews always greatly appreciated.

Ok, I'm done now.