Chapter 15 Scars

Four days later

Kate stood in Rebecca's room in the hospital in Cairns. She had just put a basket of fruit on the table. "How do you feel?" she asked.

"Not too bad. Everything is stiff, and a bit painful. The worst thing is, I can't stop thinking about the fact that I could have died. If I had been two meters closer to the boat, I would have been gone. Then, I remember that I killed three men. I always thought I would never be able to do that."

"I know, in times of stress you can and do more than you think. You did a great job by taking out those gangsters. If you haven't done that, it could have been worse for Stephanie and Bird. If you were still in the Navy, you've done the same."

"Didn't the Feds ask questions?"

"No, as far as I know not."

"Yeah, my great-grandfathers' gun did its job again."

"How so?"

"My grandfather told me his father used in Flanders in 1917 and he used it in Papua in 1944 and I did it now," she said with a sad smile. "By the way, where is the gun now?"

"It's at Dylan's apartment. He took it from you, otherwise the Feds would have taken it. When you leave here, and he's in the port, you'll get it back."

"Hey, I notice it has become 'Dylan' instead of 'Dutchy'. There's more than just friendship between you, isn't there? Come on, I can see you starting to blush."

"No, we're just good friends," Kate said a bit uneasy.

"All right, I'll keep quiet for now, but I have a feeling there is more. You can't hide it.

By the way, what about the boat? What's going to happen now?"

"Nikki made a condemning report and the Feds are really embarrassed about it. More so because there's a dead Navy officer involved too. The Navy is pushing the case so that I will be reimbursed. I think it will be a couple of weeks, probably a few months. You know, it's funny, when you owe them money, they want it quicker than quick, but when they owe you money, it's as slow as anything; you need to have time, and lots of it.

But I can carry on with the Southern Cross. But for sure when you are back, there will be a brand new boat waiting for you," she said with a smile. "So, I'll see you tomorrow, I'm going to visit Maxine now."

She left the room and went to another floor where Maxine's room was.

"Hi Max, how ar…." she tried to ask when she entered the room, but she got interrupted. Kate sat down at the side of Maxine's bed and listened to Maxine who started raging.

"Ah, Kate, there you are! Are you aware that they took my mobile? Can you image that they can take something away from you? They say it could harm the machines in the hospital. Bullshit! They can't proveit. They said first that I couldn't use it. How can't they know what job I have to do? Even yelling at them didn't help. I asked for a laptop with an internet connection and they even refused that. How can I connect with my boats now? Even when I say I will leave right now, they refuse. And guess, for what reason, they refuse? My high blood pressure! How would they know? Do you know what they said? What I have to do? Watch television and read magazines. There's nothing other than bullshit on that television and these magazines contain only stupid articles. I almost killed all of them here… And what? What are you laughing about? This isn't funny anymore!"

Kate got a big smile at her face."Well, I'm extremely pleased to see you like that again. You have your fighting spirit again. A few days ago they brought you in here like a corpse. Now, you're back to the old Knocker White."

"Knocker! How dare you! If you were still in service I would send you on a frigate for a couple of months away."

"If I hadn't Stephanie, I would have said 'with pleasure'," Kate said with a smile. "All this time, I was just trying to ask you how do you feel?"

"Fine, great. I'm ok. A bit of pain, but I ignore it. I just want to get away from here or at least do something useful."

"Max, just be patient. Give it a couple of days, and they will be happy to send you home.

But, you can do something useful, in the meantime, if you'd like?"

"Yes? Tell me."

"Rebecca is still upset she killed three people and that she was almost killed by that explosion. I think you can use your 'energy' to convince her that she did the right thing."

"Hmm, sounds reasonable. Where she is?"

"One floor lower, room 224."

"All right, I'll see her."

"And promise me one thing."

"What?"

"That you'll calm down. Otherwise, they are going to keep you here for ever."

"Oh God, help me!"