rude to Hamish.
“You’re bloody lucky,” Pinky told him, “We had to go through far worse. You had one spirit Guide; normally we have many voices trying to get through at the start, not to mention the blinding headaches. It felt like a flock of birds pecking my head until my guardian angel explained things and helped me.” She smiled at Church and told Ryan, “My Spirit Guide auntie sent Church to rescue me three years ago and he’s here to help you too, Ryan Clark.”
Church felt Ryan’s emotion change from fear and confusion to comfort and reassurance. He sensed that he was still unconvinced, so said, “I know you’re still confused and have a lot more questions. I also know you are hungry and want a cheese sandwich, so we will continue this conversation tomorrow morning.”
Ryan, although taken aback about the sandwich, it confirmed he was dealing with someone special but felt weary and ask them to come the next day.
A nurse came into the room with Ryan’s medication and noticed Church and Pinky getting ready to leave.
“We’ll see you in the morning Ryan” Said Church. Pinky mumbled under her breath about him being a sexy man, as she followed Church outside, closing the door behind her.
Ryan felt contented as he swallowed his medication.
“Any chance of a sandwich?” he asked.
The nurse smiled. “I’m sure the kitchen will make an exception for the ‘wonder’ patient,” she chuckled and asked, “What would you like in it?”
Ryan paused, smiled, and said, “Cheese and Hamish.”
“What?”
“Sorry, I meant cheese and onion,” said Ryan, grinning.
* * *
Church and Pinky stepped into the warm summer night and checked into a local bed and breakfast.
The next morning, Church, Pinky, and Ryan reconvened in the hospital room.
Church sensed Ryan’s anxiety.
After a long discussion, Ryan fell silent. He’d had the answers to most of his concerns, except for one, so he asked,
“What can I do with this power, and how do I use it to make a living? Do I work as some sort of fortune-teller at the local fair? What use is it? My boxing career is finished. I would never pass another medical.”
There was silence as Church considered Ryan’s quandary. He was older than others who had received the gift, so Church wondered if he could accept this new power.
Pinky broke the awkward silence,
“Why doesn’t he come and work with us Church?” she asked.
Church thought for a moment and decided that they could certainly use some muscle, as some of his initial contacts had not gone as expected.
Church nodded, smiled, and said, “What do you think Ryan? Do you want to come and work with us at PATH, now that you know what we do?”
Ryan rubbed his chin.
“What’s the pay like?” he asked.
Pinky chuckled and said, “What pay?”
Church smiled and shrugged, “I have never considered pay.” He said, “We live well, and if either of us wanted anything, we went out and bought it.”
“Live well, does that mean plenty of food?” he asked.
“Oh yes,” said Pink, adding, “Church is a great cook.”
Ryan smiled and Church sensed another emotion coming from him, as he chuckled and said, “It sounded more like a family.”
Pinky and Church nodded as they smiled at him.
Ryan was 29 years old. A boxer from an early age, he spent most of his time with trainers and other boxers. He had been lodging with Gus above the boxing gym for four years and had no contact with his family for some time
“Hmm, I get discharged today. Can I think about your offer and let you know later?” Ryan asked.
“Of course Ryan, take your time… it’s a big decision,” said Church, but he already knew the answer.
* * *
Ryan put away his clothes that he had earlier collected from the gym. When they first arrived at the quaint old cottage, Ryan expected Lurch Adams to answer the door and fight off cobwebs, but felt pleasantly surprised by its plush, modern interior. Ryan liked his room, with a large T.V. and music system, an en-suite bathroom and Jacuzzi, he felt at home. He looked out of the window at the large tree and bushes surrounding the cottage. ‘This place was well hidden, I wonder where little red riding hood hangs out?’ he chuckled.
Church told Ryan to settle in, while he cooked them all something to eat. Ryan unpacked his belongings and caught a whiff of pleasing aromas.
‘Yummy.’ he thought, ‘Church must be cooking a roast dinner.’
He sniffed the air, trying to distinguish the smells. ‘Hmm… Brussels sprouts and onions, I hope there’s a roast chicken to go with that.’ he thought.
There came a knock on his door. Pinky popped her head in and said, “One of the family’s here to meet you, and she’s brought a friend of yours along to say hello.”
Ryan looked puzzled and said, “I didn’t hear anyone knocking at the front door.”
Pinky chuckled as she and Ryan headed for the portal room. The PATH team was now complete.
PATH RC389: Gift for the dead: 2011: Case Closed.
9
Life doesn’t forgive weakness.
What remained of the German population felt terrified. The war had been over for several months, and the conquering Allies were dividing the country. The Soviet Bloc carved a sizable chunk for itself, with America and its European counterparts splitting up the rest. Berlin was a city in ruins. Brick and stone carcasses were all that remained of the once-splendid metropolis. The vile stench of decaying corpses and stagnant sewerage hung over the city like noxious smog. The people and their lands were now in a tug-of-war between the victorious powers. Many stories of atrocities filtered through about maltreatment of the German citizens. The Allies pillaged what they could get their hands on and the Russians mercilessly raped and murdered German women in revenge for the mistreatment of Russian women and the atrocities caused by the German army upon their people.
The shabby overcrowded hospital ward bustled with activity. American soldiers and medics brought in wounded from the sporadic skirmishes around the city, with German patients shoved out to make room for them.
The Berlin hospital had been more fortunate than most, as it was only partially destroyed in the blitz bombings, leaving certain sections functional. It bustled with activity 24 hours a day.
Martina
