A Flight Attendant - third page

The Hospital environment turned out to be a whole World in and of itself occupying a different place in the Universe than what lay outside. Sleeping for a couple of days and the Man was suddenly sitting up and taking each meal as it was offered. He did not have to dictate the choice from the set, but flexible, Menu and could now fill in the selection Box however exhausting the accompanying effort.

Cassy kept him company and got her Embryo put in stasis via the Magic of modern medicine, all that could happen in the future as this current set of predicaments had priority. The Nurses quarters provided a small room with just enough of a dimension to it for her to operate the Laptop and make a Beverage; the Hospital Restaurant and Cafe was the place to eat. Work had posted back a selection of questions from one of the forms she had repeatedly filled in about 'Emotional Inteligence' so that a different set of answers could be reached after some research. These were just basic Psychometric Tests, weren't they? I mean what was the big deal about questions 15 to 20 and then 33 to 39 on this particular standard, letter sized piece of Paper. If they had not printed all over it this could have been a perfectly useful blank piece of paper. She would look into it a bit more as soon as a proper sized, better Computer became available.

The man in the Hospital Bed had decided he wished to converse, 'I spoke to the Doctor, or more to the point he talked at me and then this administrator came in and told me that if I'm still here past tomorrow afternoon they're going to charge me Hotel rates.'

'You look much better.' Cassy told him, a bit put out herself about the general level of Health for the people in this place.

'Could you give it to me in a more honest way?'

'Let's tradecraft a bit, you check out about Lunch time and I'll meet you in the Cafe just around the Corner and whisk you off in my magic Taxi.'

'I meant a more medical analysis.' He was fairly bolt upright with 3 pillows propping him up.

'Your puncture is not a wound anymore and will be Okay after another night's rest, the Ribs are just bruised and your Concussion remains just that and you don't help anyone by not being talkative while your nursing a poorly head, it just worries people with the short, thrifty answers.'

'It's not just my way? That's what I was led to believe.' On the last expulsion of breath a little wheeze gave way to a light Cough.

'It's not good to leave people guessing about what might be going on in there, particularly when you view what you did to those assailants; like I said why worry people like that.' After a mild enquiry about the reasons about the Hospital stay, work had sent a brief synopsis along with a Morgue reference and some ghastly pictures of injuries inflicted.

'I had good reason.' He said taking a drink of water.

'That's good, but again how about a more extensive answer. My spoken sentences are about 3 times the length of yours.'

He looked at her, 'I'll think about it some more. A Cafe across the Street?'

'Yes, let's get you into the TV room next door for an Hour in a sit-down chair this evening and then a good nights rest.' Strong and insistent must be her best bet, she would be going along with the signed out discharge if she possibly could, but if she were to push it another few days recoup would be the order for the week.

'I like that, seems like a good idea. I'll go along with that.' He paused and thought about it, 'What's on the Box?'

She broadened her smile and did not laugh, 'I'm sure you can find something for an Hour just before peak viewing time.' She moved toward the door, but before getting there he was asleep again, tired out by the conversation.

Making her way to the Nurses station the guard was not there now and she was alone except for the Visual Display Unit terminal that only went as far as the Minicomputer that ran the Hospital and then the Mainframe that ran most of the Country. The meal plan would need filling out and then when the Meal arrived and the patient had vacated it would be there for a new admission or simply just be a 'spare'. The only door to the small Ward opened and the 'admin' person that had been mentioned approached.

'How is the patient?' The inquiry was efficient, demanded an answer and was raspy in delivery.

'He will be Okay to go tomorrow, although another day or two would be better.' Cassy had practised a concise reply to most authoritarian or autocratic insistence and it didn't falter on this occasion.

'I haven't your CV on file or some other record.' The level of raspiness and insistence continued.

'It's all Money and there is enough for you and enough for me; I can make a phone call and that would be it.' Her voice dropped toward the end and relayed annoyance.

'Alright, I take the point. If he's going for another day of rest that will be acceptable and then review things again; he'll have to see the Doctor again maybe, depending on the Bloods.' She gave in, her argument collapsed.

'Thank you.' Cassy tried to sound thankful along with actually saying the words.

"Bloods", what might this mean? Was it some new kind of Hospital speak that determines life or death for each and every Citizen, Tax paying or otherwise?

Continuing while bringing speaking back to a relevant subject could be of most use, 'I won't wake him, should I take your phone number?'

'I'm on the Ball, but all this will be your recommendation, make sure the Paperwork is all there before he sets foot outside of this Hospital.' A steady retort didn't signify annoyance.

Cassy looked at the very well fed and well dressed Woman in front of her and took a conscious breath before speaking. 'The forms are here I think.' She moved slightly to one side and backwards toward the wire tray baskets that held paper of various sizes and colours that had been printed for 'Official Use Only.'

He slept through the evening of entertainment that had been arranged and was surprised to find it was approaching midnight. 'I feel to have wasted the whole evening ' He told Cassy who had put aside a sandwich from earlier and made up a Coffee from Hot Water, Freeze Dried Beans and Whitener.

'Don't worry for tomorrow, if you prefer to sleep that's going to be alright.' He didn't take Sugar, which was just as well.

'No Pasta left over? Thought I ordered that, maybe I'm mistaken.' The prompting to more Social discourse was taking shape.

'I can arrange some Toast, other than that it's going to be Breakfast' Her voice was calm while trying to be helpful.

'Sleepy again and it's only been an Hour.' He managed a stretch.

'I'll be at the desk just through there. There's the Radio, but they're not doing a TV in each room at the moment.' Moving to the Door seemed to be enough to invoke a more restful attitude.

By mid-afternoon he was insisting he might be well enough to take the long drive back home. 'We can do, but the morning might be better and then you'll get there about Lunch.'

'I really want to get out of here.' He told her.

'I'll get the forms and then I need to check out as well. Get dressed and we'll be off in less than an Hour, change your mind?'

'The morning it is. First thing?'

'Just after the Sun crawls into the Sky; promise.'

'All set then, I'll fill the forms in if you like.'

'Take advantage and get the rest, their's no hurry for a while. This will be a serious convalescence.'

Cassy had to make regular calls to an Operations Centre, but now they had moved up the number made daily, given enough time for sleeping, every 4 Hours an automated process had to receive inputted digits or someone would be calling to find out what could be more important than the doings of an Operations Centre. The drive from Hospital to Homely Abode would be taking a bit longer than 4 hours and the 10 minute window available was not going to fall into a convenient bracket. The Phone rang, it was a Master of Spies, there overseeing the interests of the Nation.

'As soon as you've got your charge comfy, get back to me. Don't bother with the Call-ins 'til then. I should have something else for you in a few days.' The gyst and meaning of the message again, but using a few more words.

'Fine, understood. Anything interesting?'

'Can't let on, but yes you will enjoy this if I can swing it, you could well do a good job; Afrique.'

Wow, Africa. What might be there? Fact is if there wasn't a White Blonde in attendance at the Consulate or Embassy in some parts people didn't believe they were in the right place and wouldn't wait for an appointment, they just walked out an open door. It was probably just helping out at the reception desk or some such.

The Tradecraft was dispensed with and she got him into the Car at the Main Entrance before 7am and he opted for the front seat. The drive was easy and pleasant while the Talk Radio channel relieved any chance of the onset of Boredom and a light-hearted discussion of the events covered passed between the two. He was tired after a couple of hours and said as much. Cass. did offer to stop and make the move to the bigger seat, but he just moved the seat back a bit while trying to lower the angle, he managed it and closed his eyes more often on the journey insisting he was just resting his sight.

A couple of days in and out of the spare Bedroom and Cassy finally made the Phone call to see if another Job for her now preferred profession was available. The resultant answer was not positive, if he could be left alone now the Car could make it back to the Hire Company and a new schedule for attendant Air Travel could be forwarded. She had learned a few things about the Computer while staying with him and of course the importance of the Ammunition reload when you're in a Firefight against strong opposition and you might not live another split second; all useful stuff, but her own pad beckoned and the driving was getting more stressful.

Back at her more familiar Computer Keyboard their was a few bits to deal with, but nothing much had been missed and a night flight the next day would kick off a full 2 weeks of work giving way to ten days off and a week of this she could book a stay for a Holiday wherever she wished if that was a preference for spending time.