That gives us 10 days to prepare and get there, but can we do it? “What do you think everyone?”, I ask my team. “This might be our only chance to stop him Steve,” said Annelie. “I agree Steve,” said Rock. All of them agreed, even Kristina was ready to go. I was the only one that was not ready, going along would only endanger the rest of the team, and I do not want that. “Well,” I said, “it is settled. I will stay home this time and let the rest of you handle this, providing that is what you want. No pressure on this. It is dangerous. If you go there is some rules you must follow.

No heroes in this, you work as a team, not alone, and Kat is in charge. The cats will be with you as well.” Meow,meow.=Maybe let M.C. go, I stay here and protect you. Someone need to be here. “Muffin has a good point Steve,” said Baldwin, “but I will also have my security people all around your place for now while everyone is gone.” The others left to get ready, then came back a few minutes later. Kat came over and sat with me. “Looks like you will have 2 cats with you Steve,” she said, “everyone insisted I should stay behind with you, and that is what I want too.”

I smiled, “okay, in that case Jennifer and Annelie are in charge.” They left this time to get ready. “And Chung stay here with you also,” he said smiling, “I believe you will walk again, might take some time, but you will. But must do some things too, not just sit. Kat and I help move legs, make exercise.” He looks at Kat and smiles. Then he looks at me and smiles, “yes, I see.” It was not easy watching everyone leave while I stay behind. Muffin goes over to M.C. Meow,meow!=You be careful, obey orders…and come back! Meow.=Not worry, I always careful, you be careful too. Might be trouble here too. They touch noses then off he goes.

The rest of the day went slow, did my exercising and stretching. Still no feeling whatever in my legs. Muffin enjoyed riding around with me in the wheelchair. Meow,meow!=Faster, faster! “This is the fastest it goes Muffin,” I said. Meow,meow!=Wheeeee! Finally nightfall arrived and we were all in bed, everything was quiet, much too quiet. I just had a bad feeling that something was not right. I could not sleep. I could not lie still. “What is wrong Steve?”, asked Kat. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you up,” I said, “but I cannot sleep, something is wrong, I can feel it.”

“You are just worried about the others,” she said, “but let’s get up and have a snack. Maybe Chung has something to calm you down a bit.” “Good idea,” I said, “get up Muffin, we are going to have a snack.” Meow,meow?=Food? We go quick! Kat gets me into the wheelchair and off to the kitchen we go. Chung was already there making tea, apparently he could not sleep either. “This help us to calm down and sleep,” he said, “very good tea from herbs.” It did taste good. An hour later we were back in bed, but I still had trouble settling down. Something is just not right.

Muffin did not sense anything wrong however, so that helped me a bit. Morning arrived with a beautiful sunrise and we went to the kitchen for pancakes. We eat a lot of pancakes around here for breakfast, and it is the only time I can actually get some coffee. “Coffee not good, should drink more tea,” said Chung, “but pancakes sure good!” “Thank you Chung,” said Kat. After, I went to the library to read more in a book I found among the 8,000 books on these library shelves. It is a history book telling all about the history of this area where we now live, quite interesting.

Kat was massaging my legs when suddenly she grabbed my arms and pulled me onto the floor! The pain in my back was excruciating from that fall! But just as she did that, 3 bullets came through the large window behind the chair and through the back of the chair. They would have hit me in the head if Kat had not pulled me away when she did. She pushed the emergency button and the security guards were in the room fast. She told them where to look and off they went, but left 3 men to guard us. Then Kat fell to the floor, blood coming from her head.

Another bullet had been shot through the window. I picked her up and put her on the couch and Chung came running with his medicine bag to look at her. She had started to bend over to help me, otherwise the bullet would have gone through her head. Instead it only grazed her head. “She will be fine,” said Chung, “but must not move right now.” I was kneeling by the couch. She opened her eyes. “You lie still for now,” I said, “I don’t want to lose you.” Meow,meow?=Well, what you wait for? Give kiss. So I did. “Thanks Steve,” she said with a small smile, “are you hurt?” That is when…

To Be Continued.

©2021 Steve McLeod.