I could tell there was suddenly a more dangerous problem in the next room. “Okay you two,” I said quietly, “get next door and help, and make sure nothing happens to Jennifer, we need her.” Off they went quickly and spotted the two men with guns. Over they rolled and “Thwock! Thwock!”, and the men were down. Rock checked on them, both were dead. “Whenever you people are here, it does get exciting,” he said to Jennifer and he wipes his forehead. Jennifer smiled, then brought the cats back to me and made sure I was okay.

“Everything is fine now Steve,” she said, “the cats arrived just in time.” She sat on the bed beside me. I could tell she was tired. “You need to get more sleep,” I said to her, “we need you, making yourself sick is not going to help us.” She smiled again, “yes, you are right about that,” she said, “I will actually sleep on the bed tonight, I promise.” “Good,” I answered, “that’s why we had the extra bed brought in for you.” The police came and picked up the nurse after we tried unsuccessfully to get some information out of her.

The door to the other room was now locked for the night and it was time for Rock to go pick up our Chinese doctor at the airport. I told Jennifer to lie down and sleep though she insisted she was not tired. But after lying down she was asleep in about 1 minute. I told the cats to go watch Kat and Annelie until Rock got back. I dozed off too until Rock came in with Mr. Chung and the doctor. They went to check on Kat. “Oh, she is very hot, not good,” said Mr. Chung, “we can give her tea?”

“Yes, we could do that,” said the doctor. “Good, put tea bag in small pot, pour boiling water on it and bring back to me right away,” he said, “not hot water, must be boiling water.” Rock took it to the kitchen and got it done and brought it back right away. “Good, very fast,” said Mr. Chung, “try to lift her up, maybe she will drink herself, much better.” Rock lifted her and she opened her eyes. “Yes, it is me my little kitten,” he said to Kat, “I have tea for you, will you drink it for me? It will help you get well.”

He then gave her a sip and soon she had drunk nearly the whole cup. Then she closed her eyes again. “Hold her upright, like that, for just a bit longer, then you lay her down,” said Mr. Chung. Rock did so, then put her down when told. Mr. Chung comes back to me. “She drank it, that is very good, I think she will be okay now,” he said, “we will see soon. Now, about you, it is very bad? Mr. Rock here tell me your trouble.” “Yes, it is very bad indeed,” I said, “even the specialist said I would not walk again.” “I can see pictures?”, he asked the doctor.

“Certainly, come with me,” he said and they both left. While he was gone Jennifer woke up again. “Hey, it is not time to get up yet, back to bed with you,” I told her. “I’m okay Steve, really,” she said. I was not convinced however, she still looked worn out. That’s when Mr. Chung came back in. He looked at Jennifer and said, “you need sleep, you want to help friends, I know, but this not the way. I can use this?” He pointed to the coffee maker. “Sure,” I said, “but it doesn’t boil the water.”

“That is okay, this tea needs only to be hot, not boil,” he said with a smile. He then gave it to Jennifer as she sat on the bed beside me. After she started feeling tired. “Now you lie down again, sleep, it is what you need now,” said Mr. Chung, “and no argue, doctor say lie down, you listen.” She smiled and said okay. She was asleep in seconds. “I sleep in chair in other room,” he said and off he went. “The guards are out there Steve,” said Rock, “anything you need?” “Yes, to find out who is after us,” I said. “Can’t help you with that one,” he said, “do you want me to stay?”

“No, we will be okay tonight,” I said, “go back to the hotel and return in the morning.” So he left and everything was nice and quiet. But not peaceful. I could feel it. Suddenly I woke up, actually Jennifer woke me up. “You are having a bad dream,” she said, “I can tell.” “Yes,” I said, “it was a nightmare.” “Want to tell me?”, she asked. “Not now, another time,” I said, “lie down, please.” “Okay,” she said. I woke up M.C., “stay awake and watch, you and Muffin take short turns watching tonight, be very alert.” Meow.=Okay, we do that. Then he jumped on the other bed and lay there watching and listening. That’s better, I thought to myself, but how can we handle this new problem? I wonder if…

To Be Continued.

©2021 Steve McLeod.