Chapter 6. Earthquake
"Wake up. Wake up, little one." A big hand shook Sheila awake. It was Chief Ted.
Sheila was about to scream when Ted's hand covered her mouth. "Shush. I'm not
here to hurt you or rape you or anything like that," he whispered, "Just wake up
and come to James room. I'm going to let go of you now but don't make a noise to
wake the others. Just come and see James." She looked at the clock. 3.48. What
were they doing up at that unearthly hour.
James and another woman were watching a screen. It seemed like a TV news
programme with people searching by torch and moonlight through rubble. Chief
introduced Freida, his wife who worked as a nurse on the station, and then
turned his attention to the screen. Bleary eyed Sheila watched and asked what
was happening. "Earthquake in Peru," Freida informed her, "There are 20 or more
children and we don't know how many adults buried under that rubble." She turned
to James, "You've got to let us try and help," and facing Sheila, "And that's
why Ted has brought you in. James has reluctantly agreed to loan us a spacecraft
and a crew but won't risk his highly trained staff. Ted thought you might
volunteer your group."
Sheila was baffled. "That's Peru? South America? And its a TV report? And you
are asking us to go there?"
James explained it wasn't a TV report, it was actual live coverage from a
spy-type satellite they had positioned in the area. What she saw was what was
actually happening, the people were looking for the victims in the rubble. "That
was an orphaned children's home and the time is now," he said.
Freida interrupted. Ted can organise search and rescue gear and robos but we
really need more people. Would you like to help?"
Unhesitatingly Sheila said yes.
"Would the others join in with you?"
"I can't answer for them and before I put it to them, I need to know a bit more
about what would be expected of us. For instance, are were going dressed like
this? Most of us have still have difficulty in walking. Will we be given a pain
injection? And I am sure they will ask, what is in it for them? Will they be
returned home earlier? Isn't going to Peru without passports illegal? Why can't
the Peruvians rescue their own people? Will other help be available?"
"Whoa there!" James said, "One question at a time. You would be given blue suits
which are both protective and insulated. Yes, I will agree to the injection. No,
they wouldn't go home earlier. All they would get out of it was the satisfaction
of doing something to help or just getting away from here for a few hours.
Perhaps breathing real air and being in real sunshine might be an attraction but
that could be balanced against hard, grueling work and probably seeing horrific
sights that will turn their guts. It won't be a picnic, Spitfire, there will
probably be dead and mutilated children and adults but you could help to save
some lives. At this stage we only have these pictures. Oh, what else did you
ask? Ah, yes it is very illegal to enter another country like you will be doing
but the area is remote and mountainous and the earthquake destroyed the main
bridge on the one access road. The Peruvians could only get there by helicopter
and they are much more concerned with a larger town also hit by the quake. Apart
from locals who are on the scene now, you will be on your own. That enough for
you?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Can you put the pictures on the screen outside please?" When
James did so, Sheila smiled and said, "Put the lights on, play the 'tune' and
then lets sock it to them." The 'tune' was the ding-dong that usually woke them
for P.E.
Grumpily, the group woke, saw the clock and started complained more. Sheila
dived straight in, "Right you dozey lot, wake up and look up at the screen.
Forget the clock. Time here doesn't matter but time is the essence of this. What
you are looking at is a heap of rubble in South America. The time is now. You
are looking at what is happening at this very moment. Under that rubble are
twenty children and an unknown number of adults. Alive or dead we don't yet
know." They saw one child dramatically pulled out bleeding but alive which gave
added impact to Sheila speech. "They need urgent help and local help can't get
to them. We can. WE can. Mr. James is providing a spacecraft and crew and Chief
Ted and his wife are going with equipment and robos but they need help. They
need volunteers to go with them. I have already said yes, so you will be rid of
me for today but we would like seven more. And before you ask, we will be given
clothes, or at least bluesuits and no you won't get anything from going. No
remission of your stay here or anything like that. You will get out of P.E. and
work but you will be expected to work a damn sight harder over there. You may
have the satisfaction of saving a few more children like the one you just saw
but you may see also some very horrible things. You are being asked and I do
mean asked, to volunteer to go with me. No one is being forced. You can stay
here and carry on as you have for the last few days. It will not be held against
you. Before you decide are there any questions?"
Ben raised his hand, "Will any of the Emergency Rescue Organisation be coming
with us? My father has a friend who is one of the team and I know they have
equipment and stuff ready to go at a moments notice?"
Sheila turned to James for a reply. "Good point Ben. I don't think they would be
able to get there quickly enough and we have more sophisticated equipment but
they have experience we lack. I'll get Communications on to contacting them."
There were a few other questions before Sheila asked them to decide. She already
eliminated Clive because of his need for drug treatment and fully expected Gina
to stay with him but she volunteered. Bonzo and John declined which surprised
her. She looked at Horny Harry but he wanted to go. Sarah was undecided but all
the rest were in, perhaps not all for the right reasons. "Over to you then
Chief."
"I think by now all of you have been in the workshop and have our colourful
shoes. Go to the toilet, have a quick wash and bring them with you. Be here in
five minutes."
Sheila followed James back to his room, "Can we ask Kate and Jayne along. Their
coverage of the event might help the image of the spacestation." James agreed.
He contacted Communications again and then dragged the doctor out. He arrived
before they left for the workshop and gave them all a pain killing, muscle
relaxing injection. Almost immediately they felt the relief. For the first time
in days they could move more or less normally. The stayers wanted an injection
too but it was denied them. Too late they wanted to change their minds but then
it would not have been for the right motives.
The bluesuits were individually made in a similar way to the shoes. Shaped
plastic sheets to cover the genital and navel areas were temporarily pasted over
these areas with gel and then more gel was sprayed on their body and a band put
around the waist. When the gel had slightly set, blue plastic material was
sprayed on the lower part of the body and when set, the performance was repeated
to the neck The band provided a convenient join for getting in and out of the
suit.
Helga, had the machines warmed up and ready. Sheila knew her from her days in
the workshop so she asked if there was a choice of colours as there had been
with the shoes. "We can do other colours, but my orders are for you all to have
blue. It a kind of uniform."
"But I am a supervisor. I should look different!"
"So then should the Chief, but he is in blue too."
"Yes, but he's a man. They all dress the same. I want to be different." By now
she had blue trousers and had a few moments to wait while they dried. Helga
leaned over and whispered very quietly in her ear. "When I am doing the next
one's plastics, press both the random and psychedelic buttons. I won't notice
when I come to start your top. That will get you noticed and you will have to
live with it and face my anger and you had better be in the Chief's good books.
On your own head be it."
Helga turned to cover Gina's pubic hair and spent a few moments with her. Sheila
pressed the appropriate buttons on the colour palette before Helga returned and
started the spray going. A little blue came out and then pulses of many
brilliant iridescent metallic colours that were controlled into swirling wave
patterns. Helga had turned to finish readying Gina when there was a cry from a
nearby engineer. She turned to him, "What's up Bob?" Bob pointed behind her. Out
of the corner of her eye she noticed the spraying was nearly over so she spun
round and treated Sheila to a torrent of verbal abuse.
"You pint sized little bundle of horse shit. Who told you to alter my settings
when I told you everyone was to have blue? You can't be trusted with anything.
You just wait till the Chief puts you over his knee then perhaps you'll learn
that no means NO!" She carried on the blistering attack for some minutes while
the plastic was drying. It caused a great deal of amusement from the onlookers.
Chief was furious with her and threatened not to take her but had to relent when
the rest of her group threatened to not to go either. It all then died down to
good natured joking. "That's not a Spitfire that's a Kaleidoscope." "Do you
supply sunglasses with that top?" "Look what they brought in from the disco!"
And so it went on.
Before it went further Sheila was called to phone in the Chief's office. "Kate
says they have another event to cover today and can't come with us," James told
her.
"Can you connect me up with her James, please?"
There was a delay and then she heard a ringing tone. Eventually Kate answered.
"What the hell do you want? Don't you know what time it is?"
"Shut up and listen, Kate. This is Spitfire and if you know what is good for
you, you will do what I say. It will be one of the best stories you've ever
covered. Now kick Jayne out of bed and get yourselves dressed. Doesn't matter
what you wear, you'll be given special clothes when you get here. Take all your
gear to the road outside your studio flat in thirty minutes and be ready to move
and move fast. You can tell your boss blue aliens have abducted you. That won't
be far off the truth."
Kate started to say it was royalty they had to cover but Sheila just snapped,
"Shut up. Nothing is as important as this. Just do what you are told and no more
arguments. Is that Jayne I hear moving? Good. Thirty minutes, Don't bother with
hair or make-up, just easy to jump into clothes. You will be jumping out of them
when you get here. Okay?"
"This had better be good or I'll tan your arse worse those robos did!"
"If you're not ready, we'll kidnap you. And you know what that could mean!"
Exactly thirty minutes later two bluemen banged at the door of the girls flat.
They weren't ready of course but were ushered out, giving them only time enough
to check the filming gear was in order. Fortunately it was ready packed for the
booked event. The craft took off again and landed at a farm in East Anglia where
they picked up Bob Thompson, the deputy head of the Emergency Rescue Team. His
boss had decided to await a formal request and authorisation, but Bob was young
and keen to have an adventure.
Sheila and the others were having breakfast in the engineer's canteen when the
group arrived. She left her meal and greeted them. Jayne gave her a hug, "My you
do look smart in your new suit. It's a wonder they found one small enough to fit
you. And what colours. Is it the latest fashion?"
"Yours will fit just as well. You'll see! But I don't think anyone else will
have colours like these."
They introduced Bob even though they had only known him for less than an hour
and Sheila took them to the clothing machines. "You have to undress completely
for this," she told them. Automatically the trio looked around for changing
rooms but Kate and Jayne soon remembered from their previous stay, there was
unlikely to be any.
"C'mon, get you gear off. Everything. Don't worry, about showing anything here.
No one dresses in much. I'll find the woman who works the machines." Sheila
found Helga grabbing a quick cup of coffee and brought her back. She introduced
her to the three. Jayne and Kate were naked, Bob still wore his underpants which
were tenting at the front. He was blushing furiously. Helga laughed at his
embarrassment. "I've probably seen more cocks and cunts in close-up than you've
had hot dinners. Only a VD specialist will have seen more so no need for you to
worry and it only takes a quick flick of my fingers to make it go down. Shoes
first though.
They were almost through when the Chief announced a briefing in the canteen in
five minutes. They could eat and listen at the same time.
Chief Ted cleared his throat. Take off is in 27, no 26, minutes and we may
continue this briefing during the flight although I want to go through the
equipment we have with Bob during that time too. Flight time 36 minutes and we
will arrive over Titiaho about an hour before their dawn. At 1,000 feet we will
drop two flares - or perhaps one Spitfire." The canteen erupted into laughter.
"They will light the area until well after dawn. Bob and I particularly will use
that time to size up the situation and come up with a plan of action. The rest
of you will set up tents and the equipment. Once we know where and if there are
any survivors, then we well do what is necessary to rescue them." He went on to
explain the situation in more detail and called on Bob to give them his points.
*******
The landing went to schedule and the equipment was unloaded, including two huge
robots that Sheila had not seen before. All of them were given bright blue hard
hats to wear. Some of the natives, frightened at first, became aggressive. Chief
Ted came to her. "Right my little ray of sunshine, we know you have a clever way
with words, talk to these people."
"I can't speak their language, Chief."
"No, but if you put this in your ear and speak through the microphone, you will
be able to speak and understand Spanish which many of them will understand too."
"Ladies and gentlemen." The Spanish equivalent came loud and clear from the
speaker, but few took any notice. She moved to an open area. Covering the
microphone she said, "Charles, hold me up on your shoulders please."
Charles did and for once she was able to look down on people. They had to look
up to her. In the flickering light of the flares her shirt radiantly reflected
multi coloured light. Even to those who knew her, it was a dramatic sight, to
the natives she appeared a goddess. Sheila told them who she was, who her
friends were and why they were here. She spoke slowly making sure that most
could understand what she said. She asked for someone with whom she could talk
about what happened and how many were in the wreckage. An elderly man, Pedro,
was pushed forward and started to speak in his native tongue and then in rapid
Spanish. Once she made him understand he had to speak slowly, they were able to
converse quite well. During the night they had rescued two more children and one
adult. All three were injured. She asked where they were and a makeshift tent
was pointed out. She called Freida over and introduced her to Pedro saying she
was a nurse and explained about the three injured people. Freida said the
hospital tent would soon be ready but would look at patients immediately. One
child's injuries were very serious and required surgery. She opened a video link
to Doctor Johnson who agreed. The nearest large hospital was at Trujillo several
hundred miles away. Using Sheila as an interpreter, Frieda explained this to the
boy's mother who was crying by his side.
"The spacecraft will get him and her there in no time," Sheila remarked, "Can we
not ask the pilot?"
"We can ask," said Freida, "but he may not agree. We are in a country where we
shouldn't be. Its fairly okay out in the wilds but to go to a city and land is
another matter."
"We can't let the boy just die, Freida. At least try calling the pilot."
It was a video link and they could both see the pilot was worried but when shown
the condition of the boy he agreed to try. First he would have to see what
pictures the satellite could give him of the Trujillo area. Five minutes later,
he came back. The hospital has a helipad so if we don't quite land and do a
quick in and out, it could be possible.
"We'll see if the mother will let him go and then get him ready. Will get back
to you. Thanks Gene."
Sheila had to explain the plan and the mother after some misgivings did agree to
take him. Swiftly and silently the craft came in and hovered a few feet above
the ground. Robos carried the stretchered lad to the craft and Sheila escorted
the mother. In second they were away and very shortly after, hovered over the
helipad in Trujillo. As soon as the passengers were safely on the ground, Gene
had Communications link Dr. Johnson with the Trujillo hospital to explain the
injuries.
Outside the sun had climbed from behind the mountain and was beginning to warm
the earth. Bob asked Sheila if she could get everyone absolutely silent while he
and the Chief flew an instrument over the site that would detect body heat and
heartbeats. They couldn't do it with people shouting in several languages and
heaving rocks around. Again she stood on Charles shoulders. The early morning
sunlight on her top was dazzling but it created attention. She gave her
instructions first in English, then in Spanish. A few natives continued to
jabber even when asked again. Asking Charles to take her over, she repeated the
commands with such vehemence the English version silenced them.
The flight revealed a large group of people in an underground chamber, now only
a few feet high and a few scattered individuals. All the information was fed
into a computer which revealed that it was too dangerous to dig directly down on
the group. Air too was in short supply but they were able to insert an air hose
under a loose piece of rock. It was a delicate operation because dislodging the
rock might cause the whole lot to tumble but it was successful. A tunneling
machine was then brought in to dig under what was an outside wall into the
chamber. It took a couple of hours but fifteen individuals were brought out
alive. Two dead were left. They were trapped and moving them could cause injury
to the rescuers. All the survivors were injured. Most were filthy and covered in
blood. The volunteer group who a week ago considered themselves toughies, were
shocked and it turned the stomachs of two. They were quietly sick behind some
rubble. Sheila passed the language translator to Freida so she could communicate
with her patients easier which left her free to help the rescuers. She told
Chief Ted what she had done and said that if he wanted her to give any more
general election speeches on his behalf, she would get it back. Bob had some
knowledge of holiday Spanish so could give simple instructions.
Four more, two adults and two children, now their location was known, were
rescued by fairly simple digging. Two more bodies were brought out at the same
time. This left a problem one. A young girl with her foot crushed under a stone
beam. Another beam was precariously balanced near her head. They dare not remove
anything from above her until the beam was stabilised. Bob found a concrete pipe
about a foot diameter and Chief ordered one of the large robos to bring and
slowly feed it under the beam while the other carefully removed the rocks that
were in the way. It was a very delicate operation but the robos had far more
control over their power than humans and successfully completed the task. Even
with the beam stabilised the amount of loose rubble above the girl prevented the
rescuers digging down from above. Chief sent in robot camera to assess the
situation. The girl was alive but wouldn't be for much longer if she wasn't got
out. He fed the pictures through to the doctor on the spacestation.
"The girls leg will have to be amputated," came the reply. "Can anyone get
through that pipe?" Sheila was alongside the Chief when the reply came through.
"Well I'm the smallest," she said. She lay on the ground and tried to enter the
pipe. She was just able to get her shoulders through and then was stuck. Chief
pulled her out. Sheila stripped off her top to a remark from one of the
bystanders, "You mustn't get that dirty, Spitfire." She shucked off her trousers
too and revealed her still very colourful bottom to everyone as she lay down.
The natives were amazed and wondered if all white men treated their women that
way. She got in past her shoulders this time but the concrete was rough on her
skin. When pulled out there were scratches on her arms and breasts.
"Hold it, Spitfire. Don't go in yet. You need oiling or greasing and lots of it.
And you need a rope to pull yourself in and you and I need to know what you have
to do once you get in there." He'd done this before as a army survival training
exercise but that was with a larger and smoother plastic pipe.
A rope with a hook was found and threaded through the pipe until the hook
engaged on the far end. Chief summoned his wife to see if she had anything that
would grease a body but the medi-kit only contained small pots of salve. Sheila
took the translator. "I need a large pot of grease or oil so I can slide through
this pipe. Anyone able to help?" Seeing the naked girl, white in the sun looking
straight at them uncaring of her nudity, they would have found anything for her.
There was a flurry of discussion and two ran to a small farmhouse, no more than
a shack really remarkably still standing, and came back with a very large tin of
tractor grease.
She heard the Chief talking to Doc. Johnson and then he put an ear-piece into
her ear and she was in direct contact with the doctor. "Hi, Sheila, It's David,"
he said, "Are you sure you are up to this? It isn't just a matter of crawling
through a pipe, once in there you have to put a needle in the little girl and
then cut her foot off. That's something that should only be attempted under
anesthetic and in sterile conditions. Even if you do succeed, she may still
die."
"I've got to make the attempt. She'll certainly die if I don't and all these
people are depending on me."
"Okay, then. If you're sure. Ask Freida to get you a laser knife and a 10 mil
syringe of the same stuff as was injected into you this morning, I won't give
you its long proper name." She did this and David continued, "Now get greased
up."
She turned back to Chief Ted, I'm to be greased up now. Chief laughed. "Now I do
get to rub your arse and I can do it in front of the wife too!" He took a great
handful and slopped it on her breasts and began smearing it over her body. Kate
appeared with a microphone and asked her what she was going to do. Sheila was
somewhat shocked. She had noticed Jayne and Kate filming all morning but their
paths hadn't crossed too much but now, naked, Jayne had the camera focused on
her and Kate was asking questions. She tried to answer but sometimes they came
out as giggles as Chiefs hands found sensitive and ticklish parts. When she came
to telling Kate she had to cut the girls foot off, her face really fell as the
full impact of what she had to do hit her.
Freida returned just as her husband was greasing Sheila's bum. "You've got your
hands on her bum at last you dirty old bugger." She laughed at him. "And I've
caught you at it. Just wait till I get you home." This was aimed more at the
crowd and gained applause. It lightened the seriousness of the situation. Chief
put the remainder of the grease around the inside of the pipe. It smelt awful
especially as the grease began to heat up in the sun.
Freida showed her how to operate the laser knife and the hypodermic. A robot
camera and light was sent into the pipe and they strapped the knife and needle
to it so she would have nothing to take with her. Jayne also connected her
camera to the monitor set up outside for the others to see what was happening at
the end of the pipe. From Jayne's camera the events would be transmitted
directly to her studio and in fact they networked it world wide.
When neither Chief nor Bob seemed able to control the robot very well, Ben, a
video game fanatic, grabbed the controls and did excellently. A plastic sheet
had been laid on the ground and part way into the pipe entrance since her
earlier attempt so the grease wouldn't pick up dirt. Sheila entered and started
pulling on the rope. Chief tried to lift her body as much as he was able to ease
her passage and prevent some scratching. Even so, she knew she would be badly
scratched by the time she came out and she still wasn't too certain in her mind
she could actually cut through a child's leg in cold blood.
Slowly she worked her way painfully inside pipe until the end of the rope and
then dragged herself another foot or so to reach the child. Sheila spoke
reassuringly to the semi conscious girl even though she knew the child wouldn't
understand a word she was saying.
David talked quietly and continuously as in one long sentence, trying to keep
her calm and stop any panic. "Right now, Sheila, take the syringe, remove the
orange cap, that's it, hold it point upwards and eject a little liquid, now you
see the girls right arm, place the needle against the flesh you see in front of
you, push it in, a little further, now push the plunger all the way down, take
out the needle, put it right out of your way, I am going to talk to Freida now,
Sheila, you need to wait a few moments for the injection to take full effect, I
know it seemed to work quickly on you this morning but you only had a sore bum.
Freida, will you try and get an airline in with extra oxygen. Not too much
pressure as we don't want to increase the amount of dust. Okay back to you
Sheila, this is where you start to your new career as a surgeon, take the laser
knife and remove the cover like Freida showed you, that's right, place it
against the leg, little further towards the knee, that's better, set the control
to 7, can you see it in there?" Sheila stuttered, "Yes." "Good, now just move
your hand round a little, the other way, a little more, Ben can you move the
camera forward slightly so I can see the end of the knife, yes, that's lovely,
Sheila, in a moment I am going to tell you to press the red button and hold it
down while you bring the knife towards the ground in a slicing action, just like
you would with an electric knife on a loaf of bread, there will be a burning
smell that you must ignore, just keep slicing down until I tell you to stop. Are
you ready? Again Sheila stuttered a "Yes." "Press the red button now, bring the
knife slowly down, keep going, going, stop."
Sheila instinctively knew she had finished cutting and had released the button
microseconds before instructed. Surprisingly there was little blood. The laser
knife cauterised the wound as it cut.
"Aaaahg," A gurgled cry came from the girl and then she lay strangely still.
"I've killed her," Sheila screamed, "I've killed her!"
"Calm yourself Sheila." David's reassuring voice came into her ear. "The girl is
not dead, she had a lot more drug than you did in a smaller body. She is
sleeping. Try pulling her towards you."
Sheila did and the girl moved and moaned. Tears flowed from Sheila's eyes making
it difficult for her to see, "She IS alive. She's alive!" Vaguely she heard a
cheer from outside but David's voice was in her ear again. "Try moving her round
a little more so that her head is between your arms." In the confined space it
was difficult but she managed it. Get hold of her under the armpits Sheila and
hold on while Chief and his crew pull you back. It will be painful for you but
try and protect the little one as much as you can. Chief bring her back slowly,
watch the video in case anything snags. Ben, follow them with the camera."
Sheila felt the rope around he ankles tighten and she began to go backwards. She
felt the rough concrete cut her legs, her thighs, her breasts, her back. It
seemed everywhere. Soon her whole body was in the pipe but the girls shoulder
snagged on the lip at the end. "Stop!" Sheila yelled and then freed her from the
obstruction. On they went until she felt hands lifting her legs and trying to
lift them from the rough surface. She was crying helplessly as they lifted her
up blood streaming from innumerable cuts to her body. As they took the girl from
her she saw her face for the first time in daylight. A sweet little face. A face
she would remember all her life.
The next few minutes were a blur. Sheila shook and cried as hands wiped the
grease and blood from her torn body. She saw Jayne with her camera in snapshot
views, she heard Kate asking but she couldn't understand what she was saying.
And then she was lying down but moving. And then a prick in the arm and nothing.
********
She awoke in a hospital bed in the spacestation. Chris was at her side holding
her hand. Seeing she was awake he kissed her over and over again. On a chair at
her bedside she saw her blue trousers and her psychedelic top. "Got to keep out
of Chief's way. He promised to tan my arse for that."
"I think you will get away with it this time. Freida's already threatened to use
the laser knife on his balls if he touches you again. She hasn't forgiven him
for the way he massaged the grease over your tits and bum," laughed Chris.
"Is the girl okay?"
"As far as we know, yes. They dropped her off at Trujillo hospital and she
should be fine."
"Did you know you are a world wide heroine?"
"No?"
"Jayne's film and Kate's commentary went out live and was picked up by stations
throughout Europe, North and South America and many other countries. James
ordered a complete ban on interviews and phone calls to you but Jayne and Kate
are still here. They were exhausted as were most of the others in your group.
Almost all work stopped here and I could hardly see the screen for tears. I know
there is no God but I prayed all the same. Some fainted when you cut the girl's
foot off. Seems most of the world stopped work at the time."
"Does my body look a mess? Have you seen it? I haven't dared to look."
"Your body will always look good to me," replied Chris, "But it does look like
you've been pulled through a thorny hedge backwards." He lifted the sheet for
her to see. "David says most will heal in a few days but the bruises will last
longer."
"Where's Charles?"
"Outside the door."
"Charles, please come in." Chris have you a gown I can wear? A nice fancy one."
"No, but Helga has."
He went to the phone, made a call and shortly after Helga entered with a random
psychedelic patterned gown. "You'll get me the sack," she said as Sheila thanked
her. "Good job you have friends in high places. I asked Ralph himself order its
making."
Sheila tried to stand but was still very wobbly on her feet. Her body did indeed
look a mess. Hardly a square inch of her front and sides remained unscratched
but she had been cleaned up. They helped her on with the new cape. David
entered, "And where do you think you are going?"
"Must be nearly dinnertime. I'm starving." She looked at the clock. 7.02. "Damn,
it'll be over. Call yourself a boyfriend," she chided Chris, "And you didn't
even wake me for dinner!" Then it clicked. They used the 24 hour clock system
here. "It's morning?"
"Yes, you should be in time for P.E. but I can give you an excuse note," laughed
David. "Why don't you lie down for a bit. You get breakfast in bed here."
"No I want to see the others. Charles please carry me to the bedroom. Be gentle
please, I'm a bit sore."
"Only the four who had stayed were up. The others were given a day off. They
were a bit jealous and wished they had gone but seeing Sheila trying to walk
towards them holding on the Charles obviously in much worse condition than they,
thought perhaps they made the right decision after all. They chatted for a short
while until taken to the hall for the dreaded P.E.
