Dudes Down Under (32 page)

“
Amen to that,” the others responded.

“
Like, how do we change that? People expect certain things from me. You know, I’m the wild-child, like, let’s not disappoint them.” Sidney sounded twice her age.

“
Sidney, if you deliberately live up to what you think they want, aren’t you letting yourself down?” Lana asked.

“
I … yeah … I guess maybe you're right, but I don’t know what to do to change that.”

“
You are already doin’ it, girlfriend. Let’s all drink a toast to new lessons learned, and new friends.”

*  *  *

Lucy and Doc were waiting impatiently for permission to go in and see Skeet.

The area in Intensive Care was quiet, with the sound of beeping monitors and life support systems, unpleasant reminders to them both of just how close they had come to losing their dear friend completely.

The nurse poked her head out from behind the doors to Skeet’s room and motioned them in. “Not too long, folks. He’s very groggy from the pain relief. If he asks questions about his legs, refer him to the doctor, okay?”

“
What about his legs? I’m the doctor who initially treated him. I know it looked bad, nurse. Who do I speak to here? I want a clear explanation of what’s going on. We need to make plans to have him treated by the best of the best.”

“
I’ll page Dr. Stone. He’s the head of the surgical team. Please give no information to the patient whatsoever at this stage.”

“
I am a doctor, nurse. I know the protocol.” Ben was worried and snapped at the woman unintentionally. “Sorry,” he said quickly. “He’s a good friend.”

She nodded in understanding and left the room.

Lucy looked at her friend's pale face against the pillows and felt the tears well up in her eyes. She’d give everything she had for Skeet to be well again. Nothing was worth seeing him like this.

They both stood lost in their own thoughts. Skeet slept on, oblivious to their presence.

A tall man in a dark suit entered the room. His bearing screamed out 'doctor'. He beckoned them over, and Lucy and Doc followed him into a small office not far from where Skeet lay. He extended his hand to each of them in turn as he introduced himself.

“
Gerry Stone,” he said. “I operated on your friend. Which of you is the doctor?”

“
I am,” said Ben.

“
Okay, I can’t sugar-coat this. Your friend has suffered trauma to the spine. I have done what I can do to alleviate the pressure on the spinal column but, at this stage, he has a long hard road ahead of him.”

“
Prognosis?”

“
As for the nerve damage, too soon to make a call until the swelling reduces.”

“
For God’s sake man, spit it out. Best case scenario.”

“
Best case scenario, he’ll be up and walking again in a matter of weeks. Worst case, he may never regain the use of his legs. I have been contacted by Professor Rodney Laverton. You people have some very influential friends. Professor Laverton is at the Mayo Clinic. He is on his way here. We anticipate his arrival later today. If anyone can help your friend, this man can. At this stage I am calling this as incomplete lumbar sacral damage. I have removed the bone splinter that was compressing the lower spine. The swelling needs to reduce before we can determine if this has been successful. We will not have any further information until that time. I’m sorry. I wish I could be more positive. The next twenty-four hours are crucial. The fact that he was kept as immobile as possible prevented the cord being completely severed, but the delay in further treatment due to the weather conditions has complicated things, of course.”

Lucy sobbed and left the room. “No, no, no, not Skeet.” She wished it were her laying there helpless in his place.

She found it hard to catch her breath and headed rapidly outside to calm herself. Her hands were trembling as she lit a cigarette. Whatever could be done, she would do it - no matter what.

*  *  *

Lucy and Doc sat quietly in the garden outside the hospital. They had booked rooms in a local hotel close by and were waiting on the professor from the States to complete his examination of Skeet. It had been a very long night and Lucy was grateful that Doc was with her. They had gone over and over what would need doing on the island to make life as easy as possible for Skeet. If he was going to be confined to a wheelchair, he would have to move into the bungalow built for disabled guests until a new one could be built specifically to his requirements. All the entrances to the restaurants and facilities had already been built with ramps and toilets especially for disabled people. Even the pools had ramp and wheelchair access. Lucy and Doc had put the word out on the Net for physiotherapy staff to be hired specifically to care for Skeet, plus two nurses on twelve-hour shifts.

Much depended on Skeet and his ability to cope emotionally with whatever the prognosis turned out to be. Lucy was worried. Skeet was so incredibly active, she just wasn’t certain if he could ever deal with being helpless. Not that he wouldn’t be able to do an awful lot, he would, but not to care for Cyril, that wouldn’t be possible and he wouldn’t be happy about that at all.

*  *  *

Lucy glanced up and saw Rebecca heading in to the hospital. “Rebecca,” she called, “over here.”

The small woman hurried across, her face pale with concern. “How is he?” she asked without preamble.

“
We’ll find out more very shortly, love. You can’t see him just yet. Ed Guest pulled some heavy favors in, and there’s a big-name professor in from the States who is looking at him as we speak,” said Doc.

Rebecca sat down next to Lucy, and Lucy put her arm around her. “Chin up, sweetie, we don’t want Skeet to see us looking all gloomy, do we?”

“
Sorry, I just … I care about him, Lucy, a lot.”

“
Uh-huh, yep, and he cares about you as well. That was already obvious. Um, how’s Cyril doing, and Sadie of course?”

“
Sadie is keeping Cyril very occupied at the moment. I got them a copy of
The Godfather 1, 2 and 3
and that’ll keep 'em entertained for a while. Max is gonna take care of feeding and attending to them today. Lucy, I hate to ask, but if I resigned my position at the Zoo, could I look after them till Skeet’s better? I don’t expect to be hired but it would be good if I could stay in Cyril’s bungalow and have my meals provided.”

“
Aw-hell, Rebecca, you are a gift from heaven, hon. Thank you. And of course you are hired. Full salary. Thanks so much.” Lucy was all weepy again.

“
I’m going to have to stop this crying crap. It’s not a good look, especially if we are allowed in to see Skeet. Doc, how long do you think the examination will take?”

Doc looked at his watch. “Depends, Luce. Professor Laverton will in all likelihood order an MRI to get a complete picture of what’s going on. It may be another couple of hours yet. Why don’t you and Rebecca go and have some breakfast. I’ll go when you come back. Don’t fret, I’ll come in the cafeteria and find you both if anything happens. Go on, off with the pair of you. Leave a man in peace for a while.”

Chapter 36

The chopper pilot had already dropped off the movies for the crocs to watch. Max set up the player and the large screen in the dining area and went back to Cyril’s bungalow with two of the other handlers to feed them and change their clothing.

“
Now, Cyril, mate. We have a big surprise for you and ya lady friend. So let’s get ya both changed to go out in public. Thank heavens for Velcro. I dunno how on earth they ever managed to dress you two before it was invented.”

“
Another surprise, huh? I dunno about this, Sadie dearest. Last time I was promised a surprise they gave me Pebbles.”

“
Don’t forget, Cyril, they also introduced you to me.”

“
Of course, well then, I hope this new surprise is just as good.”

“
She had better not be.”

“
Oh, he-heh, I didn’t mean that. Sadie, my sweet, you are the bestest.”

“
Yes, I am.”

“
So let’s hope that Max has good taste in clothes.”

“
Nice change of subject.”

“
I thought so.”

“
Hmmm, oh no, not the blue, Max.”

“
That was such a good film.”

“
Yes, I recall. It was George Peppard, wasn’t it? Whatever happened to him?”

“
He’s probably still having Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

“
He-heh, clever croc.”

“
Yes, I am.”

“
What the …? Oh, all right, matching outfits - cute idea, but go easy on the frills for me, Max, I am a boy croc. Where is my Pooh Bear?”

“
I, um, well he sorta had a little accident.”

“
Another psycho-clone?”

“
No, dear. Nothing that can’t be fixed. He went for a little swim, is all.”

“
But Pooh CAN’T swim!”

“
Yes, I realized that after he went in with Tiger.”

“
Is he okay?”

“
Yes, Cyril. He and Tiger are just drying off in the sun.”

“
Is he wearing his hat?”

“
Yes, Cyril.”

“
I want Skeet.”

“
I’m sure he’ll be fine, Cyril. My Rebecca has gone to that mainland place to see him. I miss her. This is most unusual. I’m so pleased you are with me, Cyril dear.”

“
Yes, well of course you are. I’ll be strong for you, Sadie.”

“
That’s wonderful, Cyril. I’m sooo grateful.”

“
Good.”

*  *  *

The nurse hurried across to where Doc was sitting. “Doctor Casey?”

“
Yes.”

“
Professor Laverton will see you now.”

“
Wonderful. Where do I go?”

“
Follow me, please.”

“
I must get my other friends. They need to hear what he has to say firsthand.”

“
Where are they?’

“
In the cafeteria. We can get them on the way through, yes?”

“
Very well, but quickly please. The professor is not a man that seems used to waiting for anyone.”

Doc walked ahead, entered the cafeteria and signaled to the two women. They joined him quickly and all three made their way behind the nurse up to a large conference room one floor away from the Intensive Care Unit.

The man seated drinking a cup of coffee looked more like a janitor than one of the top men in the medical world.

“
Professor Laverton?” asked Doc.

“
Yes. Guilty.” The tall man stood and extended his hand to Doc. He nodded briefly to Lucy and Rebecca.

He wore a pair of faded blue denims and an open-necked shirt. His hair needed combing and he was in dire need of a shave.

He caught the look of surprise on the faces of the two ladies. “Seventeen hours flying and straight here. Ed Guest made an enormous donation to SCI research on the proviso that I look at your friend.”

“
Please, how is he? What’s happening?” Lucy was stunned that her voice was so weak. Her stomach was in knots and she felt ill. “Please just tell us.”

“
Young woman, I think you need to sit down before you fall down.” The man pulled out a chair and took Lucy gently by the arm and sat her firmly in it. He walked quickly across to the nurse’s station and returned.

“
I’ve ordered something to help you relax. Now, about your friend. He has what we term an incomplete lumbar sacral damage. In other words, the spine has sustained trauma. However it has not been severed. He is one very, very lucky young man.”

Do, took in a huge lungful of air. “Thank God!”

“
What? What does that mean in English? Will he be able to walk again? Please just spell it out.”

“
His legs are at the moment paralysed below the injury. The paralysis is not permanent, in my opinion. Once the swelling has reduced, he will regain use of his lower limbs. Luckily for him the injury to the spine was low down - L1, L2 and L4. His abdominal muscles and his lungs have not been affected. Nice work on the splenectomy, by the way,” he said to Doc. “The fact that he had people around him that knew to immobilize him prevented the sharp sliver of bone from severing the spine.”