Post by Melimelo on Mar 29, 2008 13:41:47 GMT 10
Chapter 7 cont'd (sorry I was interrupted)
Luka sat back on his chair and took a long swig from his beer...it was the first real break he had in weeks and the first time he had the luxury of relaxing since he got here.
The endless line of patients needing vaccines and walking wounded needing attention seemed to come in droves and while Luka was happy to keep busy ...it was time to sit back and reflect a bit.
The radio was playing music and the circle of people huddling around it and attempting to dance was comical....it wasn't just him trying to let go a bit.... everyone else was taking the opportunity to let their hair down too.
''C'mon Luka...show us your moves..."
Some random voice beckoned him to join in and for a moment he smiled in their direction and pondered getting up and dancing but something else caught his eye and suddenly he found himself straining to make out the shadows in the distance....a small breakaway group had formed just outside the circle and they seemed deep in discussion.....he craned his head to try and listen to their conversation but...it was too faint and he decided to inconspicuously try and move closer and pick up on their conversation....he needed an excuse.
"Hey...anyone else need a drink ...while I'm up...?"
Luka's voice fell on deaf ears and the dancing continued....he moved away from his chair and quietly toward the others...he wondered why he felt the need to be stealth but crept along anyways until suddenly he could hear the discussion before him and even though they were talking in French he understood what they were saying.
"Luka.....care to join us...?"
Luka stopped in his tracks.....he was more obvious than he thought and even though they were having a private discussion he was glad they invited him to join in.
"Yeah sure of course...I mean if you are planning to go North I want to go as well...I heard it is dangerous but...I want to go.."
Several pairs of eyes were suddenly glaring at him..trying to see through him..see if he is on the level or just full of shit.
"Luka...it's not that simple...we have instructions to stay here and it is only that a local from a village up north came to ask for our help and said it could be a malaria outbreak which we don't have enough supplies for if anyone goes then it has to be voluntary...."
Luka nodded at that the woman..he knew the risks of the illness and the journey required to get there.
"Gillian...I am not afraid to go...if you need me to go ...I can..."
Her smile was warm and she shook his hand vigorously and pumped it with all her might..she seemed very pleased and although she was not intending to go herself ..she made sure that he and the others knew what they were getting into.
"It could be dangerous and it could be more than you can handle...we have been advised to wait as the area is unstable..but waiting could make things worse..god bless you for going..."
Gillian fiddled with her ponytail like a nervous school girl and Luka watched on....she was nice and she was pleasant and for a minute he thought of Abby .
To be continued.................
Luka sat back on his chair and took a long swig from his beer...it was the first real break he had in weeks and the first time he had the luxury of relaxing since he got here.
The endless line of patients needing vaccines and walking wounded needing attention seemed to come in droves and while Luka was happy to keep busy ...it was time to sit back and reflect a bit.
The radio was playing music and the circle of people huddling around it and attempting to dance was comical....it wasn't just him trying to let go a bit.... everyone else was taking the opportunity to let their hair down too.
''C'mon Luka...show us your moves..."
Some random voice beckoned him to join in and for a moment he smiled in their direction and pondered getting up and dancing but something else caught his eye and suddenly he found himself straining to make out the shadows in the distance....a small breakaway group had formed just outside the circle and they seemed deep in discussion.....he craned his head to try and listen to their conversation but...it was too faint and he decided to inconspicuously try and move closer and pick up on their conversation....he needed an excuse.
"Hey...anyone else need a drink ...while I'm up...?"
Luka's voice fell on deaf ears and the dancing continued....he moved away from his chair and quietly toward the others...he wondered why he felt the need to be stealth but crept along anyways until suddenly he could hear the discussion before him and even though they were talking in French he understood what they were saying.
"Luka.....care to join us...?"
Luka stopped in his tracks.....he was more obvious than he thought and even though they were having a private discussion he was glad they invited him to join in.
"Yeah sure of course...I mean if you are planning to go North I want to go as well...I heard it is dangerous but...I want to go.."
Several pairs of eyes were suddenly glaring at him..trying to see through him..see if he is on the level or just full of shit.
"Luka...it's not that simple...we have instructions to stay here and it is only that a local from a village up north came to ask for our help and said it could be a malaria outbreak which we don't have enough supplies for if anyone goes then it has to be voluntary...."
Luka nodded at that the woman..he knew the risks of the illness and the journey required to get there.
"Gillian...I am not afraid to go...if you need me to go ...I can..."
Her smile was warm and she shook his hand vigorously and pumped it with all her might..she seemed very pleased and although she was not intending to go herself ..she made sure that he and the others knew what they were getting into.
"It could be dangerous and it could be more than you can handle...we have been advised to wait as the area is unstable..but waiting could make things worse..god bless you for going..."
Gillian fiddled with her ponytail like a nervous school girl and Luka watched on....she was nice and she was pleasant and for a minute he thought of Abby .
To be continued.................