Crawly Crypt Collection 1/crawlyvol1.bin/magazine/scriba/scriba12/data.bin/LASTDAYS.DOC

Text File | 1992-10-07 | 37KB | 581 lines

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üThelastdaysatschool!
éByKaiHolst
dedicatedtoGard!Ç

ThesoftsoundsofGuns'nRoses'"NovemberRain"wasfloatingthroughthe
airashedroppedthepaperontothecoffeetable.Itwasofnovalue
anymore.Dragsighed,anddrankmoreoftheCola.
   Christmasvacationwasapproaching.Draghadgreatplansforit,but
hewouldneedsomehelptocarrythemout.Schoolwasoutinthreedays.
Hehadverylittletimetogotoaction.Hehadscaredtheliving
daylightsoutofhisfatherwhenhefirstshowedhimthepaper,andhe
hadbeenevenmorefrightenedwhenDragtoldhimabouthisplans.Drag
thoughtbackonthemomenthehadtoldhisparentsabouttheresultof
thetest.Hesighedagain,androsefromthechair.
   MoreColawasconsumedasheleftthelivingroomandwalkedslowly
intohisbedroom.Somewhereunderallthecomputerequipment,papers,
emptyCola-bottlesandmagazines,therewasprobablyafloorsomewhere.
Dragcouldn'trememberwhatcolourithad.Itdidn'tmatteranymore.As
longasthedeskwasvisiblehe'dsurvive.ThefamiliarsmellofüHomeÇ
filledhisnose.Helikedithere.Themessmadehimwonderifhis
apparentlackoranykindoforderperhapswasanotherreasonwhyhe
wasn'tpopularwiththegirls.Well,rightnowhedidn'tgiveashit.
   Dragfoundthechairlocatedbetweenthebedandthedesk,andsat
downonit.HeplacedthebottleofColacarefullyonthedesk,opened
thedrawerandgrabbedhisdiary.Thinkingforamoment,hetookholdof
apencilandbeganscribblingdownthediaryentranceoftheday.

ä   Monday,December16th1991:Athome.
   Boring,boring,boring.Theonlyexcitingthingthathappenedat
schoolwasgettingourMathstestsback.Igota6,asexpected.Ihada
goodlookatVeronicainthelunchbreak.Ihavedecidedtomakeapass
atherbeforevacation.IthinkI'lldoitonThursday,bygivinghera
present.Ialreadyknowwhat.Mybestfriend,Tommy,isgoingtogiveme
ahand.NowallIhavetodoistoavoidgettingintotroublewithPhil.
Ifhefindsout,he'llguaranteedkillme.Well,it'sabouttimeIdid
somehomework.Morenewstomorrow.Youreternally,Drag.
Ç
Heputthepencildown,andlookedaroundhim.Hepickedupapaperfrom
thefloor.Itwashisgraduationpaperfromninthgrade.Hehadn't
graduatedasoneoftheverybestofhisclass,buthisgradeswere
definitelynotbad.Whyhaditbeenlyingonthefloor?Weretheremore
valuablepapersthere?Perhapsitwasabouttimetocleanupinthis
mess?Itwasalmostfivepm.
   Atmidnight,hewasalmosthalf-finished.Someplaces,apieceofthe
floorwasvisible,buttherewerestillrubbishallovertheplace.
ExceptforashortdinnerbreakandthephonefromthatstupidAmiga-
freak,he'dbeenworkingonhisroomallafternoon.Ithadgivenresults.
HehadfoundthephotoofVeronicahehadtakeninsecrecytwoyearsago.
Hehadalsofoundalotofotherthingshethoughthe'dlost.Hedecided
togotobedwhenheranoutofspaceinhisshelvesforallthepapers
hepickedup.Fiveminuteslater,hewashappilysnoringaway,dreaming
ofVeronicaandahappyChristmasholiday.
   Atschool,thefollowingday,Dragcontinueddevelopinghisbigplan.
HewaspleasedtofindoutthatPhilwasatschool,andsmiledvery
confidentlyathimself.Hismindworkedevenmorefranticthanhishands
duringtypewriting-class.Hetypeddowntheinitialsketchofwhathewas
goingtodo.Afterfinishingit,heregardeditwithcriticaleyes.It
lookedevenbetterthanhehadthoughtitwould.
   HehadashorttalkwithTommyaftertype-writingclass.Theybegan
talkingabouttheschooltriptotheRockiesthefollowingday,whereall
Çthepupilsweresupposedtogoskiing.Theywerebothgoingtotakeit
easy,andTommywasplanningtodoverylittleskiing.Mostofthetime
hewasgoingtositatthefireplacewithDrag,whodidn'thaveskisat
all,andwhowasgoingtositthereallthetime.Theyagreedaboutwhat
theyweregoingtobringwiththem,andthenDraghadtoruntoreachhis
Chemistryclasses.
   AfterChemistryclasses,hewalkeddowntothecanteen.Pastroom202
and201,downthestairs,pastthePhysicslaboratory,througha
multitudeofcorridorsandtheentrancearea.Inthecanteen,hefound,
ashehadexpected,Philsitting.Alone.
   Dragboostedhiscouragetomaximum,andinvitedhimselftositdown
nexttohim.
   "Whatdoyouwant,squirt?"Phil'svoicewassmooth,butithada
specialwayofmakingDragunsure.Thistime,however,hedidnotlose
hisself-control.
   "Ineedyourhelp."Dragansweredquietly.Phillookedathim.
   "WhatmakesyouthinkI'devenconsiderhelpingyou?"Hisvoice
changedtosarcastic.
   "Thisone."Dragtookabilloutofispocket.A£100bill.
   "Thisbillwillbeyoursifyouhelpmejustthisonce."
   PuregreedshonefromPhil'seyesashesawthe$100bill.Thenhe
lookedatDragwithasuspiciousexpressiononhisface.
   "AndjustwhatamIsupposedtodotoobtainthislittlebeauty?"His
voicewascold,yetexpectant.
   "Hitme,"Dragsaidwithaseriouslookonhisface.Heenjoyedthe
surprisedreaction.Philstareddisbelievingathim.
   "Noproblem,"hesaidafterawhileandgrabbedthebill.Justa
momentlaterhehadstuffeditinoneofhispockets,safelyoutof
everybody'ssight.
   "But,"hedemanded,"Whywouldyoupaymetohityou?Iusuallydo
thatforfree,includinginterest..."Hesmiledironically.
   "It'salongstory,"Dragsaid."YouknowhowmuchIlikeVeronicaand
herlittlesister,Monica."DragnoticedquicklythatPhil'sface
darkenedwhenhementionedVeronica.Everybodyattheschoolknewthat
shewashisgirl,andeverybody,includingDrag,thoughtthatwasapity,
ashewasarudeandbrutalasshole,whileshewasthemostbeautiful
peachintheentireschool.Theywereboth,aswasDrag,atSeniorHigh,
andtheywouldbegraduatingearlynextsummer.Monica,however,wasa
yearyoungerthanthebunchofthem.
   "Relaxandlisten,willyou?"Dragquicklycontinuedspeaking.
   "NowifyoueventhinkoftouchingVeronica..."Philsounded
threatening.
   "Isaidrelax!"Allinasudden,Dragsoundedauthoritative."Iam
goingtomakeapassatMonicaonThursday."Philcalmeddownupon
hearingthis.
   "Thisisthestory:"Dragtookadeepbreath."Foraboutayearorso,
Monicahaslikedme.IthinkallIhavetodoisgiveherareasonto
talktome,andit'llbesettled."
   "AndjustwheredoIenterthepicture?"
   "Thursday,VeronicaandMonicawillbeeatinglunch,righthereinthe
canteen..."
   "...astheyalwaysdo,"Philremarkeddryly.
   "...astheyalwaysdo.That'swhereyouenterthepicture.Weare
goingtofakeafight,you'llhitme,andI'llstumbleoverher.Of
course,you'regonnatohavetoplaythebadguyorsheprobablywon't
evenlookatme."
   "I'llhandlethat",Philsaidsmilingly."Idoitallthetime!"
   "Iknow..."NowDragsoundedironically."Anyway,asyou'vealready
takenthebill,Isupposeit'sallsettled,then."Heroseandtookhis
bag."Seeyoulater,pal!"
Ç   "Youknow,I'malmostbeginningtolikeyou,"Philsaidafterhimas
hewalkedawayfromthetable.
   "Yeah,Ibetyoudo,youslimyfuck,afteralltheblack-mailingand
allthefightswe'vehad!"Dragthoughtsourlyashewaswalkingto
class."Ibetyoudo..."

   äTuesday,December17th1991:Gymclass.
   IhavebeenlookingatVeronicaagain.Arrrgh,she'sagorgeousgirl.
Ihavealreadyboughtherpresent;Ididsoduringlunchbreak.Anyway,
thefootPhil"accidentally"brokeabouttwoyearsagokeepshurting,so
I'vetakenthisclassoff.PhilcaughtmestaringatVeronicaearlier
today,andIthinkhe'sabouttodosomethingnastytome.Won'tstopme,
though.PerhapsI'mbetteroffwiththebadleg-therestofthebunch
areplayingsoccerorvolleyball,bothofwhicharegamesIloathe!
Well,justfivemoreminutes,andmybuswillleave...Istillhavesome
tinypreparationstodoonVeronica'schristmaspresent,soI'lldothat
tonight.Tomorrowwehave,asusual,theannualtriptotheRockiestogo
skiing.Well,we'llbegonemostoftheday,soIguessI'llprobablynot
writeanythingatalltomorrow.Anyway,Thursday'sthebigday!Till
then...
Ç
Heputdownthepen.Hisintricatewebwastighteningaroundthebastard.
Dragsmiledtohimself.Yes,heknewhewasabloodyliar,butitwasthe
onlywayhecouldgethishighlyawaitedrevengeonPhil.Thursday,it
wasgoingtohappen...
   Dragspenttheentireafternoonmakinghisroomlookmoreorless
decent.Theresultwasstunning:Hefoundaheapofthingshehadsortof
missedthelastcoupleofyears,someofthemevenlonger.Herecovereda
beautifulfloorwithtwothrowrugsonit,andacoupleofchairsinthe
south-easterncorner.Sevenhoursofhardwork.Dragdecidedtogotobed
immediatelywhenhehadfinishedthehardwork.Hisbackached,andhis
eyeswerecompletelydriedout.Hebathedtheminthecrystal-blue
cleaningwaterhismotherhadboughthim.Dryeyeshadbeenaproblemfor
years.Hiseyeslookedlikehehadbeencryingwhenhefinallywentto
bedattenthirty.

   üRING!RING!RING!
Ç   Thesoundofthealarm-clockquicklymadehimleaptohisfeatat
sevenam.
   üRING!RING!RING!
Ç   Hepacedthefloor,hisheardpoundingwildlyfromtheshockofbeing
sobrutallytornoutofsleepmodebytheloudsound.Heturnedoffthe
clockbutasecondbeforeitstartedtoringforthethirdtime.He
lookedinthemirrorhehadhungonthewallnexttothedoor.Hishair
stoodtoallsides,andhelookedtired.Asamatteroffact,heäwas
Çtired!Andhisheartstillbangedlikeamaniacinhischest.
   "Timetogetupandhavesomebreakfast,"hethoughtsourlyashewent
intothebathroom.There,hewashedandshavedhimselfandgotdressed.
Nextstop:Thekitchen!
   Thekitchenwashismother'sdomain.Shekeptitclean,tidy,and
alwaysstuffedtothebrimwithvariousfood.Strangely,Dragdidn'tfeel
particularlyhungry.Hewalkedinacircleonthekitchenfloorfora
while,andthenhemadesomefoodtobringalongonthetriptothe
Rockies.Skiingwasnotoneofhismaininterests.Still,heintendedto
haveagoodtimesittingnexttothefireplacenexttotheski-track.He
lookedoutofthewindow,andsawthattheweatherwasperfect.
   Hemadesomesandwichesandboiledsomewater.Hemadebothtea,cocoa
andcoffeetotakewithhim,andevenrememberedtopacksomesugar,
lemonandhoneyforthetea,milkforthecoffeeandsomeextracups
(Justincase...).Thenhewentbackintothebathroomandfoundthe
Çclotheshewasgoingtowear.Warmclothes,ofcourse.Thenhewentback
intohisroomandfetchedatapehehadpreparedaweekbefore.Ata
quartertoeight,hewasreadytogotoschool. Walkingsilently,in
ordernottowakeuphisparents,heleftthehousetwominuteslater.
   Theshortwalktoschoolwasfinishedinfiveminutes.Hestrolled
alongtheancillaryroads,thewayhealwaysdid.InBedfieldRoadhe
noticedTommywalkingwithhisnewskisonhisneck.Theywalkedthelast
bittogether,andstoodtalkinginthecanteenthelastcoupleofminutes
beforetheirbuseswerescheduledtoarrive.BothDragandTommynoticed
thatVeronicaandMonicawerestandingontheirownnexttotheentrance.
Philwasnowheretobeseen.
   TommyturnedtolookatDragandsmiled.
   DragturnedtolookatTommyandsmiledback.
   "üLET'SGOFORIT!!!Ç"theyshoutedatthesametime,laughedforabout
athirdofasecondandwalkedtowardstheentrancearea,aimingatthe
girls.
   "Hi,Monica,"Dragsaid,smilingfriendlyather.
   "Hello,Veronica,"Tommysaid.
   Thegirlsturnedaroundandfacedthem.Monicaimmediatelybeganto
smileatDrag,andVeronicalookedsurprisedathim.
   "Hi,"theysaid,returningtheboys'smiles.
   "So,whatareyoutwoladiesgoingtodotoday?"Draglookeddirectly
atMonicauponasking,stillsmilingawarmsmileather.Monicaflushed,
andlookedaway.
   "Wearegoingtositasclosetothecampfireaspossibletoavoid
catchingacold,"Veronicasaid."Howaboutyou?"Thetoneofhervoice
wasamixtureofhumourandcuriosity.
   "Well,mylegisnotfeelingverywell,soIwasthinkingabout
keepingyouwithcompany,unlessPhilisaround."Dragcarefullyrubbed
hisleftknee,demonstratingwhathemeant.ThekneePhilhadbroketwo
yearsago.Monicalookedathim,hereyesfilledwithpity.
   "He'snotgoingtocomeatall,"shesaid,"hetoldusyesterdayabout
atriptotheCapitol.""Godknowswherehegotthemoneyforthat,"
Veronicaaddedphilosophically.
   "IsupposeIknow,"Dragthought."Well,"hesaid,andlookedout,
"seemslikeourbuseshavearrived.Perhapswe'dbettermoveifwe're
gonnagetanyseats."Heturned,andbegantomoveslowlytowardsthe
doors.
   "Yeah!"Monicabentdown,pickedupherbag,andfollowedhim.
   "Letmetakethat,"Dragsaidquickly,andgrabbedthe bagbeforeshe
couldcomplain.Thenhewalkednexttohertothenearestbus.Behind
them,TommyandVeronicalookedsurprisedatDragasheputhisarms
aroundMonica'sshoulder.Thentheylookedateachother,bothaskingthe
samequestion:WasthisthesameshyDragtheyhadusedtoknow?
   Theninetyminuteslongbusridewasuneventful.Dragsatnextto
Tommy,andrightbehindthemwereMonicaandVeronica.Thefourofthem
wereremarkablysilent,andTommyandVeronicathoughttheymusthave
seenandheardwrongearlier.Dragactedassilentandshyashealways
did.Theonlythinghedidthathehadneverdonebefore,wastoapproach
thedriverandaskhimtoplaythetapehehadbrought.Toeverybody's
surprise,thetapecontainedlotsofcalm,nicemusic,andnotthe
hardcorespeed-,death-,trash-anddeaf-metalé(Speed-anddeath-metalis
okay,butwhattheheckistrash-anddeaf-metal?-Ed)Çheusually
listenedto.SomeheavyballadsandpopularsongsbyamongotherSkid
Row,QueensrÿcheandMr.Bigmadesuretheatmosphereinthebuswas
quitegood.Butstill,Dragwasmuteandlookedoutofthewindow.
   "CanIgothroughwithit?"Heaskedhimself."PerhapsIwouldbemuch
betterwithout?Orperhapsnot...No,ifIdon'tdoit,it'lltake
longer,andhurtmore.ButifIfindoutthatMonicareallylikesme...
Whatabouther?Howwillshefeel?Andmyparents?"Hedarednoteven
Çthinkofit.
   Hisdepressionpassedwhentheyarrivedatthedestinationsomewhere
highupintheRockies.Draghadnevercaredtofindoutwhattheplace
wascalled.Nevertheless,theweatherwasbrilliantandthetemperature
wasperfect;Nottoocold,andnottoowarm.Itseemedlikeitwasgoing
tobeaperfectday.Theircampsitewasplacedfiftyyardsonthesouth
oftheski-track,onaflatspotintheotherwiseverysteep
mountainside.
   Aftertherollcall,thepupilsscatteredafterwhattheyweregoing
todo.Somebodyweregoingtodosomedown-hillracing,andotherwere
goingtojustwalkaround.Mostofthem,however,wereplanningtogather
aroundthelargecampfiretheteachershadpromisedwouldbereadywithin
halfanhourafterarrival.
   DragandTommyseparatedimmediatelyafterleavingthebus.Drag
followedMonicaandVeronicatothecampsite,andtheyfoundanice
placetositdown.Dragborrowedashuffle,andbuiltsomewind-screens
ofsnowbehindthem,andconstructedacrude,yetefficient"table"in
frontofthem.Thegirlswereimpressedbyhisinsight,andwhenthey
asked,hetoldthemhehaddoneitseveraltimesbefore.
   Thethreeofthemsatthere.Thefirewasbuiltonlytenyardsaway,
andtheyweresittingoutofthewind,sothesmokewentintheother
direction,buttheycouldstillfeelthewarmth.Thesunshoneatthem.
Draghadpickedthebestplace,andeverybody,includingtheteachers,
enviedthem.
   Atabouthalfpastten,Monicadecideditwasabouttimetohave
somethingtodrink.ShepickedupathermosfromthebagDraghadcarried
alltheway,andpouredherselfacupofhotchocolate.Noticingthat
VeronicalookedwithanenviouseyeatMonica,Dragquicklypickeduphis
ownthermosandoneoftheextracups.
   "Wouldyoulikesomehotchocolate?"
   Shelookedsurprisedathim,andgavehimoneoftheraresmilesthat
madeherthemostbeautifulgirlinschool."Yes,"shesaid,"I'dlove
to."Herslim,graciousfingerstookthecupheofferedher,andhe
pouredhersomeofthehotdrink.Thenhemadesomeforhimself,andthey
allsatthere,thesunshiningintheirfaces.
   Suddenly,Tommyappearedfromnowhere.
   "Hey,niceplace,Drag."Helookedaroundhim."Whereareallthe
others?"
   "WhichäothersÇ,"Veronicaasked.Tommyexplainedthataboutfiftyof
thepupilsweregoingtogoskiingtoacottageaboutfivemilesfurther
south,andthathehadlosttherestofthem.
   "Bigdeal,"shesaid."Whydon'tyouhaveaseathereandforgetabout
therest?"Tommylookedquestioningather,andthenatDrag.
   "Yeah,sure,"hesaidafteramoment,"Whynot?"Withinseconds,he
hadtakenofftheskisanddumpeddownnexttoDrag.Almost
simultaneously,oneoftheteachersshoutedawarning.
   "Avalanche!!!"Thewordmakeeverybodyjump.Afewofthepupilshad
madetheirownfiresomewhereelse,andwerenowskiing.Thefirewasout
ofcontrol,andhadmelteditselfdowntotherocks.Theresultwasthat
tonsofsnowsuddenlylosttheirfootholdonthemountainandfloweddown
themountainside.
   Monicascreamedasshediscoveredthesnowslideafewhundredyards
aboveandalittletothesouthofthem.Asinglepersonwasvisiblejust
alittlebitbelowit,franticallymovingtowardsthecamp.Dragroseand
startedrunningtowardshim.Ascreamwasheardfrombehindhim."No!
Drag!"
   Heignoredit.Twosecondslater,hesawthatitwastoolate.Atower
ofsnowfelloverthelonepersonanddraggedhimdownthemountainside.
DragturnedbackandjumpedatTommy.
   "Givemeyourshoes!"Tommylookedlikeaquestionmark."Comeon!!!
ÇNow!!!"HeshoutedthewordsatTommy,whoimmediatelytookhisshoes
off.Dragdraggedoffhisown,andslippedintoTommy's.
   Tommyhadlefthisskisrightnexttothefire.Dragquicklytookthem
on,andhurledhimselftowardstheavalanchearea.Itwasaterrible
sight.Thesnowslidehadnotbeenlarge,butithadgonefarandbroken
severaltreesafewhundredyardsbelowthecamp.Dragcouldseenotrace
ofthepersonwhohadbeencaughtinit.
   Heraceddownthesteepslope,almostfallingseveraltimes.Hecould
hearthathewasbeingfollowedbyseveralother.Finally,hearrivedat
thebottomoftheavalanche.Still,therewasnosignofthevictim.Drag
kickedtheskisoff,andbegansearchingforthepoorguy.Secondslater
hewasjoinedbyacoupleofteachers.
   Halfamileabovethem,Monicastoodpale,regardingthescenewith
horror.Fivepersonsweresearching.Theywereshoutingandusingsticks.
Shewonderedwhoitwasthathadbeencaughtbytheslide.Shecouldn't
separateDragfromtheothers.
   VeronicacameandgaveheracupofDrag'scoffee.
   "Thanks,"Monicasaidandsippedatit.
   Veronicasighedheavilyandlookedatthepeopledownthere."Isure
hopeheisalright,whoeverhewas."SheputherarmaroundMonicato
comforther."Relax,littlesister.He'llbealright."Shesighedagain.
   Tommyappearednexttothem.Alsohelookedattherescuersthatwere
franticallytryingtofindthemissingperson."IsthatDragoverthere
ontheleft?"Hepointedatapersonmovingabitawayfromtheothers.
   "Couldbe..."Monicasoundedweary.Veronicawassilent.
   Suddenlytheynoticedthattheguyontheleftdowntherehadfound
something.Veronicabithernails.Thepeoplecrowdedaroundasingle
point,andtherewashecticmovement.Tommyhopedtheyhadfoundthepoor
guystillalive.Hesentaquietprayertothedeityinwhichhedidn't
reallybelieve.Still,anythingcouldhelp.
   Momentslater,theycouldallseesomethingbeingcarriedawayby
threeofthepersonsdownthere.Theothertwobegantomoveslowly
upwardsagain.MonicanoticedthatoneofthemwasDrag.
   Fiveminuteslater,hehadreachedthecampagain.Monicarantomeet
him.
   "Ishealright?"Sheaskedinaworriedvoice.Draglookedbackwith
anassuringexpressiononhisface."Itwasagirl,"hesaid,"Janefrom
2G,actually.Ifoundher."HetookoffTommy'sskisandshoesandtook
onhisown."Shewasperfectlyalright,butshealmostchokedunderthe
snow.Shewasquitefrightened,butIdon'tthinkshehadbroken
anything.Sheisbeingfollowedtothecottage,andshewillbetherethe
restoftheday."
   Monicakissedhimonthecheek.Helookedsurprisedather."Whydid
youdothat?"TommyandVeronicamovedbacktotheirplaces.
   MonicaansweredwhenshewasstandingalonewithDrag."Becauseyou
areabraveyoungman,andbecauseI'vefalleninlovewithyou."Drag
openedhismouthandstaredather.
   "What?"Hesoundeddisbelieving.
   "Iloveyou,"Monicasaid,smilingshylyathim.
   "Well..."Dragsmiledback."Whydon'twesitdown?"Heputhisright
armaroundherwaistandwalkedhertotheplaceVeronicaandTommywere
sitting.Again,hewasfilledwithdoubtaboutwhetherhecouldcarryout
thegreatplanornot.
   Eventhoughhewassurprisedtofindthathewasactuallyrightabout
Monica,hewasevenmoresurprisedtoseehowgoodTommyandVeronica
camealongwitheachother.WhenheandMonicacamecloser,theyfound
themsittingclosetoeachother,andTommywasholdingVeronica'shands
inhisown.DragandMonicalookedateachother.
   "Hem!"Dragclearedhisthroatloudly."...arewebyanychance
interruptingsomething?"Monicalaughed.Tommylookedembarrassedup.
Ç   "No!No,notreally."HeletVeronica'shandsgo.Dragsmiledathim,
andtightenedhisowngripofMonica'swaist.Shesmiledandmovedtosit
down.
   Thenextcoupleofhourswerefilledwithalotofchattingabout
everything,sometimesevenaboutnothing(e.g.thesizeofPhil's
brain...).DragnoticedthathehadmuchincommonwithMonica,andhe
foundoutthathewasfallinginlovewithher.
   DragandTommygaveawayalmostallofthewarmdrinkstheyhad
broughtwiththem.MostwenttotoMonicaandVeronica,buteventeachers
andotherschool-mateshadtheirshare.Thelasttwohoursofthetrip,
everybodycrowdedaroundthehappycornerofthecamp,whichmeantaround
theplaceDragwassitting.OneoftheboysinMonica'sclasshadbrought
aguitar,andhebegantoplaythefirstchordsofasonghehadheardon
Drag'stapeonthetripthere,Queensrÿche's"SilentLucidity."
   "Myall-timefavourite..."MonicasaiddreamilytoDrag.Shehadsaid
soonthebus,aswell.Someofthegirlsknewthewordsbyheart,and
sangalong.Monicasoonjoinedthem.Hervoicewasclearandbeautiful,
andshesangoutloud...

àHush,now,don'tyoucry
Wipeawaytheteardropfromyoureye
You'relyingsafeinbed
Itwasallabaddream
Spinninginyourhead
Yourmindtrickedyoutofeelthepain
ofsomeoneclosetoyou
leavingthegameoflife
Sohereitis,anotherchance
wideawake,youfacetheday
yourdreamisover
...orhasitjustbegun?
Ç
DraglookedatMonica.Shewassmilingandhadhereyesclosedasshe
sang.Thesweetlookofherfacemadehimtakeaninstantdecisionabout
theplan.
   "Icannotgothroughwithit!"Hestaredguiltilyonthewhitesnowin
frontofhim.Thearrangementscouldgotohell.Nowhehadsomethingto
fightfor,somethingtolivefor.HelookedatMonica.Shewasstill
smiling.TommyandVeronicahadalsojoinedthesinging.Theywere
holdingeachother'shands.SuddenlyMonicalookedathim.Draglistened
tothesongforamoment,andfollowedTommy'sexample,andtookMonica's
handsintohisown.Staringintoherazure-blueeyes,hestartedsinging
withher.
à
Iwillbewatchingoveryou
Iangonnahelpyouseeitthrough
Iwillprotectyouinthenight
Iamsmilingnexttoyou
Insilentlucidity
Ç
Astingofguiltflowedoverhimastheysmiledateachother.Heknewhe
couldnotletthatgirldown.Thedecisionwasmade.Theplanwas
abandoned.
   Thesongended,andtheatmospheregrewevenbetter.Everybody
applaudedandlaughed,andsomebodywasshouting"More,more!"Thenoise
wasimmense.Theguitarplayerwasjustabouttostartanothersong,as
oneoftheteachers,theheadmaster,asamatteroffact,enteredthe
happypartyandliftedhisarms.
   "Itistimetogo,"heshouted.Everybodyweresuddenlysilent.
   "Thebuseswillleaveinhalfanhour,andyoumustallgodownin
Çtime!"Theheadmasterlookedatthedisappointedpupils."Iknowyou'd
liketostayherealittlelonger,butthebuseswillleaveinthirty
minutes,withorwithoutus."Heseemedtobeabitdisappointedhimself
asheleftthecrowdandstartedwalkingdownthesteepslopetowardsthe
buses.
   Thecrowdaroundthemscattered.Peoplefollowedtheheadmasterdown
theslope.DragletMonica'shandsgo."Perhapswe'dbettermove,"he
said,movingtopackhisthreethermosesdowninhisrucksack.Tommyand
Veronicaleft,brieflysayinggoodbye.
   MonicaandDragwalkedslowlyafterthem,holdinghands.
   "Whydon'tyoucomevisitmesometime?"DragaskedMonicaasthey
werehalf-waydown.Shelookedsurprisedathim.
   "Sure!Howabouttonight?"Anenthusiasticsmilespreadonherface.
   "Whynot?"Dragsmiledback.Suddenlyhenoticedaspotwithoutany
snowonitabouthundredyardsfurtherdown.Withdeliberatestepshe
pacedtowardsit,leavingMonicawaiting.Ittookhimonlyamomentto
findwhathehadbeensearchingfor.HereturnedtoMonica,hidinghis
rightarmbehindhisback.Shelookedathimwithasuspiciousglance,
yethervoiceheldatraceofhumourassheaskedhimaquestion.
   "Whatwasthatgoodfor?"
   Dragdidn'tsayaword.Hejustsmiledinamysteriousway,andwalked
hertothebus.Justbeforetheyentered,hetookforthhisrightarm,
andrevealedasmallbunchofbeautiful-smellingcyclamen.
   "Atfiveo'clock?"heaskedasheofferedthemtoher.
   "Atfiveo'clock,"sherepliedinasweetvoiceassheacceptedthe
bunch.Thenshekissedhimslightlyonthecheek,andenteredthebus,
leavingDragbindherintheseventhsky.
   "Drag,wakeup!"ThelaughingvoiceofTommysuddenlymadeDragcome
backdowntotheplanetEarth.Helookedaroundhim,andwonderedhowand
whenhehadenteredthebus,whichwasalreadymovingdownthehill.He
glancedbackatMonica.SheandVeronicawerehappilychattingalong,
obviouslyabouthimandTommy.HeturnedbacktoTommy.
   "Say,whathappenedbetweenyouandVeronica?"heasked.
   "Thesamethingasbetweenyouandhersister,"hereplied."Sheis
comingtomyplacetonight,andwe'replanningtogotothemovies."He
smiled."ThisistheendofPhil!"
   "Evidentially,itis..."Dragsaidthoughtfully.Phil!Thepartofthe
planhedidn'tcontrol."Heck!"hethought."WhydidIpayhimin
advance?"Drag'sfacedarkened.
   "Somethingwrong?"Tommyasked.Dragcalmeddown.
   "No,"hereplied."Nothing.Monicaiscomingtomyplaceatfive.I
hadn'tplannedtogotothemovies,butwemightdoitanyway."Helooked
questioningatTommy."Whichfilmareyousupposedtosee?"
   "'Bugsy'hasreturnedfromPhilly.They'replayingitforthetenth
timeatOdeonII.Whyareyouasking?"
   "BecauseIdon'twanttorunintoyouwhenI'mhavingadate,"Drag
saidsarcastically,ignoringthesadfaceTommypretendeduponhearing
it.Thentheybothlaughed.
   "Goodluck,Drag,"Tommysaidsmilingly,"You'regonnaneedit!"
   "Thanks,Tom.Sametoyou!"Theylaughedagain,andDragdecidedto
havesomemusic.Hewalkedtothefront,andaskedthedrivertoplaythe
tapeagain.Secondslater,Guns'nRoses'"NovemberRain"filledthe
channels,andtheatmospherewentrightup,asontheothertrip.
   DragandMonicabrieflyexchangedsomewordswhentheyleftthebus,
reassuringeachotherthatitwasatfiveshewastocometohisplace.
Shekissedhimlightlyonthecheekagain,andwasgone.NowonderDrag
waswalkingonsunshineallthewayhome!
   Athalfpastfour,hisparentscamehomefromwork.Hehadfinished
dinneralongtimeago,andtheyateinsilence.
   "Drag,"hismotherfinallyasked,"Wouldyouminddoingthedishes
Çtoday?"
   "Yes,IamafraidIwouldmind,"Dragsaidhumorous.Hismotherlooked
athim.
   "Sowhatareyouuptothen,son?"Drag'sfather,Ronald,leanedback
andsighedheavily.
   "Oh,nothingimportant,"Dragsaidwithatwist,"You'llfindout..."
Hesmiled.
   Afterashortpause,hisfathercontinued."Drag,"hesaidandsighed,
asifitwasaheavyburdentotalk."Ithinkweshouldhaveatalkabout
thediagnosis."Draglookedathisfather.
   "Youmeannow,here?"
   "No,Imeaninthelivingroom,infiveminutes,"hisfatheranswered,
withthesamesarcastictoneDraghadused.Theylookedateachother,
smiling.Aminutelatertheyleftthetableandwalkedoutofthe
kitchen.
   Inthelivingroom,theTVsetwasstillon.Dragturnedthevolume
down,andsatdownoppositehisfather.Amomenttheydidnothingbut
lookateachother.
   "Drag,Drag,Drag,whatarewegoingtodowithyou?"Ronaldasked
himself."Idon'tknowwhyyouwenttothehospital,butIamgladyou
did."Hesighed,andpickedupthepaperDraghadthrownonthetabletwo
daysearlier.
   "Justletmelivemyownlife,"Draganswered."Aslongasthat
lasts,"headdedquietly.Hisfatherstillmanagedtooverhearthe
comment.
   "Ihopeyoudidn'tmeanthat,son."Helookedencouragingathisson.
   "Qualisartifexpereo",Draganswered
   "Eventhoughcancermightbelethal,I'msureyou'renotgoingtojust
dryup,andturnintoamelancholic,carelessjerk.Orareyou?"He
soundedworried.Suddenly,thedoorbellrang.
   "Ofcoursenot,"Dragsaidasherosetoanswerit."Ihappentohave
agoodreasonnottodie..."Hewalkedacrossthefloorandintothe
hall."HernameisMonica,"heshoutedbacktohisfather,"AndI'm
takinghertohemoviestonight!"Hisfathersatwithhismouthwide
open.WasthistheDragheheraisedandknownthroughoutallhislife?
   Dragopenedthedoor,andlookedattheslim,attractivebodyof
Monica.Shewasdressedinadeep-reddressandanicecoat,andshehad
alovelynecklaceandaringonherfinger.Dragsmiled,andopenedthe
doortoletherin.
   "Welcometomyhumbleabode,"hesaidasheclosedthedoorbehind
her."Letmetakeyourcoat."Heactedliketheperfectpartner,helped
heroffwiththecoatandputitcarefullyinthelittlewardrobe.Then
hewalkedhertohisroom,pastthestillopenliving-roomdoor.He
noticedthathisfatherwasstillgapinginsurprise.
   "Veni,vidi,vici."Hesmiledashesaidthewordstohisfatherand
puthisarmaroundMonica'swaistinfrontofhiseyes.Thesurprised
lookonRonald'sfacegrewevenmoreapparent.
   Dragopenedthedoortohisroom,andimpressedMonicaalot.Itwas
tidyandclean.Hehadworkedhecticallyforacoupleofhourstofixit
up,andtheresultwasthathiscomputerwasnowrunningaprogramwhich
wascontinuallyplayingalong,sadtune,thedimlightgavetherooman
appearanceofmagic,andthefloorwasclearofallrubbish.Thewalls
werenowdecoratedwiththepostershisolderbrotherhadgivenhimlast
christmas;Theoneoftheunicorn,andthe"LordoftheRings"gigantic
poster.
   Monicalookedaround."Drag,it'sgorgeous!"Shelookedattheunicorn
poster."I'vegotoneofthose,too!"SIlently,Dragthoughtthatthe
roomhadbeenevenfurtherimprovedthemomentMonicahadentered. "I
loveyourroom,"sheutteredafterashortmomentofsilence.
   TheysatdownonthesofaDraghaddiscoveredtwodaysearlier,during
Çthelargeclean-out.Hedecidedtosayitatonce.
   "Monica,"hebegan,lookingather."Ihaveaconfessiontomake."
   Shelookedcurious,andurgedhimtocarryon.Dragsigheddeep,and
spokeoninalow,sadvoice.
   "Ihaveaproblem."
   "What?"Monicademanded.
   "Cancer."Hesaiditasgentleashecould.Yet,shestaredathim,
shocked.
   "What?"
   "Youheardmewell."Draglookeddownintothefloor."Isufferfrom
lungcancer."Monicalookedathim,buthecouldn'tmakehimselfface
her.Hesighedagain.
   Asuddenmovementmadehimlookup,onlytoseeherhair.Sheheldhim
inapassionateembracement."Oh,Drag,"shesaid,"Whydidn'tyoutell
mebefore?"Hetouchedhercheek,andfelttears.
   "Itmightbelethal,"hesaid,"Butmychancesofsurvivalwillbe
muchhigherifIstruggle."Hepushedhergentlyaway."NowIhave
somethingtostrugglefor."Theystaredintoeachother'seyesfora
moment,andthenheembracedheragain.Dragnoticedthatshewas
trembling,asifshewasjustabouttocry.Hehadtofighttokeephis
owntearsback.
   Foraminuteortwotheyjustsatthere,likethat.Themusiccameto
anend,andsilencefilledtheroom.
   "Youhaveme,"Monicasaidquietly,directlyintoDrag'sear."Iam
goingtohelpyouseeitthrough!"Dragcouldfeelhertearsflowdown
hischeek.
   "I'llmakeit,"hesaid."Butdon'tcry,sweetheart."Again,hepushed
heraway."Let'sdosomethingelse."Hewipedawaythetearsfromher
face."Doyouwanttogotothemovies?"
   Afewminuteslater,theywalkedtogetheroutthefrontdoor.Draghad
alookatthebeautifulworld,whichhenowrealizedtoperhapsnotbeso
cruel,afterall...

üTheEndÇ
(Farout,man-EdB^)