Many hours — and films on a tiny screen — later, the head steward’s voice came over the intercom and announced the start of descent into Zurich. Matt watched the map on the screen and realised they were approaching from the south-east, meaning they would fly over the Alps before turning into a final approach towards Zurich.
Sure enough, 15 minutes later, the snow-capped Alps came into view. Matt gazed out the window trying to determine which of the many valleys beneath them he had been in. The aircraft gradually descended lower and lower until he could see two small lakes out to the left, a castle topping a hill practically beneath them, and then the edges of a small city just before touching down at the busy airport. Matt buzzed with anticipation. Beyond knowing that Andreas and Julia would be here to meet him, Matt had no idea of what was in store.
Matt pulled his case off the baggage claim belt and set it on its wheels. Looking for the exit, he saw that most of one wall was windows out to the arrivals waiting area, and through them, standing and chatting with each other, were two of Matt’s best friends.
‘You guys have met?’ Matt asked, greeting them both a few minutes later.
‘Just now,’ Andreas said. ‘Quite by chance.’
‘I asked him where I could find a good coffee,’ Julia said. ‘He invited himself to join me.’
Matt grinned at Andreas. ‘Still the ladies man then.’
‘Completely innocent.’ Andreas put his hands up in mock surrender. ‘Come on then. Let’s get you to the hotel.’
Matt was fully at ease. He knew that in Switzerland, everything would be smooth sailing. The Swiss precision and quality, combined with Andreas’ humour and company, and his most trusted colleague who spoke fluent Spanish. What could go wrong?
The world slowly faded back into being. Then it disappeared again. As quickly as it was gone, the blurry images reappeared. Hemi fought to keep his eyes open, but it was a losing battle. The blackness kept on taking over. He slept some more.
Five days passed before Hemi woke up properly again. He found that out from a nurse. He couldn’t remember what had happened to him, so he had to ask that too. He was shot. Who would shoot him?
‘Oh shit.’ Hemi said out loud, the events of the past weeks coming back to him.
He looked around frantically for a buzzer and found one hanging off a cable attached to his bed. He pressed at the button like a drunken geek tweeting his drinks list to a world of uninterested, but bored, surfers. A nurse ran into the room with a panicked expression on her face.
‘What’s wrong?’ She asked, looking him up and down, clearly disappointed not to find a major bleed or heart attack.
‘I need to speak to my boss immediately. I need you to get me a phone.’
‘There’s a phone right there!’ The nurse said, laughing and pointing at a small TV and phone combination that was hovering above Hemi’s head.
‘Oh right, so there is. Sorry, I missed that.’
The nurse turned on her heels, still chuckling, and shuffled off in search of another emergency. Hemi dialled the number for Agent Hope, his superior at the NISO, from memory.
‘Hope.’ Came the blunt answer.
‘Agent Hope, it’s Hemi…’
‘Hemi, you’re awake, that’s brilliant.’
‘Hope, I have to know. What happened to Dr. Cameron? Is he alive?’
‘Yes, yes, of course. Though there was a death.’
Oh my God, Hemi thought. Not Aimee.
‘Who?’ he asked, feeling desperate.
‘Rennie,’ Hope answered. ‘One of our sharp-shooters took him out seconds after he shot you.’
‘He’s dead?’ Hemi felt tears welling in his eyes but a dam of pride held them back. Joy was mixed with disappointment.
‘Yes, Hemi. He’s dead.’
‘I have important information to report. It’s paramount that I talk with you.’
‘We have an agent at the hospital. He’s been waiting to give you some important news too.
Just then, the door to Hemi’s room flew open.
The phone dropped from Hemi’s hand. Damned right that’s important news. The tears broke through the dam as his father reached his side and took him in his arms.
Greg Scowen
The Spanish Helmet
Greg Scowen
The Spanish Helmet