Enoch's Ghost by Bryan Davis Page B

Prophet said that questions would fill your mind. He anxiously awaits your release so he can answer as many as possible.”
    “What does the doctor say?” he asked, his eyes still closed. “Can I leave soon?”
    “She says that you may leave. In fact, she insists that you leave immediately. The Prophet’s instructions were clear. Now that you have awakened, you must go to him.”
    Timothy opened his eyes and smiled. Her fingers felt heavenly. “I’m guessing that you’re the doctor.”
    “You seem to enjoy guessing, and you are correct again.” She pointed at a closet. “You will find your clothes in there. I will send my son in to assist you.”
    “I heard him call you ‘Mother.’ Is he adopted?”
    Her blonde eyebrows scrunched toward her shining blue eyes. “Of course. Aren’t we all?”
    “Uh … No. I don’t think so.”
    She set her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. “Timothy, I think we’ll have to work hard at understanding each other. I get the impression that some words have different meanings where you come from.”
    “And we obviously have different customs. Not that I minded, but I was surprised that a child is allowed to come and go as he pleases.” He nodded toward the clock. “Especially in a military hospital.”
    She looked up at the clock. “Military? What do you mean?”
    “Uh … Army? Navy?”
    “Ah!” she said, nodding dramatically. “We do have an army.” She deftly removed the needle from his hand, but as she wound the tube over the IV hanger, a single drop of the gray liquid fell to the floor.
    Timothy rubbed the wound on his skin, wondering what kind of alien medicine had been pushed into his veins.
    She lowered the bed rail and waved toward the closet. “Take careful steps.” As if demonstrating, she padded slowly toward the door. “We wouldn’t want you to bump your head again.”
    Just as she reached the exit, the boy walked in, now wearing a blue “Lions” baseball cap that matched his sweatshirt. “Mother,” he said. “When are we leaving?”
    She laid a hand on his shoulder. “Very soon. I will take Listener home first so we’ll have room to transport our guest. You can stay here and help him get ready.”
    The boy tilted his head and rubbed her hand with his cheek. “Will you leave Father’s companion with me, too?”
    “No, silly man,” she said, pressing his cap down. “Now that we’re going home to stay, I’m going to put it back on its shelf.”
    “May I see it again before you leave?” The boy extended his cupped hands. “Please?”
    The doctor smiled at Timothy. “I hope you’ll pardon this interruption.”
    “Of course,” Timothy said. “Please take your time.”
    She reached into her pocket and withdrew a purple velvet-covered box, similar to, yet somewhat bigger than a ring box. After flipping open the hinged lid, she tipped out a glass egg into the boy’s hands. His eyes widened, as did his brilliant smile. Transferring the egg to one hand, he petted the top with his fingers. The touch seemed to make it glow with a pale yellow hue.
    The doctor lowered herself to one knee and stroked her son’s back. “That means your father loves you, and he misses your touch.” As she continued, her voice began to break. “Don’t ever forget what a great man he was or how much he loved you.”
    “I won’t, Mother.” A tear passed from his eye to his cheek as he continued to stare at the glowing orb. “Every time I hold his companion, I feel him hugging me.”
    After a few more seconds, she held the open box under his hands. “That’s enough for now. I have to take your sister home.”
    The boy petted the egg one more time before lovingly rolling it back into the box. His mother closed the lid and nodded solemnly to Timothy. “I will be back very soon.” With that, she swept through the doorway.
    The boy turned a dial on the wall near the door, and the flaming wicks above grew brighter. “Do you want me to get your clothes for