Paul finally sat down on the cot feeling rather exhausted.
"You know you're doing too much too soon."
"And you know why I have to do it. It could mean the difference between life and death. For both of us."
The time was 11:27 when James closed the watch and put it back into his pocket. For their lunch, he unpacked some dehydrated fruit. He mixed two glasses of omni-drink and handed one glass to Paul. He opened the package of fruit and offered it to Paul, who took only one piece. From the medical kit, He took a multi-colored capsule and handed it to him, also.
Without hesitation, Paul took the capsule and swallowed it without question. He ate the small piece of fruit and refused more when James offered it.
"How easily you could be deceived."
"You would never hurt me. You couldn't."
"Never trust anyone, not even me. All you know about me is what I've told you, and I could tell you anything."
"I know what you are trying to do and I appreciate the effort. I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid of living and I'm not afraid of dying. As for being deceived, I might be deceived some day, but it won't be by you."
"How can you be so certain?"
"I don't know how I know, I just do. Maybe it's a feeling or an instinct. I just know."
"How can you trust something if you don't even know what it is you are trusting?"
"Just because I can't explain it, doesn't mean I can't trust it. It's never let me down. Do you want to know something else I know?"
"What?"
"Since I've known you, You've been very honest with me. You've told me things you could never tell anyone else, not even your own son. Things you don't like to admit, not even to yourself."
"For one so young, you perceive much."
James put away the glasses and the remaining fruit, and Paul stretched out on the cot.
"How do you feel?"
"My head spins."
"A minor side effect. It shouldn't last very long. Just lay still and it will pass. Now, I'll show you what I'm going to do with the mud."
James took the bag of mud, stepped up on the chair and began to pack mud into the cracks in the floor above them.
"This will keep the light from shining through the cracks in the floor."
"Ingenious. Whatever made you think of that?"
James worked quickly, filling in all the cracks.
"I caught a man in a simular situation once. The only thing that gave him away was the light that shone through a small crack. Some trackers use heat or motion sensors. As you know, there aren't many ways to hide from sensors. It's just a matter of time."
"Where do we go from here?"
"How's your head?"
"The spining stopped."
"The best is yet to come."
"What do you mean?"
"Just lay quietly while I finish filling in these cracks. After you rest for a while, we'll discuss where to go from here. I have a plan we can work on after you get well."
"Good." Paul stated softly. He closed his eyes and his body seemed to float. Somewhere between his brain and his eyelids, he walked on warm, golden sand. The sun warmed his face and he could hear the water gently lapping at the shore. He could feel the wet sand beneath is feet.
James finished filling in the cracks and washed his hands. He took the large photograph of Rachael from the suitcase, poured himself a glass of bottled water and sat down at the table.
It's true, he thought. I said it myself. It's only a matter of time.
He turned down the illuminator and took a sip of water. Gently, he touched the glass on the photograph as though his touch could be felt by the woman in the photograph beneath the glass. He smiled as he set the photograph on the table near the wall. He was about to take another drink of water when Paul spoke.
"Could I talk you into getting me a glass of water?"
"I'm sorry, I thought you were asleep."
"Not really. I was walking on a beach. What kind of medication did you give me?"
"You couldn't pronounce it even if I told you. A long time ago, we referred to it as a vacation pill. You can get a weeks rest in less than eight hours and still enjoy yourself."
James poured another glass of water and helped Paul sit up enough to drink.
"I sure feel strange. I can't move."
"The paralysis is only temporary. I think you should try to get some sleep. The effects of the drug should wear off in four to six hours and you will feel like a brand new man."
James sat down at the table and took another sip of water.
"James." Paul said softly.
James turned and looked at him.
"James, I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. I know what you must have given up in order to help me and there is nothing I can do that could repay you for your kindness."
"What have I given up that I wouldn't have to give up sooner or later?"
Paul thought for a minute.
"That's true, but I sincerely hope you'll never regret helping me."
James didn't respond.
"I know the risk you're taking. I know what happens when a D.O.G. goes astray. I know what they'll do to you if you get caught, I've witnessed their cruelty. It happens to a lot of good people. Every day. On both sides."
"Nothing's going to happen to me, I've got my rock."
James smiled as he reached into his pocket and produced a small stone. It was evident that Paul didn't understand when he looked at the rock so inquisitively.
"My son, James V, gave it to me for Christmas. He was only four years old at the time, but he said that as long as I carried this rock in my pocket, nothing bad would ever happen to me."
"How long have you had it?"
"I've carried this rock in my pocket every single day for over twenty-seven years."
"Do you believe in it?"
"No."
"Then why do you carry it?"
"When he gave it to me, James said it had magical powers. It must have some kind of power because I haven't thrown it away."
"I don't understand how a guy like you could ever do the things you've done."
James put the rock back into his pocket and took another sip of water.
"What I've done is done. Now, I must decide what to do next."
Paul closed his heavy eyelids and immediately drifted off into another dream world.
James drank the remaining water and set the empty glass back on the table. A sudden chill swept over him, causing him to shiver. An early winter, he thought. Just what we don't need. He got up, covered Paul with a blanket, then sat back down. Only a miricle, he thought, could get either of us through the winter. Maybe we should try to go some place where it doesn't snow. Maybe Paul could make it better alone...