Nathan

Chapter 1

T hat night on the old, two-lane highway, he slid past the abandoned watermelon stand that was popular in the summer. He suddenly noticed something huge behind him in the rearview mirror. Then the inescapable glare behind him closed in, and his entire world became a blinding light. There was a violent jolt to his back. His head cracked as he was slammed backward. There was a screaming, metallic grinding. His world turned sideways then upside down as his car slid through the grassy, deep culvert. He lost consciousness as his car slammed into the cement foundation.

Nathan gradually awoke and opened his eyes. Bit by bit, he realized that he was in a strange and different place. He looked about and only saw a gray, misty area. Then suddenly, there was a group of well-dressed men and women. The people stood in a circle and were very excited about something. They were all older than him. They seemed to be about his parent’s age, but nothing was very clear to him. They appeared to be absolutely giddy with happiness. He felt himself drift up to the group and join them. He too became overcome by a warm, happy feeling. They seemed to be communicating at an extremely rapid pace without actually speaking. They didn’t ignore him, but they didn’t acknowledge him either. Over his shoulder, he was conscious of a man in a suit drifting toward him. He instantly left the group and joined hands with the distinguished older man. Hand in hand, they drifted away from the joyous group. As they flowed along, Nathan became increasingly euphoric. He felt as though he was conversing with the man at a remarkably brisk rate, yet he wasn’t talking or even moving his lips, just like the others. They continued to drift together, and he grew even more ecstatic. Then Nathan realized the man had released his hand, and he looked back to see the man standing still as he drifted further and further away. Oh no, he pleaded. He just kept drifting further from the man.

No, you have to go on was the message he received in his mind. In an instant, he found himself descending a spiral staircase that grew smaller and tighter. At the very end of the circular trail, his eyes popped wide open. A nurse was standing beside his hospital bed. She had a surprised look and shouted, Doctor, Doctor, come! He’s awake.

Chapter 2

Rude Awakening

N athan screamed out in agony as he became vaguely aware of the bright overhead light. A calming feminine voice softly spoke to him. We’re here with you now. We are going to take good care of you. Just try to relax. The pain will soon be gone. Just hang on with me a little bit more. Somehow it was coming true. He slowly felt the terrible pain subsiding. He fell into a pleasing sleep. It all felt so wonderful and dreamy. He later awoke as a result of the awful pain that had returned. He pulled the string that brought a doctor and that calming feminine voice. After a series of probes and examinations, the doctor spoke. It’s all right, Nurse. He’s coming along just as we thought he might. You may administer another full dose. Be extra sure to mark the time and strength. And no more till my next visit. Keep him well-hydrated. I guess you know all that. Sorry. I’ll be on the first ward until 3:00 a.m. Then Doctor Wells will be on call. Yes, the patient may speak to the police, but no more than ten minutes. They’ve been waiting all night to speak to him.

Nearly three days passed as Nathan lay in bed wondering how and why he had gotten there. The whole thing was a haze. Then, all at once, he slowly began to recall his reason for being there. He was a finish carpenter. But from where? He remembered he had been referred to a housing project in the area for a possible six-month job. On his way to the motel that night, he had decided to stop by and see his friends, the Reilleys, who lived outside of Pawnee. His mind swirled, hoping once again to understand the event. Why? He pondered this question over and over. It began to seem that the incident was intentional, but not for any reason he could understand. Finally, there was a relief in the hospital boredom at the sight and sound of Nathan’s lifelong friend, CJ. After a few long moments of silence, CJ listened in disbelief to his story. An equally long silence followed Nathan’s retelling of the horror he experienced. CJ simply shook his head. Why? Who would… can you think of any reason for this to happen? Ah, I guess not, he continued, his voice rising. Or you would have told me. Anyway, you would’ve known. It just doesn’t make any sense, does it? Frederick was the first one the highway patrol notified. We had to sit him down for a while; he was really upset when he got the call. Then we had to wait at the house until they contacted us last night. You suffered quite a concussion there, CJ said.

The nurse interrupted their conversation. Oh, uh, there’s some police downstairs that want to speak with you. Just then, CJ and Nathan looked toward the door, and the officers were there. The neatly attired one said, Nathan, I’m detective Jake Palmer, and this is patrolman Owen Honeycutt. Tell you what—we’ll come back tomorrow when you’re a little more awake and feeling better. True to their word, the two officers returned the following evening to complete their preliminary investigation of his accident case.

Chapter 3

School Days

O n Nathan’s eleventh day of watching boring TV programming and reading sports magazines, CJ barged into his solitude, breathing heavily and looking exhilarated. Nathan, you’re going home today!

But hold on. The doctor says I have to undergo physical therapy for several weeks, maybe a month or more. Nathan’s voice rose with uncertainty.

Don’t get worked up about that. Pop has arranged to have your special bed set up at the house, and the physical therapist is scheduled to come on a regular basis every day till you’re up and running. In just a few hours, Nathan was transported to the Reilley estate.

Nathan had known the Reilleys since he and CJ were in middle school. He and CJ had some of the greatest times of their lives in those younger years. They had played baseball and football from the seventh grade through high school. By the eighth grade, they had discovered girls. He and CJ were generally terrified of girls and afraid to talk to them in the early days. They had pretty much done everything together. In addition to playing the same team sports, they went to the same parties and even had the same girlfriend at the same time at one point in high school. During this period they felt mutual hatred and contempt for each other. The irony of this situation was that the girl ended up deserting them both for the class president, and she never acknowledged either one of them again. They ended up having a good laugh about it all but not before they had a bloody fist fight, complete with hair pulling and biting. A week later, it was like nothing had ever happened. Their final two years of high school, they went to the rodeos in the summer; at the fairgrounds, they tried their best to dress like the cowboys they had seen perform valiantly. In the winter months, they were always at the college games in nearby Stillwater.

That spring before high school ended, they attended a party out at the lake. That was their first experience with beer. CJ was always enthusiastic and happy-go-lucky, so he had little trouble talking Nathan and himself into trying it. Afterward, they thought they had committed suicide. The hangover was nasty and sickening, and they swore it would be their first and last time having