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go to a meeting because Alex is in a coma? I
don’t understand.” I was really puzzled.
    “Well, isn’t it
obvious? We’re all trying to figure out where the attack...”
    From the corner
of my eye I noticed Wilfred giving Benjamin a nudge.
    “Uh...sorry, I
don’t think we’re supposed to tell you any of this. All I can tell
you is that we will be close behind you for the next few days.”
    “And why on
earth can’t you tell me more?” I exclaimed, a little too
harshly.
    “Well, for one,
the weather is finally clearing up,” he answered.
    I wrongfully
interpreted his answer as a way of telling me that he was not going
to discuss the subject any further.
    “Arrgh!! Fine!”
I gave up. “I need to get back to varsity, it’s getting late. And I
need to go to Lisa, to see if she is all right. What hospital is
Alex in? Or are you not allowed to say?”
    “We’ll take you
there. It’s close to campus. Leo will take Alex’s car and you can
take your own,” Benjamin offered.
    “Thanks.” I had
wondered how was going to drive two cars at once.
    It was strange,
and I had to admit, kind-of awesome having an army of hunks looking
out for me. Jennifer would be so jealous if she was to find out
about it.
    “Any of you
related to Alex? You all look alike, I have to say.”
    “Not in the
sense that you mean. But we are close confidants,” Benjamin
said.
    We walked a few
paces before I thought of another problem.
    “So, are you
guys also studying?” If they were to follow me around on campus, it
would be less conspicuous if they blended in instead of sticking
together. At least if they were enrolled there, no one would make a
fuss about them. Except for Jennifer, of course.
    “No, not
studying anymore. But we all know the campus very well,” Leo
answered.
    I realised that
I was bombarding them with questions. Maybe that was the reason for
the staccato answers I got.
    We walked
around the block this time so I didn’t have to jump any walls. I
was still tired from the escapades of the weekend, and I guess it
showed, because Benjamin again made me an offer, suggesting that I
drive with him and one of the others drive my car.
    It was late
already and I hurried to get my things. We all agreed to get
something to eat from the drive-through. This time, I remembered my
wallet and phone and grabbed a pillow for the trip.
    The combination
of the marathon earlier, wheels turning and a full tummy was potent
and I felt sleepy the moment Benjamin switched on the car. He
turned on the radio after we had finished our take-away. Out of
politeness I tried my best to stay awake at least until we had left
town.
    “You go right
ahead, I don’t mind. I’ll wake you in time,” he said with his green
eyes smiling at me.
    “Thanks,
Benjamin,” I said with my head already resting against my pillow.
“And thanks for looking out for me.” I trusted him completely;
after all, my Dad had sent them.
    He replied with
a smile. “No problem. Anything for Alex.”
    My resistance
crumbled completely. I didn’t even react to his mistake. He had
said ‘Alex’ instead of ‘your Dad’.
    It was only
when I was almost asleep in the fancy black Mercedes that the
wonder of what happened in the veldt earlier hit me.

    ***

Chapter 8 –
Linked
    To my great
relief, Alex was in a different hospital to the one I’d been in.
Who knows what I would have done if I had to see Bridget again. Not
that I was scared, I was prepared this time: the Reds were with me,
all of them. In preparation I’d told Benjamin about the episode
with Bridget, not in detail, just the outlines. Then I’d explained
roughly where the hospital was the way I remembered it from
walking. Benjamin assured me that it wasn’t the same one, but I’d
been worried ever since he had woken me.
    We were lucky,
visiting hours had just started when we arrived. Peter talked to
the lady behind the counter at the reception, and she pointed us in
the right direction.
    The image of
Alex