Free Retribution by Dave O'Connor Page B

2?”
    “Yep that’s it.”
    “Does he need anything?”
    “Actually I forgot his portable console. He’s up for reading now. Can you pick one up? I can reimburse you.”
    “Of course. See you in about an hour.”
    Turning to Rihan he said “I’m just ducking downstairs. I’ll be back in twenty. Can you be ready then?”
    “If I must!” she replied.
    “Come on grumpy. It’ll do you good.”
    “I’d throw this pillow at you if I had the energy.”
    “Better you use it for a cat nap. Twenty minutes right. See you.”
    Rihan took his advice and was soon snoozing on the lounge. She was still snoozing when Dave returned with a shopping bag. He couldn’t resist saying “I’m home honey. Time to go!”
    Rihan mumbled something about him being cruel but Dave ignored it. He offered her his outstretched hand and she reluctantly took it. He pulled her to her feet and then wrapped his arms around her. She slumped. He grabbed her behind with both hands pulling her back upright. When her face was close he kissed her on the forehead and then on her closed eyelids. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. He kissed her on the lips gently.
    “More please” she demanded.
    He gave her a stronger kiss on the lips only this time she ambushed him with her tongue. He pushed back with his and began regretting his commitment to go and see Art now. She raised her knee gently into his groin. He was getting excited but then he withdrew holding her shoulders now at arms’ length. “We have to go, now!” he said seriously.
    “Oh” she moaned “you and your duty.”
    “He’s our friend Rihan.”
    Rihan shrugged her shoulders. “I know. Come on.”
    The taxi dropped them off forty minutes later. They made their way up to the fourteenth floor and found Art sitting up in bed talking to Sue, who was sitting in a chair. “Hi Dave, Rihan” said Art joyfully. “Pull up a pew.”
    Dave raised his shopping bag and pulled out a brand new portable console. “I heard you could use one of these. I’ve got your account details somewhere here too.” He fumbled in the bag and came up with a memory stick. “Here it is.”
    Sue took the gift from him and placed it beside her on the floor.
    “Oh thanks Dave. I really appreciate that.”
    “I did it for the nurses. I know what a terrible patient you are. They need you distracted” said Dave with a grin.
    “I think you are mistaken. If I recall correctly it was you who was the terrible patient. Remember Sonia!”
    “Sonia who?” asked Dave.
    “Yes Sonia who?” asked Rihan.
    “Go on darling” encouraged Sue “you can’t leave it there.”
    Ten minutes later a nurse poked her head into the room to see what all the laughter was about. She nodded her approval and left.
    “Was she really fifty and fat?” asked Rihan. “I reckon you guys change the details to protect each other. Am I right?”
    Art looked incredulous and turning to Dave and said “We would never do that, would we?”
    “Certainly not” said Dave but undermined his statement with a belly laugh.
    “So how’s the arm coming along” asked Rihan.
    “I get out of this hard cast in a few days” said Art. “Then they put me in a robo cast for a week. And after that, it’s physio and therapy for four weeks.” He shrugged his shoulders in a resigned manner. “Sorry Dave.”
    “Don’t be sorry Art. It’s me who’s sorry for putting you through this.”
    “Occupational hazard. It wasn’t your fault.”
    “Yeah that may be but it’s hard looking at my friends and colleagues and knowing that it was my orders that brought on their suffering.”
    “It’s the war Dave” said Art a little more forcefully. “And that bloody Bane character. I am so glad Akos plugged him.”
    The others all nodded as they reflected on what they had all gone through. It brought the mood down. Rihan was the first to react.
    “So can you get a leave pass from here and join us for dinner?” she asked.
    “Not sure. I doubt