Chapter Ten: Chinese Delivery

“What are you doing, Ed?”

“What does it look like I’m doing? I finished cleaning out his cage and I’m feeding Alec now. I’m convinced now that somewhere in this mouse is a black hole, judging by the size of its appetite.”

Alec grinned. He’d just come back home from a fully functioning SHADO after several hours of work. It had been three days since the two men had attended the funeral of General James Henderson. Buried in a military ceremony with all the pomp and circumstance the funeral of a full General required, the body had been laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Alec had wanted to see more of Washington, but Ed had not been interested, and had confined himself at their hotel. So Alec and Ed had flown back right away. For most of the flight, Ed had slept, or occasionally stared into space.

“Maybe it’s an Australian mouse. We can put away tucker with the best of them.” Alec threw his coat and attaché case on a kitchen chair. Newspapers with lists of real estate available for sale were strewn all over the table. The two of them had circled some that seemed suitable for Ed to purchase.

“I’m not surprised.” Ed closed the cage, sat back, thrust his hands in his pockets and watched the mouse gobble its food. Ed had on a pair of jeans, a tan leather belt and a white turtleneck.

Alec thought the only thing that could improve his outfit was a smile, but Ed had been sullen a long time. Henderson’s cause of death had been put down in the paperwork as heart failure and due to Ed’s security clearance it hadn’t been questioned. If it had been Alec’s choice, they would have thrown his body out with a week’s worth of garbage. Ed didn’t see things that way.

“You want me to pick us up something for dinner?” Alec asked. “I didn’t think of it until now and I’m starving.”

“Perry sent us a hamper of food, you could explore that. Colonel Lake sent us some of those wines you like.”

“I feel more like Chinese tonight, what do you say I ring for delivery?”

“Anything’s fine, Alec, I really don’t feel much like eating anyway. How are things at HQ?”

“Good. I got the psychological report on you back from Dr. Levenger.”

“Judging from your tone it isn’t good.” Ed frowned.

“He and I spoke and I happen to agree with him.”

“Meaning I can’t go back to work yet. Damn it, Alec, I’m ready. If I could handle Henderson, don’t you think I can handle SHADO?”

“I’m in charge, you know. I wouldn’t make your medical leave mandatory if I didn’t feel it was absolutely necessary.”

“How long now?”

“We decided a month more.”

“Out of the question.”

“That’s an order Ed. I’m sorry.”

“The brainwashing doesn’t bother me anymore, for Christ’s sake!”

“Ed, you do realize you sleep in the bedroom across from mine?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I hear you crying in the middle of the night, you’re still having nightmares.”

Ed turned away, uncomfortable with Alec’s revelation.

“It isn’t any of your concern, Alec. It’s something I have to handle myself.”

“Aren’t you going to ask me?” Alec said, opening a bottle of whisky and pouring it into a glass.

“Ask you what?” Ed asked.

“Ask me about Dr. Claire Swanson.”

“I know she will be all right at Perry’s, he called me and let me know you dropped her off.”

“You don’t regret asking me to administer the amnesia drug to her this morning?”

“Like you keep reminding me, you’re acting Commander of SHADO. It isn’t my business right now.”

“You’ve closed yourself off again. After telling Henderson all that John Donne stuff, I hoped you’d be a little more relaxed with me.”

Ed turned back toward Alec and sighed.

“I’m sorry Alec. I am. Or at least I’m trying to be. Things have been difficult lately. Give me more time, Alec.”

“You’ve got it. Oh I have some good news for you. Wendy’s been handed over to the authorities, Peter’s back with his family, and The Rock Bottom has new owners. Nice older couple, they decided to continue feeding the poor in your absence.”

“Good, Alec, good.”

“Go see if you can find something decent on the telly, and I’ll ring for Chinese. I know a great place, egg rolls you wouldn’t believe. I’ll make you some coffee.”

“I want to go over the house for sale advertisements again.” Ed picked up the stack of real estate sections from the newspapers and his pencil.

“You really in such a hurry to get your own place? I’ve liked having you here as my roommate.”

Ed gave Alec a look, shrugged his shoulders and left the kitchen.

Alec grinned at his back and picked up the phone.

Alec came into the living room a minute later, plopped into the sofa next to Ed and passed him a steaming cup of coffee.

“Find anything good on telly?”

“ I was paying more attention to the newspapers. This place looks pretty good.” Ed tapped an encircled ad with his pencil.

“I still don’t know why you simply don’t take Henderson’s place. You could afford it, you know.”

“No Alec, even if I had it remodelled, it would just have bad memories for me. Madame Duval agreed with me on that subject. I do think she’ll be a lot easier to get along with as far as allocations for SHADO are concerned.” Ed took a sip of coffee. “I will miss your coffee, Alec. It’s excellent.”

Alec had been flipping through the channels, using the remote.

“Not me?”

Ed seemed to consider this.

“Not you.”

“Thanks a lot. You look tired, and I figure fighting with you to eat something is a lost cause so why don’t you call it a day?”

Ed stretched.

“Sounds tempting, I am tired. Wait, do you have any work that needs to be done? Paperwork I could sign?” Ed asked eagerly.

“Ed, I actually do get things done at work. Not perfect, and not that efficiently and not as much as you do, but I do get it done.” Alec chuckled. Ed looked even more gloomy.

“All right, Alec. I’m going to shower then grab some sleep.”

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

Ed lie in bed half an hour later, curled up with a blanket up to his waist, but his eyes were open.

You don’t regret asking me to administer the amnesia drug to her this morning?

No.

All right, yes.

Yes, I do. I sat all day, Alec, knowing it was happening. I sat knowing I wouldn’t hear her voice again; I sat with guilt pressing on my heart. I have a month I have to kill, and it would be much more pleasant if I had been able to show her England. She’s safe now, Alec. Perry and Algernon and Reginald will look after her. She’ll meet some nice civil servant, marry, and be the lady of the household. I won’t feel her wipe my forehead or hold my hand. I won’t be able to look at her or hear the swish of her skirt. I will never smell her perfume again. I’ll never kiss her.

I don’t regret it.

I don’t regret this emptiness.

It’s just harder to bear as I grow old.

Do you know why I want to get out of here so badly, Alec?

Because I have enjoyed being with you. I’ve enjoyed cooking you breakfast, putting up with your jokes about it and complaining about how you leave the bathroom, and picking up the clothes you fail to put in the hamper. I didn’t really know what companionship meant until I moved in. I’ve liked discussing films with you, and looking at your things, and touching your medals, and looking at your photographs.

It won’t be easy to say goodbye.

It’s sadder not being an island.

“HEY, ED? You asleep or something?” Alec called from another room.

Ed sat up in bed, glad to have the interruption.

“No,” he called back, “Why?”

“The buzzer! The delivery fellow is at the door, can you get it for me, I’m still getting into my pyjamas. I left money on the side table so you can pay him with it. Hurry up, I can taste those egg rolls already, and they better have sent me enough soy sauce this time!”

Ed heard the incessant buzzer. He realized it had been buzzing for a while but he’d been too consumed by his own misery to be aware of it. He sighed.

“All right, Alec.” He yelled back. Ed rose up, grabbed a robe, wore it tied the sash and padded barefoot into the living room.

He peered into the peephole but no one seemed to be there. Frowning, he studied the door, wondering if he should be armed, although Alec’s place had security cameras installed. He went back into his bedroom, opened a drawer, took out his Glock , went back, unlocked and cautiously opened the door.

And his heart stopped beating.

“Excuse me, I hate to bother you, but could I borrow a glass of orange juice? There’s a Commander I want to drug.”

“Swanson! How the hell—ALEC!”

“Let me in, and oh, I got Alec’s order for him at the restaurant. My God it smells good! Don’t stand there, Edward, let me in and show me where the plates are.”

“Alec! You better have a good-“

Claire leaned in and kissed him, then smiled at him, caressed his face.

“I missed you so much.”

“You’re out of line, Swanson.” Ed said softly, savouring her touch.

“Nope cause you aren’t in SHADO right now and that was a treatment.” Claire grinned widely, came in and Ed relocked the door. The smell of the food and her perfume was beginning to overwhelm him. “Alec’s in charge right now and he reversed your command decision. I’m officially in SHADO, and I spoke to your Dr. Levenger. I told him you needed more time to recover, both psychologically and physically. I have a lot of ideas about getting you well, but right now I feed you, you’re skinny as usual.”

Alec sauntered in innocently with a big smile.

“I wouldn’t eat anything Lucretia Borgia here offers, Ed, because she’s going to stay with us a while.”

“Alec. I swear to God-“

“Eat first Ed, threaten the acting Commander of SHADO later. Incidentally threats are a court martial offence. Here, I’ll put your gun away.”

“Where’s the kitchen, Alec? Oh your place is so nice!” Claire was saying as Ed gave Alec his gun. They followed Alec as he put the gun away.

“Excuse the mess in my bedroom, his is always immaculate.” Alec chuckled as she peered into both rooms. “Kitchen’s in there.”

The three of them walked toward the kitchen.

“Edward is immaculate? I’m not surprised! Come on, Edward, help me set the table. Oh, Alec looks fatter than he did when I last saw him.”

“Hey, that hurts my feelings!” Alec said, grinning at Ed’s expression.

“Oh Alec, don’t be silly, I meant Edward’s mouse!” she laughed.

“Let’s just eat in the living room,” Ed suggested, never taking his eyes off Claire. “It’ll take too long to clear the table, and I’m hungry. The Chinese smells great. Alec and I take most of our meals in there anyway, it’s more comfortable. Alec, I’ll have to handle this matter of you ignoring my command later.”

Alec mock gulped.

“Okay Edward, can you get cups, there’s tea I bought in the bag too. Got plastic forks, knives and spoons and some napkins. Plenty of soy sauce for you Alec so don’t you worry. Oh, this is going to be fun! Alec, all this place needs is flowers to brighten it up!”

“They make me sneeze!” Alec complained as he followed Claire out of the kitchen, carrying plates.

Ed stopped, watched them, and listened as their chatter died away as they moved out of range. He touched his cheek where she had stroked it. He let his hand fall away.

He turned to the mouse.

“Don’t worry; you’ll get your share of the food I promise.”

The mouse wriggled its whiskers in what could be interpreted as anticipation, Ed supposed.

“You like soy sauce? Just don’t accept any orange juice from Swanson.”

The mouse stopped, stood on its hind legs, gave a jerk of its tail, and studied Ed. Ed bent and looked at it.

“You like Claire? You know, I named you Alec; maybe I should give you some whiskey with the food? You know what, mouse? This month might not be so bad after all. Just between us, I like Claire too. I might even love her.”

The mouse winked directly at Ed.

Ed’s mouth shaped an O. He stood up and blinked several times.

The mouse started grooming itself as if nothing had happened.

Ed shook his head firmly, and headed into the living room with the cups.

The End

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