Legends of Amacia Return of the Beowulf
Chapter 29: Selina’s Recovery

When Kida and Enoch carried Hannibal into his quarters, they saw Rachel sitting on her bed in her pajamas with Electra. Harry sat in a chair reading bible stories to both of them from Hannibal’s Bible. Kida immediately pulled the blankets down on the main bed as Enoch laid Hannibal down on it. “What’s the prognosis?” Harry asked, knowing Hannibal had been ill. “Is he okay?”

“Yes,” Enoch stated, turning to Harry, Electra, and Rachel as Kida removed Hannibal’s boots and pulled the blankets up to his chin. “He contracted a mild case of Kaitian pneumonia from Selina. The Healer fixed him right up, but he still needs a little rest.”

“How’s momma?” Rachel asked urgently. “Grandma and Grandpa said she got sick all of a sudden. She’s not going to die, is she?”

Kida pushed Hannibal’s hair out of his eyes as a soft snore rose from him. “Sleep well, my friend,” she whispered to him.

“Your mom is going to be just fine,” Enoch stated categorically, kneeling down and touching Rachel on her miracle hand. “She’s asleep in the Healer while it gets rid of the thing that made her sick. We were just down there. It’s almost done with her. Give it another hour or so and she’ll be right as rain.”

“Did daddy have the same thing momma has?” Rachel asked, seeing Hannibal asleep in the bed with Kida sitting next to him.

“Yes,” Enoch replied, “But he’s over it now. He’s just hasn’t woke up from the Healer’s sedation yet. A little sleep will do him good.”

“Can I see momma before I go to bed?” Rachel pleaded.

“Of course, little one,” Enoch replied, smiling warmly. “I’ll take you to her, but know that she may still be asleep.”

“I don’t care,” Rachel blurted out. “I want to see her.”

“Okay, then; let’s go see your mom,” Enoch stated, picking up Rachel gently, cradling her in his enormous arms as Kida approached from behind. With that, they all went to see Selina, leaving Hannibal dead asleep.

A few minutes later, they entered the healing chamber and the machine was playing the strange music very softly as it worked on Selina. Arabella sat at the control panel, watching her closely. Kida brought a glass of water forward and handed it to Arabella. “Here you go, doctor,” she said softly. “I didn’t have time to get something for you to eat.”

“It’s okay, Kida,” Arabella answered, taking the glass of water. “I’m more thirsty than hungry anyway. This will do just fine.” She then guzzled almost half the glass in one draught. “Oh, man; that hits the spot,” she declared, “And I see you also brought Rachel.”

“She wanted to see Selina,” Kida stated. “I’m sure it’s just to be sure we weren’t fibbing her about Selina’s condition.”

“I see,” Arabella replied as Enoch carried Rachel over to the machine and the table on which Selina lay.

Having never seen the healing machine before, Rachel stared with wonder. “What is that?” she asked...her eyes wide.

“That is the Healer, Rachel,” Enoch explained. “It’s the machine that saved your life. This very machine worked on you for almost four days, repairing the damage those evil men did to you.”

Rachel instinctively looked at her severed limbs and clutched the stump of her left arm with her hand. “It didn’t take my arms and legs, did it?” she asked softly.

“No, it didn’t,” Enoch answered. “Your arms and legs were lost before you were brought here.” She looked up in his face with puzzlement and he sighed, saying, “Your arms and legs were beyond repair. We had to remove them to save your life. They were crushed and rotting off. We had no choice. If we’d waited, you wouldn’t have survived. Nemesis salvaged as much of your limbs as he could.”

Rachel sighed, saying with much more maturity than an eight year old should have, “I know. I remember them somewhat. They hurt and smelled very bad. I hadn’t been unable to move them for a long time. Those beasts mashed and broke them so I couldn’t resist them.”

Kida touched Rachel on the shoulder, asking, “Does it hurt to talk about it?”

Rachel became very quiet for a moment before saying in a trembling tone, “Yes. But not as bad as before. It’s like a bad dream now.” They stood around Selina and watched the machine sing and bath her in its wondrous light. Enoch squatted down with Rachel next to the table so she could touch Selina. Rachel was just a bit fearful, as Selina seemed dead. “Is she dead?” Rachel asked fearfully. “You said she was okay.”

Enoch smiled at her as he sat Rachel on the table next to Selina. “See for yourself. Listen.” he ordered gently. “Lay your head on her chest and listen. I didn’t lie to you. She’s just asleep.”

Rachel leaned over, put her ear to Selina’s chest, and heard the telltale purr along with her heartbeat and breathing. She didn’t actually touch her, but put her ear close enough to hear the purr. Her face lit up as she cried out, “She’s purring! Momma’s purring.”

Kida smiled and said, “Yes. She purrs because she is getting better.”

When Rachel first leaned over to hear the purr, she was afraid because of how still Selina was laying. But when she realized that Selina was purring and going to be all right, she abandoned her fear and latched on to her, saying, “I love you, momma.”

To everyone’s surprise, Selina responded in a whisper, “I love you too, little one.” Rachel rose up to look her in the eye. Selina’s eyes were barely open and there was a slight smile on her lips.

“Momma!” Rachel cried out. “You’re awake!” She laid her head on Selina’s chest and cried joyously.

Selina slowly raised her right hand and put it around Rachel’s back. “I’m going to be all right, Rachel,” she cooed in Rachel’s ear. “Have you been a good girl?”

“Yes, momma,” Rachel replied happily. “But I was afraid when Grandma and Grandpa said you were sick.” Selina let her arms slip back down on the table as she cooed, “There is nothing to be afraid of. I’m not going anywhere and neither is your father. I just came down with a bad case of Kaitian pneumonia. I haven’t had a case of this since I was your age. Fortunately, the Healer was able to take care of it.” Selina happened to see that Rachel was in her pajamas and asked, “Is it time for you to go to bed?”

Kida nodded, saying, “Yes. She wanted to see you before going to bed. We just come from your quarters. We had just taken Hannibal back there and put him in bed when Rachel asked to see you.” She then explained the situation to Selina about how Hannibal had contracted the same virus she had.

Once Selina realized what happened, she cracked a smile. “Thanks for watching out for him like that,” she said gratefully. “I appreciate it. I never thought that he’d contract a virus like that from me. I’m relieved that it didn’t do more damage and the Healer was able to combat it so successfully.”

“It was nothing,” Enoch stated. “Besides, it was Nemesis that spotted the problem with you to begin with. He figured you probably gave your bug to Hannibal without realizing it. He was right. That’s why we had Josephine bring him in here right after we stabilized you. All of us are convinced that your bout with this virus came from your shebat exposure. Even though Josephine successfully purged you and Hannibal of those terrible things, it left your immune systems severely compromised. It allowed the virus that you had naturally occurring within you to run amok. But Nemesis’ quick thinking kept it from causing any complications for either of you. Furthermore, your immunity to this virus has now been boosted so it shouldn’t cause you or Hannibal any more trouble. Even better, the Healer now has samples of the virus from which it can use to mass-produce a vaccine if needed. If this Kaitian pneumonia spreads, we have the means to stop it in its tracks.”

“That’s very good,” Selina replied softly. “It never occurred to me that I may be contagious.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Arabella stated. “I’ve been studying this virus all afternoon. It’s almost identical to the virus that causes pneumococcal pneumonia in humans. It’s not lethal to humans, but will make our lives miserable if it hits us and remains untreated. Still, you shouldn’t worry about being a Typhoid Mary. The Healer has destroyed the live virus you were carrying. You don’t need to worry about giving it to Rachel or anyone else.”

“That’s a relief,” Selina murmured with a sigh. “I never wanted to hurt anyone. It’s strange the virus chose now to rear its head. I haven’t had Kaitian pneumonia since I was six, and it’s never jumped to another person like this. Is it possible that the similarities between Lynxian and human physiologies allowed it to jump like that?”

“Possible,” Arabella admitted. “But from what I’ve seen, it’s highly unlikely. We all agree that you came down with this because of the shebats seriously weakening your immune system. You haven’t had time to bounce back from the damage it did. It’s simple as that. Also, this strain appears to be spread by direct contact and isn’t airborne. Hannibal may have gotten it if he kissed or touched you while you were in the infectious stage. The moment you started exhibiting symptoms, you ceased to be contagious.”

“I did not know that,” Selina admitted softly. “If I had known I was coming down with Kaitian pneumonia, I would have insisted on keeping some distance from Hannibal. I didn’t realize something was not right until I went to the gym after my nap. I just thought it was fatigue, not pneumonia. I never meant to give it to him. That’s one thing I’d have rather not shared with him.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Kida purred. “No real harm was done. We caught it in time for both of you, so it’s not a problem. I’m just glad you didn’t have any complications.”

“Me too,” Rachel agreed. “I love you, momma. I don’t want to see you sick like this.”

“I know,” Selina purred softly. “I love you too, but sometimes bugs jump on us whether we like it or not.” A growling yawn suddenly rose from Selina, allowing Rachel to see Selina’s long canine teeth in the yawn. Only then did Rachel realize Selina’s true feline nature. It caused her to love Selina even more. “Oh, dear me,” Selina murmured. “Excuse me. I’m so tired. Is it time for you to go to bed, Rachel?”

“Yes, momma,” Rachel replied softly. “I just wanted to see you. I had to see that you were okay.”

“I understand,” Selina purred, gently embracing Rachel. “But I’m going to be okay, so why don’t you go to bed now. You’ve had a big day. I’ll be along in a little bit. I’m thinking this machine is about done with me. Is that right, Arabella?”

“Yes, Selina,” Arabella stated as the music stopped, but the healing beam continued to bathe Selina in its glow, “The cycle is about done. Maybe another half hour or forty minutes and it’ll be done.”

“I want you to go to bed now, Rachel,” Selina ordered. “Enoch or Kida will take you back to our room and tuck you in. When you get there, don’t wake up your father if he’s still asleep. He needs his rest more than you do. Okay? He has a lot on his mind.”

“Okay, momma,” Rachel replied. “I won’t make any noise to wake dad. I promise.”

“Good girl,” Selina chimed, patting Rachel on the cheek. “Always remember I love you, sweetie, and so does your father.”

“I love you too, momma,” Rachel replied as Enoch picked her up.

“I’ll make sure she gets to bed,” Enoch said pleasantly, walking to the exit. “Come on, my little angel. Your soft bed awaits you.” Kida smiled at Selina and turned, following Enoch and Rachel back to Hannibal’s room, leaving Electra and Harry there with her.

Selina was falling back to sleep when Electra asked, “How are you feeling, sweetie?”

“Weak, momma,” Selina admitted sleepily, “Very weak; I never thought I’d come down with Kaitian pneumonia again. Why did it have to hit me now, and not just me, but Hannibal too? That’s one thing I never wanted to share with him.”

“I know,” Electra replied. “And as for why, I have no answer. I’m just happy you’re getting over it so quickly. When you had it last time, it took you two weeks to beat it, even with all our advanced medicine on Kaitia.”

“I remember,” Selina whispered, fighting the Healer’s sedation. “It was a chore just to breathe. I didn’t think I’d ever get over it. I just wish I knew why it chose now to be such a pain in the ass.”

“Who knows,” Harry stated, touching Selina on the hand. “Sometimes, shit happens and we’re stuck with it. Maybe this is one of those cases. Still, I agree with what everyone’s saying. Those shebats really took a lot out of you when they attacked. Even with Josephine removing them and the Healer working on you, it still left you vulnerable. What you need to do is try to regain your strength and health so it doesn’t happen again.”

Selina chuckled softly, grabbing Harry’s hand weakly. “Shit happens,” she replied softly, “That’s one way to look at it. Still, I’d rather not be shit on like this again if I can help it.”

“That’s why I told you to get your strength and health back,” Harry insisted. “Only when you rebuild your strength and health will this sort of shit stop happening to you. Believe me; I’ve had my share of just what you’re dealing with. Only when you fix what’s wrong will those bugs not bother you anymore. But I didn’t have a Healing Machine working on me either, just our crude medicine. Trust me, you concentrate on rebuilding your immunity to the level it was before your capture and these things will stop happening to you.”

“Harry is right,” Electra chimed. “Despite your present strength, you’re still not up physically or mentally to the level you were before your capture. Regaining that level of health is essential to keeping these old illnesses from coming back on you. Now, go to sleep, sweetie. Stop fighting the Healer. It wants to restore you, but can’t if you’re fighting it. Go to sleep.”

“Yeah, take that well-deserved cat nap,” Harry agreed, smiling warmly. “You’ll feel better when you do. I guarantee it.”

“Oh, all right,” Selina murmured. “I can’t fight the machine any longer anyway. Thanks for watching Rachel.”

“It was my pleasure,” Electra replied, leaning over and kissing Selina on the cheek. “Now go to sleep, rest. Let the machine finish its work.”

Selina smiled and nodded, falling dead asleep in seconds. “That’s it,” Electra whispered, stroking Selina’s hair. “Sleep, and know everything will be okay when you wake.”

“Selina’s really strong-willed,” Harry observed, “Even stubborn, just like Hannibal. They do make a good couple.”

“Yes,” Electra agreed. “Selina’s strong-willed and stubborn to a fault. But she’s never allowed it to become a liability.”

“Just like Hannibal,” Harry stated. “Those two are truly two of a kind. Come on, let’s go. Arabella will keep an eye on her, won’t you?”

“That’s why I’m here,” Arabella answered from behind the Healer’s control panel. “Besides, I’m still learning about the virus and Lynxian physiology. The more I know about what makes Lynxian’s tick, the easier it will be for me to treat them.”

“That’s very astute of you, Doctor,” Electra chimed. “Knowing our physiology will indeed make treating us easier. Let us not get in your way. If you have any questions about our species, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I will,” Arabella chimed. “Now go. I’ll call when the machine finishes with Selina.”

“Okay,” Electra stated, walking out of the Healing chamber with Harry.

“Now, let me continue my study,” Arabella murmured, going back to work at the control panel that had a hologram of Selina complete structure visible as if it were an MRI.

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