Wake Up - The End is the New Beginning!

Part-5

Eli took the book in his hands and pushed his glasses up to get a better look. He squinted at the cover in the sunlight for about three seconds before I saw his eyes widen and his mouth open slightly.

"Doctor." He said gravely. "Where did you find this?"

"It was given to me by a friend." I lied, but only half. "Why, what's it called?"

Eli turned and stared at me for a long time, and I could almost see the gears in his head turning as he was starting to realize just why I looked so haggard.

"It's a religious text." He started, his voice wavering. "Written by a witch doctor from the Binuma Tribe."

"Witch doctor?" I asked curiously. "Like voodoo?"

"Yes Doctor." Eli turned to look at me as he spoke. "But not just any voodoo. The Binuma Tribe, and most specifically this witch doctor, are referred to in African folklore as one of the most ruthless in history."

We stood there for a moment together on his front steps. With only the sound of the wind to keep us company.

"Well Doctor." Eli began. "Let's go inside, and make sure this ain't a fake before we jump to such rash conclusions."

We went inside together and Eli brought me to his study. He began examining the book, the text, the paper, everything. While he did this he had me running about doing various tasks for him. Pulling samples from his filing cabinets, looking up texts that he didn't have on the internet, fetching sweet tea from the fridge. After about two hours he finally sat back in his chair and turned to look at me.

"Gosh a'mighty Doctor, this is the real deal."

I was overjoyed to hear this. Truth be told I hadn't even considered the possibility that this text was fake, and now that I was just minutes from answers about ubloo, about how to stop or kill him, I finally felt a weight lift a little from my shoulders.

"So I tell you what." Eli began. "I got a guest bed upstairs. If you have nowhere else to be you can shack up with me here and we can translate this book in—oh I don't know—three days?"

My stomach dropped.

"I'm sorry Eli but that's too much time." He looked back up at me again. "I need to be back on the road by sundown."

He looked surprised, and rightfully so.

"Hell, boy you look like you haven't slept in days! Surely you can take one night off from the road?"

"I'm sorry but I'm running out of time." I got up and walked over to where Eli had the book. "May I?"

"Well of course Doctor, it is yours after all."

I flipped through the pages to the chapter I needed.

"Not anymore Eli." I said as I got closer to the text I had to hear. "Once I leave this is yours, do whatever you like with it."

I stopped finally on the page I needed. A crude picture of ubloo stared up at me surrounded by text.

"Please, this is the text I need." I said before he could ask anything.

Eli turned down to the page and read in silence for a few minutes, and as he did, I could see him understand. When he was finally done he turned and looked at me with big sad eyes.

"How long?" He asked.

"About two months." I said back, my heart breaking with finally being able to tell someone who would understand.

"Jesus..." He said trailing off, and then; "one moment Doctor."

He got up and walked to the kitchen, and came back with a tray. On it, two glasses full with ice, and a bottle of what looked like whiskey. I laughed, and for just a second I felt human again. Eli poured me a glass, then him, and we drank together in silence.