10 Years After

Chapter 24

In Arizona,Old Man Bear is all set to massage the feet of the woman.Nara is standing beside him.She has oil for the face of the patient.There is also oil for the feet.These are no ordinary oils.It is a mixture of herbs that had been boiled.There is a n Indian kerchief that had been folded many times.
"Give that to The Eagle.Tell him to bite it."Nara looked at his grandpa but she obeyed nonetheless.The Eagle is also in the room.He is sitting on his wheelchair.It's been the second day now.He called his secretary and told her that he is taking an indefinite leave.He doesn't want to be contacted.Expect me when you see me,he said.And now his grandpa is about to give the woman the machine gun treatment.He should have done this the moment they have settled the woman in the guests room but he kept postponing it because of the woman's condition.It's late,thus the machine gun treatment.
Old man bear started with the left leg.Nangiwi sa sakit si The Eagle.Perspiring heavily,the great grandson tried to contain his pain.Gosh,his great grandpa is not joking.The pain is unbearable.It could have killed the woman.
"Now for the right foot.Are you ready ?"Old Man Bear looked at his great grandson.Nara was surprised.When his grandfather massaged the woman's foot,the one who gasped in pain is the Eagle.
Old Man Bear wrapped the left leg with a clean cloth.He looked at The Eagle."Ready?:
The Eagle nodded.Old Man Bear began to massage the feet.The Eagle can't stop his cries of pain.Nara was about to go near him but he was stopped by the old man."He is a big man.He can take it"He is massaging hard now.Another week and it"s too late.It"s a good thing the Spirits had intervened.
He proceeded to put pressure on the leg.The Eagle nearly fell from his wheel chair."Brace yourself.Here comes the big one"He begun to rub the legs with oil and then pressed hard.The Eagle nearly rolled over with pain.His clothes were wet with perspiration.The old man iis not joking.That final rotating and pressing of the woman's leg almost killed him.If a big man like him can't bear the pain,then what would happen to the woman if she is the one experiencing it all.His great grandfather is really wise.He didn't take advantage of the woman's state of unconciousness.The pain is so unbearable that even a dead man can feel it.
Nara rubbed oil on the woman's face.She said to herself."WHlP THE BUFFALO ,THE HORSE GETS THE MARK
Okey then if that's the case then the woman will heal faster now.He looked at her son.The old man is wrapping his legs."You can't afford to be wet.Not even your hands.Washing,cleaning of your body is prohibited.You can do it tommorrow."said Old Man Bear.
"What will happen if I accidentally get my hands wet?"
The old man looked at the man in the wheel chair."The woman dies".
WHAT?The Eagle could't believe what the old man just said.He hopes he'll not need the restroom the whole day.
Narra is in the kitchen.She prepared chicken broth and fried pork for the Eagle.She brought it to his room.The Eagle consumed all.of it.His mother is a good cook.
Barely an hour later Nara brought him ice cream.He ate it.It's really refreshing.
At dinner,Nara served beef stew ,mashed potatoes and bread.She even gave The Eagle a glass of milk.Hehad consumed the milk before the old man can stop him.
"Don't" but the warning of the old man came too late .He had drank the milk."Oh,well.Just sleep early.You can sleep till 12 in the afternoon."
The three of them talked forr three hours .It is their way of updating each other with one's activities during the day and also of their community.Nara who mingles with other women became the source of their information.Even Indians gossip.That's one way of passing information.
In his room,The Eagle is in deep thought.He keeps thinking of the rose in the eagle's claws.He searched his mind.There is someting different with the rose.He is sure of it.As of now,he can't remember but he knows he'll know it soon.
He went to his bed.It's quite late.He was almost asleep when he felt his stomach ache.Oh no!It can't be.He couldn't go to the bathroom.The pain is persistent.It must be the milk.The old man tried to stop him but it's too late.No!No!He can't go there.He can't have any of his body parts wet."Damn you stomach,stop it."But the pain continued."Shit.Wait till tomorrow.I beg you".But his stomach wont listen.He is even afraid to fart."Mind over matter.Mind over matter."He keeps repeating it.Maybe he had said it a hundred times before the pain subsided."Thank you,my dear stomach.I know you'll listen to reason.I'm a lawyer.And you"re a part of me so you"re a lawyer too."He told his stomacb happily.Now he can sleep.
In the morning ,there were fried eggs and bread on the table.There is also porridge and milk.The Eagle eyed the milk.That thing made him almost sleepless last night.
"You know I don't like porridge mother.And my stomach.ached last night because of the milk.I'll just eat the eggs and bread"
Nara shook her head."YOU WILL EAT THE PORRIDGE AND YOU'LL DRINK THE MILK.YOU'LL HAVE TO EAT ALL THE PORRIDGE"
The Eagle eyed the bowl infront of him.It's big.It could feed two people.When he was a boy his mother uses that tone in order for him to eat what she gave him.It's the tone that says eat or suffer the consequences.But he is a big man now.His mother can"t force him to do what he does not want to do.
.Old Man Bear is watching the mother and son as The Eagle prepared to argue.He knows the son would give in.Nara is intelligent.With the things that happened yesterday,she put everything together and hit the mark.Bulls eye.That's my girl.He can't control his laughter.His great grandson would be fattened like a pig.Poor Eagle.
"Give me reason why I have to eat it mother"
"BECAUSE IT'S HEALTHY"said Nara.
The Eagle looked at his mother suspiciously.What is she up to.?"You know very well I don"t like porridge.Then you give me a serving that could feed two people.Are you trying to make me sick?"
"DON'T USE THAT TONE WHEN TALKING TO ME.YOU'RE NOT IN THE COURT ROOM.I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET SICK.EAT THAT FOOD.IT'S FOR TWO BECAUSE I'M FEEDING TWO PEOPLE"
" Really mother?"WHERE'S THE OTHER ONE?"He noticed the bowl of his great grandpa is a lot smaller than his.If they are talking of sizes,the old man's cup is small while his is extra large.
Nara smiled."THE OTHER ONE IS IN THE GUESTROOM.SHE NEEDS SUSTENANCE."
. " What?The Eagle can't believe what his mother said.That's absurd.He looked at his great grandfather.The old man nodded his head.He looked at both of them.They are serious.
He looked at his bowl."You should have explained it to me at once.Of course I'll eat it.And I hope that woman likes porridge."
So that had been their daily routine.He eats double,he drinks double.
The improvement in the woman's condition is unbelievable.His legs are improving.That means the woman is improving too.The bruises on her face is gone.They were surprised at what they saw.She's a very beautidul woman.She's young.Maybe 20 years old.She had regained her natural color.She is white skinned.She can be mistaken for a Spanish or Mexican.
But the woman is still unconscious.That"s the only setback.
Old Man Bear is puzzled.He had done everything.The woman's body had recovered but had not gained consciousness.Did he forget anything?
The Eagle can move about now with out the help of a wheelchair.He had gone to his office too.There are lot of things he had to do there.He is not one who put things aside for another day.He tackled everything.There were times when he brought home papers that needed his attention.He stayed late at night but he never fails to see the woman before he retires to bed.
The Eagle
You're so beautiful.Who are you?I hope you are not tied to anyone for I'm falling for you.Can you wake up now,please.
Nara and Old Man Bear are worried about the actions of The Eagle.By the look of it,the elusive Eagle is in love with the woman.She had captured his heart without even trying.
What would happen if the woman wakes up .They don't know anything about her.What if she's married and have children.What would happen to The Eagle.?They are sure The Eagle would love only once.
.If before they were praying for her to wake up,now they dread her doing so.It is quite selfish of them to have these thought but the want to protect The Eagle.