The Sleeping Army Awakes

Part 81Pink Elephants

When Spencer arrived at the hotel, Sir Percy was slumped in a padded leather armchair and at first appeared to be in a catatonic state. He was staring out towards the lake and mumbling the same word, "Fisssssssssssh," periodically.

"Sir Percy we are here to take you to a medical facility!" Spencer announced. "Because at present..." Spencer could not think of a valid excuse that didn't belittle his employer. "because you are a teensy weensy bit cail-eyed and therefore represent hazard to shipping in common parlance."

"Fissssh!" came the only answer.

"I don't think that you are getting through!" Malik hazarded.

"Fisssssh!" Sir Percy said.

"Indeed sir!" Spencer said. "Might I have your signature on this important document!"

"Fisssssh!" Sir Percy said.

"Spencer placed a stylus in Sir Percy's hand and Sir Percy duly signed the document on Spencer's Dudat.

"Honza please sign this document as witness!" Spencer said.

"Fisssssh!" Sir Percy said.

"But this document gives you temporary power of attorney!" Malik protested.

"Fisssssh!" Sir Percy said.

"Would you rather that his brother took whole company over Honza, you've met him?" Spencer threatened. Knowing that Spencer was right, Malik agreed to sign without any further hesitation.

"Sir Percy's been in that condition since moment that you left to save world!" Malik said. "Whatever is matter with him?"

"It is condition called alcoholic hallucinosis!" Spencer said.

"So he's had it before?" Malik asked.

"All of his family have suffered from alcoholic hallucinosis from time to time," Spencer said... "The Mac-ham Dodds family all drink prodigiously...but do not worry... the ailment is eminently treatable... unless kidney failure sets in that is!"

"Is blessing or curse that we can save him?"Malik asked. Part of him liked the idea of Sir Percy dying, jibbering like an idiot and drooling and being given nothing but fish to eat.

"Honza I am surprised that you can answer that question!" Spencer chided.

Malik merely gave Spencer a questioning look, so Spencer continued.

"The medical staff will stick a needle in his arm," Spencer said. Malik winced at the thought of the needle going in."They will put him on a saline drip, to dilute blood alcohol. They will rebalance his electrolytes, remove alcohol, and hopefully not give him fish as his first meal" Spencer informed him, "and then he will be back to his old self before you know it!"

"How soon will he be back to old self?" Malik asked, thinking of how nice the barmaid was and how far away his wife was.

"Perhaps one week!" Spencer speculated.

"Fakt?" Malik replied, trying to look heartbroken.

"Unfortunately you and other staff will be forced to stay at this all expense paid hotel!" Spencer added "for the duration of his recuperation in infirmary! And it your duty to make the expenses are sizeable as possible!""

"You said!" Malik said.

"Everyone must be ready, vigilant, willing at any time to do his bidding should he recover." Spencer said, "Do you think that you could cope with that?"

"Of coursely!" Malik said stoically. Though he hoped that his need for willing bidding deed doing could be postponed, for at least a while.

"Good but first you and your boys must load him into helicopter!" Spencer said. "I can't help because my back is killing me!"

"Admit it Spencer!" Malik said with a wink. "You just want to save your energy for that nice young thing that you found! And I wouldn't blame you if you did! I always did go for blonde"

"But she has black hair?" Spencer protested, confused at Honza Malik's lack of recollection of Eliška's true hair colour which was a raven black.

"Love is blind you bullock!" Malik laughed, wondering how Spencer could have possibly mistaken Eliška's hair colour. "and you will owe me at least one beer and perhaps one shot!"

"Don't forget that all your staff can order what they want. Drinks, food and anything else that you can think of are prepaid... for one week...." Spencer said, and then added under his breath in English. "hopefully longer."

"And how can you do this?" Malik asked.

Spencer waved the Dudat, with the power of attorney, at Malik.

"You bullock Spencer. You think of everything!" Malik said, "But if were you I would get my eyes checked!"

"I do my best!" Spencer said with a grin, but the hair colour thing still troubled him, Malik had shared the same helicopter as Eliška, for long enough to remember her hair colour. Was it merely a coincidence that both of them saw their favourite shade of hair and he had been sure at one point that her hair colour had changed.

"Fisssssh!" Sir Percy said expressively but unhelpfully.

"The big fish has gone Sir Percy!" Spencer said reassuringly. "I took it away and you're safe now!"

"Fisssssh?" Sir Percy asked.

"Indeed sir!"

"Fisssssh!" Sir Percy said, but this time with a smile.