John Porter find's himself in hospital after a close encounter with death. Gratified by his survival which was nothing more than by chance, he plans on embarking home with his brother Stewart. As he's final day in hospital draws to a close he begins...
"When the sun goes down around here it definitely takes the heat with it. I sure am glad I put a jacket on," commented Stewart rubbing his hands together as they walked slowly across the starlight lawn.
"I'm not sure how these rags of clothes that survived the crash will keep me warm but its better than those hospital gowns"
"They are quite revealing, aren't they? Especially at the back. I'm thankful you've still got your clothes else I would be seeing a full moon tonight," joshed Stewart patting his brother on the shoulder. Both of them began to laugh.
After a few more steps the two arrived at the tall fountain, water erosion had eaten the inside of the bowl showing that the fixture had made its home in hospital yard many years prior. John began to struggle with his injury's and sat down on the bench, close to the fountain. The two sat in silence a moment and admired the peacefulness.
"I love a clear sky at night. Seeing all those millions of stars makes you wonder if were really alone in the universe doesn't it?" Said Stewart breaking the silence.
John turned his head and stared at his brother with bemusement, "do you think the flying disk man from Mars is up there? Don't tell me you suspect the war of the worlds is about to start? Hold up, do think the creature from the black lagoon is going to jump out of this fountain at any minute?" Flustered, Stewart punched John in the arm in an attempt to halt the amusement but it only toned it down.
"Watch it! You don't punch a patient in the arm" he said choking through laughter.
"You do if the patients a giant ass!"
John fell quiet and leaned forward unexpectedly looking into the bowl of the fountain. He's eye's widened along with he's curiously forcing him back to his feet to investigate it further.
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"What's caught your eye?" Asked Stewart.
"It's the same old coin I found in my car when I crashed" answered John bewildered.
"People make wishes at fountains all the time, It can't be the exact same coin. See, there are lots of coins."
John put his hand into the fountain and pulled the coin out, studying it closely. He's thumb caressed a deep scratch mark that ran across the dead president's profile.
"The coin I found in my car had a deep engraving down the middle, just like this one"
"Maybe it's a superstition thing to put a scratch through a coin?" Suggested the eldest brother.
"Maybe it dropped off me when they brought me in here and whoever found it tossed it in the fountain?" John hypothesized with an unconvinced tone.
Stewart leaned over to get a closer look at the perplexing piece of metal. It suddenly jumped, as if on its own from john's flat palm; returning back to the murky water of the fountain.
"Ever used your hand before their sport?" Mocked Stewart.
"I'll grab it." Said the eldest brother rolling his suit jacket sleeve up and plunging his forearm into the fountain. As he stretched the sleeve unraveled and dipped in the water.
"That's just great! my sleeve is soaked. it's dry clean only too." Exclaimed Stewart shaking the saturated sleeve. He took the jacket off and folded it over his arm, letting the wet sleeve dangle down making sure it didn't touch him.
"Look over there!" exclaimed John, "in the doorway of the old wing of the hospital. This can't even be possible, It's the man I saw in my dream."
"No little brother, that's the man I saw down here earlier." Quivered Stewart.
"How can that be possible?" Asked John
"Look! he's going into the hospital. we need to find out who he is and what he wants from us. he knew exactly what window I was in and he came into your room while you were sleeping!"
"Are you mad? I'm sure that will go down well. excuse me sir, why are you in my brother's dreams? he will think it's a chat up line" John said sarcastically, struggling to keep up with the hastened pace of his brother, storming towards the window riddled hospital block.
"I just want to see what he's problem is?" Called back Stewart, the distance between them growing with each stride.
"I can only go so fast with the bum knee. hold up – god dammit"
