THE SWORD AND SICKLE

CHAPTER FIVE: DEBRIEFING

THE SWORD AND SICKLE

PART ONE

CHAPTER FIVE

PRESS DEBRIEFING

The President put on his gown, and soon a nurse came in to see him. "Mr. President, I will be your personal nurse while you are here. I know that the doctor is working on a cocktail of drugs to help slow your aging, and your wife and minister should arrive soon. Is there anything I can get to make you comfortable?"

"Yes, you can bring me a telephone."

"Now, you know that is against the doctor's orders, sir."

"Then bring me an orange and some ice cream."

"Yes, sir, right away." As she walked out, she read his dietary chart and then walked away. She was informed of his condition, but she wasn't prepared for what she saw: a very old man. He looked at her as if he were in his late eighties. She was worried about the state of the nation, we were at war, or this was some type of mysterious illness. Whatever, with the number of doctors gathered from around the nation coming to consult, she was sure it would not remain a secret much longer. She looked at her watch; it was now six-thirty pm, and she wondered how much longer he would live. At least she could make him comfortable.

As she walked to get the orange and ice cream from the cafeteria, she saw the President's doctor walk by her in a hurry and wondered, What now? She stopped, turned around, and followed him to the room. When she got to the nurses' station, she grabbed the phone and called down to the cafeteria and ordered the items, stat. Then she walked to the President's room to overhear him say, "Mr. President. I have some good news for you. From the latest blood test, it seems your aging has slowed."

Hammett said, "Good, then the medicine is working."

"Well, that is the funny thing about the test, because it was taken before we started to give you any medications. It seems your telomeres have slowed your aging process."

"Then I can resume my responsibilities?"

"I am afraid not sir. We estimate your body age to be about eighty years, and the slowing down is very slight. Your telomeres are shoring up, but you are not getting younger or returning to your age, and even at this rate, you will be one hundred and eight by morning. Your brain has already aged eighty years, and we will have to give you a barrage of tests, both mental and physical. If you manage to live through the night, I will schedule you for the testing in the morning. For now, I am going to give you a sedative, this will help you sleep."

"Okay, doctor, I will go to sleep, but not before my nurse brings me that orange and ice cream."

"I will leave the nurse's instructions as to what to give you, after you have eaten your orange. Goodnight, sir." He signaled the nurse to follow him outside. "He is in critical condition. I want you to be by his side at all times and watch his vitals. Do not let anyone disturb his sleep. It is vital to his recovery, and that includes his wife or anyone else. I will leave written instructions for you to follow.

When she gathered his medication and the orange arrived, she walked into the room. The President was sitting up on the edge of his bed, reading the Gideon Bible. "Mr. President, I have your orange and some fresh ice cream." She placed it on the adjustable table for his bed. "When you are through eating, I want you to take these meds for me.