Mr. Somnus (Complete)

10

Deans is losing his temper.

'Get out of the way, Tambu,' the doctor growls. 'If I wanted you dead – you'd be dead.'

'No,' Tambu says adamantly shielding the unconscious boy.

Deans cocks his weapon.

'If you won't do it for the code of medical ethics,' Tambudzai says, 'then can you do it for me?'

Deans lowers his rifle and looks intently at the young lady.

'Raka... you once told me you loved me'

'Oh shut up, you whining tramp!'

Deans pulls the trigger and the rifle booms, sending Tambudzai reeling to the ground.

Domina needs no further provocation. She squeezes her trigger and hits Deans in the shoulder. The doctor staggers backward and falls flat on his back. The rifle tumbles away from him. Domina advances, dragging her left leg behind her. She stands over the doctor and points her weapon at his forehead.

'Tambu,' Domina says over her shoulder without taking her eyes off the doctor. 'Are you alright?'

'I'll be alright, Minnie,' Tambudzai groans. 'Why didn't you just run like I told you to?' Tambudzai passes out.

'We'll all leave together,' Domina cocks her rifle, 'after Deans is dead!'

'You can't kill me,' the doctor objects, clutching the bleeding wound on his shoulder.

'I think six and a half billion humans the world over would disagree,' the girl's finger is already squeezing the trigger.

'That wouldn't be very lady-like now would it?' a familiar voice says behind Domina.

She turns her head to look, but cannot believe her eyes. Standing behind her, is Philip, her stepfather.

'Philip?' Domina asks in bewilderment.

'Phil!' Deans sits up, still pressing a hand on his shoulder, 'how good of you to join us.'

'What's going on here?' Domina swings the rifle from pointing at Deans then to Philip and back to the doctor again, 'Somebody needs to start giving me some answers!'

Domina is startled as Charisa walks into the room, her ashen face turned to the girl.

'I swear I'll drop you all one by one!' Domina is getting worked up.

'Put the gun down, Domina.' Charisa says, in a raspy voice.

It is the first time Domina has heard her speak except in her dreams.

'And why should I listen to you, you blood sucking vampire?'

'Now, now Minnie,' Philip points an open palm at her, 'is that anyway to speak to your mother?'

'What are you talking about,' Domina sneers at him, 'my mother is in Chinoyi.'

The doctor struggles to his feet and stands next to Charisa and puts an arm around her bony shoulders, 'No, my dear, your mother and father are standing right here before you.'

Varaidzo pulls up in Baobab Avenue in a flurry of dust and gravel. She leaps out of the vehicle and rushes through the small open gate of the hedged offices. She catches a glimpse of a sign on the door in brass that says, "Dr. J. Sawa' but does not read the rest of the inscription. She storms in and a lady at a desk stands up to meet her. Varaidzo hears a dog howling in one of the back rooms but pays that no attention.