Looking For A Legend (Book 1)

Looking For A Legend Chapter 30 - Elijah

            Eli sat at the desk in Dr. Utkin’s office, nervous for his interview with Colonel Lytton.  He was dressed down – at least by his own standards, wearing a black button down shirt and black dress pants.  His only accessories were a belt, gunmetal grey tie and a large ugly purple bruise across his nose.  Levi promised it would fade in time, but time was not going fast enough for Elijah’s liking.  And now he was regretting agreeing to a video interview instead of the email method he’d originally agreed to.  What would Colonel Lytton think?

            He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.  Eli immediately winced in pain, and then winced at the pain of wincing.  He took some aspirin from the small pill box and chased it down with coffee.  The pain was distracting.  Eli wanted a distraction from this distraction, but all he had was his research.  Aside from in the lecture hall, he hadn’t seen Valentina since the morning of the “incident”.  Not because he was mad at her.  Eli wasn’t mad at all.  It was Valentina that couldn’t get past Eli’s injury.  Anytime they were together, she couldn’t manage more than apologizing and offering him ice.  He appreciated her concern for him, but until she could see pass his nose, it would hang between them.

            It had worked out well enough for them.  But it worked out even better for Billy Duke, seeing this as an opportunity to move in on Valentina.  Eli wasn’t jealous or concerned.  He knew Valentina was loyal to him.  And it was Billy Duke.  Word had gotten around, and gossip had spread.  After what he’d done to Valentina last semester, Billy Duke was the most hated person in the gifted studies program.  While Eli wasn’t the most extroverted person, the fourth and fifth year students were his friends, and he was respected by the second years.  This was a small program.  They looked out for each other.

            Eli’s computer sounded off with an alert, asking for his approval for an incoming call.  The user name was the ColMLyt, Valentina’s father.  He took a deep breath and tapped accept.  The lighting on his webcam auto adjusted, as it did on the other side of the connection.  Eli didn’t really know what to expect from Colonel Lytton.  He was a small man with an eye patch, wearing a tee shirt, sitting in what might have been an office, with what looked like dance trophies behind him.

            Eli waved and signed an introduction, and then typed, “Hello Colonel Lytton.  My name is Elijah Coates.  Thank you again agreeing to this interview.”

            “Please, call me Murroh.  I’m retired from the military.  So uh… Valentina said you’re mute, so I guess you are just going to type your questions?” He asked.

            “Yes, if it’s alright with you.  It’s probably the easiest way to communicate.” Eli typed quickly. “Do you have any questions before we begin?”

            “Well, I kinda want to know what’s with the nose.” Murroh laughed.

            “Valentina butted me with her shoulder.  It’s not broken, but it is very swollen.”  Eli explained.

            “Why’d she hit you?” He sounded a little concerned, protective of Valentina.

            “She was asleep, and having a nightmare.  I was checking to see if she was okay.  She flailed right into my face.”  Eli had wanted this interview to be professional.  So far, it was noting going in that direction.

            “Must run in the family… God, I think it was only their second date.  Valentina’s father – I’m sure she told you the whole Tracker thing – he had what we called PTSDreams.  He was haunted by a lot of things, but mostly his time at hell camp.  So it was their second night together, and I was at my place smoking, drinking, listening to records, and I get a phone call from Valentina’s mother.  She was freaking out and crying because she thought he was having a seizure! Hah! A seizure! It’s the only thing that guy didn’t have to deal with.  But he was sweating, shaking, mumbling in Russian to himself.  I helped her through helping him through it.  I think they had sex again after that.  It was impossible to keep him off of her. I guess he figured he had seven years of sex to make up for.”  Murroh laughed.