Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR

The following morning  Conrad woke at 7.00 a.m. and took a few moments to orient himself as he recalled going to bed a couple of hours earlier.    Definitely drank too much he thought to himself as he carefully sat up holding his head.   A noise outside told him someone was already up and making his way carefully to the window, mindful of his throbbing head, he saw James driving off.   Debating whether he should go back to bed or not he decided to have a shower, knowing sleep would not reclaim him.   Once dressed he headed downstairs in search of coffee and found Jude already there nursing a hot brew.

"Hell if I look as bad as you I must dying," Jude chided gently as he eyed his friend, "you want breakfast?"
"Don't mention food," Conrad instructed as he set about making his drink, "just how much did we put away?"
"Too much.  It's your fault.   You kept insisting just one more."
"I didn't have to twist your arm," the younger man reminded as he took a seat and a sip of coffee gratefully, "how is James?"
"Not as bad as us.  He knew he had a flight this morning.   So how are you feeling?"
"You need to ask?"
"Not talking about your head.  I meant would you like to hang around here for another few days?  James asked us to stay for a while."
"I was thinking of going back," Conrad explained quietly, not really relishing an argument in his present condition.
"Sure.  There's plenty to see on the other side of the island," the Surgeon nodded easily.
"I meant going back to Atlanta."
"Hey we have nearly a week left of our holiday.   You can't just go back."
"Wanna bet?"
"Look Conrad I thought you enjoyed last night ....,"
"I did.   It was great catching up but I had decided to go back before last night."
"Well you can decide to stay on.   James told me there are good camping places and he said we can borrow the boys' camping gear.  Come on, think about it.  We won't get a chance to do this again."
"You can go camping anywhere," Conrad pointed out.
"I know that but it's something I've always wanted to do and we have the opportunity here.   You know as soon as we get back to work I'll probably never get around to it."
"You could go with the boys and James."
"If you're going home I'm going with you," the Surgeon stated resolutely.
"Damn you're stubborn."
"Knew you'd see it my way," Jude grinned happy with the outcome but wondering why his friend had given in so easily, "now I need a shower."
"Didn't want to say anything."
"When I'm done we can check out some places online."
"Didn't James tell you where the boys go?"
"Yaah but they go by helicopter we're taking the rental," the older man headed for the stairs after rinsing his mug, "don't want to go too far away."

Three hours later the camping gear had been stowed away and after a quick call to James notifying him of their chosen destination the two men headed off for parts unknown.   Luckily they had consumed enough aspirin to dampen the alcohol induced headaches so they were feeling slightly better than they had.  Conrad was surprised his companion had been so eager to go camping and although it meant putting off going back to Atlanta the thought of being out in the middle of nowhere appealed to him on some inner level that he couldn't explain.  Of course he recognised the fact that there were no people to deal with was a huge draw but it appealed to him also for another reason.  One he couldn't identify.  Looking out at the barren lands on either side of the highway he decided he could get to like living here.   They seemed so isolated from things.

"You look like you're thinking very hard," Jude commented as he switched gears.
"Not really," Conrad argued, "just wondering what it would be like to live here."
"Would you?"
"Think it would be nice, no people around all the time."
"You'd need your work," the older man observed in surprise as he adjusted the air conditioning.
"Might be nice to do something else."
"Now that really would surprise me.  You need the work.  Just like me."
"Guess I do," Conrad admitted around a sigh, "but it might be nice to have a place without people to go to."
"Hell there are plenty of places you can go to for solitude in Atlanta," Jude glanced across at his companion, "you don't strike me as the hermit type though."
"Never said I was.  You been camping before?"
"Once when I was a kid.   Had a blast.  Course everything was done for me then.   We should have fun putting up the tents."
"It can't be that hard.  Once the weather holds it should be interesting.  The pond looks great," the fair haired man recalled of the place they had chosen as their camp site, "might even get a swim in."
"With this heat think a swim will be the first thing I do," Jude agreed as he wiped sweat from his brow, air conditioning only provided partial relief as they drove on towards their destination.

Two hours later Jude pulled the rental off the main road and within half an hour they reached the pond they had found online, which was partially hidden by palm trees and a few rocky inclines.  James had agreed that their choice of location was a good one as he knew several people who had camped there previously.   Jude switched off the engine in relief and they both got out, anxious to stretch their legs.  Walking through a break in the trees both men were glad to note they seemed to be the only people in the area.

"It's beautiful," Conrad murmured as he took in the clear glistening waters, "might just stay here."
"You'd die of boredom."
"Maybe but maybe not."
"You want to get things set up first?"
"I'd prefer a swim but something tells me it's going to be hard work getting the tents up so might be better to do that and then get cleaned up."
"Anyone would think we didn't know what we're doing," Jude scoffed good naturedly as they headed back to the car.
"I'm not afraid to say I haven't a clue how to put up a tent."
"Good thing James told me to bring the instruction book."
"I'll let you be in charge then," Conrad graciously decided as they opened the boot and began unloading the gear.

Over an hour later, after much effort and swearing, the two men had erected the medium sized green tents under the shade of the largest palm tree and had even managed to get a decent fire going in an old firepit they had found.  The sun overhead was relentless and both men had changed into shorts in an attempt to cool off.   Although both were feeling hungry after their hard work the two travellers opted to go for a swim before dealing with their hunger.   They had been enjoying the water blissfully for ten minutes when a scream beyond the trees caught their attention.    Jude cursed silently wondering why things couldn't go as planned, just for once ...

tbc