Jack could feel his whole body vibrating violently. He touched his face, it was quite swollen. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the roof of a car. He turned his head as a huge bump threw him against the cars spare wheel.
- Ahh Fuck. - He whispered.
He was in the desert. All he could see was sand. He was in the back of a 4x4. On his left was MeXico also lying down. His face was still bruised. He was grinning.
- MeXico. The fuck you laughing about?
- Don't know. Just feel like laughing.
- Have they doped you man?
- If punching counts as dope, then yes, they've doped me.
- So what is your plan?
- Getting our plane back.
- And how is that going to happen?
- Don't know yet. I'll keep improvising.
The landscape changed. They were now going through a small town. Many people stopped looking at them going by in the car. As they turned left, Jack saw a white tent fading into the dust drawn by the car, in one of the sides he distinctively recognized a big red cross.
- MeXico, did you see that?
Before MeXico could respond, an Arab turned back to them from the front seats and stroked him in the head. He fainted immediately. Short after the 4x4 stopped. A bunch of officers got hold of them and they were dragged into a jail. Jack could hear them talking. All he could understand was some English words like C.I.A. and Interpol. Finally they got shoved into a holding cell. The guard locked the gates. Jack glanced around. It was a very small cell, with two thin mattresses on the floor, a hole in one of the corners and a 15 inch opened hole in the wall opposite from the entrance, secured by five poles. Jack ran to MeXico and shook him.
- MeXico, are you OK?
Paul opened his eyes slowly, and sat down.
- Fuck, that fucking bastard ruined the other side of my face.
- Well, know it's even. Listen let's hide the cash before anyone comes.
They quickly packed the money under the beds. Just before a guard walked into the hallway, laid down his automatic gun and sat on a bench.
- Looks like we got a babysitter.
- Did you see the red cross?
- What red cross?
- The one on the way here.
- You saw a red cross?
- Yeah, it had some initials M.S.F..
- No shit?
- Yeah, I saw it.
- Fuck, we need a phone.
- Of course we need a phone. But who the fuck are we going to phone out here.
- Kate.
- And who's that?
MeXico got up, quickly took some money from under the cushion, and approached the guard.
They spoke in Arab for quite a while. Initially the guard was just responding in groans. When MeXico pulled out the cash, the guard's tone changed. About half an hour later he got up, walked to the bars, reached for his pocket and handed a phone to MeXico. Immediately he dialed the numbers and took the phone to his ear. The guard drew his hand, signaling 5 minutes.
- Kate? I'm in shit, I need your help. Are you in Morocco still? I need you to get me out of prison. I just know the airports code. It's GMAT. And I saw an M.S.F. tent. OK. And do you think that will work. Name it. OK. No, I'm with a friend. Same size as me. OK. See you then.
MeXico finished the call and gave the guard some more money and started another call.
- Hello. Umbraq, MeXico here. Delay. 5 days. Minus ten percent. OK.
As he finished the call he threw the phone at the guard. He walked back to his bed, laid down.
- So? - Asked Jack.
- We might just get out of this one. I've got a friend working at Doctor Without Borders. She might have a plan.
- Nice, and how long for her to get us out?
- She will be here tomorrow. But I don't think you are going to like the plan.
- Why?
- Because I don't like it either. We have to die.
- What?
The guard got up quickly and saluted. A policeman entered the hallway and spoke in English.
- So, mister MeXico, we meet again!
Paul looked up at him.
- Hey man, Matrix is quite and old movie, there are better punch lines nowadays.
- I don't think you are in a position to backchat.
- Improved your English since Somalia.
- I am going to win good money with you two.
- Good for you, you can invest on a diet.
- Interpol will be here in five days to take you. They gave me your plane as a prize. And you. - He pointed to Jack.
- Who ever you are, you will rot here for ever.
- I've been worse. Do you have whiskey?
The black fat officer walked away laughing. MeXico turned to Jack:
- We can't talk about the escape anymore. This fucker if suspicious.
- Fine.
The night came in slowly. Jack walked to the bared window and saw the sunset over huge dunes. The sun was golden, fading away into the ground.
He turned back as the lock of the bars turned. An Arab guard opened the cell and thew two plates inside. The mashed potatoes with peas fell out of the plate onto the dirty floor.
- I'd rather go hungry than eat that.
- Likewise.
Jack walked to the bars and took out some money from his pants. The guard got up and walked to him. Jack joined his fingers and moved them to his mouth several times. The guards face lighted up. He turned around and walked down the hallway.
- Easy to bribe these blokes.
Minutes after the guard came back with a bag. He handed some bread with goat cheese to them as Jack paid him off.
Jack, who had not managed to sleep during the night with back pain, fell asleep after sunrise. Around noon he heard the locks turning and opened his eyes. He saw two nursing gowns walking into the cell. He looked over to MeXico who remained normal. One of knelled next to him.
- Hi, I'm Kate. How are you feeling? - She asked in a whisper.
- I'm Jack. I think I'm fine despite the awful food.
- Listen, we have a plan. Take this tomorrow morning as soon as the sun comes up. When you wake up you'll be fine.
She handed him a vial, about the size of a lighter.
- Wait, what?
- You heard me. Take this, leave the rest to me.
She stood up, walked to the other nurse, and both of them got out of the cell. They said something to the guard and walked away.
Jack got up, put the vial under the pillow and sat down next to MeXico who was smoking a cigarette.
- Where did you get that?
- Here, have one. This guard is quite useful. Not as good as a Camel, but what the hell. We will be dead tomorrow.
- About that. What's in the vials?
- Technically it's sodium thiopental, pancuronium, potassium chloride and another compund to make you convulse.
- Let me get this straight, so we are going to drink a lethal injection?
- Yes, a lethal injection with a convulsing agent!
- Nice. And we are going to die. To then be revived?
- I don't like it either.
- And what makes you think they wont just let us die and dump us?
- The guard outside and the money I'm worth to them. I'm too valuable for them to lose.
- You, and what about me?
- Well, let's just call it a leap of faith.
- Wow, comforting.
- And who is this Kate?
- She is someone I met in Tunisia. She's a doctor for the Doctors Without Borders.
- And how much do you trust her?
- Looks like I have to trust her with my life.
- Why would she do this for you?
- I helped her in Tunisia.
- Shit!
They spent the rest of the day in silence. Night came, and Jack could not sleep again. He looked at MeXico who was also staring at the roof.
- Look at the shit you've put me in!
- Sorry Jack. It was always for the best. I wanted to help you.
- If I ever wake up, I wont just punch you. I'll beat the living shit out of you.
- Deal.
Slowly daylight started entering the holding cell. Jack was sweating and trembling.
- MeXico, I'll see you now, or see you then.
- OK, when the first ray hits the bottom of the bars, you know what to do.
The light was moving fast down the bars. Jack tried to remember the best parts of his life. His youth in Portugal, his mother, his friends, Caroline, the red petals, David in the coffin, the army training, John Meadows, the blue earth from his shuttle, the crash, Boston, and the yellow hair whispering - Take this, leave the rest to me. Everything was moving fast. A tear appeared in his eye. He knew that a revival was dependent of the time a body was dead. And even if it was for little time it would still be a dim chance of ever waking up again. He had nobody to attend his funeral but the USA's secret service, making sure he was really dead. The tear rolled down his face, and onto the pillow as the ray of light hit the bottom of the bars. They both turned to their side, opened the vial and drank the transparent liquid. It had no taste.
- Jack.
- Yeah?
- How long now?
- When it's I.V it takes 8.4 minutes. Like this, around 12 minutes.
- It was good knowing you.
- You too man. You too.
Time was stopped for Jack. He felt nothing. He could not think, he was blank. He slowly turned his head to MeXico who was now convulsing vigorously. Jumping over the floor. Jack himself felt a cutting sensation from his backside to his nape, followed by a knife entering his heart. The, nothing. Numbness all over. He saw the guards legs approaching as MeXico stopped convulsing. His vision became fuzzy, his eyelids started involuntarily moving downwards.
Seconds after, Paul MeXico and Jack Mason were dead.
Seconds
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