Chapter 7: Part 4

The doctors were nice. The nurses were wonderful. She hadn't eaten real food but finally she felt better. They had given her a sponge bath very gently, steering clear of her more painful sunburn spots. She'd been given blood, medicines, and thankfully painkillers.



A dermatologist had prescribed lotion for her. Who know there was prescription lotion. Everything felt better. She still had pain, but not like before. But words wouldn't come. They said her voice box was swollen. Eventually the swelling would go away. Amanda didn't know how long she'd been in the hospital. She had passed out so many times it could have been a day or weeks.



They did keep the curtains shut and the lights low for her. They only knew to do that because she moaned each time they tried to make the room bright and airy. She didn't want bright or airy. She wanted dank and dark. A cool moist cave would be best.



A doctor entered the room, his smooth voice was pleasant and the smile on his face was infectious. Amanda tried to smile but she couldn't, the pain too much.



"Good morning. Can you talk yet?"



She tried but nothing came out. He pulled back the covers and looked at her hands.



"Your fingers are still swollen. That will go away in a few days. It's just a side effect from the IV and medicines. Once you are no longer dehydrated we'll adjust the amount of saline going in to your body and you'll stabilize.



"I wish we knew your name. I want to help you find your family."



She felt tears form in the corners of her eyes again. Funny that tears made her happy. On that little raft she thought she'd never cry again. Now she was making tears. Her body would never be the same, but she would survive.



"Don't cry darling. We'll take care of you."



Amanda closed her eyes, unable to deal with the intense emotions rolling through her. The doctor checked her vitals. He looked down her throat and in her ears. Somehow she'd gotten a sinus infection along with all the crusty sunburns that had turned her skin leathery.



"Your throat looks better. Are you having any pain?"



She shook her head then put a staying hand on the doctor.



"Let me guess, you are in pain, but you don't want the pain killers. How about something mild, something that won't knock you out."



She tried to say yes, but nothing came out.



"Don't worry sweetie, it will be okay."



The doctor put down his clipboard and pulled up a chair. His eyes were troubled then he schooled his features and his face went blank. "Listen, there's a guy outside who want to talk to you."



Amanda felt her body start to shake. What if her tormenter found out she survived? Would he come here to kill her?



"Hold on, don't get scared. The guy is from the FBI. He has no legal jurisdiction here, but we kind of think that you're American. You whispered a few words before you passed out, the ship captain thought you were from America."



She nodded, pleading with her eyes to let the man in. If anyone could help her it was the FBI.



"Are you up for it?"



Pain sliced through her memories and she shook her head, trying to rid her mind of the torture.



"Is that a no?"



Her eyes shot open and she pinned the doctor with what she hoped was a desperate gaze. She needed to talk to the FBI. She shook her head again.



"So, you want to talk to him?"



She nodded again, praying that this guy could make a difference.



"Okay, I'll make sure to get you some pain meds but nothing that will put you out, and then I'll let the guy come in here."



She did her best to smile, but the pain was too much. With the assurance that the FBI knew about her, she fell back against the pillows and let relief slip through her.

Copyright Sara Thacker 2011