Chapter 35
Day 31
I am up at 8:00 a.m. and immediately continue with the packing. Derrick is awake and pats the bed signaling me to come back to bed and lay with him a while. You don’t have to ask me twice. We are both very happy with the decision we made last night about moving here in two months. I think we are really going to enjoy living here. We eventually get up and finish packing. There is a knock on the door about 11:30 a.m. It’s Dane. He wanted to let us know he would be running into Darwin for a couple of hours. He will meet us at the lab around 2:00 p.m.
Derrick and I finished packing at 1:00. We will need to use the CDC van
to haul the suitcases to the airport, so we will pick them up on the way. We don’t have to worry about the hotel room because the CDC has picked up the tab for our entire stay. We arrive at the lab around 1:30 and immediately find Geoff and ask him if we can speak to him in private. The three of us go to the Command Post and shut the door.
“What’s up guys?”
“Well, Geoff, Kobi and I would like to thank you for your gracious job offer. We discussed it and thought about it for a long time last night and decided to pass on your offer right now. But if the offer is still there in two months, we would love to move here and start a new life.”
At first, Geoff’s face is sad, but then he squints his eyes and says, “That wasn’t nice. Welcome aboard!” He shakes my hand and then Derrick’s. “This is great news.”
“I need to finish up my current semester before we can leave, so I hope that is okay with you. I am really looking forward to working with you and the team here at the CDC.”
“We are glad to have you on the team. I think you are going to love the work and the country.”
“Thanks, Geoff. I know Derrick and I are going to be happy here.”
“I think you will be happy too.”
“I talked to Henderson last night and he is going to fly us to Perth.”
“That’s great. I’m glad the doctors cleared him for flight. I know he is looking forward to getting back in the air. Are we still planning a 4:00 p.m. departure?”
“Yes. He is going to be at Base Operations around 3:00 p.m. to check the
weather and file his flight plan. I told him we would probably be there around 3:30 p.m. Derrick and I need to swing by the hotel on our way to the airport and pick up the bags. We will need to use the van for that. Do you mind?”
“No, not at all. I figured you would probably do that. I know you guys didn’t pack light. Cole, Nicola, and Trevor are going to meet us back here in the command post at 2:30 p.m. They want to see you guys off. They will be excited about your news. I’ll wait and let you tell them.”
“Okay. I am going to say good bye to Stoltz. Be back in a jiffy.”
I walk down the long hall to Stolz’s room and am pleased to see him sitting up in the bed when I walk in. He catches sight of me and immediately perks up and grins from ear to ear.
“Hey there little lady.” He always calls me that.
“Well, hi there, Stotz. You look like you are feeling better.”
“Believe it or not, I am. Nicola says my prognosis is better. I still have a lot of issues going on with my heart and most of my major organs, but with a few surgeries and hopefully some magic medicine, I will survive this. I might not be fully intact, but I’ll be alive. I wish I could say the same for Evan and Sevi. I know Physician Assisted Suicide is illegal in Australia, but in cases like this, I wish it were legal.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. They are just waiting to die. But I am glad to see you in such happy spirits. I really think that your zest for life and that positive attitude of yours has helped you tremendously.”
“Well, what are you up to today, Kobi?”
“We are flying back to Perth with the antidote. We’ll help Taylor at the sheep station for a few days, and then we are off to the United States, so I wanted
to say goodbye.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. I was getting used to having you around.”
“Really? I’ll see you soon though. Derrick and I have decided to move back here. Geoff has offered me a job.”
“Glad to hear it. I know everyone here thinks highly of you and Derrick. I, for one, am looking forward to taking you and Derrick out to dinner when you get back.”
“You got yourself a date, even if Derrick has to come along.”
We both start laughing. “I’ll see you in a few months, okay?”
“Okay Kobi. You take care and have a safe trip home.”
In my gut, I know he is going to make it. I have never seen anyone with such a strong will and positive attitude. On my way back to the Command Post, I meet up with Cole in the hall. He is headed to the command post with Buddy on his shoulder, of course. He is doing great. He is getting stronger every day. The parasite is almost totally gone from his blood now and his body is beginning to heal itself.
“So, you’re off to Perth today and then home?”
“Yeah, but we’ll be back.”
“Really? When?”
“Probably in two months.”
Cole has a very confused look on his face. Then I tell him about Geoff’s offer and our decision to move to Australia. He is so excited and delighted that I will be working with them at the CDC.
“Kobi, that is terrific! Glad to have you aboard. Are you going to bring Buddee?”
“I am planning on bringing him. I don’t know the rules about bringing animals into the country, so I will have to find out more about that.”
“I’ll see if I can find anything out on my end and I’ll let you know. Here, write your home phone number an address on this paper for me. I want to keep in touch with you while you’re gone.”
After writing my information down, I give him a big hug and tell him we’ll meet up again real soon. Back in the command post, Trevor and Nicola are waiting for me.
“Hey, we heard the news. So you have decided to become an Aussie?”
“Yeah, we love it here.”
“I can’t wait to see you guys again. I’ll be right here when you get back. The staff here at Nicola’s lab has offered me a job as a Geneticist, so I’m not going anywhere,” Trevor announces.
“Congratulations, Trevor!”
“Thanks. Have a safe trip home and we’ll see you in a few months.”
“We will. You guys take care.” We all hug each other and then the Perth bound group departs the facility. At the hotel, it takes all of us to retrieve the luggage from the room and load up the van. We finally get everything loaded and we are off to the airport, right on schedule. That’s one thing I am a stickler for is being on time and thankfully, Derrick is too.
As we pull into Base Operations, I notice the airplane is already pulled out front with the red carpet in place. I don’t see Henderson by the plane, so he must still be inside filing his flight plan. We pull up to the electronic gate and ring the buzzer. The lady at the reception desk in the Fixed Base Operation pushes the button releasing the magnetic latch on the gate, which allows us to enter. Marcus
has been kind enough to drive us here and pulls up right next to the plane. While
the guys are unloading and loading the bags, I am going to check on Henderson.
He is at the Flight Service Station checking the weather one more time. He doesn’t see me yet, so I am going to stand behind him and listen. The weatherman is just wrapping things up so I lightly tap Henderson on the shoulder, and he is pleasantly surprised to see me.
He hugs me and says, “You are right on time, Kobi. It’s good to see you.”
“You too! How’s the bump on your noggin?”
“Oh, it’s fine. I don’t even feel it anymore. How’s the wrist?”
“I still feel it, unfortunately, but it is getting better. How’s the weather?”
“Perfect. No turbulence aloft this time, and it should be clear the entire way.”<
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“Great.”
“So you said you had some news to tell me. Cough it up, girlfriend.”
“Well, Derrick and I have decided to move to Australia. Geoff offered me a job working with him at the CDC.”
“Really? That’s fantastic. What is Derrick going to do?”
“He and Dane already have ideas in their heads for a tour guide company. Derrick believes that there is more opportunity for him here than in St. Louis, so he is gung ho. Geoff said I could finish my medical degree here, so everything has fallen into place perfectly. We really like it here and have made some wonderful friends in the process,” I say as I lightly punch him in the arm.
“Cool. When are you coming back?”
“My semester is over in six weeks, so we are tentatively planning to be back in two months if everything goes according to plan.”
“Sounds good. I’ve already filed our flight plan, so let me make a pit stop,
and then we will go preflight the jet. Be right back.”
I decide to take a quick pit stop as well. Henderson and I walk out to the jet and see that the boys have everything loaded in the plane. Henderson and I start the walk around and Dane, Derrick, and Geoff get on the plane and get comfortable. After five minutes, Henderson and I climb on board the aircraft and start with the preflight/taxi checklist. Engines are started and we are taxiing out. Takeoff is uneventful and we are on our way to Perth.
It feels good to be in a cockpit again. I thought it would be a little strange after the crash, but it’s not. It’s very normal. Henderson doesn’t appear to be apprehensive either. It is a beautiful day for flying. There is not a cloud in the sky, and the air is smooth. We have a slight tailwind, so we should get into Perth a little early.
“So, Henderson, are you coming with us to the sheep station this time? We aren’t going to dig up any bodies this time, I promise.”
“Yes, if it is okay with Taylor and Geoff, I would love to come.”
“I’m sure they won’t mind you tagging along. If you know how to use a needle and squeeze, you can even help us administer the antidote.”
“I can do that!”
The flight is uneventful and we land right on time at Perth. Taylor and Matthew are waiting for us outside of the General Aviation terminal and start waving as soon as they see us. It is really good to see them both. We unload the suitcases and proceed to the hotel. Derrick is going to check with the concierge about storing some of our suitcases in another part of the hotel. We don’t need to bring everything to the room, just what we are going to use here. The concierge shows Derrick where he can keep the luggage until our departure. Dane and Derrick start carrying the bags to the vacant storage area.
Our rooms are located on the 4th floor right next to each other. We agree to get cleaned up and meet downstairs in the lobby at 8:00 p.m. for dinner. Taylor wants to take us to a nice restaurant located right on the water called the Harvest Restaurant. He said it’s probably one of the fanciest restaurants in Perth, and most of the celebrities go there when they are in town. I am curious to try this place.
The meal is fantastic. I opted for the venison and Derrick tried the fish. Probably the best meal I have had in years. I wasn’t disappointed at all. I didn’t see any movie stars I knew, but there were some of the local celebrities dining in the VIP section. I glance at my watch and notice it is close to 11:00 p.m.
“Taylor, what time are we heading out to the station tomorrow?”
“Oh, I thought we would pick you guys up at the hotel around 8:00 a.m.”
Geoff speaks up and says, “Sounds perfect Taylor. We’ll eat here before
you pick us up.”
Taylor settles the bill with the waiter and we head back to the hotel. “See you in the morning.”
“Good night Taylor, Matt,” we say in unison.