The Fox and the Pigeon hole P2 Chapter 12

12. Unknown illness
“There you go” Says Katie soothingly, setting down a black wooden tray with a steaming silver bowl of ox tail soup. “Thanks,” Says Jackson croakily, on the journey home his temperature rose exponentially causing him to vomit on the fourth acre Motorcurrent. He got some very strange looks but after the ordeal of the night he has given up all pretence of nobility. The lift was by far the worst for him, the nauseating feeling of the rising elevator almost caused him to throw up a second time but now, in bed he is at last relaxed. The bouts of sneezing have decreased but they are still causing unpleasant splatters of blood to come out of his nose and mouth.

Katie has not left him since they got back and she frequently replaces the cool, wet towel on his forehead. In his state of sickness Jackson has not notices how much time has passed and is surprised to see the beginnings of the sunrise when he opens his eyes from his fitful sleep. Katie is asleep in a padded leather chair next to his bed, she looks peaceful in sleep, her deep drawing breaths are calming to watch.

Jackson gets up slowly, so as not to wake her and walks to the kitchen. The tile floor is cold on his bare feet and even the soft rumbling to the boiling kettle sends a pang of pain through his head. “Jackson?” Katie comes walking into the kitchen rubbing her eyes and desperately trying to control her frizzy hair “Feeling better” She asks while filling up the silver kettle and turning it on. Jackson picks turns on a TV screen in the wall by using a small piece of glass, the morning show is just starting and a smiling woman shows highlights from last night’s benefit.

His heart sinking Jackson walks towards the large screen, sure enough the first couple of minutes show the many important ministers and Corporals. But then light music introduces the start of his father’s speech. “Oh no,” Katie walks towards the screen as well, with a steaming cup in her hands. His grandeur and powerful voice come across even more vividly on the bright screen, he comes to talking about Jacksons new job and, bracing himself, Jackson waits to see his ‘unacceptable behaviour’. However to his surprise they do not show him and his father’s speech is cut short before showing clips of other speeches and interviews.

“They didn’t show you,” Katie exclaims in delight, “Its ok, they didn’t show it your dad can’t get mad”, but Jackson sighs and shows a glum expression as he pours himself some tea. “Jackson? It doesn’t matter”.
“Yeah well, that won’t matter to Father” He says darkly, “He probably paid them not to show it” He slams his mug onto the marble counter and they stand in silence, with just the sound of the television.

“And in other news” Says the host, “Widely respected Corporal Thorne has been taken ill, he is being treated for an unknown illness at Pitcairn fourth Acre clinic” Jackson turns around suddenly, his hand knocks over the cup of tea which spills onto the floor. “Jackson” Katie moves towards him, her eyes are wide and she looks as though she might succumb to tears. Jackson takes no notice and rushes past her in a daze, he runs to his bedroom and changes out of his suit from the night before. Katie does not come in and when Jackson sprints past her towards the lift he does not see her.

The lift is annoyingly slow, he is wearing a grey quilted sweatshirt and slim jeans feeling more comfortable than he has in a couple of days. Trying not to panic Jackson is not sure whether to be angry with his father for not telling him he is ill or afraid that his illness is serious. He takes the fastest Motorcurrent possible to get to the clinic but it still takes him over thirty minutes, it is on the very edge of the Acre and is reserved for people of importance. Hardly thinking about what he is doing Jackson jogs down the station platform of the clinic and asks to see Corporal Thorne on the screen at the entrance, “May I ask the reason for your visit?” Asks the woman on the screen, “I want to see my Father,” Says Jackson bluntly,
“Can I ask your name please sir?” She says, unperturbed by his impoliteness.
“Jackson Thorne,” His voice starting to get loud and agitated “I am Corporal Thorne’s son, let me see him” The woman does not stop smiling which just irritates Jackson further,
“Just one moment Mr Thorne” She says softly and then she disappears off the screen, replaced by a logo. A White hand holding a bright red heart, the logo is unnerving and the large red writing above it read:
HEALING HANDS CLINIC
Fourth Acre

The woman appears on the screen again, “I’m sorry for your wait Mr Thorne, please sanitise your hands before entering the Clinic and enjoy your visit” She smiles widely before she is once again replaces by the clinics logo. Still rubbing soap on his hands Jackson walks into the clinic. The walls and floor are a clean white colour, bright lights illuminate the large reception area and a light wooden desk fills most of the left wall. The far end of the room splits in to five or six wide corridors and the left wall is filled with dark grey cushioned chairs.

He walks up to the desk and waits behind a woman with bouncy curls of grey hair. “You have to let me talk to him, right now” She is saying frantically to a woman behind the desk, “Im sorry Mrs Carter I cannot help you, your son is already in the operating theatre. Please wait in the waiting area and you can see him after the operation”
“No!” Cries the woman, “I have to see him now, what if he doesn’t make it?!” she wails like a wounded dog and tears start to roll down her wrinkled cheeks. “I assure you Mrs Carter everything will be fine,” Her voice is soothing and she leans over the desk to hold the woman’s hand, “He will make it,”. But the woman continues to sob into a dirty handkerchief. “Abby” The woman at the desk calls to a woman behind her, “Could you please make Mrs Carter comfortable in the waiting area, thanks”.

After Mrs Carter has been slowly hushed away from the desk, Jackson is called forward, “Yes,” He says quickly “I’m here to see my father”,
“Jackson Thorne,” she raises her eyebrows at him
“Yes,” He says feeling hot and flustered from his rushed journey and a pang of guilt about Katie, the woman types on her computer and then passes him a short piece of wood, “Here, use this at the lift” She points to the opposite wall.
“Thank you” he says, but doesn’t wait for a reply before walking over to the lift, he inserts the piece of wood into a slot and gets inside, anxious of what his father will do when he sees him.

“Please proceed to Ainsley ward at the end of the hall, enjoy your day” The lift doors open and Jackson walks briskly to the end of the hall as he was instructed by the voice in the lift. A Large sign above the double doors reads:

AINSLEY Ward
-Long term
-Terminal
-Unknown

Taking a deep breath Jackson walks through the doors and looks around, his father is not here. Confused he asks a nurse who is standing over one of the beds that line the walls, she points him to another door where a screen says ‘Adrian Thorne’. Jackson walks towards it, looking down he notices than his blue canvas shoes look dirty against the white tiled floor and he shivers with anxiety as he walks through the door. The room is large and the walls are not white but a light grey colour, the only bed in the room faces away from a large window, it shows a picturesque view of the sunrise over the fine skyline.