#6158: FF: Merry Christmas Dr. Hellegreen
- FIVE HOURS TO MIDNIGHT -
Sidney, Australia. In a little flat, somewhere in the big town, Dr. Joseph Hellegreen was sitting toward his desk, writing something. Since he had been defeated by the ocean girl and her friends, two years before, his plans had crashed; the people who he promised the Synchronium to were very annoyed by Hellegreen's failure: they invested a lot of money to finance the recovery of the precious alien device, and had not got it. These are the unadvantages of making business with powerful people: in less than a month, Hellegreen was no longer the leader of U.B.R.I. Corporation.
With his curriculum, Hellegreen tried to get a job at the main reasearch institutes, but without results: his enemies had strongly recommended not to appoint him, so the name of Hellegreen was enough to be refused; the scientist could get a less prestigious job, but he was too proud to accept it. What the former leader of U.B.R.I. hated more, was that even Lena had to tolerate the weight of her father's failures; when the girl finished the school, she couldn't find a work despite her excellent results: her name prevented all her chances to work in a high position. Lena didn't really care: she wasn't forced to work only as waitress or a shop-assistant; she could work for important societies, even if they weren't what she really deserved. But Hellegreen thougth differently.
He always gave his daughter all he couldn't have in his childhood: wealth, a good education
; just one thing he failed in giving her: a family. Rachel had died too soon, and he had been too busy with his work to be near his daughter. But with that work, he could give Lena a better childhood than his own. Now, for his blame, Lena couldn't have what she really deserved from life.
But the real blame was not Hellegreen's; no, it was someone else's.
The ocean girl
she had ruined his plans, she and her friends
had deceived Lena, had convinced her that her father was wrong
and he had failed. Failed and lost everything.
But the day after, this would change: now Hellegreen knew someone who could be interested in Neri and in the secrets of her race; someone ready to give him all the necessary to get his revenge against the damned ocean girl and become again rich and powerful. Respected
and Lena with him.
- FOUR HOURS AND A HALF TO MIDNIGHT -
Some one rang at the door.
<< Who the hell is it at this hour? >> Hellegreen muttered annoyed; he stood up and left his work on the desk. He went to the door, and checked through the peephole who the visitor was.
<< Dad? It's me, Lena. Do I bother you? >> a voice asked from the other side of the door. Hellegreen quickly opened the door. << Hi, Lena! Of course, you don't bother me, I...wasn't doing anything important. How are you? Come in >>.
The girl stepped into the flat, carrying some packages and two small bags.
<< What are all those packages? Haven't you become a messanger, or something like that, have you? >> Hellegreen asked, worried.
<< Dad! >> the girl smiled, << these are gifts, don't you see the ribbons? >> she said, making them flittering.
<< Gifts? So many? What happens, are you going to get married or something? >>
<< What? Are you joking dad? It's Christmas! >>
<< Christmas? >> Hellegreen repeated, << Oh yes, you are right, I
>>.
He was about to say: "I have completely forgotten it". He was so much busy with his personal revenge to the ocean girl and her friends, that he forgot it was Christmas. By the way
the revenge! He left all on the desk, when Lena rang at the door
He had to avoid his daughter to discover his plans.
<< Just a moment dear, I go settling a couple of things in the other room then I'll be back to you. Make yourself at ease >> and he went to hide what he left on the desk.
* * * *
<< By the way >> Hellegreen said coming back to his daughter, << Where are you living now? In your last letter you wrote you were leaving that flat in Canberra, but you didn't specify where your new home was >>.
<< Well, I
>> Lena appeared a little unwilling to reply.
<< What? >>
<< I
have come back to O.R.C.A. >>
<< Oh
I see
>> Hellegreen said, turning his look to the furniture. << As an assistant? >> the man continued, after some seconds.
<< What? >>
<< Are you still Dr. Bates' assistant? >>
<< Oh, no, Dianne...Dr.Bates is now the new commander of the O.R.C.A. Australian section. I'm a
a researcher >>
<< Wha..really? Lena, this is a great news! >> Hellegreen said, trying to appear as much sincere as possible.
<< Are you really glad? I mean, I was worried that you could disagree if I worked at O.R.C.A. >>
<< Lena, how can you think that? The thing which makes me more happy is that my daughter finally gets the work she wanted to do >> he said, and this time he wasn't totally lying. But then he did it again << It doesn't matter if she does it at U.B.R.I. or at O.R.C.A. or whereever >>.
<< I'm glad you say that >> Lena smiled and hugged her father. << And you? Did you find a new job too? >>
<< No, unfortunately. I keep in writing some articles for that scientific paper, and nothing more >>
<< Oh, I was about to forget
>> the girl said, getting up and approaching the gifts she had brought. She picked up one of them and gave it to her father.
<< This is for you >> she said smiling, << merry Christmas, daddy! >>.
Hellegreen was evidently embarassed for the unexpected gift. He opened the package, and found
<< A coffe-machine? >>
<< Yes; I remembered when you wrote me you have to go out all the mornings to have breakfast
with this you'll be able to make the coffee here at home, when you want >>.
<< Well
thank you Lena. It's a nice thought, but...unfortuantely I haven't had the time to find you a gift
>>
<< Never mind, dad. I'm glad to stay with you, and see you happy, this is enough for me; by the way, for your work
>> her voice became lower, << I have another gift, but I'm not sure if you'll accept it >>.
<< Why? What is it about? >>
<< Well, I have spoken to Commander Bates
there is a job for you at O.R.C.A., as a researcher, if you want >>
Hellegreen glanced the floor, while a shadow passed on his face. Lena realized her father's feelings, and dind't continue with that; she stood up and took her coat on.
<< I told Commander Bates you have changed
in better >> she said, patiently gathering the rest of the packages she had brought, << and she decided to give you a chance; even the other agreed. You'll never guess who suggested that
>> then she stopped. Her father was still glancing the ground, with a barely hidden annoyed expression on his face. As Lena approached the door, he got his head up and said:
<< I
will think about it. Thank you for your interest >> managing to hide the conflict of feelings which was tearing him up. Father and daughter said good bye to each other, then Hellegreen was alone again.
He held so much anger, but not because of her daughter's offer. For a while, he considered the idea of accepting that work; for a while, he felt tired by his miserable actual life, tired by hiding her daughter his true thoughts; and tired by planning revenge.
Worst of all: a little thougth had crossed his mind: what if his actual situation was not blame on the ocean girl
?
- FOUR HOURS TO MIDNIGHT -
Hellegreen's considerations were broken off by someone's cry. Surprised, Hellegreen stood up and listened, trying to understand where the noise came from; but it wasn't from a near flat: the source was just in his own apartment, and the noise came from the kitchen. Still astonished, Hellegreen went to that room, eager of discover who was crying in his home and, mainly, how it had got in it.
The intruder was a child. Hellegreen found him bending on the table, crying. He had very light hair, almost white.
<< Who the hell you are? >> the ex leader of U.B.R.I. asked the child, with the same tone he used with an intruder in his lab. But the child didn't care, and continued crying. Hellegreen realized he asked that in the wrong way; it was just a child, there was no reason to treat him bad; the scientist felt an unusual sense of pity for that sad little being bended on the table of his kitchen, it didn't matter anymore who it was: he approached the child, sat down near him and asked:
<< What's wrong, kid? Why are you crying? >>. Slowly, the child stopped crying; he turned his head to Hellegreen and replied, his face still wet by the tears.
<< Because
because they're quarrelling again >>
<< Who? Who are quarrelling? >>
<< Mom and dad >>
Hellegreen couldn't ask him anything else: the noise of arguing voices and incoming steps gained his attention. A few seconds later, a man and a woman got into the room, quarrelling. The man held a glass of wine in his right hand, and the whole bottle in the other one.
Now Hellegreen was more astonished and confused than ever: there were his parents in front of him. His parents, who had died a lot of years ago
Hellegreen turned his look at the crying child who, sobbing and sighing, was looking at the two arguing people. And the former leader of U.B.R.I. Corporation realized he was looking into an old mirror.
- MIDNIGHT IS EACH MINUTE CLOSER -
<< And stop following me in each room! >> the man shouted.
<< I'll stop when you decide to let Joseph go to school, like all the children of his age! >> his wife replied.
<< School is a waste of time and money, and I have no intention to waste my money >>
<< Just say that you need that money to get drunk till you'll explode! Isn't that bottle a waste of money? >>
<< Don't contradict me, woman! If you want your son to go to school, use your money, not mine. I don't care >>
<< My son? Isn't he your son, too? >>
<< I've never asked for him, you have. He's your problem >>
The woman stood in silence for a few seconds, angrily looking at her husband. Then she approached her son, and said:
<< Well, if you think so, I'll do all myself. I'll get a work, and with that, I'll pay his studies. He won't need you! >>
<< Do it, do it. Just don't forget to clean the house and to prepare the dinner
>> he said bored; he filled his glass with wine, and drank it with one swallow. << But I still think that letting him go to school is a waste of time >>
<< No, it's not! >> the little Joseph said, << I'll go to school and I'll become a great
scientist! >>
The man glanced at the child, then he laughed loud.
<< Why don't you choke with that wine
.dad? >> Hellegreen told him angrily. Joseph's father stopped laughing; he turned to his adult son, and gazed him with his drunk look.
<< He will succeeds in becoming a scientist, he will be a great scientist, despite you! >> Hellegreen continued. He's father slowly approached him, holding the bottle and the glass in his hands; he was keeping on gazing him.
<<
and this should be the "great scientist"? >> he said eyeing him; then, turning to his wife, << do you see what he has become with "school"? >>
<< I have been at the head of a scientific corporation for ten years, and I have made a great work. While you
you have just been drinking for all your life >>
<< The results, Joey, look at the results >> his father said grinning, and filled another glass with wine. << What I am now? A drunk. What are you now? Nothing, neither a drunk. Your daughter lives with your enemy, your wife died just after two years of wedding; you have two degrees but no jobs, and spend your days pursuing
.>> and here he laughed, <<
an alien! What is your life, an episode of X-Files? Where are Mulder and Scully? Where are? Ah ah ah ah ah ah ahahaha! >> and started laughing loud, as a drunk does after a liter of good wine, staggering for all the room and leaning on the furniture.
<< Admit it, Joey: your life is a failure, you are failure. Look at me: no school, just a bottle of wine, and I live better than you! >>
<< No! >> Hellegreen shouted, << I'm not a failure! >>. He jumped on his father and headed a fist to his face.
- THREE HOURS AND FOURTY FIVE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT -
The cortex of a tree is very hard. Hellegreen discovered it as his blow hit a tree, appeared where, just a moment before, there was his hated father. Massaging his painful fist, the scientist looked around to understand what had happened.
He was no longer in the kitchen: his father, his mother and the little Joseph had disappeared; a lot of guys and girls, wearing the graduation uniform, had gathered in the campus of a University, which Hellegreen recognized to be the Centre for Marine Studies at Brisbane University, where he got his second degree. A hand touched his shoulder:
<< You were right >> said a voice behind him, << I did it, and this is the second time >>.
Hellegreen turned round and saw a light blond haired guy wearing a graduation uniform smiling at him. A group of graduating guys approached them and started talking to the younger.
Dr. Hellegreen, still confused by the last happenings, stood hearing the guys talking about their imminent graduation in Marine Biology, their feelings, their projects for the future.
<< I finally decided, I'll ask her >> Joseph said to his fellows.
<< Really? When? >>
<< Today, now, here. When I'm over there, I'll ask her >>
<< On the stand? When the president will give you the degree? >> a fellow asked.
<< You totally mad; I'll never have the courage to do such a thing >> another said.
<< This is the day in which
>> Dr. Hellegreen said dragging the guys' attention, << this is the day in wich I get my second degree
the one in Marine Biology >>
<< Yes >> Joseph confirmed, << and also the day when >>
<< When I asked Rachel to marry me >> Hellegreen finished the sentence. The two Hellegreens gazed each other, while the president's voice echoed all over the campus, amplified by the microphone.
<< Dr. Alter Maxwell; Dr. Auser Robert; Dr. Bain Sarah >>
Joseph and his fellows approached the stand and waited for their turn. Hellegreen was standing near the tree he had hit some minutes before, flooded by memories. He looked for Rachel among the hundreds of graduating: he didn't find her, but he knew she was there somewhere. When Joseph makes the request, he'll see her.
<< Dr. Hellegreen Joseph >>
The president's voice echoed louder for the two Hellegreens, both excited for that special moment. The younger of them got up to the stand, approached the president and got his degree; the he asked the permission to make a short declaration, and the president agreed.
<< I want to thank my teachers and my friends, who all helped me in getting this degree. And, most of all >>
Pause. Two hearts among the hundreds of hearts in the campus beated stronger than the other.
<< I'd want to ask Rachel Darmann to marry me! >>
A group of girls suddenly screamed by joy, they all started jumping and hugged one of them; all the people in the campus beated their hands. Hellegreen finally recognized Rachel in the group of girls: she was exactly as he remembered her, beautiful, a shining star among her fellows, with her long red hair falling on her shoulders...
The wish of talking to her, hearing her voice again, touching her was too strong: Hellegreen started running in direction of Rachel, opening a passage among the crowd and calling the girl's name; but it seemed to be an endless run, the distance between him and her didn't decrease and the crowd became thicker and thicker. Hellegreen kept calling the girl, but it was now very difficult to run among the people. Finally, Rachel turned to him and seemed to be glancing at his eyes. A light fog filled the air on the campus, and suddenly everything and everyone disappeared in a white veil.
- THREE HOURS TO MIDNIGHT -
<< Rachel
Rachel
>> Hellegreen called, waving with his hands in the attempt of removing the fog and trying see where his love was. Slowly, the whiteness went away revealing a dark place which seemed interminable; there was just a light, a sort of spotlight, lighting up the body of a woman lying on the ground.
<< Rachel
>> Hellegreen whispered.
<< Rachel is dead >> a voice similar to his own voice said behind him. Hellegreen turned round and saw another Hellegreen wearing a U.B.R.I. uniform.
<< It has been an accident >> the second Hellegreen continued, << A car had run over her
the doctors couldn't do anything >>.
Tears wetted their faces while they cried silently.
<< I could have saved her, now
this time, I was here, I could >> Hellegreen whispered.
<< No, you couldn't >> the other corrected him, << You aren't here for that. The past is past, we can't change it. What has been, has been. Now you are here for a different reason >>
<< And what is it? >>
<< Just want to specify >> a voice as familiar as hated said, preventing the leader of U.B.R.I. in answering Hellegreen's question, << That this time it wasn't my blame, ok? >>
Hellegreen and the leader of U.B.R.I. turned to the direction of the voice: slowly, an image started appearing in that point, taking the appereance of the two men's father. He still had, in one of his hands, a bottle of wine, but on his head there was now a large red spot.
<< Samuel was driving, not me >>
<< What do you mean? >> Hellegreen asked.
<< Just what I said: Samuel was driving, so it's not my blame >>
<< You >> Hellegreen realized, << were you on that car? It was you and your drunk friends who killed her? >>. Without being aware because of his anger, he had started shouting.
<< Not intentionally >> the father specified with a bored voice, << Samuel simply didn't see her, as he didn't see the cat, as he didn't see the guardrail >>
The weak light illuminating the dark set seemed to light up the red spot on the man's forehead more vividly.
<< Thirty meters of fall, then the rocks >> he continued, describing the fall with his hands.
<< So God really exists >> Hellegreen whistled with anger. His father frowned, and stood in silence for some seconds; then he evily grinned and said to his son:
<< So Joey, what's up with your job? How is "Marvin the martian"? Have you finally caught
him? >>
Hellegreen glanced at him, with his eyes burning for anger; his father started with his loud and annoying laughter, and disappeared slowly in the darkness.
<< Say goodbye to Mr. Spock for me, Joey >> his sarcastical voice echoed.
<< I hate to have to say it >> the leader of U.B.R.I. said, putting a hand on Hellegreen's shoulder, << But he's right >>.
<< What do you mean? >> Hellegreen asked turning to him, << How can you say that? You are the head of U.B.R.I., one of the most important research institutes in the world >>
<< I am
but you aren't anymore. And what you are going to be won't be any better >>
Before Hellegreen could ask for an explanation, he felt someone pulling his pants; turning to the ground, he saw a little child with long, smooth and light blond hair, looking at him.
<< Dad, where's mom? >> little Lena asked him. A river of pain and sadness flooded Hellegreen's heart at the sight of his little daughter; he kneeled near her, looking at her eyes, and hugged her.
<< Mom has gone away for a long trip. But I'll never leave you, I'll stay with you and >> the tears made him difficult to talk, << You never miss nothing
but your mother >>
<<
and your father >> the leader of U.B.R.I. added. << We gave her a lot of things, sure, which nor we neither a lot of children like her have never had. She has grown up in wealthy, she studied in the best schools and institutes so now has a great education; but we failed in giving her a father >>
<< We were
I was busy with my work >> Hellegreen replied, << I could give her all you mentioned by my work >>
<< But she needed your presence more than anything! How couldn't you understand, when she has asked you for that so many times? And how we became leader of U.B.R.I.? Do you remember in which way we got this? >> the second Hellegreen showed the U.B.R.I. uniform he was wearing, then continued:
<< Do you remember what we had to do, how many people ruined, how many friends betrayed? >>
<< But it was for my daughter! >> Hellegreen shouted, trying to justify these actions which he had tried to remove from his mind a lot of times before.
<< And do you think she could be glad of this, realizing she had been the reason of such of actions? And Rachel? Might she agree? >>
Hellegreen tried to challenge the leader of U.B.R.I.'s look, but he didn't succeed and he had to turn his eyes to the ground.
[continue]
– Nebo <nebox@libero.it> @ 2001-01-03 15:12:24
#6159: FF: Merry Christmas Dr. Hellegreen (part 2)
[continue]
- AT TWO HOURS TO MIDNIGHT, HERE SHE IS -
The leader of U.B.R.I. looked down at Hellegreen: sitting down, the scientist was reflecting about what his Dopplegänger had said.
<< Seems like you've understood what I was trying to say to you >> he said, << now, it's time that you understand another thing >>. He offered his hand to Hellegreen << Stand up. I have to show you something >>.
Hellegreen turned the look on him, but didn't accept his hand and got up by himself. In that instant, the set changed: the darkness went away letting place for - a sort of jungle, it seemed, and there was sand under their feet. Coconut palms all around, mixed with other typical vegetation of Australian coral islands.
<< Wait >> Hellegreen said, realizing where they were, << this is
>>
<<
where she lives, yes. You think you know her, but you don't; if you really knew her, you wouldn't be holding on to that ridicolous vengeance. Now come with me, let's follow the
light >>
It was night, and it was dark all around except for the light of a fire, shining among the trees; a cold breeze came from the ocean and while passing through the vegetation it made the leaves rustle. The sound of voices and laughters came from the fire, where some guys and girls in O.R.C.A. uniform, plus a girl rag-dressed, seemed to be making a party; Hellegreen and his double arrived close to them, but none of the persons seemed to notice they're presence.
<< All this happened the last month >> the man in the U.B.R.I. uniform said, << Tomorrow, the ocean girl will leave to migrate with her friend whale, as she does that every year, so they're making a party before she goes >>
<< There's my daughter among them
>> Hellegreen noticed with a little bit of resentment.
<< And she's approaching the ocean girl >> the other said, << pay attention, this is the part which concerns you >>
Lena drew Neri aside, making them closer to the two Hellegreens.
<< It's about my father >> she started, << since last time, he's without a job
this is because the people who he had promised the Synchronium to, got revenge against him and prevented a lot of research institutes to appoint him >>. There was a seriously expression on her face while she was speaking; Neri and Hellegreen quietly listened to her.
<< How does she know this? >> Hellegreen asked his Doppelgänger, << I never said it to her >>
<< She is not stupid, she realized it >>
<< There is a place indeed where he could work >> Lena continued, << but
I want to ask you first >>
<< O.R.C.A.? >> Neri said.
<< Yes >>
The two girls looked at each other, then Neri broke the silence:
<< You think he's changed? >> she said kindly.
<< Yes; two years have passed since the last time he mentioned you or the Synchronium; now he's working desultorily writing articles for a scientific magazine, but it's not the same for him. I see he's sad, even if he tries to hide it to me >>
<< Then he can come to O.R.C.A. >>
<< Really? You are not joking, aren't you? >>
<< We all have the right to have another chance; if you say he's changed, I believe you >> Neri said; then she smiled at Lena; she pointed at the rest of her friends, and said << Now, let's go and convince the other >>.
The leader of U.B.R.I. approached Hellegreen.
<< How do you feel swindling your daughter? How do you feel searching for revenge to some one who has forgiven so easily all you have done? >> he asked.
Hellegreen tried to defend himself << This means nothing! >> he shouted turning quickly to the leader of U.B.R.I; in the same istant, the earth under his feet started to move as it had wheels under it; Hellegreen lost his balance and fell to the ground.
- ONLY AN HOUR TO MIDNIGHT -
When he got up, he was no longer on the island: once more, the scene had changed and now he had found himself on an ancient vessel; the air was very cool, and there was no trace of Hellegreen's double. The scientist walked along the bridge of the ship trying to guess what he had to do now, when he noticed his clothes were changed: instead of what he was wearing when he was in his flat in Sidney, now he had a black suit on him. The vessel was sailing in a sea where some ice blocks were quietly floating, and there was nothing on the horizon but sea and ice.
<< Where the hell am I now? >> Hellegreen asked himself while was trying to warming up the hands.
"On the final part of your trip, Joseph Hellegreen". The voice echoed in his mind with the same sound of the clanging iron; Hellegreen looked around and found a dark figure behind the helm; it was wearing a long black cloak and his head was covered by a hood of the same color: this was all that Hellegreen could see of the mysterious helmsman.
"Come here, Joseph Hellegreen, there's something you must see" the voice spoke again in Hellegreen's mind; but he had no intention of approaching to that being, it was too scary and he was too scared himself, especially after all he had passed in the last hours, even if he didn't realized how much time had passed.
The helmsman noticed the scared face of his guest, and "said":
"Well, if you don't want to come to me, I'll come to you". Despite the strange sound of his voice and the strange way it was heard by Hellegreen, the helmsman pronounced the words with calm.
Hellegreen was at the bow of the vessel, while the man in the cloak was at the stern; as the dark figure started moving to Hellegreen, walking with a heavy step, the scientist turned round and tried to move away; but the helmsman was already on his path, stopping him. There was no place to run away but the cold sea around the vessel, and Hellegreen preferred not to die frostbitten. At least, not before understanding what was happening to him. He gazed at the man in the cloak, waiting for something.
"I see with pleasure that you decided to listen to me. Relax you, it won't take than a few time."
Hellegreen found the courage and, rattling by the cold, asked:
<< What is happening here? I have seen my past, my wife and her death,
what does this all means? It's just a nightmare, isn't it? >>
"Your life might become a nightmare in the next future, if you don't pay attention to what you're going to see. This trip should prepare you for this final act where, I hope, you will understand what is the right choice to make"
<< What choice are you talking about? And why I'm in black suit now? >>
"Dark clothes are obligation for funerals "
Hellegreen didn't have the courage to ask whose funeral was.
* * * *
The situation was still strange for him, but now Hellegreen was less scared by the dark helmsman of the vessel, and his only problem was the cold; he was walking along the bridge, trying to warming up himself.
<< Is this place still very far? >> he asked to the helmsman.
"Why, do you have to go somewhere?" the man in the cloak asked sarcastically from behind the helm, "Don't worry, we are about to reach the migration path of the whales, it's more warm there"
<< Whales? >>
* * * *
As the helmsman had said, the temperature was more tolerable now; still on the bridge, Hellegreen was starting to appreciate the new climate when he saw a big squirt at the horizon.
<< There! A whale! Did you see it? >>
A little, whispered laughter came from under the helmsman's hood.
<< What
why do you laugh? >> Hellegreen asked with a bit of fear.
"Nothing
for a while, you remembered me a child I knew
I miss him" the dark figure had now a melancholy voice while he went down from the top of the wood ladders where the helm was; despite the heavy step he reached Hellegreen at the bow of the vessel in a while.
<< So, what I have to see so much important? >>
"Use this, or you'll miss the show". A rawboned hand came out from the cloak, holding an ancient spyglass like the pirate's; Hellegreen slowly took it.
<< Where I have to watch to? There's only water here around >>
"Look under the water"
Uncertain, Hellegreen opened the old spyglass and pointed it to the blue surface: slowly, the image of fishes, whales and the rest of underwater world appeared toward his eye.
<< Incredible
I can see all under the sea surface >>
"You're not here to admire the marine life, Joseph Hellegreen. Now point that spyglass there"
<< Still fishes
wait
she is
she's the ocean girl! >>
The image of a beautiful woman diving with only a sort of rag dress on her, appeared on Hellegreen's eye through the spyglass. He had already seen her swimming underwater, but now she seemed a vision.
"Now she is an "ocean woman"; she's coming back to her island after her last migration with her friend whale. Some months ago, Jason Bates asked her to marry him, but she has postponed her decision after the migration: she'll must renounce to a lot of things if she accepts to marry him"
<< And will she accept ? >>
"Do you care of this? I'm surprised"
<< No, I don't care
I was just
curios. Look, she seems to be running away from something >>
"Or someone. Look at your left"
A small ice breaker was incoming from the direction indicated by the mysterious helmsman, and it was pointing at Neri; on its bridge, the was a small group of people on both of the sides, holding some nets; at the top of the bow, there was another figure. Hellegreen pointed the spyglass to it: the image of an old man appeared, an old man with glasses, his face was contracted in an expression of pure evilness. And it was furrowed by a lot of wrinkles; one of the legs was evidently a prothesis, because of the way in which the old man was standing; when he lifted a hand, Hellegreen discovered it was a prothesis too, a sort of bionic hand.
<< That is
me? How had it happened? >>
"How? Don't you succeed in imagining it? Your vengeance, Joseph Hellegreen, you senseless revenge transformed you in that sort of "Captain Ahab". This vengeance has been your only objective for all your life, and you lost a leg and a hand for it, without any results but to be abandoned from you daughter"
Hellegreen turned to the dark figure and glanced at him with a look which seemed to be saying: "no, not this, everything but not this".
* * * *
Neri came out among the waves to get a breath; Then she turned round to look where her pursuers were: Hellegreen's icebreaker was closer than before.
<< It's useless that you try to run away, I got you! I finally have my revenge! >> the old Hellegreen shouted from the bridge of the ship, waving his bionic fist in the air; Neri sadly gazed at him, then she inhaled to dive again. But she didn't. At her right, something big and white dragged her attention: a giant iceberg, as big as she never saw one of them, was quickly coming in their direction.
When he saw her stop, the old Hellegreen just thougth to have the win in his hands.
<< Did you choose to surrender? It doesn't make any difference for me, I
>>
The woman had started to make strange signals to him.
<< What stupid move she's trying to do now
?>>
She was also screaming something
.
<<
out! Watch out! Look there! >>
<< "To look there"? Ah!, you should be very desperately to try such a
>>
He stopped and glanced down the sea: boats. There were red safety boats around the icebreaker, carrying away all the crew of the ship; the old Hellegreen realized and quickly turned to his right. Too late.
A giant block of ice was just a few meters from him: it violently hit the icebreaker on its right side, making it shaking and dividing it into two halfs. Neri swam away to avoid the trajectory of the iceberg, then she stopped and watched the scene with worried eyes.
As the iceberg hit the ship, the old Hellegreen felt behind overboard; with a last, desperately try, his bionic hand grabbed the edge of the bridge; but the second bump of the iceberg against the boat made him lost the catching, and he felt down in the water.
<< No! >> Neri screamed as the man touched the water; she went under the water and dived in direction of her enemy. Hellegreen was quickly going down because of the weight of his iron leg, but Neri continued in diving to him as much quick as she could.
She finally reached his trajectory and tried to catch him before he went too much deeply. He was close now, enough close
Neri streched an arm and tried to catch Hellegreen's hand.
And it happened again.
Something white and big shined close to them: Neri turned to her right and saw again the massive block of ice going toward them; just, this time it was much much bigger.
The woman immediately turned round and started in diving away as much quick as she could, hoping to succeed in avoiding the iceberg trajectory
.
Bump.
Neri heard clearly the horrible sound through her ears. She closed her eyes and continued to dive away, away, trying not to think what that sound meant.
She finally reached the surface; she stood motionless for a while, looking at the water; a little tear went out from one of her eyes, soon followed by many other, while she hit the water with her fist.
* * * *
Hellegreen was standing moveless on the bridge of the vessel; the hands lowered, holding the spyglass; the look turned to the scene he just ended to watch, the face upset.
"Did you see the most importat thing?"
<< Yes
she tried to save me
>> he whispered, still astonished.
"
while noone else had advised you of the arrival of that iceberg; that's because they all hated you, you became a horrible person, evil and rough with everyone. Your revenge devoured you from the inside, and you never realized that you were persecuting the only person who was able to forgive you, and give you another chance to change your life."
Hellegreen didn't say nothing. The storm of thougths and feelings in his heart was tearing up him inside; suddenly, he was able to see a reality that has always been in front of his eyes, but that he never saw before because of his mental blindness. All his errors, the useless subterfuges with Lena, the illusion that she could come back to him as his revenge was completed; and mainly, he understood the real responsible for his problems in life.
"It seems you have learned the lesson. Now you have to make the right choice to save what remains of your life"
<< You're wasting your time, Joey; my son's destined to drown here as you did >>
The sarcastical voice of Hellegreen's father came from the stern of the vessel. The man was bending on the helm of the ship.
"Wrong. Now that he has seen, he can make the right choice and save himself"
<< But, he won't, because he's too stupid, totally fool! >>
Hellegreen turned to his father and made some steps in direction of him; the former leader of U.B.R.I. gazed at his father with challenge.
<< Maybe I made errors in my life >> he shouted, << perhaps a lot of errors; but one thing is sure, and it's that I'll never end like you! I still have the time to repair what I have done, and that is what I'll do >>
Hellegreen's father glanced at his son silently for a while; his look turned from derisive to sad. Hellegreen had never been looked in such a way by his father.
<< Good luck, Joey >> the man whispered, << I hope you'll do better than me >> then, he disappeared.
- 3, 2, 1... -
The night was come and the darkness had surrounded the vessel; just a little red light was shining at the horizon.
<< What is that? >> Hellegreen asked the helmsman.
"Why do you ask me? You have the spyglass, just look and you'll know"
Hellegreen opend the spyglass again and pointed it in direction of the red light: sitting on a rock, toward a crackling fire, there was the adult Neri that he saw some minutes ago, in the scene of the iceberg. The woman was sitting with her legs crossed, and she had the eyes shut. Motionless.
<< What is she doing? >>
"That's the way her people prey, the way they remember the deads"
It was useless to ask who she was preying for; Hellegreen continued in watching the woman through the spyglass, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
<< Joseph >> the helmsman's voice was talking nolonger inside his head, but now it could be heard as a normal voice. Hellegreen turned to the helmsman, and saw a bionic hand coming out from the inside of the dark figure's cloak; the hand took off the hood from the helmsman's head, revealing the face of an old Hellegreen with broken glasses, some cuts and sea algas on him. Hellegreen startled because of that sight: it was almost like to see himself inside the coffin.
<< Please, make the right choice >> the older Hellegreen said, << Do it for Rachel >>.
* * * *
Hellegreen woke up in the kitchen of his flat in Sidney, sitting on a chair. Has it been just a dream, or something more? Anyway, it didn't matter so much
Hellegreen now knew what was the way to change his life and make it happy again, as it was when Rachel was alive. He looked at the clock on the wall: less than a minute to midnight, the seconds hand was quickly running to the top of the clock. Hellegreen got up, took the telephone and made Lena's number. Now he had a gift for her too.
Merry Christmas, Dr. Hellegreen.
[The End]
– Nebo <nebox@libero.it> @ 2001-01-03 15:15:01