The Curious Case of the Missing Head

by Gabriel Farago

  It took Rodrigo several attempts to contact the Endeavor on his satellite phone. After having identified himself to various officers, he was finally put through to Andersen.

  ‘Do we have an agreement to extend the handover time?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes, we do,’ said Rodrigo. ‘My client agrees. Twenty-four hours. No more.’

  ‘And you will nominate the handover time and place?’

  ‘Yes, we will.’

  ‘A beach somewhere on the Pacific coast?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘We will need at least five hours’ notice; logistics.’

  ‘Understood. Is Alonso with you?’

  ‘Yes, he is right here.’

  ‘Can we talk to him?’

  ‘Yes, you can.’

  ‘Please tell him that his mother wants to talk to him and bring him to the phone.’

  ‘Will do.’

  Rodrigo turned to Rahima who was standing next to him, shaking, and handed her his phone. Rahima cleared her throat. ‘Alonso?’ she said, her voice barely audible.

  ‘Is that you, Mama?’ asked Alonso.

  ‘Yes, it’s me,’ said Rahima and almost dropped the phone. Rodrigo had to put his arm around her to steady her. ‘How are you?’

  ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘I want you to come home.’

  ‘I’m trying …’

  Then the line went dead.

  52

  Somewhere on the west coast of Colombia: 18 July

  Agabe was preparing Stolzfus for the journey home. Despite his best efforts to keep his patient calm and relaxed, he was worried as Stolzfus had been gradually deteriorating, especially as far as his speech was concerned. He now had great difficulty in talking, was slurring his words and frequently fell asleep in the middle of a sentence, exhausted. He was also in considerable pain, which alarmed Agabe who was navigating uncharted medical waters with limited knowledge, lack of equipment, and urgently needed medication.

  Jack had done his best to keep Stolzfus focused and in good spirits by playing countless games of chess with him, faithfully writing down his many equations and following detailed instructions to draw complex diagrams of black holes and event horizons, and numbers with so many zeros it made his eyes water.

  So as not to alarm him, it had been decided to give Stolzfus only a vague outline of the impending journey and its purpose, which would take them first by helicopter from Bogota to the coast for the handover, and then by another US Navy helicopter to the aircraft carrier waiting in international waters off the west coast. This would be a stressful experience for a fit and healthy person – so Agabe could only imagine what impact such a journey would have on someone in Stolzfus’s precarious position, strapped into a wheelchair, paralysed, and now almost unable to speak.

  Once Stolzfus was on the Endeavor, expert medical help would be to hand, and they would take over. The main aim was to get him there as quickly as possible without causing serious damage to his failing health, as every hour seemed to count in that regard.

  Since that extraordinary encounter in the little chapel a week ago, Jack had spent a lot of time with Rahima, who had visited him every day. Mother and son had a lot of catching up to do and spoke for several hours each day about their lives. It was an extraordinary, almost surreal and very emotional encounter neither of them would ever forget.

  Rahima was sitting next to Jack in his room. It was just after sunrise. She was holding his hand and it was clear she hadn’t slept much during the night. ‘Well, this is it,’ she said, barely able to speak. ‘This is the day. I pray to God all goes well.’ She wiped away a few tears and looked at Jack with red eyes radiating sadness and pain. ‘The lost son I have just found is leaving,’ she said, ‘and the son I expected never to see again is returning. What an irony.’

  Jack squeezed his mother’s hand in silent reply.

  ‘It’s God’s will,’ continued Rahima. ‘I have to accept that and be grateful.’

  ‘As soon as this is over, I will come back. I promise,’ said Jack. ‘Now that I’ve found you, my world has changed too. I have a family. I have to get used to that.’

  ‘A little late, I know, but better now than never, don’t you think?’

  ‘I agree. When will you tell him?’

  ‘Hernando?’

  ‘Yes, and Alonso too, I suppose.’

  ‘Soon. When I am strong enough to face it ...’

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘I can’t express what I feel right now, but you have become a remarkable man, Jack. It seems all by yourself, despite everything that happened, or perhaps because of it. I am immensely proud of you. God has brought you back to me, now, right here, and given us these precious hours to spend together. There’s a reason for this. I can feel it here, in my heart.’

  Jack smiled. Destiny at work, he thought, I wonder what Tristan would have to say about all this? ‘I have to go and help Agabe to get Stolzfus ready,’ said Jack and stood up. ‘I can hear him next door. This will be a fateful day. For all of us.’

  Rahima nodded, embraced Jack and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. Then she wiped away a few more tears and without saying another word or looking back, left the room.

  Andersen and Tristan hurried across the busy flight deck to the waiting MH-60 Seahawk helicopter. Alonso was already on board, sitting between two armed guards. The Endeavor had moved into position along the coast the night before after receiving the necessary coordinates from Rodrigo. However, the exact location of the designated beach for the handover had just come through, and it would take the helicopter less than twenty minutes to reach its destination.

  Also on board were the pilot, a doctor and a nurse, and only four armed marines. Instructions received from Rodrigo had been quite specific in that regard, but everyone was aware that the awesome firepower of an entire aircraft carrier was only minutes away, should anything go wrong.

  ‘Here we go,’ said Andersen as she climbed into the chopper, its noisy rotor blades creating a strong draught on the pitching deck.

  Who would have thought just a few days ago that something like this could be possible? Tristan wondered, following Andersen onto the Seahawk. Going to rescue a genius scientist returning from the dead? Jack sure knew how to find the stories, or was it the other way around?

  A few minutes later, they could see the rugged coastline in the distance, its deserted sandy beaches a stark contrast to the dense jungle reaching almost to the edge of the water. Dark clouds hovered above a mountain range in the distance, heralding a tropical storm.

  The instructions for the handover arrangements had also been specific. They were to land at the northern end of the designated beach at ten am, and wait. The pilot circled the beach once and then put down the chopper between two large tree trunks that had washed up on the beach, and turned off the engine. The four marines got out and took up their positions.

  Rodrigo looked at his watch. They should have just landed, he thought as Cordoba’s helicopter gunship cleared a hilltop, flying just above the tree canopy. The designated beach was close to one of Cordoba’s secret jungle cocaine-processing plants and the beach was frequently used for illicit drug deliveries destined for Mexico. Knowing the terrain was always an advantage, and a dozen heavily armed men had arrived during the night and were hiding in the jungle, watching the beach. They even had a rocket launcher with them that could bring down a helicopter should that become necessary. Cordoba believed in always being prepared for the worst. By cleverly choosing the time and the place for the handover, he knew he had the upper hand, but he didn’t trust the Americans. A wounded lion was always dangerous, and damaged pride even more so.

  Agabe sat next to Stolzfus’s wheelchair in the back and carefully watched his patient, who appeared to be asleep. He had given him a strong sedative because he thought that was the best way to prepare him for a journey that could easily turn into a catastrophic ordeal for someone in his condition.

  ‘There they are,’ said Rod
rigo and pointed down to the beach below. The pilot nodded and carefully put down the helicopter on the southern end of the beach as directed.

  Standing next to Agabe, Jack watched as Rodrigo and Andersen walked slowly towards each other on the stretch of beach separating the two helicopters. Just like the gunfight at O.K. Corral, he thought. Tombstone Arizona where Alonso was arrested meets a Colombian beach where he’s to be set free. Amazing.

  Jack turned to Agabe. ‘I will call you when this is all over,’ he said and held out his hand. ‘You have my number. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you.’

  ‘Likewise,’ said Agabe. ‘I hope they take good care of him. I’ve grown very fond of our professor, you know.’

  ‘Me too. One day, we’ll look back at this and think it must have been a dream.’

  ‘I know what you mean.’

  ‘What will happen to you now?’ asked Jack, watching Rodrigo and Andersen talking to each other.

  ‘Not sure, but there’s nothing left for me in Malta.’

  ‘I suppose not. Can I ask you for a favour?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Could you keep an eye on Mrs Cordoba?’

  Agabe looked at Jack, surprised. ‘I know you’ve spent a lot of time together, but why do you ask?’

  ‘One day, I’ll tell you and it will surprise you. She’s a remarkable woman, trust me. Very vulnerable at the moment, especially with what’s happening here. She may need someone like you by her side,’ said Jack, a sudden sense of foreboding chilling his heart like an icy wind.

  ‘All right, I will.’

  ‘Promise?’

  ‘Promise.’

  After talking briefly to Andersen, Rodrigo walked back to the helicopter. ‘This is how we’ll do it,’ he said, pointing to Jack. ‘As soon as I give the signal, you begin to push the wheelchair over to them, understood?’

  Jack nodded.

  ‘A doctor will have a look at Stolzfus when you reach one another, which will be somewhere in the middle over there. If he’s satisfied, you continue, and so does Alonso. Clear?’

  ‘Did you tell them the professor has been sedated?’ said Agabe.

  ‘I did, and they understand.’

  Just then, two men began to walk slowly towards them from the other helicopter about a hundred metres away. One was Alonso, the other the doctor. ‘Now. Go!’ said Rodrigo. Jack nodded towards Agabe and began to push the heavy wheelchair forward.

  A moment to remember, thought Tristan as he watched Jack coming towards him, the wheels of the wheelchair digging into the wet sand and making progress difficult and awkward.

  As he approached the two men, Jack kept staring at Alonso, stony-faced and silent, coming towards him in his ill-fitting orange prison uniform he had worn since leaving Arizona just a few days ago. Jack knew he was looking at his half-brother, but to his surprise he couldn’t feel anything but indifference, and a twinge of embarrassment and pity. While the doctor briefly examined Stolzfus and took his pulse, Jack stared at Alonso, who avoided his gaze and looked away.

  Speak to him for Christ’s sake, thought Jack, choking. He desperately wanted to reach out and say something, but couldn’t find the words.

  Then the moment passed. Satisfied, the doctor turned to Jack. ‘Let’s go,’ he said and helped Jack with the wheelchair. Without looking at Jack, Alonso turned away and began to walk towards his father’s helicopter, and freedom.

  Suddenly, a mighty thunderclap shattered the stillness of the morning and heavy raindrops began to fall, churning up the sand like rubber bullets. Then the heavens opened and bolts of lightning lit up the dark sky. The wheelchair almost got bogged down completely as the wheels sank into the wet sand, rapidly turning it into a quagmire.

  The doctor was watching Stolzfus with concern when suddenly, Stolzfus opened his eyes. His breathing became erratic and an expression of panic and fear contorted his pale face as another deafening thunderclap rolled across the beach and shook the ground like an earthquake.

  ‘There, look!’ shouted Jack and pointed to Stolzfus’s face. Stolzfus had his mouth open and blood was running down his chin and neck. He was choking.

  ‘Good God!’ shouted the doctor. ‘We must get him back to the ship – quickly!’

  By now it was so dark that it was almost impossible to see the helicopter through the dense curtain of rain. ‘Help! Over here!’ shouted the doctor and began to wave frantically, trying to attract the attention of the marines guarding the helicopter. One of the marines saw him waving and came running over. Another followed, and together they lifted Stolzfus’s wheelchair out of the wet sand and carried it across to the waiting helicopter.

  ‘We meet in the strangest places,’ said Tristan, slapping Jack on the back as he helped him lift the wheelchair into the helicopter. ‘Great to see you, mate.’

  ‘Reminds me of the Calypso just before she sank in Somalia, only there the wheelchair went down with the ship,’ said Jack.

  ‘And you were rescued by a chopper,’ said Tristan, grinning, ‘just like now.’

  Moments later, the helicopter took off. Inside, the doctor tried frantically to stem the blood flow and keep Stolzfus’s airways clear to allow him to breathe.

  ‘What’s wrong with him?’ asked Andersen, trying to stay calm. This was the last thing she needed.

  ‘Don’t know. We have to get him back to the Endeavor as fast as we can,’ said the doctor. ‘Every minute counts!’

  ‘He’s trapped in a useless body,’ said Tristan. ‘He’s scared. It’s like drowning in a straitjacket; I know ...’ Tristan turned to Jack. ‘Talk to him, mate,’ he said. ‘He knows you and trusts you.’

  Jack nodded. ‘It’s all right, Zac,’ he said to Stolzfus, who was staring at him with bulging eyes. ‘We are out of the storm and my notes are right here, see?’ Jack pulled a wad of papers covered in equations and strange-looking diagrams out of his coat pocket and held them up. ‘The theory of everything is safe.’

  Stolzfus kept watching him. Suddenly, his face relaxed, his breathing became calmer and the bleeding stopped.

  ‘That’s better,’ continued Jack, keeping eye contact with Stolzfus and his voice calm to reassure him. ‘With you like this and a bit of luck, I should win the next game,’ he added. Jack thought he detected a hint of a smile on the professor’s anxious face.

  The doctor looked at Jack and Tristan, amazed. ‘Well done, guys. This should buy us some time.’

  Agabe was right, thought Jack. It’s the stress.

  Andersen was watching Jack and Tristan. ‘You are quite a team,’ she said. ‘I can see that now. Good to have you on board, Jack.’

  ‘Glad to be here, Major. It’s been an interesting journey.’

  ‘I bet,’ said Tristan and embraced Jack. ‘Good to have you back in one piece, mate.’

  ‘Was this the kind of little adventure you had in mind when we left Venice?’ asked Jack, a sparkle in his eyes.

  ‘Not exactly, and I certainly didn’t count on having to rescue you on a deserted beach in South America in the middle of a storm.’

  ‘What took you so long?’

  ‘The navy’s fault, mate.’ Tristan shook his head. ‘They sent an aircraft carrier!’

  ‘Was that necessary?’

  ‘You are an important guy, Jack.’

  ‘Ah. Well, that explains it. Nothing to do with the professor then? But an aircraft carrier?’

  Listening to the banter, Andersen was unable to suppress a smile. These two have an incredible bond, she thought. Australians!

  53

  Bogota: 18 July, 2:00 pm

  To the uninitiated, life on an aircraft carrier would appear alien and strange. Several thousand highly trained personnel going about their duties with almost robotic efficiency in ridiculously confined spaces, often with little or no privacy, can only work with strict rules and relentless discipline. Obeying orders is paramount and stepping out of line unthinkable, as it could endanger the lives of many and put critical opera
tions at risk.

  Nobody understood that better than Andersen. Civilians on board like Jack and Tristan were a rare curiosity and they were kept segregated from general operations. They had to share a tiny cabin they were assigned next to Andersen’s. Most of the ship was strictly off limits and the maze of corridors and different levels made moving around difficult.

  To find Stolzfus in such a bad state during the handover had caught everyone by surprise. Even Jack, who had spent a lot of time with Stolzfus since he had come out of the coma, was shaken by the professor’s sudden decline. Immediately after landing on the Endeavor, Stolzfus was taken to the sophisticated medical facility on board, equipped with cutting-edge technology and knowhow, and access to top specialists in the United States via video link for assistance with diagnosis and treatment.

  Andersen was on the bridge, reporting to McGregor. ‘You did everything by the book, Major,’ said McGregor. ‘Professor Stolzfus’s condition is regrettable, but it doesn’t change anything, nor would it have altered the handover in any way had we known about it earlier. Getting the professor back alive was paramount regardless of his condition, and we have achieved that.’

  ‘If you say so, sir.’

  ‘I have already discussed it with the secretary of state and the CIA. The professor is now in the best of hands and there’s nothing further you or I can or should do about that.’

  McGregor paused, searching for the best way to broach the next, extremely sensitive subject. He had only received the top-secret instructions moments before the helicopter with Stolzfus on board had landed.

  ‘But that is not to say this is the end of the matter ...’ continued McGregor, carefully watching Andersen.

  ‘Oh? What do you mean, sir?’ said Andersen, sensing a warning on her finely honed intelligence radar.

  ‘I have just received certain orders and they concern you, Major.’