The Tumour
4:36PM
There we are - good girl! You did so well today, didn't you? Oh, yes you did! In fact, for how well you did today, I think you deserve a little treat.
Although, with that cone...hm. Suppose I could grab a few books and put it on top, so you can reach it? That could work?
Oh, don't give me that look. There's nothing I can do about it, you know that. It's just a temporary necessity to stop you from licking at the wound. What did the doc say - only 2 weeks or so and then it'll be off. And, you'll spend most of that time sleeping, anyway. You'll just have to get used to it, okay? Now, here's your treat.
There we go...good girl...
Right. Treats in, food in, water out, litter tray...I'll empty that in a bit. Sleep-wise, there's the sofa, guest bed, though I expect she'll still sleep with me tonight. Anything else to consider...oh, the calming tablets. I'll give her those in the evenings - any other time and she'd have my fingers for food before I could even try.
Hmm...
No tea bags. Great. Anything else in the cupboard? Argh, that instant coffee. How old is this? Granules look more like gravel. Nothing else in here, though. It'll have to do.
*click*
Oh, hello, you. Did you enjoy that? I'm afraid that'll be it for now. Why don't you get some kip, after the long day you've had? It'll do you a lot of good. Okay?
Good girl.
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...*click*
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Uh. Wh...where am I? Ah. Kitchen...why? Here to, uh...make...coffee. Kettle's boiled. Just need to grab a mug...two teaspoons in...then, water. Easy does it. Grab teaspoon...
Stir.
Okay.
(Strange. I should probably sit down.)
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Hm...oh? Why're you still here? I thought I told you to get some rest. Go on, you, off you pop.
...ugh. Minging.
(Feeling quite chilly all of a sudden, though, so...)
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Down the hatch!
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Ugh.
3:04AM
*tap*
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*tap*
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*tap*
Mmm...wh? What...are you...?
What are you doing? You, uh...want some food?
I...hm. Okay, if it means you'll stop scraping your cone on my back...
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Well, are you coming? You wanted some food, didn't you?
12:50PM
Fuck me, this headache...
(I haven't been out since Friday, so...is it something to do with her? Or...someone else at the vets? Or, wait: the 'coffee' I made after the op. That'll be it. God, I'd have poured that gravelly shite down the sink after the first sip, were I not so...out of it...)
(Anyway, that shop needs doing; if I don't get two paracetamol down me within the next hour I might just die. So: pills, tea bags, instant coffee - that didn't go out of date two years ago, ideally - and general foodstuffs. Spar should have all of those in.)
Alright, I'm just heading to the shops to get some bits and bobs. Won't be too long. Be a good girl while I'm gone, okay? Buh-bye.
*click*
Argh!
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*click*
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H...hah...
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I'll just...go...later. Right now...uh...up...stairs. Lie...down...
1:36AM
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*tap*
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*tap*
Oh, for Christ's sake! What's up with you? Three nights, now, of you nudging that bloody thing into my back, and for what? You don't want food, obviously - left every plate I've put out for you. You don't want to play. You just sit there.
And you never used to do this. It's only been since you got that disgusting lump of yours removed. I mean, have you ever thought about how much I had to shell out for that op? Typical of you to repay me with...whatever this is.
I just...argh...are you trying to tell me something? Show me something? Is there something on me? My ba...
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Oh.
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Well, aren't you funny?
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You funny, funny thing...
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You funny, funny little fucker.
So this is how you repay me...what, did you think this would be a laugh? Just, what, a silly little joke? A fucking prank?
I know you did this. Hahaha, of course you did. I mean, it can't just be coincidence for this to be...
DON'T-...don't give me that look. That faux-innocent, fucking, 'ooh, somebody help me,' look. You. Did. This.
Pff, oh, what am I doing. You're not going to admit it. Wouldn't be surprised if they fucking lobotomised you in there, what with how vacant you've been since, so sod that thought.
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Fuck. FUCK.
Okay. I'll just...uh...fuck, uh...maybe...she'll know. Yeah...she'll understand. She'll know that you did this, that this is your fault, and then she'll fix it. She'll make it go away, just like she did yours.
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Okay.
2:00AM
*ring*
*ring*
*ring*
...Ah. Good morning. What can I do for you?
Hi. Uh.
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You have to help me. That - that thing you removed the other day - it's...uh. It's...she gave it to me. I know, I know, it sounds impossible, insane even-
No. Don't worry. I understand. Completely. Come on in.
Oh, well...well, that's great! I was expecting to have to give you a whole tirade to explain what's happened, but, clearly, that-
Stop talking. Just follow me.
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'Course. Sorry.
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If you wouldn't mind, go and lie face down on that table there.
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Good. Now, as I did with her, I'll be placing you under general anaesthesia - I know you'll understand that such is necessary for a procedure like the one I'm about to carry out.
Yes, of course. Thanks again, Doc.
Good. Right, if you could just extend your right arm? Great. Take a deep breath. Alright, see you on the other side, when this pesky thing should be gone!
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MON 5TH, 5:48AM:
Completed procedures around 5 - didn't anticipate for it to take as long as it did. Had to act fast with regard to extracting it from the facility. It rejected the cone - they all do - and the leash at first, but ceased its resistance eventually (though it nearly took me asphyxiating the thing) and dragged itself along behind me.
We reached the house within 20 minutes or so. Removed the leash once I had closed the door - a mistake, I quickly learned, as the thing instantly began to rush about, squealing - so disturbing the other - and pounding itself against the door. A swift kick to the jaw did the trick.
I found a suitable bowl in the kitchen for the new addition; it'll have the same food as the other. That, I'll have to refill every night in the early hours; their dung will need cleaning out, too.
I would've had a doze on the rather comfortable spare bed upon which I'm writing but, due to my mismanagement of the time, I'll have to depart sharpish - I can see the sky beginning to brighten.
Leaving now. Will write later.
The Repeater
7PM, Sept 25th, Greensboro, NC
-An' I just don't know what to do.
-Just keep on sticking more food out for 'im. E'll come back soon enough.
-That's what I done the past two weeks - still ain't seen hide nor hair of the ol' feller.
-E's probably off on some lil' adventure, catchin' mice or whatnot. Eventually, e'll start missin' the food you gave 'im.
-Yup...wish there was a way I could keep track of 'im. You'd think what with where technology's at these days I could get me some app to do that, but...
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-I'm just hopin' he ain't gone nowhere bad, you know?
-I'm sure 'e ain't, Carl. It won't do you no good thinking like that neither.
-You're right. Thanks, Mike.
-No problem. I know how much you love that cat 'a yours, so, you know, I hope 'e gets back to you pronto.
-Yup. He can't have gone too far. I mean, it ain't like he can bolt with one leg missin'.
-Exactly.
-Sorry to butt in, but I wanted to second what Mike said. Thinking of you an' your little buddy, Carl, 'cus I know if I lost my Doug I'd be feelin' pretty lost myself.
-Hi, Nick - glad to hear y'in here. I appreciate you sayin' that, too. Had Felix close to 9 years now, an' it's been awhile since I been without him so...yeah, his absence is pretty noticeable.
-I can imagine, Carl. You got my number if you ever wanna talk about things, you know that.
-Echoing what Mr Nick said.
-Course, course...thanks, guys.
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-Anyway, Nick, how're you doin'? Highway been treating you well these past few nights?
-Well, Carl, things've been about as usual as always. Had to pull over the odd boy racer in the early hours, but apart from that it's been peaceful mostly.
-Glad to hear it.
-What about you guys, you had a good week?
-Mine's been alright. Took the grandkids to school almost every mornin' - daughter's had some early shifts at the warehouse - which I don't mind. Nice to see em'.
-That's nice.
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-Been purty un--tful for me. Th----ays goin'a church, taking walk-----the wife an' speakin' with y'all's all I go----look forward to, really.
-Speakin' of which, I'm goin' to Sunday Service with my daughter an' grandkids, so you'll be able to meet 'em, finally.
-Swell, I'll be lookin' forward to it.
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-Well, I'll tell you, my job'd be a whole lot more enjoyable if I was allowed to bring my receiver in the car with me.
-Come on, Nick, who'd notice! It'd be good to hear you more often in here, anyways. Love your company, Mike, but we've gotten close to runnin' outta conversation a good few times this week.
-Wow, Carl...
-What did I say? I said I loved your company. Just wish there were a few other voices in here ever' now and then.
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-Speakin' a' other voices...y'all hear from Brian at all lately?
-Now that you mention it...not since, uh, sometime last week, probly. Guessin' you haven't either, Mike?
-Nope. --ve you--ck?
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-Uh - sorry Mike, could you repeat that? Connection dipped a lil' when you spoke there.
-That's all ri--, was just wonderin' if you'd heard from Brian in the last week or so.
-Ah, Brian...no, not for a while.
-Mhm. Weird, e's usually one of our regulars. Was hopin' we could chat about the football.
-You think somethin's up with him?
-I dunno, Nick. Last time I heard from 'im was when he last spoke on this repeater, and that was on, uh...Monday, was it, Carl?
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-Think so.
-Right...
-You tried calling him?
-Nope, but I 'spose I could. Remind me to cawl 'im later.
-Yessir.
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-Moon's awful bright out tonight.
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-You sat outside, Nick?
-Yeah, I'm sat on the porch.
-Nice, nice. I'm in the front room. Might try to catch me a glimpse of it from my window.
-Do. Looks real pretty. I think it's a full moon, or somethin' close, anyway.
-Be a second.
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- Y'a----he------wailin' in------atic?
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-Mike? That you?
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-That wan't me.
-Like hell it wasn't.
-I'm serious. I dunno what that was.
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-Damn, weren't you right, Nick! Had to grab my phone an' go outside to take a picture - don't think it came out too great, though...
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-You hear that voice, Carl?
-What voice?
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-Honestly, it was probly nothin'. Me, I think it was Mike pullin' my leg - y'all know how I get when strange stuff like that happens.
-Nick, swear on my wife, that was not me.
-Hmph...
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-What was it?
-It don't matter now.
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-O-kay...
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-Well, uh, I'm gonna try an' catch some Zs before I'm due on patrol.
-Nick, come on - you ain't been here but 30 minutes.
-Sorry, Carl. I'll try to talk tomorrow. That thing just...I don't know. Weirded me out, man. Seriously, Mike, if that really was you, you better not do that shit again, 'least not when I'm around.
-Didn't I just swear on Josephine's life that that wan't me?
-Right, sure. Talk to you guys later.
-Alright, take care Nick. Lookin' forward to chatting with you tomorrow.
-Speak soon, Mr. Nick.
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-I'm probly gonna hit the hay, too. Feelin'...strange, all of a sudden. Doubt it's somethin' some Advil won't sort out.
-Mike...what was that sound y'all heard?
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-It was someone's voice. It was hard to gauge what exactly 'e was sayin' - feller must've had 'im some beaten up receiver, couldn't hardly hear 'im - but somethin' about, uh, 'wailin in the attic.' Whatever that was supposed to mean, well, I don't know.
-Huh.
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-Like Nick said, probly nothin'.
-I'll bet.
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-You don't believe it was me too, right?
-No, Mike. Nick was just irked - you heard the man, he gets antsy at anythin' remotely unusual.
-Well, okay. Speak to you tomorrow, Carl.
-You get yourself some good rest, bud. Speak to you tomorrow.
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-Oh, and don't you forget to give Brian a call.
-Ah, yup. Thanks for the reminder. Will do.
-Alright. Bye now, Mike.
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-Anyone else here?
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-Hm.
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9PM, Sept 27th
-Any luck with the phone?
-Nope, nothin'. What in the world is he playin' at?
-Wouldn't I like to know.
-No sign of him last night, none at church this mornin' an' none this evenin' neither. An', an' that would'a been a prime opportunity, at church, to prove to my daughter that I don't just sit talkin' to myself ever' night like she's got to thinkin' I do.
-Hah...true.
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-Was really hopin' Mike'd be around. He don't even know about my Felix comin' back home, and that was yesterday.
-Think you'll drop by his place in the mornin'?
-Reckon I'll have to. I mean, how else am I supposed to reach the guy?
-Yup. Not like you haven't tried ever' other means of communicatin' already.
-Mhm.
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-So where's your Felix right now? He with you?
-Yup - feller's curled up on my lap currently. I'd send you a photo if I'd only grabbed my phone before I came an' sat down on the couch.
-Ah well. Sounds cute, anyway.
-It sure is.
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-Just bein' able to sit, with my old kitty-cat on my lap, just sittin' an' strokin' his fur...it's somethin' I took for granted, you know?
-Yessir. Somethin' I surely take for granted with my dog, too.
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-Welp. To any of y'all listenin' in tonight, if you've got a lil' guy or two of your ow------uys----just give 'em a hug------at wai-----make sure they kno---he static?-----re loved.
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-Okay, so whoever's fuckin' with us, could you just give it up already? This shit ain't funny.
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-Carl, you there?
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-Y..yeah, I'm here, Nick.
-Uh...you sound...everythin' alright?
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-I'm good. It's just, uh...
-What?
-It's Felix. When that bit of interference happened, he nigh on hit the ceilin', an' now...well, he's a-hollerin' and, uh, scratchin' at the front door. Wantin' to get out.
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-Obviously, since he been back, the doors have stayed closed - held him up when Hayley and the kids left through the front, locked it again an' I ain't been out since. He might want to now but he ain't goin' nowhere.
-Lord...
-You big scaredy cat.
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-What did you call me?
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-What? Nick, I was talkin' to Felix.
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-Oh.
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-Well, fuck, man. We got some weird shit going on here, that's for sure. I mean, if that freaky ass voice don't stop buggin' us...
-What?
-I dunno, I just...don't know if I'd be willin' to stick around. You know I ain't one for bein' messed with.
-Really, Nick? That voice's appeared, what, twice? This guy'll eventually get tired of us and move on to the next repeater he can fuck with.
-But...I don't know, Carl...
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-Jeez. Maybe you are a scaredy cat.
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-Fuck you.
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-Nick?
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-Hmph. Fine, well you be like that. Not like you'll be stickin' around here for long, anyways.
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12AM, 30th Sept
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-Hey...it's, uh, Roger, speakin'. Know I ain't much of a talker on here - though I do listen in, when I can - but, uh...
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-Carl, are you there?
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-Well, uh...I mean, if you're choosin' not to speak, then, I guess, hi anyway. Hope you're doin'...uh...
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-Scrap that. I got no clue how you're feelin'.
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-All I'm left thinkin' is...how? You know, papers are suggestin' there was one turn in the road and he just, I dunno...he just miss it. But come on! Man was a highway patrol officer. Ain't no turn in the whole 'a Guilford County he won't'a known about.
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-An', you know, I ain't spoken to Nick in a while, a long while in fact, but he wan't nothin' but completely professional. Never took his receiver during his shifts or nothin', even when no-one'd say a thing even if they could see him lookin' guilty as sin in his eyes.
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-Oh, yeah, and, uh, great to hear about your Felix comin' home the other day. Made me think back to when an hour wouldn't go by without me receivin' a picture of the lil' guy from you - think your Hayley'd just showed you how to use that smartphone she got you for Christmas. Haha...
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-Right, well, Carl, if you are there, then, uh, do think about sendin' me a text if you...well, if you want to. As I'm guessin' you know all too well, retirement gives you a ton 'a free time - sometimes makes me feel as though I'm goin' nuts - so I'm----guys-----uys...y'all hear it too? That wailin' in the static? It's stuc-----head. Thought it was just o------peater, but I kept hearing the s-------after I turned off my rec------...I------till hear it now.
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Guy------omeone, plea-------el---m------
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