Ulysses and the Fugitive
By Alfred Underhill
Chapter 15 - Tired and Sore
T
he ride back to Giles's flat was silent. The weight of the conversation and the desperate plan hatched inside
the diner crushed their collective will for further conversation. Giles parked his car, and the three of them
trudged into his apartment.
Giles switched on some lights and put his car keys on the kitchen counter. He pulled a beer out of the fridge and
held it up for both Ulysses and Nera to see. It was his way of asking if they wanted one too. They both nodded yes.
He grabbed two more, popped the tops off, and handed them to his guests. The three clinked their bottles together.
Giles and Ulysses muttered a cheers that Nera joined them in a beat later. Giles moved out of the kitchen and down
the hall to his living room.
He turned on the TV and began flipping through channels. Ulysses sat down next to Giles, and Nera sat on Ulysses's
opposite side. Giles channel surfed for a minute or two, until he settled on the soccer game that was originally on
screen when he first turned on the TV. He sipped his beer.
"When, you reckon?" Said Giles, staring at the TV.
" I don't know yet. Soon probably," said Ulysses, glancing at Nera. "We need to figure it out, quick."
Giles nodded in response. "Can't say I envy either of you," he said, drinking his beer. "Don't feel like you have to
rush on account of me. As I said earlier, you're welcome to stay as long as you like."
"Thanks, man. That means a lot. Sorry you got tangled up in all this. I'm hoping that when we go...eh, I'm just
hoping this is it, as far as hassling you with this stuff goes." Ulysses's felt too tired and scattered to elaborate more.
"No worries, mate," Giles's voice sounded flat. "You should probably still try to see a doctor tomorrow though,
yeah?"
"Yeah, you're right. You got one in mind?"
"I'll call my doctor's office now and leave a message," said Giles. He muted the TV and pulled out of his phone.
After leaving a voicemail he unmuted the TV. "Probably hear from them early tomorrow."
"Thanks, Giles." Ulysses saw his friend nod once, still staring at the game. He could tell Giles was tired too. Ulysses
knew his friend didn't like the idea of him surrendering his freedom with Nera. Giles probably thought it was more
than Ulysses owed her. Under a different set of circumstances he'd probably agree with Giles. He trusted his
Australian friend's judgment, yet he just couldn't bring himself to leave Nera to face the hyssopshebolith and the
U.S. Government alone. Ulysses tilted the bottom of his beer bottle toward the ceiling.
"I think I'm going to finish my drink and go to bed," Ulysses murmured.