The Day of Legion Read Online Free PDF Page B

perfectly, and there were fresh towels and soap laid out. As he stood under the warm flow of water, he couldn’t help but think of his dream—and what Christopher had said. He knew it was just a dream, but it hit him hard and made him think. It felt so real.
    He went into the kitchen and prepared himself a breakfast; cereal and toast, with a grapefruit. He felt a little embarrassed eating food he hadn’t bought, but decided when he paid Christopher back for the hospital bills and the rent, he’d throw in extra to more than cover the food.
    While he ate he drifted off. He thought of Christopher—how he’d just shown up out of the blue but now seemed so familiar. How Christopher paid his hospital bills and got the house cleaned and taken over the lease to avoid him losing it. He shook his head, unable to comprehend it all. He figured there really were people in the world who were special and kind and human.
    Christopher wasn’t around the house. It didn’t look like he’d been around that much. John made his way outside and sat in the sun with a glass of water with a lemon slice. The fat, angry nurse had told him lemon was a natural skin cleanser, detoxifying aid and internal cleanser, and he should put slices of it in his water. She made sure to accentuate the word “water,” not gin or vodka.
    John smiled at the thought; the way she would storm into the room and give him a dirty look, as if he were taking up far too much of her time when she should be with other patients. The patients who deserved her time, energy and the healing power of her cheerful personality.
    The more he tried to think about other things, the more his dream kept returning to his mind. Everything Christopher had said to him and offered him while the dark anger swirled around them. He shook his head at thinking such thoughts like they were real, when he should be thinking about Jason, about healing himself, about getting back on track and paying his debts.
    The more he thought about the dream, about Christopher, the more he felt an urge to shout he wanted to take the deal, take the opportunity and get his son back. He knew it was crazy, insane, but he wanted it to be possible. “Just give me the chance,” he whispered to himself, holding his breath.
    Nothing happened. John laughed at himself. “Idiot,” he muttered. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but whatever it was it didn’t happen. No gongs, no smoke, no angels transporting him back in time; just a feeling of someone standing behind him.
    John jumped when he turned around and saw Christopher. He hadn’t made a sound. “Jesus, you scared me!”
    Christopher turned quickly in a theatrical way away from John. “Jesus? Where? Oh, you mean me.” He had a stupid smile on his face.
    John didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to tell another man, particularly one he didn’t really know, that he had dreamed of him the night before. He looked around and watched a sparrow fluff itself in the dirt.
    “What’s your decision?” Christopher asked.
    John spun around on his backside. He looked shocked and a little pale. “What did you say?”
    “You heard. It wasn’t a dream last night. Make a decision.”
    “This is crazy!” John said, shaking his head.
    “No, it’s life.” Christopher replied. “I told you there’s more to life than you or I can explain. Say yes and see what happens, or say no and see what happens.”
    With the dream still fresh in his mind and the way it made him feel, he couldn’t say anything else, even if was all just a scam or trick. He had to hear himself say it.
    “Yes.”
    * * * *
    John walked toward the school gates, holding Jason’s hand. The road ahead was busy, with the usual morning traffic. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and people were going about their business. He had to steady himself. He was fully aware of what happened. He thought he wouldn’t remember anything. A split second ago, he was