THE MULE
Chapter 30
‘Peter.’
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‘Peter.’
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‘Peter.’
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‘Peter.’
………
‘Peter.’
My name. That was my name.
‘Peter.’
My name. Someone was calling my name.
‘Peter.’
Yes. I hear you.
‘Peter.’
Yes. I can hear you.
‘Peter.’
I can hear you, I said.
‘Peter.’
Jesus! ‘What?’
‘Everything’s okay.’
I knew that.
‘Peter.’
‘Jesus! What?’
‘Everything’s okay.’
‘I know!’
‘Do you?’
‘Yes! Of course! Why wouldn’t I?’
‘Everything’s okay.’
Jesus!
‘Peter.’
For Christ’s sake!
‘Peter.’
‘What? For Christ’s sake! What? I can hear you! I’m fine! I know that!’
‘Do you? Really?’
Jesus!
‘Where are you?’
Jesus!
‘Where are you?’
I’m here.
‘Where are you?’
I’m here.
‘Peter. Where are you?’
Jesus! ‘I’m here! For Christ’s sake! I’m here!’
‘Where’s here?’
Jesus! Ticked off. She was ticking me off!
‘Peter. Where’s here? Where are you?’
‘Jesus! I’m here! What part of here is so bloody hard to understand? Jesus!’
‘But where’s here?’
Hell! ‘Here’s here! It’s here! Okay? Here is bloody here!’
‘But what can you see?’
Jesus!
‘What can you see?’
‘See? See? I don’t have to see! I’m here! I know where I am! I’m here!’
‘But what can you see there?’
Jesus!
‘What can you see there? Look and tell me. Look and tell me what you see.’
Bloody hell!
‘Peter.’
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‘Peter.’
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‘Peter.’
‘What, for Christ’s sake! I’m here! I’m bloody here! Okay? And I can see everything! Everything! Now get lost!’
‘But what can you see? You have to look. Look, Peter, and tell me what you see. Open your eyes and look. Tell me. What do you see?’
Jesus!
‘Peter. Please. Look and see. Tell me what you see. Open your eyes.’
Jesus! ‘I can see! Okay? My eyes are open! I can bloody see everything!’
‘Peter. Open your eyes. Open your eyes and see. Tell me what you see. Open your eyes.’
‘Christ! They are open! Jesus! ‘They’re open! My bloody eyes are ope…’
‘Peter. Open your eyes. Please!’
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‘Peter.’
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‘Peter.’
………..
…………
‘Peter.’
My eyes weren’t open. I couldn’t see. And I didn’t know where I was.
‘Peter.’
My eyes weren’t open and I couldn’t see. And I didn’t know where I was. And I couldn’t feel, either.
‘Everything’s okay. I’m here. I’m right here with you.’
I couldn’t feel and I couldn’t see. And I didn’t know where I was. Jesus!
‘I’m here with you. Everything’s okay.’
Where was I? Where the hell was I?
‘Peter. I’m here. I’m here.’
Jesus! Where was I?
‘I’m here, Peter. Everything’s going to be fine. I’m here.’
Tina?
‘Peter. I’m here.’
Tina?
‘Peter.’
‘Tina?’
‘Yes! Oh, Peter!’
‘Tina?’
‘Oh, baby, yes! It’s me! It’s me!’
‘Tina? Where are you? Where am I? What’s going on?’
‘Peter! Everything’s okay! Open your eyes! Tell me what you see! Tell me what you see!’
What was Tina doing here? And where was here, anyway? Jesus!
‘Tina! What’s going on? Where are you?’
‘Peter! Please! Open you eyes! Open your eyes! Oh, baby, please! Open your eyes! Please!’
Okay. Okay. Jesus!
I opened my eyes. I saw. I didn’t understand, couldn’t comprehend what I saw. But I saw.
‘What can you see? Peter! Please! What can you see? Tell me! Please!’
How could I tell her what I couldn’t understand myself? What I couldn’t comprehend myself?
‘Jesus!’