TLO Chapter 12

 Chapter 12

Lars being Lars wasn’t happy at all. Being shunned wasn’t included in his language or view of the world as it should be. 

This is Spain; yes, we have gay marriage but without a ring, you wait outside and stay away from the nurses’ paths. I love the Spanish Public Health System. 

Loyola came the next day (or I think so because one loses track of time in those intensive care windowless units) and she was very worried about me. The doctors had told her that the bullet had caused significant damage and I faced a long recovery to get full mobility of my left arm. 

I felt bad for her because she had left her baby with the cleaning lady. She needed to return home as soon as possible because the school where she worked at wasn’t going to give her more than two free days. 

“Eric, you know you shouldn’t be near weapons,” she told me. “Remember all the times we had to duck for cover when you were around.”  

“I wasn’t shooting at all!” I defended myself. “I only saw some birds flying-and none of them crapped on me, so that’s an improvement in my luck-. One short sighted asshole mistook me for a rabbit.” 

“That’s your normal level of luck, jinx-boy,” she sighed with the resignation of the Virgin Mary. “Mr. Berggren is very upset for what happened and offers to take care of your medical expenses. I think you should accept his offer. You’d get better doctors and care there than here.” 

TLO Chapter 11

 Chapter 11

Nils Holgersson had enough of waiting for me and woke me up around midday. He just shook me awake and nearly caused me a heart attack. Supreme boss was out for the day and I was supposed to move my derrière-my headaches were none of his concern- and drive with him to the place where the hunt was taking place. 

I growled but got up, dressed and ate breakfast. I suddenly remembered my sister Loyola but Holgersson told me the visit had been cancelled. It enraged me but he didn’t care (I guess his boss can put on a bigger show than me) and told me to sit and wait till four when we would be driving to the place. 

Who the hell in his right mind hunts in the middle of the summer? It’s not only forbidden but crazy. Wait till autumn. I hate hunting and I did my best to prove to the world what a lousy hunter I was, but for Spanish nobility hunting is a must. Brits also chase the hell out of every fox they can but don’t walk the extra mile a Spaniard is willing to do. Do you want a new international contract? Do you want support from somebody here? Well, be ready to butcher some quails, ducks, rabbits, venison, sea cucumbers and a long etc. 

Maybe the sun had done my dirty work and killed Lars and his party of insolation. 

TLO Chapter 10

 Chapter 10

The flight to Salamanca was too short. Do planes fly faster when they know they’re making your life miserable? I don’t know. Lars was too busy to tell me; He had a board meeting organised in the plane and the guys were supposed to fly back to London that same evening. Way to screw up your staff just because you want tapas for diner. Up to his secretary looked at me upset. It wasn’t my idea, guys. 

As expected we were again in the same hotel, with adjoined rooms this time. I tried to sneak out of his radar but it was impossible. He had already planned a meeting with the architect and (joy of joys) the contractor.

Having survived the impression (well shock) of seeing my home totally torn out of its walls, pipes, electrical cables and tiles in many places, the architect explained me what he was planning to do. The man had simply taken over as my lack of enthusiasm for the works was understood as cluelessness. The forty-eight percent owner took over also and I was pushed aside as they both discussed -first in English to my benefit and later in Swedish- what was to be done. I was asked again about the same things as before and my choices stayed the same. I guess the architect wanted to play safe and preferred to have Lars to agree with me. He only changed one or two things and I didn’t object it. 

Everything was running smoothly, despite the heat, when my little elephant decided it had been quiet for a long time. Enough is enough, it said to himself and peed on me.