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took a bolt right through the top of my head, but here I stand.”
    “You don’t have to-”
    “Sorry. No, I just fainted in the heat, and I’m fine.”
    “You had surgery.”
    “Minor, now-”
    “Sir, if you’re the director, I’m supposed to tell someone when you’re awake.”
    “Why?” And why had she asked about the lightning? Was Annie a victim, and did they somehow connect him with her? He didn’t want his mind to run away with
    him.
    “I don’t know, sir. I just do what I’m told. Six nurses and two aides are handling this whole floor, and some floors have fewer staff than that, so-”
    “I need to know where my phone is. I carry it with me, and it’s not in my uniform. I know you’re going to tell me to stay away from my uniform anyway, but-”
    “On the contrary, sir. You were sponge bathed when you were brought here, and if you’re ambulatory, I think you’re supposed to get dressed.”
    “You think?” This couldn’t be right. Something was wrong. David had been sure he’d have to sneak out, but now he was being given the bum’s rush?
    “I’ll get my supervisor, but you might as well start getting dressed. Can you do it yourself?” “Of course, but-”
    “Get started then. I’ll be right back. Or she will.” David had overestimated his strength. He pulled his stuff from the closet and sat in a chair to dress, but he was soon short of breath and dizzier than ever. His whole head felt afire, and it seemed his wound was oozing over both ears, but when he felt under the bandaging, he felt nothing. He didn’t want to think about the first time that dressing came off.
    With his uniform on and only socks and shoes to go, David opened the door wider to get light from the hall. He peered into the mirror and shuddered. Still in his mid-twenties with smooth, clear, dark skin and nearly black hair and eyes, he had often been mistaken for a teenager. Never again. When had he aged so?
    His face looked thin and drawn and, yes, his color lighter. He lowered his head and peeked atop it where the bandaging evidenced blood and ooze. The outer wrapping extended over his ears and beneath his chin, reminding him of dental patients from old movies. David’s head seemed to push against the tight wrapping, and when he gingerly put on his uniform cap, he knew it was more than his imagination. He couldn’t be sure how thick the bandages were, but between that and the swelling of his head, his cap rode atop him as if several sizes too small. Any thought of covering the effects of his stitching to avoid attention was hopeless. Maybe he could find a bigger-much bigger-cap, but there was no way to hide the wrap that extended under his chin anyway.
    The supervising nurse knocked gently and stepped in as David was pulling on his socks. She was a bottle

    blonde, tall and thin, about twice his age. He had to straighten up to breathe and let the pain subside every few seconds.
    “Let me help you,” she said, clearly Scandinavian, kneeling and putting on his socks and shoes and tying them. David was so overwhelmed he nearly wept. Could she be a Christian? He wanted to ask. Anyone with a servant spirit like that was either a believer or a candidate. “Ma’am,” he said, trying to remember to talk softly. She looked up at him and he studied her forehead, searching, hoping for the mark of the believer. None. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome,” she said quickly. “Happy to help and wish I could help more. If I had my way, you would be with us a couple more days at least, maybe more.” “I’d just as soon leave. I-”
    “Oh, I’m sure you would. No one wants to stay, and who can blame them? All the excitement, the resurrection, and all. But the potentate has called a meeting of directors and above, his office, at 2200 hours. You are expected.” “I am?”
    “When his office was told you had succumbed to the heat and had been injured and operated on, we were informed that if you were alive and