* * * * *
A sharp pain exploded from Buck’s side, then again and finally the distant words “Wake up, wake up, you! You can’t sleep here; besides you’ll freeze.”
Buck’s eyes, blinded by a piercingly bright light, attempted to focus on the situation. Where was he? Who was poking him in the ribs? Why didn’t his body want to work, and why couldn’t he reply? Suddenly he was jerked into the sitting position by the source of the light. Instinctively his hand groped upward toward his inflamed head.
“If you can stand, and you vacate the area now, I’ll forgo calling the wagon. But you’ll have to do it now.” The voice offended his ear but the meaning was clear.
Buck rolled to one side and began an agonizing crawl up the wall. Sudden death had its allure. Still trying to wet his lips, he attempted to justify his condition; “I must have let things get a little out hand.”
“I guess you could say that. Where did you start out?” The guard helped him straighten out his jacket, figuring Buck was honestly surprised at his own condition.
“A . . . a lounge . . . in the terminal” Buck looked around, hoping to locate his original starting point.
“You must mean the Flight Line. That’s just inside the door. They must have helped you out the door. Did you have any luggage?”
“Oh geez; my luggage; yeah, I had a couple of things. I gotta . . .”
“If one of them had car batteries in it I think it got sent to security. You can pick your stuff up there.”
“Boy I’ve had a bad day.” Buck’s mind had begun to clear, and he trusted himself to speak.
“You and me both; I’ve had two dead people to deal with on my shift. You were looking like a third.”
“Two?” Buck’s mind began to gain speed on reality.
“Yup; one got himself run over by a service truck and the other died of a heart attack in the coffee shop; a bad deal, either way.”
“Well thanks for not counting me out. I was over-due for a break today; which way to security?”
“Follow the signs inside the entrance around the corner. There is a night clerk on duty; she can help you. You might stop at the men’s room first. You wouldn’t want to scare the little lady to death.”
Buck forced a smile, “Thanks, it’ll happen.” Things were looking up.