Trees Hold Up the Sky 12 William James Johnson

The rainy season came early to San Fernando de Atabapo. The racket of water cascading off the corrugated awning was the first sound Jess was aware of since going into a coma three weeks ago. He tried to focus on the slim outline of the young woman moving quietly about his room, silhouetted against the shuttered window. His attempts to speak made his chest burn with excruciating pain. Bound like a mummy to help the healing of several ribs cracked by Barbarosa, he lay rigid, a cast around his head to immobilize his fractured skull.

Pausing at the foot of the bed, she was sure he had tried to speak. She studied the inert form of the injured scientist, surprised as was everyone, that Jess had survived the brutal attack.

"Is that you Laura?"

This time she heard him clearly. Hurrying to his side, she bent over his bandaged face and spoke softly. "It's Estrelle, Doctor Martin."

"Estrelle Garvas?"

"That's right...oh I'm so glad you are finally conscious. We've all been so worried."

"How are the others?"

"Doctor Newton still has a patch on his head, but he's doing fine."

"And Doctor Marsh?"

"That was such a tragic experience for poor Doctor Marsh."

"Is she okay?...Tell me."

"That fat beast cracked one of her ribs when he was on top of her. Other than that, she seems physically all right. It's her mind that troubles us."

"What do you mean? What's wrong with her mind?"

"She still seems to be in a state of shock from that monster's attack, and she's afraid to talk to anyone. Captain Verez has been trying to help her, but it really is sad. She keeps blaming herself for your dreadful injuries."

Hearing the horrible plight of his lover, stimulated his adrenaline, and Jess began to see and hear more clearly. "How long have I been out of it?"

"Today was the end of the third week. We were beginning to doubt you would survive."

"Estrelle, please go and get the others."

"Right away Doctor. Will you be all right alone?"

"I'm not going anywhere."

Hank Newton was the first to come to see him. A bandage covered the cut on his forehead where he struck the bureau. He appeared to have lost some weight during the past few weeks.

"Jess...You have no idea how glad I am you've come out of your coma. We've been worried sick."

"It'll be awhile before I can give you a run for your money, but I really think I'm on the mend at last."

"Wonderful...that's great news. I know Joe Frum will be just as delighted as me. He's been contacting Stuart everyday on our radio link. It's been terribly frustrating having to report there's no change in your condition."

"Forget about me. What's happened to Laura?"

"She's been through hell Jess."

"Is she going to make it?"

"Oh I think so...It's you, and this borderline condition you've been in, that I think has hurt her the most. She blames herself for what you went through."

"I don't understand. She had nothing to do with it. It was that fat bastard who damn near killed me. Why would she blame herself?"

"Don't tell her I told you, but the other night, after some heavy drinking, she unloaded her true feelings about all this horrible experience. Laura thinks that if she had given in to Barbarosa, neither of us would have been injured."

"That's a crock. We both know the slob wouldn't have let her go until he had ruined her. It wasn't her fault. She didn't ask to be raped. If anything, Verez ought to have his ass in a sling for not putting a guard on her room. He knew she was scared of the guy."

"Verez is full of remorse himself, particularly after his unsuccessful attempts to get us to abandon the project. Apparently Obispo raised hell with him for not protecting us better."

"Where's Laura now?"

"With the Captain. They've been spending a lot of time together."

Newton had no idea how involved Jess and Laura had become. Even in his weakened condition, Jess regretted hearing this about her. He felt they had something special together, and he didn't want to share her with anyone else.

"I thought you should know, Joe went to see Martha for you. She'll be glad to hear you're finally back in the land of the living."

"Good old Joe...What did he have to say about all this?"

"He's sorry he got you and Laura mixed up in the whole thing. He wants you to come home as soon as you can be safely moved."

"Home! I'm not going home."

"But Jess...You're not strong enough to be trekking through the jungle, taking on whatever might come our way. I think Joe's right. I think we should turn the whole thing over to the Colombians. If they want us to help them analyze the symbols after they've recorded them, we can do it back home, in the safety of our labs."

"Goddamn it Hank...We came down here to do a job, and I don't want to go back until it's finished. Stand by me old buddy."

Hank tried to calm him down with a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Why don't we give you more time to get well before we make a final decision?"

"Okay. I can live with that...Now would you please find Laura for me. I really want to see her."

"Of course. You get some sleep. I'll get her here as soon as I can...I'm sure glad you're back with us."

Estrelle returned to his room as Hank left. She sat beside his bed, a book in her hand. The constant rain no longer upset him. In fact, the monotonous sound had a comforting affect on the injured scientist. He tried to sleep, but the picture of Verez and Laura together, making love in the Commandante's luxurious apartment antagonized him. He couldn't blame her if she had decided to have an affair with him. He was sure she wouldn't have done anything if he were still physically able to satisfy her. With the strength of her sex drive, he was surprised she hadn't gone after Hank and Stuart as well.

With his eyes shut, he began to remember that exciting afternoon with Laura, his imagination recreating the picture of her soft buttocks thrust in his face, as he balanced himself on the bath tub, her hand moving vigorously up and down the split, readying it for his thrust. As he daydreamed, he could feel a surging between his legs, and the pressure of the blankets against his groin bore down on his erection. He smiled, happy to feel that it still worked. He opened his eyes to see for himself, embarrassed to discover Estrelle had put down her book, and was focused on his rising mound.

"The power of positive thinking," he said.

"Let me pull back the covers. It'll make it easier for you."

She was right. Without the weight of the blankets, his penis pushed its way through the opening in the pyjama bottoms, revealing itself majestically before Miss Garvas.

"Sorry about that. Sometimes it seems to have a life of its own."

"Do not apologize Doctor. You should be proud God has blessed you so well."

Jess began to laugh. He'd never heard anyone refer to God in talking about an erection. Actually that wasn't true. He had forgotten he'd used the expression, "Thank God", when he was having a go at a young student, in the cramped back seat of her sports car, when the awkward contortions made the development of a significant erection almost impossible, and his silent prayer was answered.

"I must confess Miss Garvas, I'm embarrassed this is happening, when I hardly know you."

"Don't be embarrassed Doctor. For the past three weeks, I have been honoured to be your personal nurse. I have seen more of you than most husbands and wives ever see of each other."

"Then you have me at a disadvantage. I've never seen you, if you know what I mean."

"I wouldn't want you to think I've taken advantage of you," she said smiling.

Estrelle went to the door, and slid the bolts at the top and bottom. "There. Now we won't be bothered."

"But Hank's gone to get Laura. What if they catch us?"

She began to slip out of the white nurse's uniform she was wearing. Her ivory skin against the white underwear was driving Jess crazy. "Doctor Marsh and Arturo have gone up river for the day. He has been trying to get her to be more involved in what he does, to take her mind off her fears. We won't be disturbed."

Her assurance, made his erection pound with anticipation. Watching her lovely breasts jiggle gently as she released them from her bra made him forget the throbbing inside the cast which covered his head. Slowly she pulled down her panties, and he could see small sparkles of moisture catching the light on the black curly hairs that covered her mons.

"Leave the stockings on. It's more provocative that way."

"Whatever you say my darling...You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this."

She squeezed into the narrow space on the single bed beside him, and began kissing his dry lips. She moistened his mouth with her tongue, her hand playing with his penis, gently rubbing it against her abdomen, making it trace small circles around her navel.

"Why me Estrelle?"

"Because you're sexy. You look at a woman, and she knows you want her. I felt that way at Obispo's dinner, when you stood up and applauded me. I want to make love with you, because I love you."

Jess was shocked by her confession. Laura seldom mentioned love when they were together, and here was this magnificent young woman proclaiming her love. It made it all seem better some how.

"Estrelle...Love is a powerful word. You should take care how you use it."

"I said I love you. I'm not asking you to love me. Just let me do what I can to make you feel better."

She spread her thighs apart, and slid down his legs, below his knees and began to kiss his rigid penis, stroking it up and down, her dark hair cascading over his body. His hips pushed up and down in synchronization with her stroking, grabbing and releasing of his organ with a gentle slapping sound, like a child playing with a new toy. This was better than any medicine they could have given him. He was feeling alive again.

"Turn around Estrelle. Let me give you some pleasure too."

"But your cast. I might hurt you."

"I don't care. I just want to taste your sweetness. Come on. Turn around."

As she moved to accommodate him, he watched her firm breasts moving gently beneath her. She settled comfortably in her new position. He put a hand on each beautiful roundness. The lovely cheeks of her bottom parted, and small drops of creamy liquid drooled on to his chin. Pushing his tongue into the pink folds of her vulva, it searched for her tiny erection. Finding it, he took it between his teeth and applied a gentle pressure to it.

"Oh...oh Jess. That feels marvelous. No one has ever done that to me before. It's a mixture of pain and pleasure. Oh God it burns, and tickles, and vibrates. It's so wonderful. Better than I ever imagined."

She stopped speaking, taking his glans into her mouth, licking its beaded edge, sending darts of pleasure up his spine. She rubbed his bursting organ around her face and touched her ears with it, playing like a kitten with a catnip mouse. His whole body was charged with excitement. His tongue buried deep in her vagina, was developing a painful cramp as it tried to become a secondary penis. She helped him with his oral loving, by bobbing up and down on his sodden mouth.

Prying her cheeks apart, he saw the puckered lips of her anus, tiny beads of sweat forming on the fine hairs. He stuck his finger in her vagina and lubricated it thoroughly with her own juices, then he pried open the tight rear end, inching carefully into her, each movement sending sparks throughout her body.

She took the lead from him, and pushed a finger into his bottom, the initial surge made him thrust upwards and she caught his penis firmly between her lips. The pleasure they were giving each other had to be sinful. They had gone beyond the bounds of ordinary love making.

"I can't wait anymore dearest," said Jess. "I've got to feel it deep inside you."
As she turned towards him, he saw his juices on her mouth and welcomed the taste as she slid her tongue between his lips. Spreading her legs, she lowered herself on his tumescence, working it into her vagina, slowly at first, then more and more vigorously thrusting her body up and down. He could see the rising and falling of her magnificent bottom as she drove him deeper and deeper into her.

"Oh Jess...Oh my darling love. I'm coming my dearest, coming...oh...ah."
He had no idea how long he kept shooting into her. His head got dizzy, and suddenly, he was no longer there. The world had gone the same as it had done for the past few weeks.

"Jess...My God Jess."

Still mounting his lifeless body, Estrelle put her head against his chest and listened to the beating of his heart. It was her turn to express a silent prayer of gratitude. He was still alive. His penis had fallen out of her and lay, uninterested between her thighs. Getting off her patient, she dressed quickly, and rearranged the blankets. Looking back at Jess, she unbolted the door, and opened it. Returning to her chair beside the bed, she picked up her book, and waited for Hank to return with Laura.

She had fallen asleep in her chair by the time they arrived. Laura tapped her gently on the shoulder. She had been sleeping soundly after her furious session with Jess, and Laura's light taps startled her.

"Oh...Doctor Marsh. You're back."

"What's wrong with Jess? He's as still as death."

"I'm not sure what happened, but I think Doctor Martin has had a relapse."

"Relapse!"

"We were talking, and he closed his eyes, and he hasn't opened them since."

"Is he all right?"

"His heart sounds fine, and his blood pressure is all right, but he's unconscious again."

Laura was terribly disappointed. She took his hand in hers and gently called his name.

"Jess...Jess it's Laura. Can you hear me Jess?" No response. She looked at Hank, anguish in her tear drenched eyes. "I should've stayed with him."

"Don't punish yourself Laura. He's going to be fine. He told me himself. It's just a matter of time."

Verez came into the room, and went to Laura and put his arm around her
.
"Come on Laura. Hank is right. It's going to take time."

"But look at him...He's so still. What can I do?"

"No one can do anything for him now. Estrelle will take good care of him. He needs his rest. No visitors Estrelle. You take good care of Doctor Martin. I'll have them bring a bed in here for you. I don't want you leaving him without telling me. Is that understood?"

"Yes Commandante. I will do as you ask."

"I'll have my chef prepare your meals, and Rosarita will bring you fresh clothing. I want my friend Jess to have the best of care. It's not just me. Even Secretary Obispo wants the best for our visitors."

"I understand Captain. I will do whatever you ask."

"Good girl. Your father would be proud of you."

As they left, Estrelle remembered what Obispo had promised her. She and her father would both have their freedom when this job with the Americans was completed. She remembered he had said, "I want you to keep on top of the good Doctor..." She wondered if he had meant that literally. There wasn't much she could do about it now. She looked down at the sleeping patient, and glanced towards the door to check she was really alone. Bending down, she kissed him softly on the lips and whispered.
"I will do whatever it takes my love...I love you so much dearest Jess."

The gentle sound of her voice registered somewhere inside his head. He thought he was dreaming, a very pleasant dream, of a beautiful mestizo girl, her ivory flesh like a fine work of art, crowned with flowing blue black hair, and deep brown eyes, standing beside his bed, proclaiming her love. How could a middle age crock like him ever attract such a splendid jewel?"