Sarah opened her eyes and the light blinded her for a moment. Looking around, she saw she was in a hospital room. She was connected to a life sign monitoring system. It showed a steady heartbeat at normal frequency. Sarah disconnected the electrodes from her body and got out of the bed. The rocket had blown her off the stage and her back hurt. The life sign monitor flatlined as it did not receive any signal anymore. A nurse hurried into the room and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Sarah.
“Oh my. Excuse me, you can't leave your bed yet, governor,” the nurse said.
“Oh, sorry about that. I guess I'm a bit confused still.” Sarah glanced at the monitor, which the nurse switched off. “Do you know what happened after the explosion?”
“Not really. You had protected yourself with that shield of yours, so you were fine, but you were knocked unconscious. The medics brought you here, to Theodore Menn Hospital.”
“How long have I been here already?”
“Only about 30 minutes,” the nurse said. “Can I get you anything?”
“Hmm. Tea, please. Choose it yourself.”
The nurse nodded and said, “I’ll be right back.”
Sarah turned around and went to the window. The hospital was a large and tall building, more than thirty storeys by Sarah’s estimation. Her view fell on the Javinsky Mountains in the far distance, named after Professor Pablo Javinsky, who had first explored them 300 years ago. Sarah liked mountains from afar or on pictures, but up close her interest faded. Climbing had never been her forte. The nurse returned with her tea and Sarah thanked her. It had just the right temperature. Sarah gulped it down, her throat feeling as dry as a desert. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Sarah said, “Come in,” and Ishaan entered the room. His brown hair was dishevelled. He always messed up his hair when he was nervous. Sarah smiled and hugged him hard. “Are you okay,” she asked.
“Yeah, I am. Shouldn't I be asking that?”
Sarah chuckled. “I'm fine, don't worry. Have you found out who committed the attack?”
“It was a lone man. He hasn't yet stated any affiliation or motivation, at least not to my knowledge.” He looked around as if to ensure they were alone. “I have my own theories, though.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow. “Which are?”
“I think it might have been those chancellors. Think about it, they clearly don't like you and they pushed you towards making that appearance on the festival. Their ideas brought you directly into harm’s way.”
Sarah hesitated before replying, then said, “That's not true. They have no motive to kill me. They're politicians, not serial killers.”
“There is a difference?” asked Ishaan.
“Yes, there is. If they killed me, someone else would replace me. They can't escape having to deal with a governor. On top of that, if they killed the daughter of one of the Empresses, they’d be going down.”
“Well who else then?”
“Someone unaffiliated. Someone with the money and capability to break through our security measures. They might be working with a mole somewhere, but I doubt they’re in or near the chancellors’ offices. There are enough terrorists in the vicinity.”
“So your argument is that you doubt my argument?”
“No, my argument is that the chancellors have many other, much cleaner, ways of not cooperating with me. Killing me is messy and doesn’t help them at all.”
“Well, someone thought it would help them,” Ishaan said, ruffling through his hair. Sarah looked at the empty tea cup. Who could have tried to murder her, and why? Was it just her position or was there more to it? Another knock at the door startled Sarah.
“Come in,” she said and her chief of staff, Henry, entered.
“Governor, I’m happy to see you out of bed. Your car is here, and we can leave for the residence.”
Sarah nodded. “I’ll be right there.” Henry left the room again.
“We should discuss this with my parents when we get to the residence, Ish.”
Ishaan agreed.
The car, escorted by several police cars, drove through the maze of streets and parks that was Klendana. A beautiful city, but not very easy to navigate in. Thankfully Sarah had her driver to take care of that. Before long, they turned into the driveway of the residence and Sarah, Ishaan and Henry hurried to Sarah’s office. Upon sitting down in her chair, Sarah sighed.
“Well, that went well at least,” she said.
“For another attack, they would have to have penetrated layers and layers of security. Also, we made sure no one knew to which hospital you had been taken to, and when you would leave again. The perpetrators are most likely trying to escape the city right now. All available security forces are doing their best to prevent their escape.”
Sarah nodded and scrubbed her hands down her clothing. They weren’t dirty, but she felt the need to do so. After this day, she needed a lot of rest.
“Henry, do you have family?”
“I do, governor. Wife and three kids. They all look like her.”
Henry was grey-haired and had many wrinkles on his face. She guessed his age to be 70. His grandfatherly demeanor reminded Sarah of her uncle Olas back home on Zah’Aharon. Could Henry have plotted against her? A chief of staff, wanting their boss dead? No, it sounded too ridiculous. Even Ishaan was closer to the truth.
“Are they girls or boys?”
“Three boys, in fact. Drives me crazy. This life I chose, it’s not for family.”
“Why did you choose it, then?”
“Oh, I chose what I knew was right for me. It was the decision to have a family that I must now think about. It was the right decision. Look at me, I look old for my age. I’ve seen 100 year olds with less wrinkles.”
“Do you regret it?” asked Sarah.
“No, not for a second. But I admit it’s more complicated than I thought it would be. My wife is very happy though, and you know, with today’s medicine, I’ll be around when they turn my age with just a little luck.”
“Just a little luck...let’s hope we all can sit here in four years and say ‘We did a good job.’”
“Yes, let’s.” Henry and Ishaan smiled.
After a while of relaxing silence, Sarah said. “Henry, please cancel all other appointments for today. I just need a lot of sleep right now.”
Henry started to grin. “Already done, governor. You can count on me.”
“Thanks, Henry. I’m happy to hear that.”
Then Sarah and Ishaan wished Henry a good night and while Ishaan went to the bathroom to get ready for bed, Sarah just let herself fall into it. There was nothing that could make her get up again, not now and not here.
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