From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   CHAPTER SEVEN   
      
   Despite his apprehension, Skinner ended up liking the doctor.  He   
   didn't expect to, but the guy was funny, always cracking a joke and   
   there was no doubt about the fact that he knew his business.  He joked   
   off Skinner's initial brusqueness by telling him a story about a   
   butterfly and a bear.  Skinner sneered but he got the point.  Just   
   because the bear was a thousand times larger than the butterfly, there   
   was no need to eat it to prove anything.  There was nothing to prove;   
   the entire universe could see that the bear was bigger and stronger   
   than the butterfly.  In the end the bear accepts the butterfly's help   
   and he was shown a safe path through the woods, away from the hunters.   
    He would accept Dr. Kim's help but he wouldn't like him.  By the end   
   of the week they were fast friends, Skinner was up on his feet with   
   the walking cast that had been placed on his injured leg, and he was   
   peeking out the windows watching the goings on in the village.  His   
   cough was nearly gone; he was eating several small meals a day and   
   could feel his strength returning.   
      
   He had been given crutches, which he detested but it did enable him to   
   get around.  Once on his feet again, he felt better – a bit of control   
   in the midst of this uncontrollable situation.  He still had questions   
   but had no idea where to get the answers.  He liked Dr. Kim, even   
   though he hadn't wanted to, but he had few answers to the many   
   questions that plagued Skinner.   
      
   Alex visited with him every day and they would sit and talk for hours.   
    Skinner asked if there was anyone else in camp that they knew and was   
   told no.  They talked about Mulder and Scully and wondered and hoped   
   that they were hidden out somewhere.  They wondered if there were   
   other settlements like theirs where free people were struggling to   
   survive.  They discussed their situation and wondered if it was   
   world-wide or just the U.S. and what the eventual outcome would be.    
   Alex always gave his standard answer to that.  They couldn't worry   
   about the future right now.  All they could do was survive and help as   
   many others as possible to survive as well.  Skinner reluctantly agreed.   
      
   One afternoon as they talked Skinner asked, "So why me, Krycek?  Why   
   did you go all that way just to get me out?  I thought you hated me."   
      
   Krycek sat on the stool beside Skinner's bed and shrugged.  "It was   
   something to do."   
      
   Skinner glared at him, not accepting the glib answer.  "You told me   
   you've been going to the different camps and taking out people who   
   were needed.  I have nothing to offer to the planning and setting up   
   of a new community.   
      
   "I also said we were taking out family and friends."   
      
   "I'm neither of those to you or anyone else here."   
      
   "Maybe I just wanted someone here that I knew, someone that I knew I   
   could rely on."   
      
   Skinner stared at him until Krycek was uncomfortable enough to leave.   
    None of it made any sense.  He wondered if his mind was still muddled   
   from his illness.  There was something behind Krycek's traveling half   
   way across the country to rescue him.  He just couldn't figure out   
   what it was.  He was too weak to give it much thought and relaxed and   
   dozed off again.   
      
   He paced the floor of the small two bed dispensary and used his bad   
   leg as much as he could with the crutches.  It was awkward and   
   uncomfortable but at least he could make it to the bathroom by himself   
   and no longer had to suffer the indignity of using the bed pan.  He   
   spent a lot of time looking out the window and watching the small   
   community go about its business.     
      
   After ten days of mostly bed rest, Skinner talked Dr. Kim into   
   releasing him.  He was given quarters in the one of the men's   
   barracks.  He enjoyed walking around, greeting the people who were all   
   friendly and welcomed him warmly.  He was about to check out the   
   cafeteria when he heard a yell and everyone headed towards the front   
   of the camp site at the rivers edge and watched three motorcycles   
   crossing the bridge and heading their way.  It wasn't until they were   
   closer that you could see each was carrying a passenger.   
      
   Two young men in high school letter jackets burst from the group and   
   ran to them calling out, "Dad!  Dad!"  It was a touching reunion, with   
   hugs and tears and handshakes.  The three new comers were welcomed   
   then escorted to the dispensary for Dr. Kim to check out.  One of them   
   had an arm around each son and wept openly.   
      
   Skinner watched until they disappeared into the dispensary and   
   continued his wandering.   
   There were six buildings in their little community and he could see   
   two more were in the process of being erected.  All were the same   
   style; large rectangular one story buildings, a door on the front and   
   the back, and small rectangular windows along the top on both sides.    
   They resembled the old military barracks that Skinner remembered.  He   
   found out that there were three men's dormitories, one for the women,   
   one was the combination cafeteria/kitchen/hospital and one was for   
   storage.  The dormitories had twelve bunk beds along each long wall   
   with a shelf unit in between for each person's meager possessions.    
   Each building could accommodate forty eight people.   
      
   Everyone seemed to be busy doing things.  Those working on the   
   buildings were being assisted by smiling chatting others who were   
   handing them whatever they needed or bringing them drinks.  Some were   
   unloading lumber from a truck and stacking it, some were busy sanding   
   long boards, while others were painting the latest building that was   
   completed.  There was a constant hum of sawing and hammering going on.     
      
   Over by the kitchen two men and one woman were sitting outside peeling   
   huge pots of potatoes and talking and laughing.  They waved at him and   
   called out their welcomes to him.  He wandered around, enjoying the   
   freedom, the fresh air, and the thought that he no longer had to hide   
   out in deserted buildings and scavenge for food for survival.   
      
   He found Alex, sitting at a small card table under some trees with   
   several others; obviously making plans of some sort.   
      
   "I see Dr. Kim finally let you go."  Alex greeted him with a smile.    
   Someone brought a chair for him and Alex introduced him around.  They   
   were planning their next retrieval for after lunch and making lists of   
   what was needed.   
      
   "You want to go along for the ride?"  Alex asked him.  "It's a small   
   town, about an hours drive.  We know the schedule the aliens have for   
   inspecting the small towns around here and they haven't deviated from   
   that schedule in two years.  They were through this town two days ago.   
    So they are no where in the area and there's no chance of them   
   hearing our trucks.  I can't promise you it's totally safe, once in a   
   while we do run across other scavengers but they usually take off like   
   rabbits when they see us.  We haven't seen anyone there in the last   
   few months."   
      
   "Oh yeah, I'd like to go.  What are we going for?"  Walter answered   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)