The Thunderstormby Oksanatranslated by Olga |
8In a day Mason was packing things to go to Santa Barbara with Jake. Mason was so nervous Jake had to give him a sedative."You yourself have always wanted to recall who you were," Jake was urging. "I haven't remembered yet," Mason argued. "Damn! I am afraid. What if I don't recall it? They would be just strangers to me!" "Cross the bridge when you've come to the river, and now pull yourself together!" Jake said sternly. Cruz was the first to return to Santa Barbara and to break it to the Capwells that Mason was alive. CC was shocked, "It's impossible!" "I thought so myself," Cruz smiled, "but I have seen him! It's really Mason!" "Does he remember nothing at all?" Sophia asked with agitation. "Nothing, nor even his name. Where he was living they were calling him Matt. And he's changed much," Cruz warned. When Jake and Mason approached the Capwells' mansion Mason got really scared. He was shaking with emotion. "Jake… please do not leave me here if I do not recall," he asked in a trembling voice. He looked like a frightened child. Jake hugged him, "It will be all right. Let's go, they are waiting for you." They rang the bell, and when the door was opened Jake pushed Mason slightly in. He stepped over the threshold of his home. When Mason saw the many eyes directed at him he got totally confused. CC slowly came up to his son, touched his cheek tentatively, as if afraid that his son would disappear, but Mason was indeed there, as real as could be. "Sonny," CC exhaled and hugged him tightly. Sophia, Ted, Eden and Kelly ran close. Mason was too embarrassed, he could not remember any one of them. Seeing him look around helplessly Jake rushed to rescue him. "I would like to explain something." "Tell us the whole story," CC asked. They proceeded to the living room and sat down. Jake told them how he had found Mason, how he had been treating him himself as he couldn't take him to hospital, how Mason came to his senses but remembered nothing. Eden brought the family album, sat next to her brother and started to show him the pictures. "See, it's you, just a baby yet. This is just after school. It's you in Harvard…" Mason was looking in surprise at the dashing young man who was smiling challengingly in the pictures, and did not recognize himself. He looked like himself in just a few photos. "And who is this?" he asked pointing at a beautiful girl whom he was holding in one of the pictures. "It's Mary. You were in love… but she was killed in an accident," CC clarified briefly. He thought for the time being it was enough. Rosa brought brandy, but Mason refused to have a drink. CC couldn't believe his eyes. "We must be going now," Jake said having glanced at the watch. "I arranged it with a physician to examine Matt… Mason." "Please come back afterwards," Sophia said. "Of course we will," Jake smiled. Mason sprang up, very glad at the prospect of leaving the house. "Mason," CC called, but his son never looked back. "It's you," Jake told him. Mason blushed, "I am sorry…" "Give us a call if something comes up," CC said. "Okay… good-bye." When the door was closed CC sighed, "Cruz was right. He is absolutely different now, and he does not remember us at all." "I think he's better now," Sophia gave a smile. "The main thing is he's alive. It will turn out all right in the course of time." "Yes, you're right. What matters is that he's alive," CC agreed. |