The Way of the Warrior-Wizard
Chapter 14: An Argument Between Life and Death

Duncan sat worriedly beside his father in the hospital room, the pungent smell of anti-septic assailing his nostrils.

“Father,” he murmured, reaching out to hold his hand.

He stared at his father helplessly. What was happening? Hamish opened his eyes slowly and peered deeply into his son’s face.

“Duncan, Laddie,” he greeted him hoarsely, “I’m sorry for this...I suppose I’ve had more than my share of years in this life...over a century.”

His voice trailed off, and Duncan felt his heart breaking. Kyra came in and stood behind her son, holding him gently as she did when he was younger. Each one of the children had been given their own individual time to be with their father; and Duncan was the last to do so. He felt as if he should not be taxing Hamish’s remaining strength by talking to him, but he felt also that he needed to make a connection with him now...before he left this world.

“Father,” he croaked, “Father...I’m sorry...I’ve prayed a million prayers for your recovery.”

“No, Son, no,” Hamish protested softly in Gaelic, “I’ve been on this Earth longer than most people, and...started a young family in my elder years on top of that...not that I regret it, but...what can I do? I’d like to stay with you all, but as you can see, Life and Death have been arguing over my rather lengthy sojourn in the world.”

“We all want Life to win the argument,” Duncan whispered, but he could see that his father needed to rest. He squeezed his hand and kissed him on the forehead before leaving. He dared not say the words “good-bye”.

Kyra motioned him out of the room, and then gave him a long embrace. Duncan cried in her arms for a few minutes, until finally they both drew back, aware that some of the younger children were nearby.

“The Doctor has said that your Father’s heart has essentially worn out, to put it in layman’s terms,” his mother explained, “and she thinks it could go either way. If he recovers sufficiently with rest and medication, they might be able to perform a heart operation; but they can’t do it in your father’s present weakened condition.”

Duncan nodded, unable to speak any further. He and Kyra moved to the waiting area, where the rest of the family was congregated with Jack and his Aunt Luanne, who had come immediately to be with the family members while each one visited individually with Hamish.

Duncan embraced every one of his siblings, as well as Mairi, his niece Angela, Jack, and Luanne. Nobody really needed to say anything; and so, they all sat together in silent prayer while Kyra returned to the room to be with her husband Hamish.