I kinda slowly faded into consciousness, as odd mechanical sounds grew more distinct and separated themselves from the sound *blip* of my own blood rushing through my head. My vision blurred into a smeary quasi focus that suddenly seemed to snap back in synch with the sounds around me. I suppose I tried to stir, but a firm hand pushed my back down to the surface I was laying on. *blip* I knew I was disoriented, but there was little I could do to sort things out amidst the haze that occupied my mind. "Easy fella, easy. Lie back and let us help" a voice floated down to me. My eyes searched the immediate surroundings looking for the owner of the voice. Perhaps it was the owner of the hand? *blip* Perhaps not. As my head cleared I noticed in an offhand sort of way that I was in no small amount of pain. I remembered to moan or groan or make some verbal communication that I was hurt as it was suddenly very important that I communicate my distress. *blip* "cut his trousers" a much different (and most defiantly feminine) voice rang out. *blip* and then nothing.

Light! And voices again. This time the voices were gentle, without the tinges of stress I noticed in my previous sojourn into consciousness. The woods and the lake! The memory flitted by as if to tease me with its vagueness. I tried to pull that string that would weave the impression into memory, but found myself clutching nothing but empty air. And the voices again. Near, distinct, comforting. I managed to regain enough motor control to turn my head a bit and focused a few feet away at the bed next to mine. Greg! The flood gate of memory rocked at the assault, but yielded no more than before. I knew than that Greg and I had been in the woods near the lake. Happy for this small accomplishment of mental calisthenics I called out "you look like shit man" it came out dry and throaty and without my normal inflection .. Greg half heatedly called back to me that I fared no better. Rapidly I was feeling more awake and less hazy. I noticed a nurse bent over Greg tending to his legs. "you wa hurd, bit by dem bad bug.." The nurse informed me in a light island accent. "da doctors localized most of da poisons bafore it did ya too much bads."

The floodgates broke then, and I only wish to unremember now. HA! If only that were possible. An odd sound got my attention as I ran by a fallen log. Leaves and dirt flew around my feet as I hastily scrambled to stop. We were on our way fishing, running full out with the unrestrained exuberance that is inspired by the combination of youth and the great outdoors. What was at the fallen log? My curiosity piqued as I bounded for the log. There was a opossum (dead- like almost any opossums one sees in the daytime.) Dead opossums are not at all unusual in the south.but this particular dead marsupial had the oddest sound emanating from it. I tentatively prodded the corpse with the end of my fishing pole. The husk exploded into a black mass of buzzing things straight out of a Lovecraftian nightmare. Greg had apparently noticed that I had stopped and came to see what had caught my eye. The swarming things enveloped us both as I felt simultaneous stings all about me at. Even as sudden burning pain tried to take my strength and force me to my knees, a calculating part of me shuddered at the unnaturalness of the insect like beings.

".know the nature of the toxins. The lab results will be back in the morning. We're just so glad your both okay" Greg's mom said, drawing my attention back to the present and to the end of the room, where the visitor chairs were occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Gregerson.

"all done champ" The nurse said as she covered Greg up. "And now don't you fret none cause it surely be your turn" said our nurse as she turned to face me (Rosala I read on her name badge). I tried to scoot up a bit in the bed to a more comfortable position. "don you be pullin out dat IV I worked so hard to get into ya" (I have always had trouble with IV's and most related procedures, I don't make the easiest blood donor.) She took my temperature and vitals quickly and with well-practiced efficiency. "all dat jus fine. Jus fine indeed. Can you do me some exercise? Can you make a fis for me?" "good.. good. Can you make dat fis tighter like you gonna punch someone's ear?" I squeezed, doing my best to make a tight fist with my left hand. "Now wiggle you finger about: "good good" " She pulled down the sheet and I felt cool air my lower body. "now wiggle you toe too" She observed my toes. "all right. That's very good" Her hands worked their way to the bottom of the gown I was wearing and pushed it up to the middle of my chest. My ears were treated to the sound of ripping tapes. That's an odd sound I puzzled.. the feeling of cold air brought my attention to full bear on my genitals. Rosala's strong hands rolled me slightly to on side as she slid the sodden diaper out from under me. Diaper?!? Was that what she had been doing to Greg too? I started to freak a bit in my own mind. But before I could muster any retort Rosalie was wiping me down. I found it comforting and was so engrossed in the process that I was hardly bothered when she slipped a new diaper under me and liberally applied talc to my groin. Her hands worked quickly as she pulled the diaper up into my crotch. One hand spread the side down flat on my thigh while the other hand worked the tapes. Right side then left and she was done. "der now yall changed and dry.. now I wan you to get some rest sport, Dr. Anaerdas will be down here in da mornin to talk with you: so you jus rest and take it slow until then. You boys call me if der is anything you need"

Greg's folks thanked the kindly woman as she left pushing a cart with her instruments and diaper changing supplies. The last thing I remember that day is the sound of the door shutting behind her.