On the third floor of the Albuquerque VA hospital in the intensive care unit Bill Jackson sat up abruptly. He gazed around himself and grunted bitterly.

“How in the hell did I get into this hospital. I didn’t have any traffic accident on the way back from Denver. I just was so tired I had to take a nap in Los Vegas.”

His movement had triggered a nursing alarm and a short blond headed one promptly entered his room.

“Mr. Jackson. Wow it’s nice to see that you have survived that six month long coma…I sure have to notify your surgeon and he can decide if your wife can be called in.”

Bill started yanking the tiny nutrition feed hoses from his right arm. “What’s all this crap about? You think us truckers need some extra chow or something?”

The nurse tried to grin as she went over to stop Bill. “Sir you are a patient in the Albuquerque VA hospital. Let me get your surgeon in before any of the medical treatment tools are messed with.”

She easily pushed Bill back into the bed. When he started to rise again she switched on the TV. “Mr. Jackson here is the cable TV. You can just switch it around and watch any soap opera you desire.”

When Bill sat back and started hunting for something to watch the nurse took a deep breath and left.

The local fife o’clock new broadcast was on. Like any long haul trucker Bill couldn’t help watching it so the weatherman could tell him which freeway or highway to take on whatever trip was to be made. The broadcast of the weather had just ended and sports was starting when a filthily dressed doctor entered Bill’s room.

“Billy you survived for six months in a coma. If I hadn’t been flown in promptly you probably wouldn’t have made it. That fall out of the trailer would have killed you.”

Bill turned away from the sports broadcast and spread his arms. “Huh come on. I’ve been trucking now for fifteen years. What really happened, did some thief try to rip me off?”

“Mr. the state police investigated your incident right away. They have concluded that you were stopped off to the side of the road in a spot that was too rural to be robbed in.”

“Ow come on. On the interstate all kinds of traffic can pull over any time they see some target.”

The doctor started grinning. “You are right about that. Your wife has said some non-believer might have stalked you until you had to stop and take a leak. It’s just that there is no evidence to hold her theory up.”

Bill held his arm out so the surgeon could easily disconnect it. “Now that you are back alive you are now in dept to the ones that saved you. In order to pay them off you are going to have to start sinning through the Internet.”

“Come on. I’m a long haul trucker. I don’t have any time to waist with any mortal trash.”

“Bill if you don’t do as I say your CDL driver’s license is going to be promptly cancelled.”

Bill drew back his free arm to punch the surgeon in the nose and a well dressed man entered. “Mr. Jackson please don’t act like some barbaric animal. Drop your fist down and let me give you some recovery counseling.”

Bill sat up and sighed. “I think I’ve heard about you pastor Fox. Yes some of them other patients had discussed you while waiting for some appointment here. What’s all this garbage going on about>”

“Bill I’ve talked with your wife and she’s told me about how a lot of long haul truckers mess around while on the road. It looks like you made that trailer door swing open and hit you up side the head by the way you acted at truck stops.”

“Aw come on. I go to church with my wife whenever I’m in town on Sunday. I’ve even listened to some sermons broadcasts on an AM radio station as I drive.”

“Bill that along with your wive’s prayers are probably why you survived. It’s just to bad you never prayed to have your wall strengthened.”

Bill sat back and frowned. “Shure. How else is a man supposed to behave when he’s not home sleeping with his wife. Oh well I’m not going to fall into that crap again.”

The surgeon stepped between Bill and the hospital pastor. “Mr. Jackson you shouldn’t act like you’ve lost yourself through a six month long coma. Don’t pay any attention to that faith garbage. We are all free people and you need to carry out my prescribed tasks or some head injury will happen again.”

The pastor calmly stepped up to Bill’s side and took his right hand to pray. Bill just pray along with me silently and you will not be in dept to this moral butcher,”