I climbed the stairs of our yacht and reached the upper deck. Linda, my 28 old sister, lay naked on her back, soaking in the warm sun rays. Her eyes were closed and her face showed a cute smile. I was barefoot, so she couldn't hear me coming her way. I sneaked and... tickled her sides.
She jumped and cursed, "Damn you Zac. You scared me. If you are bored, let me know. I can open my legs for you."
I smirked, "Shame on you sis. I was under the impression you were a virgin, and now you are willing to spread your legs unabashedly..."
She chuckled, "If anybody was to hear our bantering, they would be stunned and appalled; how can I offer my older brother to fuck me on the yacht, barely 100 yards from the shore."
I kissed her Chapstick-covered lips, "Yes. life is much more interesting these days."
...
It all started about 3 years ago. I was working as a physician at the Billings Clinic Cancer Center. One day, a 55 year old guy was admitted to my office with lung cancer and metastases to distant organs. He asked me to be his doctor. I agreed.
He smiled, "Doctor, I am on my way to heaven. I do not want you to prolong my life. Quite the opposite. My life was good, and I hate the idea I'll have to suffer before dying."
"What are you saying?"
"Before approaching you, I talked to 3 physicians in other hospitals. They all refused my wish. My request is simple. I want to die on my terms. Next time, I'll see you when my symptoms worsen. When it happens, I wish for you to administer a lethal dose of a narcotic agent so I sleep my way to the other world."
"Sir, what you are asking is illegal in America."
"I know. And I've read the stories about Doctor Kevorkian. I considered traveling to a country where mercy killing is legal, but I love my home and am not interested in dying elsewhere."
"Why would I risk being a criminal for a person I do not know?"
"Because you understand my situation and have the license to dispense the drug that will kill me."
"And what do I tell the ethics committee after they realize I broke the law?"
"I hacked into multiple files of patients who died of stage 4 cancer. None of these were assessed as suspicious to warrant an investigation. In my case, I have no family or relatives who might care whether I am alive or dead."
"You wish to die, and it's your prerogative, but making me an accomplice is a no-no. If I do it, I have everything to lose and nothing to gain except for feeling that I did you a favor."
He chuckled, "That is not entirely true."
"Why not?"
"Remember I said I have no one? These days, I live in a rented apartment. So when I die, it goes back to the owner. However, I also own a tiny cabin in one of the forests here in Montana. If you dig 2 yards under the east window, you'll find a wooden box with a valuable treasure."
"How do I know everything you tell me is true and not some scheme to persuade me to break the law?"
"When you give me your word you'll do what I asked, we'll go together to an attorney. I'll show him the map without telling him what it points to, put it in a safe, and in your presence, dictate a will stating that you'll get the content of the safe a day after my verified death."
"The map may lead to a cabin with no treasure."
"Doctor, until 10 years ago, I lived in London and owned an antique book store. I had nothing better to do and read many of the books. I was mainly interested in English history. One day, I opened one of the Templar books. The book opened on a page that looked different than others. It looked slightly more transparent. I opened the page against the lamp and saw a faint writing. I took the book home, and after weeks of trying, I was able to decipher the writing. To cut the story short, the head templar at Baldock described where he hid their treasure in the year 1210. Initially, I thought it was some kind of a joke or trap, but I became curious and checked the place. I was lucky the exact location was in an uninhabited place. One evening, I dug and found it. It was a wooden box full of gold nuggets, coins, jewelry, and silver tools. I never needed much in my life, so I used very little since finding it. I brought it with me to America on a boat and buried it under my cabin."
"Nice story. But do you have any proof?"
He sighed, "I do, but I'll show you only if you promise me that when I prove to you I was telling you the truth, you'd agree to help me die."
"Show me a piece of gold and a templar coin."
He grinned, "I suspected you'd want evidence. So if I show you, you'll do what I asked?"
"I will."
"Wait here. I'll be back in less than 10 minutes."
He returned, opened the door to my office, checked that there was no audio/video equipment, and pulled 2 pieces from his right pocket: A heavy gold nugget and a silver coin with its circumference made of gold and a large cross in the middle.
I was no expert, but everything looked authentic. The truth was, I felt sorry for him. Whatever he was asking of me was not to commit a major crime but to help him die with dignity. If, at the same time, I'd put my hand on a treasure, even better...
Two days later, we went together to a lawyer who certified the guy's short will without asking questions.
In the months that followed, I was very busy and almost forgot about our guy. Then, one Monday morning, he arrived. He lost a lot of weight. He said, "Doctor, my time has come."
I admitted him under my care and ordered a regular dose of morphine-like drug for his pains. For the next 3 days, I described his situation in his file as deteriorating, and on the 4th day, I gave him another chance to regret it. He had a bitter smile, "No doctor, but thank you."
He didn't know it, but I had in my pocket a small active recorder that recorded his wish to die. It probably wouldn't help legally, but it made me feel better to continue his wish, knowing he didn't change his mind. I slipped into his IV a much higher dose of a drug cocktail and left for home. About 6 hours later, I got a call from the hospital, "Sorry to wake you up, but your patient just died in his sleep."
...
A week later, I got the safe from the lawyer. I hesitated to go to the cabin by myself but could not trust anybody except for my sister. Since neither of us was attached, and we liked each other, twice a year we spent time together, visiting national parks.
Next, I called and invited her to stay with me for the weekend.
Linda arrived with 2 suitcases and a carry-on. I laughed, "Sis, you'll be here for less than 48 hours; why do you need so much stuff?"
She winked, "You never know what may come up."
This was her way of preparing for every eventuality despite the fact that she never encountered any 'eventuality.' We reminisced and chatted and later decided to go to a bar together.