2036 The Proof: A Thrilling Science Fiction Novel

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2036 The Proof: A Thrilling Science Fiction Novel Page 9

by Speiser, Zvi


  Elaine fast-forwarded the hologram until she could freeze a clear visual hologram image of the man. A few more keystrokes resulted in his images beginning to appear throughout the hospital. He was seen coming in through the main entrance, wearing a suit and holding a small cloth bag in his hand. His image then appeared in several locations on his way to Gerry’s room. He was spotted opposite the restroom, and in the next hologram was seen exiting it wearing a white lab coat and a badge, but without his bag. Larry paused the holograms’ progress and asked his subordinate to locate the bag, which had apparently been left in the restroom, hoping he would find some clue there.

  He then proceeded to the holograms from the parking lots and the entrance. The best hologram showed the man in the suit opening the door of a taxi.

  “That’s great. We can locate the taxi and scan its camera. That way we can find out where he was driving the man. There might also be some clue in the bag he left in the restroom.”

  Elaine loved her mother, appreciated her wisdom, and shared her own life with her, but she also suffered from her mother’s critical nature, her excessive nosiness, and her relentless stream of questions on any topic, however trivial. Elaine often avoided consulting her on various issues. This was a trait in which she truly didn’t wish to resemble her. This time, however, her mother was sitting silently, wrapped up in her own thoughts. Although she did not withhold her critical barbs from her husband, she loved him very much and was having a hard time coping with his condition.

  The doctor who arrived to update them looked nothing like the imposter who had come in to check up on her father. Elaine asked Ben to join them, and the three of them stood in the corridor across from the door to Gerry’s room, listening as the doctor repeated the diagnosis Elaine had already conveyed to them almost word for word.

  “You probably want to hear some possible assessments of how his condition is going to change in the short and long term.”

  “Right. That’s all that matters right now,” Ramona said.

  “Well, the physical damage to his body isn’t very severe, and he’s expected to recuperate at least somewhat within several days. We’ll be removing most of the bandages tomorrow morning, so he will be able to see, talk, and of course eat. His mobility will be limited because of the cracked bones. We’re not planning to put any casts on any part of his body. He’ll receive treatment to accelerate the reknitting of bones, and within a day or two, his discomfort when moving will decrease.

  “As for the head injury, the internal hemorrhage in the brain has been addressed. We drained the blood that accumulated in his skull, and now we have to wait for him to bounce back. At this stage, it’s hard to assess the damage his brain has sustained.”

  “I communicated with him,” Elaine interrupted him. “I talked to him and he answered me in writing, on a piece of paper. His writing was confused, but generally comprehensible. I think our dialogue tired him out, and he fell asleep. I hope the confusion is a result of the anesthesia he was under, and not permanent brain damage.”

  “Sounds excellent,” the doctor said. “In our experience, brain cells are flexible, and can withstand temporary pressure compressing them for a short period of time. We’ll know a lot more tomorrow. I’ll be happy to talk to you again then.”

  The three of them returned to the room quietly, but apparently, the sound of the closing door woke Gerry, who waved hello.

  “Hi, Dad,” Elaine and Ben called out almost simultaneously.

  “Hi, Gerry,” Ramona exclaimed.

  He reacted immediately, signaling them to come to him. Elaine thrust a pen into his hand and laid a sheet of paper under it.

  Mona Bn hi, Gerry wrote, and then continued to scribble. Got hert car hitme cant ta lk howaryou?

  Elaine’s eyes met Ramona’s.

  “We came as soon as Elaine let us know,” Ramona began. “We talked to the doctor. They’ll be taking most of your bandages off tomorrow and you’ll be able to see us and talk, too. Does anything hurt? Do you want us to ask the nurse or the doctor for anything? Should I bring you anything from home tomorrow?”

  Doing good, dontneed nothing, justhome, he scrawled.

  “Maybe, if he really is doing so much better, the doctor will let him go home as soon as tomorrow?” Elaine asked, speaking to herself more than to anyone else.

  The family continued to conduct a slow, confused exchange with Gerry. The man whose writing had been immaculate, without a single spelling mistake, was now writing with multiple spelling and grammatical errors, some of which were a result of being unable to see what he was writing, while others apparently resulted from mental confusion. He was interested to know whether anyone from the university had called.

  “Actually, no one there knows about the accident. Ethan tried to contact me, but I rejected the call,” Ramona said. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. I’ll let Ethan know tonight.” She wanted to know Gerry’s opinion of Ethan. “Should I tell him everything and encourage him to come visit, or would you prefer some peace and quiet here?” she asked.

  Not here, justhome, he scrawled.

  “Okay, I’ll let him know you were injured, that you’ll be released from the hospital soon, and that in the meantime, you want to rest as much as possible. There’s no rush.”

  Gerry confirmed this with a hand gesture. What is she thinking? he wondered. Is she buying my confusion? She’s known me for decades now. I wonder if I can fool her, too. I have to do everything I can to get out of here as soon as possible.

  Wanthome, he scribbled.

  Ramona leaned in toward him and whispered in his ear. “I love you and I want you home. I’ll make sure you come home the moment it’s an option. In the meantime, try to rest and sleep as much as you can. You’ve worked very hard in the last year. At least make use of this time to get some rest. We’ll let you be. We’ll take turns staying here so there’s always a family member at the hospital. That’s it. Good night.”

  Ramona urged her children to leave the room with her. A security guard armed with a gun was already stationed across from the entrance, along with a technician who was preparing to install a security lock on the door to the room.

  Outside in the waiting area, Ramona told her children she would stay at the hospital to keep watch, and that they should call her tomorrow morning. Her good friend Lucy would book a room for her at the hotel operated by the hospital.

  Ramona returned to Gerry’s room and sat down in an armchair. Her man looked so quiet and helpless, she thought, examining him. This was the first time he had ever been admitted to a hospital, and she was the one in charge of him. Up to now, their roles had been reversed. She was the one who had been hospitalized three times, for two births and an appendectomy. He had been so worried every time, so devoted to her, running off immediately to fulfill her every wish. Now he was lying there, injured all over, and who knew when and how he would get better.

  On their way out, all of them left their contact information at the front desk, just in case.

  Despite the late hour on a Friday evening, Ethan answered immediately. Ramona gave him a brief update and encouraged him to call at any time.

  Saturday, July 19, 2036

  The moment she woke up at the hotel, Ramona called the hospital.

  “It was a quiet night. No point in arriving before ten o’clock, since he’ll be undergoing treatment. Yes, the security guard is still stationed at the door. Don’t worry,” were the answers she received.

  The guard was a different man than the one she had seen yesterday; apparently, there had been a change of shift. He let her in only after thoroughly verifying her identity as well as receiving video confirmation from Larry, the head of security, who insisted on taking a good look at her before authorizing her entry. She decided she found the security arrangements satisfactory, and quietly opened the door to the room.

  At first, she thought she had en
tered the wrong room. She found Gerry propped up on the bed, which was raised into a sitting position, with all his bandages gone. The only indications of the accident he had been through were several small Band-Aids on his head and face and his somewhat swollen left hand. His broad grin expressed the pleasure he felt at her surprise.

  “Wow,” she blurted out. “What a transformation!”

  “I c-c-can even t-t-talk,” he replied, his voice shaky and weak.

  Ramona was stunned. On the one hand, he looked much better without all the bandages that had covered most of his body. On the other hand, she had expected the confusion he exhibited yesterday to dissipate. However, although she was starting to feel worried, she decided to express joy and encourage him to talk, hoping that the more he talked, the sooner he would return to himself, the brilliant, eloquent man with whom she’d been living for many years now.

  “I can’t believe it. What an amazing recovery. Way to go, modern medicine! How do you feel? Are you in pain? Can you move?”

  “N-n-no p-p-pain. They said m-m-my en-entire chest was s-s-stabilized. C-c-can’t t-t-turn over b-by my-myself. Want h-h-h-ome; want h-h-home now!” Gerry concluded loudly.

  “I’ll go check with the nurse about when I can take you home.”

  Gerry concurred with a nod, adding loudly, “Q-q-quick, q-q-quick.”

  That’s really all I need now, Ramona thought. To bring home someone who is that brain-damaged. Who knew how long it would take him to get better? Would his mind ever return to what it once was, or had his brain been irreparably damaged, and instead of a brilliant scientist, she was now stuck with a childish, stuttering, mentally challenged man for a husband? Also, had he winked at her while he was stammering, or had that been her imagination? Something in her well-developed female intuition sensed something, she wasn’t sure what, but she felt that things weren’t quite as they appeared. She would keep her eyes open and try to pick up on any small, unusual details. If Gerry was a part of some intrigue, he should be the one to determine the rules of the game.

  “The hospital’s Continuing Care department is currently rounding up all the equipment you’ll need at home. They’ll drive him home in about an hour,” the nurse informed her.

  She returned to give him the good news, with mixed feelings. “I’ll let the kids know they should come home, rather than to the hospital, and that they can take their time. They can go on with their lives until this evening. I’ll go home immediately to get your bed set up and to organize the house for your arrival.”

  On the way home, she talked to Ben and Elaine, who were happy about their father’s rapid release from the hospital. Elaine wanted to know what his speech was like.

  “The same way he was writing yesterday. He gets stuck and stutters when he’s talking, too. I hope all these neurological symptoms are temporary, and Dad will be back to his old self soon.” She did not consider, even for a minute, sharing her suspicions with them. She would not say a word to anyone, including to Gerry himself, but would continue monitoring him until she knew what was going on.

  The hospital staff members were efficient and well practiced. He was transferred to a wheelchair very gently, with the assistance of a lifting robot, which elevated him gradually and slid him into the chair softly. This was significant progress indeed compared to the era when this work had been done by people, who often jostled and hurt the patients. The drive home was also smooth, with no bumping or pain. The innovative ambulances were equipped with shock absorbers and especially soft tires that glided over any bump on the road.

  Within minutes of the time he arrived home, Gerry found himself relaxing in his bed in Ben’s room, which had been converted into a study since Ben had left home. It was very roomy, especially after Ben had moved the large bed he so loved to his own apartment. Eventually, they had installed a twin bed in the room, where Gerry would sometimes nap.

  “Did getting moved around, the ride, and being jostled hurt you?” Ramona asked as she sat down in the chair across from him and held his hand.

  “N-n-not at all,” he replied. “Ev-everything went c-c-completely s-s-smoothly.” Once again, she fancied she saw the shadow of a cynical smile at the corner of his eye. “Is e-e-everyone gone?” he asked.

  “Yes, we’re finally alone again,” she said, hoping he would react and solve the mystery. However, Gerry didn’t respond and appeared to be nodding off. The transition seemed to have tired him out. She waited with his hand in hers until his breathing indicated he had fallen asleep, then let go of his hand and left the room.

  Chapter 12

  Gaya

  Chicago, Saturday, July 19, 2036

  Everyone was immersed in family meals and preparations for the garden party. Simple domestic preoccupations soothed Tom to such an extent that the topics of his work and the recent tragic events did not trouble him until the moment he found Mike standing at the threshold. For a moment, his surprise left him breathless. Once he came to his senses, he shook Mike’s hand warmly, wondering who had invited him to the party. Kate was the only likely candidate; she was in charge of the invitations and the organization. However, Mike was not included in their usual coterie of guests. Apparently, Kate had decided to surprise him. And indeed, he found himself startled again several minutes later when Lise showed up, immediately followed by Lynn and Amy and their dates. He briefly had time to wonder what Kate’s intentions had been in inviting his team before he was dragged off by his friends.

  It was at the height of the party, while the juicy steaks were emitting an irresistible aroma, that his personal assistant rang.

  “Am I speaking to Dr. Thomas Lester?” he heard an assertive female voice.

  “You are,” he replied, trying unsuccessfully to identify the speaker.

  “I’m sorry to disrupt your weekend with business matters, but this is urgent. My name is Gaya. I represent a large organization with plenty of financial resources. We’re well aware of the nature of your work. It’s important that we meet soon and confer.”

  “I’m sorry. We’re not allowed to discuss our work outside the university, especially in light of recent events. You’ll have to contact me through the appropriate channels,” he replied, reaching out to end the call. Who would bug me with business concerns during the weekend? he wondered, and then heard the woman’s voice resuming.

  “Don’t hang up, Dr. Lester. Talk to me.”

  He returned the assistant to his ear very slowly, saying, “I don’t have anything to add.”

  “We’re aware of all the topics of your work. We’re also familiar with your family, and in fact, with every aspect of your life. Meeting us won’t cause you any harm. We have an offer I’m sure you’ll be very interested in. Give us a chance to present it to you.”

  The reference to his family, as well as her tone, convinced him that complying would be advisable. He could always tell Rick or the dean all about it.

  “Okay,” he blurted out.

  “When your wife is in hearing range, set up a game of golf with your cousin Bob for tomorrow, Sunday, at four p.m. at your usual course at the Beverly Country Club. Don’t tell anyone about the meeting. Your car’s computer has already been programmed with the route, including a vacant parking spot that will be waiting for you. From there, continue walking up the street in the same direction until you reach Bob’s Pub. I’ll be waiting for you there.”

  “And how will I recognize you?” he asked.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll know it’s me,” she replied.

  “How did you program the route into my car? You don’t have the access code.”

  “See you tomorrow,” she responded, ending the call.

  “Who was that on the assistant?” Kate asked.

  “Bob booked us a course for tomorrow afternoon,” he answered. These people knew that he sometimes played golf with his cousin at Beverly Country Club. What else did they know
about him?

  Although he tried to immerse himself in domestic and familial matters, Tom could not stop thinking of the implied threat conveyed in the conversation. His greatest fear was that his work would end up harming his family.

  Sunday, July 20, 2036

  Their day of rest was a leisurely one. Everyone slept in, as was their custom on Sundays when they had no particular plans. To an outside observer, the house and its inhabitants appeared quite ordinary, resembling millions of other households in the United States.

  It was several minutes after three thirty. Tom estimated he would arrive at the meeting shortly before four. Feeling utterly incredulous, he checked the navigation software. Indeed, the log featured a new route named “Gaya.” Although he drove the way he did habitually, he found himself peering in the rearview mirror a lot more frequently than usual. Which turns out to be a very good idea, he thought as he noticed a vehicle following him. They’re tracking me.

  Kate and the kids were safe now, according to the plan he had worked out at night with Kate after he had told her about the call and his ensuing fears. She and the girls would be leaving in several minutes, supposedly to visit relatives in Manteno, a small, peaceful town about fifty miles south of Chicago. The home computer had been programmed to turn on the lights and the TV once evening came.

  They kept an ancient, decrepit house in Manteno that Kate had inherited from her grandmother, and which they rarely used. The last time they had visited it was about two years ago. Laura, a childhood friend of Kate’s, also lived in town with her family, and was always happy to have them over.

  Kate hadn’t challenged his proposal to disappear along with their children. The murder and the implied threat were enough to make both of them realize they were unwilling to put the girls’ lives in danger. They had decided that she and the girls would board the train at a small station that was far from their home, where she could observe anyone else boarding, at a time when the train was generally not crowded. From there, they would continue to her friends’ house in town so as not to reveal that her old house was inhabited once more.

 

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