“I’m scared, Laura. What if the surgery goes wrong and the implants don’t work? Are we really doing the right thing?”
Laura silenced his questions with a long kiss. It was incredible how her simple presence could make him ignore any problem.
“Try to calm down, Lúcio,” she said as they parted, sounding secure. She was always so strong… “Everything is going to work, and soon he’ll be here with us. The sun will make him stronger, you’ll see.”
* * *
After the mandatory full hour of sunbathing, the couple left the balcony. While Laura went to the bathroom, Lúcio put on a pair of jeans and headed for his son’s room. He opened the door slowly, afraid the hinges would make a noise, but found the little boy already awake sitting on the bed with his legs crossed.
“Hi, Dad, good morning,” his son greeted him with his characteristic reedy voice. “Is it time to go?”
At the sight of his son, Lúcio felt a stifling grip on his chest. Today, I could lose him forever. He forced himself to leave behind any distressing thoughts and walked to the edge of the bed. The smile on his lips was insincere, but the boy didn’t seem to notice that.
“We still have time, Élio. No need to get up so early.” He stroked the boy’s smooth head, completely devoid of hair, and carried him easily. In spite of being almost seven years old, he was a very light and thin child. “Are you so eager to get your first tattoo?”
The boy nodded agreement.
“I want a heart sun just like yours,” he said excitedly, pointing to his father’s chest where his largest implant was located. It was a black circle, the size of an enclosed fist, with short straight lines on the outside. Since he first saw the mark, Élio had been fascinated by its shape. He didn’t take long to create that affectionate nickname.
Lúcio tenderly kissed his son’s face.
“Sorry, but this time it will be a star, son.” The star-studded implant was safest for children, and even so, in Élio’s case, it was already a risk.
Élio frowned disapprovingly and hugged his father’s neck tighter.
“Dad, I told the other boys that I was going to have a very special tattoo. Everyone has a star, even that dumbass Jorge.”
Being the only boy in his class who hadn’t gotten an implant yet was making Élio’s life a hell of sorts. Lúcio knew the children could be cruel, but he had to restrain his anger and ask his son to accept the taunts passively. Sometimes it was painful being a father.
“Whoa! What does that mean, Mr. Élio? Your mother will be very upset if she hears you say those ugly words.”
The boy huffed and apologized, but his heart wasn’t in it. It was painful to be a good son too.
* * *
After being lucky enough to pick up the practically deserted Expresso Solaris—one of the oldest solar-powered Brazilian trains—they arrived at the hospital half an hour early. The doctor responsible for the surgery soon came to greet them. She appeared with her sophisticated tablet in hand, followed by two nurses. With sympathy they managed to overcome Élio’s initial mistrust and led him into the bedroom. They were going to prepare him for the procedure.
When she saw herself alone with the surgeon, Laura wasted no time. She greeted him with a strong handshake and then bombarded him with a tsunami of questions. The man smiled an amused smile that irritated Lúcio. Don’t laugh with the life of my son at stake, you bastard.
“I understand your concern; Élio’s case is quite special. The treatment for leukemia has weakened his immune system, but we can’t postpone the procedure any longer. Since he is unable to catch the sun, I fear his body will not recover and thus will become increasingly fragile.” He turned his attention to the tablet and ran his finger over the screen until he found Élio’s medical record. He showed it to his parents, as if to prove his point. “However, I want to make it clear that my team and I are confident. Your son is a young man with a lot of will power, and we will do everything possible so that he can play again without fear.”
Even though he understood the good intentions of the doctor, Lúcio knew that those words were empty. All the recommendations and specialist diplomas didn’t make the famous Doctor Mateus Carvalho able to guarantee the wellbeing of small Élio. And that uncertainty was driving a worried parent into madness. Feeling an uncomfortable cold in his stomach, he decided to let his wife do the talking and walked away in silence.
Hands hidden in his pockets, he wandered aimlessly through the corridors of the hospital and watched the morning rush of the staff. He ended up stopping on a beautiful balcony in the waiting room on the third floor. Right there, many years before, there had been a cafeteria, now unnecessary for humanity’s new standards.
In a few footsteps, he reached out and rested his hands on the concrete railing. He watched the skyline of the city of São Paulo, with its huge buildings of mirrored glass that reached right into a few clouds. In that open environment, the solar tattoos reacted almost immediately and sent energy to all the cells of his body. Even so, he wasn’t feeling better at all.
A terrible fear overwhelmed his thoughts. Wouldn’t it better to delay the surgery? Élio was already almost two years late, would he really need implants? He stared at the sun with a bitter look and cursed it in a whisper. Almost ninety-seven years had passed since the implants had begun to be used and they had already acquired the status of true salvation of mankind. But in Lucio’s view, it was ironic that men depended on sunlight to survive, since the problems began when solar flares, already absurdly intense since 2214, tripled their strength three years later.
Little by little, the crops were dying, as well as the people, for the most part, victims of a devastating skin cancer. There was utter chaos; everyone was afraid to leave their homes, even at night, and all life on the planet hung by a thread. However, when all seemed lost, Brazilian scientist Ricardo Paes Nobre presented to the world his latest creation: nanomachines that could reverse the harmful effects of the sun’s rays on the human body, preventing them from causing burns and tumors.
The revelation of the discovery caused a real confusion. Acquiring the new technology became a life-and-death affair and thousands of people were willing to spend all their savings to become guinea pigs in the early experiments. They didn’t even know that Paes Nobre’s discovery was not limited to just protecting people from the sun’s rays. In fact, that was its least impressive feature.
As fruits and vegetables had become scarce and animals also struggled to survive, the renowned Brazilian scientist sought an alternative that would solve once and for all the problems that humanity would face in the long run with the lack of food. He established the concept of photonutrition, something similar to the process of the photosynthesis of plants.
That discovery marked the dawn of a new era and also the filling of the country’s coffers. Brazil became a leader in the manufacture of solar implants and, in a short time, had already set its trade balance straight and was among the most important nations of the planet. Ricardo Paes Nobre was considered a hero of humanity and won several prizes, in addition to an important position in government. Lúcio never quite understood how a guy who claimed that his deeds were done for the good of the planet had managed to get rich so fast.
For some people, all that squalor was just a good opportunity to make some profit.
Over the years, Paes Nobre’s technology had undergone improvements thanks to the help of research groups from other countries. The complex solar plates—which fed the nanomachines injected into the bloodstream—evolved, becoming no more invasive than a tattoo. After a short period of adaptation, improvements in the implanted population’s quality of life were detected. They lived longer and almost never got sick. They also had no need to feed themselves and, depending on the kind of implant they were using, they could go for long periods without drinking water too. The notion that implants made their users stronger and healthier was established as unquestionable unanimity.
But it’s also true
that we became more and more dependent. We abandoned secular habits and we became…” Lúcio frowned in disapproval. My grandfather died at the age of ninety-two, but now, for someone to be considered elderly, he must reach twice that age. Can we still consider ourselves human or have we become something completely different?
“I finally found him,” Laura’s voice interrupted her husband’s wanderings. In quick strides, she reached out and wrapped him in a tight hug. “The surgery will start in an hour and a half. What are you doing here alone?”
“I was thinking, remembering the past.” He kept his eyes fixed on the numerous buildings of the metropolis of São Paulo. “As a child, before I got my first implant, I had a real fascination with peaches. At that time, we could still find some fruit in the market and I always begged my mother to buy some peaches, even if they were very expensive.”
Lúcio paused and smiled sadly. Those memories always aroused a whirlwind of contradictory feelings.
“I remember crying so much the day before my surgery. I was so terrified that I would never taste my favorite food again that I even asked my father to let go of the procedure. Of course my pleas were totally ignored. After all, what does a five-year-old understand about life?”
Laura rested her chin on her husband’s left shoulder and hugged him harder as she felt tears fall onto her arms.
“The funny thing is that today, even if I try hard, I can’t remember the taste of peaches. I don’t understand why it was so important to me.” He turned to face the woman, his face filled with apprehension. “I don’t know, Laura, but sometimes I have the feeling that I missed something very important that day. I believe that a part of me was taken away when this phototattoo was engraved on my skin.”
They stared at each other for a long moment, until Lúcio had the guts to disclose what was troubling him.
“Could it be that in a few years, Élio will feel the same way?”
Neither of them was able to answer that last question. Finally, after an uncomfortable silence, Laura turned her face and sighed.
“Do you remember when I told you about my younger brother’s death?”
“His name was Sergio, was it not?” Lúcio wiped the tears from his face, looking intrigued. “You never told me much about it.”
“He was twelve when he died, and I was fifteen.” She took a step away from her husband and decided to lean against the balcony rail too. “You know his death was something that struck me a lot, maybe because of that you respected my silence.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she didn’t allow it. She went on, in a subdued voice.
“Please don’t say anything. I want to tell you how it all happened.”
Looking at the serious expression on his wife’s face, Lúcio merely nodded guardedly. Talking about family was a taboo to Laura, so he thought it best to give her all the freedom she needed.
“I never told anyone this, but Sergio died because of me.” She crossed her arms, visibly uncomfortable. “Remember that some fifteen years ago there was that very strong solar explosion that damaged several implants? Well, then, my brother and I were affected. I will never forget the pain I felt and my mother’s cries of desperation…”
Moved, Lúcio tried to comfort her, but she escaped his touch.
“It would all be okay if my parents had had the money to pay for two implants, but our family had been experiencing financial difficulties since Sérgio’s first operation. So even with the help of friends and close relatives, Mom and Dad could only get enough for one implant. So it all started to revolve around a single question: who should be saved, me or my brother?”
Lúcio’s eyes widened, for he didn’t know what to say. Of course he knew the government’s unfair implant policy. Many people were left to die for not being able to afford the surgery and that always made him feel angry. Hearing Laura’s assertion that she too had experienced such a tragedy, he felt even worse.
“Oh, my God, Laura. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you have such weird ideas in your head.” The woman frowned. “You’d definitely want to get in a fight, or some kind of reparation.”
Those last words made Lúcio tremble in anger. He just wanted the world to be a fairer place that people could choose. Was that weird at all? Proving that she knew him better than anyone else, Laura answered his questions without even hearing them.
“I don’t want any trouble, Lúcio. As painful as it may have been, Sérgio’s death is in the past. I just decided to disclose it to you now to make it very clear.”
The look she gave him was so significant that all his anger evaporated. He loved his wife and child above anything and would do anything—even ignore his own convictions—to keep them happy and safe.
“When my parents chose me instead of my brother, I didn’t dare ask why. I thought it was too cruel. But as Sérgio lay dying and my family started to collapse, I finally understood their motives.” She wiped away the tears so hard that it left red spots on her face; she seemed angry with herself for such a display of emotion. “I was the strongest of the two. The only one capable of surviving that tragedy. And that’s exactly what I did, I did what they expected of me. I…”
At that moment she lost her composure and burst into tears. It took her a few moments to compose herself, but she continued to refuse her husband’s comfort.
“I know how you feel about this surgery, and in a way I even understand your fears. However, after everything I have lived, I can’t help but find it childish.” She pointed to his chest, right at his sun heart. “You question the validity of implants because you never had to live without them. Your family was rich, they could pay for anything the government offered or the damn Paes Noble invented. So you can’t possibly imagine suffering, you have no idea what despair is.”
“Laura, that is so unfair!” He couldn’t control himself. “I live with our son every day, of course I know! That’s why I wonder if this is the only way!”
“Sorry, Lúcio, but you don’t know. You can’t even know!” She hesitated for a moment, perhaps measuring her words. However, after all she had said, it was too late to hold back. “You have a fanciful view of the world, you still believe that we can go back to what we were before. Wake up! That time is over! We don’t need food anymore, we don’t need peaches! Implants are not something evil, they have not turned us into monsters. On the contrary, they are our only salvation and it is past time that you accept it!”
Distraught, Lúcio took a few steps back and stepped away from the rail. His wife’s harsh words hurt him more than he’d like to admit.
“Unlike my parents, we can afford it. We have the power to make our son stop suffering. So I can’t accept this resistance. The chances may be minimal, but who do you think you are to even think of denying this blessing to our son? Élio deserves this chance more than anyone else!”
To keep her from seeing him crying, Lúcio left the porch almost running and got lost in the corridors of the hospital. He reappeared only ten minutes before Élio was taken to the operating room. Facing the door to his son’s room, he didn’t know what to do. About to turn the knob, his hand stopped halfway.
“Aren’t you going to talk to him?” Laura appeared behind him and startled him.
My God, woman, isn’t it enough all I had to hear from you? Slowly and ashamed to show his red eyes, he turned to face her.
“I’d rather not have to say anything. If I get in there, it will look like I’m going to say goodbye. I can’t think that way.”
“Lúcio, I understand your concerns. Damn it, I feel lost too! But Élio is only seven years old. He needs to hear that it’s going to be okay, he needs his father.”
Those words hit him like a slap, forcing him to wake up. What kind of father left his son at the most important moment of his life?
Laura put her hand to his cheek and stroked it. She seemed totally recovered from the difficult conversation, her face showing no signs of crying. How could she?
<
br /> “Sorry if I was too hard on you.” Her voice sounded delicate. “With this whole situation, I’m in tatters. I ended up lashing my frustration on you and it was wrong.”
He covered her hand with his and guided it to his lips.
“Don’t apologize, I think I had it coming. My convictions have blinded me to what really matters,” he admitted, embarrassed, and finally opened the door. “My son needs me.”
* * *
It took two weeks for Élio to leave the ICU and one more for implant functionalities to be evaluated. After making sure that the kid’s body hadn’t rejected the nanomachines and solar panels, Dr. Mateus decided it was time to test the implant in a real environment. Then, at noon on a typical summer morning, the medical staff gathered around the boy and led him to one of the balconies of the hospital.
When he was released to leave the wheelchair, Élio looked at his parents with apprehension and only stood up when he received an encouraging smile from Laura. It was only normal to feel insecure, but the climate on the balcony was even more tense because of that. A nurse approached and removed the white shirt and bandages that covered the boy’s chest, revealing two black triangles that, superimposed, formed a star.
With a hesitant expression, Élio took a deep breath and took his first steps toward the sun. It didn’t take long and his eyes widened.
“I’m vibrating inside,” he declared with a mix of fear and euphoria. “The heat is spreading through my chest!”
Dr. Mateus took a step forward and knelt to stay at the same height as the boy.
“That’s normal, Élio. You may also feel something like little shocks, but don’t worry.”
The boy nodded quickly and turned his eyes to his father. Lúcio held his breath at the smile that was addressed to him.
“My heart beats hard, Dad!” Élio put his hand on the implant. “I feel much better already!”
That simple statement generated a small commemoration from the medical staff. Laura let out a small cry of joy and Mateus smiled with satisfaction. Everyone began to greet each other with pats on the back and sincere compliments, but Lúcio kept his distance. He could not look away from his son.
Solarpunk: Ecological and Fantastical Stories in a Sustainable World Page 19