Other than the equipment, the room is empty. Rana must have already relieved Trent Riley, the nightshift Healer on duty last night. I was hoping he would still be in to tell me about Merrick’s condition when he examined him. No one has come in for an evaluation yet, so I decide to look up Trent’s charting. Sitting at the computer, I open the records database and type in ‘Merrick Dunn’. Scanning the documents, I open the last entry:
Patient has extensive external signs of trauma. There are diffuse abrasions, contusions and hematomas. Left parietal scalp region is depressed with an underlying skull fracture. This is most likely the fatal injury. There are multiple fractured ribs and evidence of intra-abdominal crush injuries. There is also a deformity of the right elbow, likely representing a fracture/dislocation. Other extremity injuries appear superficial.
Trent’s report is not particularly thorough and does not help me much. Conspicuously absent was any mention of the chest wall wound from the gun blast. While scrolling through the records I am interrupted by the chime that indicates someone is checking in for an evaluation. I abandon my search and go to meet my newest patient. Once inside the hallway, an unexpected visitor walks round the corner. When seeing the man coming toward me, my muscles instantly tense, and an electric pulsation races through my shoulders to my neck. The visitor is Mr. Vaden.
“Hello, Kagen,” he says casually as he paces toward me. Though his tone sounds benign, the intensity of his stare is not. “I would like to speak with you in private, if you have a minute.” Contrary to his words, the look in his eyes suggests this is not a request.
“Of course, Mr. Vaden, we can speak in my exam room. It’s empty at the moment.” I carefully turn and retrace my steps, trying to conceal my surprise at his appearance. As soon as we enter the room, he closes the door behind us. Under normal circumstances this room is one of the places where I feel most comfortable, but now the walls are suddenly constricting.
“As I am sure you have already surmised, I am here to speak with you regarding the events in The Caves last night,” Mr. Vaden while walking toward the medical equipment.
He holds up an automated suturing device for inspection. The metallic shine and spider-like extensions holds his attention for a brief moment. A slight shift in his expression signals his recognition of its function.
“My consolations for the loss of your friend, Merrick,” he says while continuing to rummage through the equipment, now looking at the portable ultrasound. The screen appears identical to our portable computers, except it has an attached ultrasound probe.
“It’s a difficult loss for us all,” I reply.
“There are some details I would like to clarify.” Mr. Vaden turns to focus his gaze directly on me. “It concerns me that we had such a large group of our people so deep in the caves after curfew, even if Talia was conducting research. Is this a common occurrence?”
“No, we were so excited with the new area we discovered that we lost track of time,” I reply while taking a seat near the computer interface. This is my usual spot when I am interviewing patients and for some reason sitting here helps me feel more at ease. It appears Talia has maintained her cover story even with her father. Still, I do not want her to endure the blame for choices that were my own. “For that I take full responsibility. It was my obligation to oversee the schedule of the trip since it was my permitted access time.”
A hint of surprise fleetingly penetrates Mr. Vaden’s otherwise emotionless exterior. Either he actually believed Talia was solely responsible for the lateness of our expedition, or he simply thought I would let her take the blame for it. Watching his reaction and the renewed intensity of his glare, I believe it was the latter. Talia may be persuasive, but Mr. Vaden is very perceptive.
“Have you been to that portion of The Caves before?” he asks.
“No, Merrick had discovered it recently and held it as a surprise for us,” I answer, nervously shifting positions in my chair.
“Of course.” The inflection in Mr. Vaden’s words is full of doubt. “Both Aamon and Talia said they were not nearby during the cave-in, but Aamon noticed only you and Merrick made it into the passage that collapsed during the earthquake. What exactly happened?” He slowly walks toward me. His stare never falters as he stops in front of me, awaiting my response.
“Sayda nearly fell while we were climbing, so she stopped to rest. Hadwin stayed with her while Merrick and I completed the ascent. Merrick went into a tunnel system on the top ridge just before the earthquake.” I pause, suppressing the anger caused by the memory. “He became trapped by the collapse. I tried to get to him, but the rubble was too large for me to move. My only option was to return and assemble a rescue team. From there, you will have to speak with members of the search party.”
“I see,” Mr. Vaden mumbles. His attention returns to the equipment in the room. He holds up part of a device meant to hold extremities up while setting fractures or dislocations. The five coils in his hand are used to suspend an arm by holding onto the fingers. “Did you notice anything unusual in the passage before or after the collapse?”
“No, it seemed just like any other tunnel I’ve been in. Why? Did the search team find something?” I lean to the side to read his facial expression, but his reflection in the glass cabinets reveals nothing. His question makes me wonder if he is fully aware of the soldiers and the tracks concealed within the passage. That must be the real reason he closed the upper tunnels. My hands squeeze the arm rests of my chair as the thought of Leadership’s involvement amplifies the anger already mounting within me.
“Nothing of concern,” he says sharply. “As far as your responsibility for the events that led to this tragedy, I am restricting your access to The Caves until further notice. I would advise you to let Sayda and Hadwin know they need to be more prudent in their actions or they will also gain my attention.”
It takes every bit of reasoning and restraint I possess to hold my tongue. My impulse is to demand he reveal his experiment in The Caves and why he is hiding it from us. Those soldiers are the ones responsible for “this tragedy.” How dare he place the burden of responsibility for Merrick’s death on me when I was powerless to stop it? Even as the thought races through my mind, another whispers in the background. There had to have been something I could have done to prevent it. I am responsible. My head tilts down in shame as the fight that was surging within me is replaced by sorrow mixed with self-doubt.
I look up and am surprised to find a satisfied smirk in Mr. Vaden’s reflection. I stand up and march toward him, not sure of what I intend to do. He sees me coming and turns around. There is no alarm or concern in his eyes at my aggressive posture, only an intense curiosity. When I near him the patient chime again sounds, signaling that someone is checking in for an evaluation. The sound triggers an internal recognition, helping me regain a calm focus. This has been important in my performance as a Healer, but now serves me in this unexpected conversation.
“Duty calls.” Mr. Vaden walks toward the door. He stops before leaving to add, “Oh, by the way, it would be wise of you to leave Talia to her research and Leadership duties. My daughter is much too important to Securus to be distracted from her pursuits, understood?”
“I understand, Mr. Vaden,” I say evenly.
Restricting me from The Caves and threatening me to stay away from Talia will do nothing to weaken my resolve for discovering the truth. Yes, Mr. Vaden, duty does call. More than you know, I think to myself. After he leaves, I take a deep breath before walking to the waiting area to meet my new patient.
*
I continue on through the morning caring for the steady flow of patients. One man lacerated his forearm down to the bone while working in the Deep Vents. Another has developed a significant skin infection threatening to overwhelm his cardiovascular system. I navigate the injuries and infections until my lunch break without any spare time. The rush of people deprived me of the opportunity to further investigate Trent’s charts. But at least I was abl
e to accomplish something worthwhile in helping my patients. Rana has also finished her morning appointments, and now appears in the doorway. My meeting with Mr. Vaden did not go unnoticed.
“How are you holding up, Kagen?” she asks.
“I’ll be ok,” I respond tersely, not wanting to relive the details of Merrick’s death again.
“What did Mr. Vaden want?” Rana is not usually this direct, but these are not usual circumstances.
“He was just trying to get more details on what happened last night. I assume Trent told you I was in The Caves with Merrick last night,” I tell her, intentionally leaving out any mention of Talia. She nods at my assumption and waits for me to continue. “Did he mention anything about Merrick’s condition?” I am not expecting her to have any new information. I simply want to change the focus away from Mr. Vaden’s visit.
“No, he didn’t tell me anything more than what we learned from the morning announcement.” Rana looks to the ceiling, appearing distracted. She hesitates for a moment, carefully choosing her words. “Though he said nothing more, I had the distinct impression he was withholding something. Did this have anything to do with Talia being out there with you?” Rana does not attempt to mask her concern.
“No, it had nothing to do with Talia. Actually, things may have ended up much worse for Hadwin and Sayda if she wasn’t there,” I reassure her. “None of this is your fault, Rana.” She does not seem satisfied with my response, but does not probe any further.
“If you need some time off, I can cancel some appointments and extend the hours of the other Healers to cover your shift,” she offers.
“Thanks, but I would rather keep working. It keeps my mind occupied,” I answer. Besides, I am already in trouble with Leadership, so I do not need the extra attention that would be brought by hampering the workflow. On top of the added problem of Mr. Vaden's scrutiny, I still need to face Hadwin and Sayda. That is not going to be easy either.
I head off to the lunch hall hoping to find the two of them. The room is nearly filled to capacity with the lunch rush, but there are no signs of my friends. Dejected, I make my way to the food dispersal center. The bland aroma of today’s lunch fails to elevate my mood. Nestled amongst the stainless steel counters and below the artificial glass shields is my waiting meal. We are served an artificial meat wrapped in a cabbage-like substance, along with a small serving of a nutrient rich, but tasteless slurry. At least we are given clean water to wash it down.
With my food in hand, I maneuver through the hall, again looking for Hadwin or Sayda. This time I spot them in the far corner facing the back wall. They are sitting alone at a table made to accommodate eight people. This is a welcome sight because with less people around there may be enough privacy to explain what really happened. I reach the table and set my food down across from the dejected looking pair. Neither of them bothers to look up to see who joined the table.
“Hey,” I say, intending to continue, but the words elude me.
“Kagen,” Hadwin mutters. He is always the one that lightens the mood for us when things are bad. Now, his lightheartedness is gone. There is only anguish in his voice. He looks up from his food long enough to nudge Sayda. She looks up but says nothing. The rage radiating from her eyes pierces me as she locks onto me with her stare.
“I know I have a lot of explaining to do,” I manage to say before Sayda interrupts.
“Explaining? You’re damn right you do. Explain how we left Merrick for dead in that tunnel. Explain how you didn’t even let us try to get him out. Explain how we let Aamon be the one to lead the search team when he can barely find his own shadow. Explain!” she demands.
“I’m mad too, Sayda, but try to calm down,” Hadwin interjects. “We all lost a friend last night, and we’re all upset by what happened. There’s nothing we can do to bring him back. Right now we should focus on the memory of Merrick’s life, not the circumstances of his death.”
With his words, her fury breaks, giving way to sorrow as she lowers her head. Hadwin leans over, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. She rests her head against him as a tear slowly trickles down her cheek. The sight of Sayda crying nearly overwhelms me. She has always so been fiery and strong, ever since the first day Hadwin and I meet her when we were young children. Back then, there was an older boy that had a particular dislike for Hadwin. The boy would go out of his way to confront him. Most often there was name calling and pushing, but on that day, the bullying went further. The boy knocked me down before pouncing on Hadwin. The bully was sitting on top of him when we heard a high pitched shriek. Out of nowhere the fleeting blur of a little girl came running full speed. She leveled the bully with her attack. Stunned by the blow, he ran off crying.
“You leave them alone,” she yelled at him as he disappeared around a corner. “Or I’ll come back for you!”
Hadwin and I looked on in disbelief. This little thing just saved us. From then on Sayda joined our group of friends. Neither of us ever asked her why she decided to intervene, we were merely thankful she did. The little girl who saved us from the bully is now a grown woman who has maintained her tenacity, but now my actions have led her to this sorrow. Seeing her tears hurts more than her anger ever could.
“Now’s not the time, Kagen,” Hadwin says as he and Sayda get up to exit the hall. Though he is calm, his firm tone tells me how upset Hadwin is with this whole situation. The lump that has been expanding in my throat steals my voice. With no words left to respond, I merely nod in understanding.
For the rest of my lunch, I sit in silence. No one joins me, and no one consoles me. They have all heard Sayda’s words. Now everyone knows I am to blame for leaving Merrick in The Caves. I wanted to tell Hadwin and Sayda what really happened last night, but as Hadwin said, now is not the time. They are not ready to hear what I have to say. This leaves me feeling isolated and utterly confused. We have always shared each other’s secrets and fears. Without them, I am left alone to deal with the true depth of my burden and the uncertainty it brings.
I make my way back to the infirmary. At least it will give me something else to do besides fixating on my anguish. Despite Rana covering during my lunch break, the waiting area is now full. When getting to my exam room, I discover why. A critically ill man came in just after I left for lunch. Sweat streams from his pale, exposed skin, drenching his clothes and the gurney under him. He appears confused and rambles incoherently. Despite his current disheveled appearance, something is familiar about the man. I study his face, trying to place him. The image slowly contorts in my mind until I see him. He is the Guard from last night.
Chapter 6
“What’s wrong with this man, Rana?” I ask while reviewing his vital signs and initial diagnostic data. The man’s heart races, his temperature spiking, and his blood pressure is dangerously low.
“His name is Leland Gibbon. I think he has some type of meningitis or encephalitis, but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The progression of his condition is exceedingly rapid. He only started showing symptoms this morning,” she says pensively while motioning me to put on my mask and gloves for protection against transmission of the infection. “I need to do a lumbar puncture to analyze his cerebrospinal fluid so we can confirm it.”
“He’s the Guard that helped us arrange the search party in The Caves last night,” I tell Rana while examining him. “He appeared fine then, from what I recall.”
“Leland, do you remember me from last night?” He does not respond to my question. His eyes aim toward me, but his gaze has a ghostly hollowness to it.
“I can do the lumbar puncture if you like, Rana.” I know she prefers to finish what she starts, but this case is intriguing. The mental distraction would be helpful to me. Not to mention his condition will take a long time to stabilize, and she could use the break.
Rana considers my offer for a moment. “Okay, but keep me updated on the results. I’m very interested in the outcome of this case, especially to see if he responds to ou
r treatments.”
I am surprised she agreed to my request. But even if Rana is willing to let me take over her patient, she will be closely following along.
“Absolutely, Rana, I’ll finish stabilizing him and then work my way through the others. You should take a break and finish up your appointments when you get back. I’ll check in with you when I get the rest of the results,” I tell her.
After Rana has left, I return my attention to Leland. Performing the lumbar puncture will be my next step. I wrap his fidgeting body with the multiple strips of our soft-strap system attached to the gurney to keep him in a fetal position for the procedure. We do not have the luxury of having a team of people to work on a case together except in the most extreme circumstances. So we have had to find ways to be self-sufficient. This strap system was devised to cradle patients in whatever position we place them in, removing the need for extra helpers during procedures like the lumbar puncture or spinal tap, as most of the workers call it.
I review the scan of his brain, making sure it is safe to proceed. The procedure could not be attempted if there were any signs of increased pressure in his brain. If that was the case, draining the spinal fluid could trigger a deadly condition involving a brain herniation. With the guilt I am already carrying, adding that to my conscience would be overwhelming. There are no abnormalities on the imaging, so I take a deep breath and mentally prepare. Even knowing this is necessary to help him, whenever I need to perform an invasive procedure like this, the irony of having to inflict pain in order to better heal the patient always strikes me.
After applying a sterilizing and numbing solution, I begin the procedure by inserting a long, thin needle into Leland’s lower back. My hand is steady as this procedure has become routine for me, but that was not always the case. Putting a needle inside a person’s spine can be anxiety provoking, especially when first learning it. He does not move, flinch, or even notice the insertion of my needle. The pressure changes as I penetrate the layers of tissue encasing the spine vibrate through the needle to my hand. I feel a familiar pop when reaching the spinal canal. Fluid now drains into my waiting sample vials.
The Death Detail (The Securus Trilogy Book 1) Page 5