It was another Adam – the real Adam.
Chapter 51: Vital signs okay
‘Welcome to our world!’ said someone – probably a doctor.
She was still dazzled but her eyes were slowly adjusting.
‘Vital signs okay?’ said someone else – probably also a doctor.
‘Yes steady and climbing,’ said probably a nurse this time.
Then suddenly a new, wonderful world came into view. Yes, she was in a bed in a hospital room, Ward 8, no doubt. She eased herself up, outside she could see trees and birds flying past and clouds in the sky. Inside she could see many happy white coated people and then she saw Adam. This was reality – now she could tell, without any doubt. Adam looked older and greyer, he broadly smiled at her. She loved him with all her heart. The Adam she’d left at base camp was purely a figment of her imagination but it would take a while to become entirely dismissive of her fantasy lover. He had been absolutely real for such a long time, saved her several times and above all, failed to hide his deep feelings for her as she began her ascent.
‘Hello sleepy head… how are you feeling?’ asked Adam softly.
‘A little weird…What happened?’
‘You had a relapse.’
‘You’ve grown a beard, don’t like it… how long?’
‘Two months, the beard, four months in a coma.’
‘Four months!! Is it going to happen again?’
‘They don’t think so. There was a build up of toxins in your brain, they’ve cleared now,’ explained Adam.
‘Twenty seven toxins by any chance?’ asked Poppy.
‘Probably, anyway… I’ll ask you again and this time I want you to concentrate… how are we feeling?’
‘Hungry?’
‘Yes… anything else?’
‘A bit of heartburn?’
‘Yes… ’
‘Oh my God! Oh my God! OH MY GOD!!
Madeline lifted the bed cover and looked at her stomach. She wasn’t fat at all, her extra few inches was a baby bump. She felt her baby, it kicked her hand
‘Started kicking this morning,’ said Adam proudly.
‘But, but, I’m pregnant? How… but… when? You?’
‘You’re four months preggers. Something to do with what happened four months ago in the grass next to that trickling stream… remember?’
‘I’m pregnant! I’m going to have a baby!’ Poppy screamed with delight.
‘Yes, that’s what usually happens.’
‘Adam Manning, I love you… with all my heart.’
‘Poppy Cock… we better get that name changed.’
She was in no fit state to think about her recent experiences, she was far too overwhelmed - but that’s what Nuttall meant by developments. That’s why he could no longer keep her fastened in her own subconscious, why he had to sacrifice his life and the only world he knew. Madeline had briefly noticed an anomaly and instantly disregarded it – she couldn’t remember seeing any children.
Another four months had passed without Adam having his girlfriend’s company. He had been at her bedside several hours, every single day since she regressed and fell back into a coma. Her coma returned because of the build up of toxins in her brain, the first step of her treatment was to remove these toxins. In Madeline’s subconscious world this was represented by removing 27 whole life prisoners. This she did effectively without a lot of effort on her part.
Her strength was rapidly returning; she sat up in bed. Reality flooded in and once again bombarded her senses. The thing about dreams is that when you’re in them you don’t know you’re in them. You have no idea that it isn’t reality until you wake up and then you know. She examined her hands – no lasers in any parts of her fingers. She rubbed her thumb and forefinger together – nothing happened, no menu appeared in her sight. She was normal and human and pregnant. Adam took her hand, her human, perfectly normal, soft, warm hand and squeezed it. They had so much to talk about so they said nothing. She would be weak for some time and now pregnant, special care was essential. The perfect person to advise her on rehabilitation entered the ward - a familiar and comforting face.
‘So, my most favourite patient, you decided to join us at long last,’ said Doctor Barton.
Poppy pulled him towards her and gave him a hug.
‘Thank you for everything,’ she said.
‘You don’t know what I’ve done yet,’ said the Doctor.
‘You never left my side, I know that.’
‘This young man’s the one who’s never left your side,’ said Barton.
‘I hope you’ve looked after my precious bump while I’ve been away,’ she taunted.’
‘When they found out you’re pregnant, they got in an American nutritionist. She put you on a special diet, mainly fish and coconut oil,’ said Adam.
‘You know I hate coconut, it makes me heave… I’m not that fond of fish either!’ Poppy complained.
Then Poppy realised the implications of what Adam had just said, it explained much of her dream away.
‘Coconut oil… Coco Nuttall!’ Poppy laughed.
‘Don’t tell me, someone in your dream by any chance?’ suggested Adam.
‘Nuttall, he was my nemesis, pestered me all through my dream, turned okay in the end though.’
Now she knew why there was such hatred focused on the Americans. It was an American nutritionist who had made her consume coconut oil and fish. She hated coconut and she wasn’t particularly sweet on fish either. From the beginning it was Nuttall controlling her every move. Later she found out Nuttall’s nick name – Coco – Coconut oil. Many of the people in her dream had fishy surnames: Coley, Bream, Star, Alfonsino, Grayling. Everything was rapidly falling into plaice.
Just like before when she was previously in a comatosed state, little things were picked up, latched on to and absorbed from the true awakened world which measurably affected her inner conscious. Poppy succinctly summed all this up in as fewer words as possible:
‘One hell of a dream… again!’
‘No doubt you’re going to tell me all about it?’ said Adam.
‘What made me finally come out of my coma then? I know I had to climb up a mountain to get to you.’
‘We tried a radical new technique – using a sleeping drug,’ said Doctor Barton.
‘Okay, you’re not making sense but I’m listening.’
‘A drug called Zolpidem…’ said Barton.
‘Get away, no… Zol Pidem, he got me to Everest.’
‘Who’s Everest?’ asked Adam now getting confused.
‘No, Everest’s a mountain, Zol Pidem… Zol, he flew me round the world a brilliant pilot.’
‘…If I can just butt in for a minute,’ interrupted Barton, ‘Zolpidem… it’s a drug usually used to treat insomnia but has been found to sometimes be effective for patients in a comatose state.
‘Well he… it got me back,’ said Poppy firmly.
This time Poppy had successfully figured out the principal parts of her elaborately fabricated subconscious world, herself. Last time Adam had to explain it all to her but this time it was merely down to toxins, fish, coconut oil, and a drug for insomnia. There was one element of her dream that hadn’t been cleared up but was about to.
‘That noise, isn’t it bothering you?’ complained Poppy.
‘What noise might that be? Can’t hear anything’ said Adam.
‘That irritating high pitched whistle,’ said Poppy.
There was only one thing that could be making the noise - Doctor Barton turned off the life support monitor, it was completely unnecessary now.
‘Is that better?’ asked Barton.
‘Thank god for that.’
The high pitched whistle coming from the monitor – the ultrasound, had profoundly influenced her dream. Barton and Adam couldn’t hear the whistle because its frequency was beyond their hearing range but Poppy was younger – she could. For four months Poppy had suffered in silence - tolerated the high pitched so
und right next to her.
Chapter 52: Return to Digg
This time, convalescence wouldn’t be rushed. Poppy was kept in hospital for a further week. During this time, many faces fitted into place. Doctors, nurses, specialist, physiotherapists all had faces that had at some time appeared in her long dream. Of course, their names were different - named after types of fish. Some of the nurses, cleaners and tea ladies were the whole life prisoners who all had a fateful end. It would have been inappropriate to mention this to them, they were all really friendly and kind people. Adam brought Poppy up to speed with all the important news in the last four months. Top of the list was his football team, Bristol City FC (whose kit happened to be mostly red) thrashing Premier league Chelsea, 5 – 2. Of course Poppy knew all about it although she was sure the score was higher than that, more like 210 - 2.
Finally Poppy walked out into brilliant sunshine and crisp fresh air. She was no longer an android, no longer had she super powers and no longer had she a legacy. She was human, free and expecting. Adam held her tightly and protectively even though it was totally unnecessary. He steadied her over kerbs and down steps and into his car. Poppy certainly wasn’t going to complain, how could she? Everything about her fiancé was perfect, even his beard was now growing on her as it had on him. At last she was going to marry him – the makings of a family were imminent. He was to be Daddy and she was to be Mummy – this was more serendipitous than anything else, even a walk along a babbling brook or tea and scones – she was entirely happy again. Life was so wonderful.
There were a few places she wanted to visit, the first place was Buxton. She had never been there before but no matter, that’s where she wanted to get married and this they did. Not in a church but in the indoor gardens of the Pavilion. Adam never questioned her reasoning even though Buxton was well over a hundred miles up north. Even though it was July, it was cold, sunny but there was a distinct nip in the air. Several guests squeezed in amongst the plants and around the fish pond, they were just a few of their best friends and close relations. Poppy wore the most beautiful carnation pink wedding dress complimented with white leather boots and a short white leather jacket. For reasons only known to her, it was her wish to be dressed like this and everyone genuinely agreed that she looked stunningly beautiful. Poppy’s mother stood with Poppy and Adam’s father stood with him. The Vicar did his part, Adam said a few important words – so did Poppy, they were pronounced husband and wife and kissed. This was all they ever wanted – nothing more.
Poppy was well known but she had recently learnt that fame is rarely ever a good thing. A wedding down south would have attracted hundreds of television associates, network cameras would have been there, Adam would have felt pushed out and the wedding would have been ultimately shallow. In Buxton the marriage was perfect, complete, meaningful and everlasting.
The ‘do’ afterwards was in a quiet pub across the road. A speech or two was made, the cake was cut and that was that. Mr and Mrs Manning left in the Volvo - it was now just as much Poppy’s as Adam’s – one of the many benefits of marriage.
Their honeymoon was another surprise for Adam. It was a place Poppy had to go to, a place she had only ever been to in a recent dream. In her mind it was paradise - bleak, remote and wild but never-the-less, paradise. Adam drove, the satellite navigation was set; he followed its instructions to the letter. They didn’t say a lot during the journey, they didn’t have to but they held hands when they could and often Poppy napped on Adam’s shoulder. Radio 2 was playing on the radio just like it was before but then Poppy was on her own and she was Madeline. She wondered, hoped, imagined that her lovely Professor friend really did live there but in reality she knew this couldn’t be. She was a figment in her dream and lived there only in her dream. Maybe the place wouldn’t be like she imagined, after all, she had never been there in her life.
As a contrast, the sky was clear and blue this time. The puddles had dried up but the island was just as she remembered - imagined it. They pulled into the small village of Digg just as the sun was setting.
‘Now where?’ asked Adam.
‘About a quarter of a mile down this road, I think,’ said Poppy.
‘You’ve been here before?’
‘Yes,’ said Poppy inaccurately.
Finally the house came into view, Adam pulled up outside. They both got out and walked up to the front door. Poppy began to tremble.
‘You’re shaking sweetheart,’ said Adam.
She didn’t reply – she knocked on the door. As before the occupant took a while to answer but finally the door opened. A well dressed old lady stood shakily in the entrance.
‘Hi, I’m Poppy Co… Manning, this is my husband, Adam. We’ve just got married. Your name isn’t Samantha Johnson is it by any chance?’
‘Friends call me Sam – call me Sam. I suppose you want to stay. Fortunately I do have a spare double bed all made up.’
‘No, no, we couldn’t possibly impose on you,’ said Poppy.
‘Get away with you, I’d be honoured. I know who you are. We have television even out here you know,’ said the old lady.
It was the most perfect honeymoon and the most perfect place. Samantha was a lovely old lady and a perfect host.
Naturally Adam wanted to consummate their marriage – it had been along time for him. Unfortunately Poppy had a headache but she assured him that there would be lots of other opportunities. Adam didn’t seem to mind at all – oh yes he did!
Poppy thought about her dream world. She had, indeed been a nymphomaniac in every respect – ravenous for sex at every opportunity. Adam, on the other hand, had a headache, on and off for most of the time (although he always obliged) – how upturned matters were in reality!
She also had an issue about underwear – namely, the lack of it. This was something she couldn’t immediately explain – perhaps she was a closet exhibitionist.
The next morning they walked to the cliff edge. It was just as Poppy, then Madeline, remembered it, so peaceful and so serene.
‘So, how did you know about this beautiful place?’ asked Adam.
‘Oh… I must have seen it on a documentary or something.’
‘Strange that you went to that particular house?’
‘Just had a feeling there’d be a nice old lady there… You know, a normal dream, you forget, dismiss it almost immediately but when you dream for four months… It stays with you… it won’t go away.’
‘You don’t want it to go away, you mean.’
‘I left another Adam behind, he was you but he wasn’t you. I saw his tears – I turned my back on him. I know it was all in my mind but I feel… yes, guilt. I do want to forget but I can’t.’
‘Come on Dorothy, you’ve clicked your heels… let’s climb down to the beach. I challenge you to a skimming contest!’
‘You’re on, my ‘usband and no cheating!’
Both of them scrambled down the sandy cliff path with playful laughs and joyful screams. A perfect secluded cove awaited them, coated in perfect skimming stones.
Eventually, by a pure fluke, Poppy did an eighter – it may have been a tenner but the last two bounces were too small and quick to count. Adam knew he couldn’t beat that so he played some music on his smart phone. They held each other and gently danced on the grey pebbles.
It was a beautiful day.
Something she had thought about before but there was no harm in thinking it again - perhaps one day in the not too distant future she would settle down here with Adam and drench herself in happiness.
Five months later Poppy gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, they named him Zol – Zol Manning.
Poppy never fell into a coma again but often thought about her imaginary adventures, the imaginary people she left there and about being Madeline Bull, the feisty android.
THE END
Never doubt that entire worlds with wondrous adventures can unfold in the vastness and the deepest reaches of your mind.
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Bill Cornwell, Return to Wardate
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