by Aziz, M.
Sitting back on the mattress she eventually turned the TV on to low volume. The news channel logo appeared.
Marilyn had watched a second run of the weather when a knock sounded. Tomás’s parents entered. Estela looked at Marilyn with an icy stare that broke to a teetering smile. Alberto just behind her nodded.
‘How he?’ Estela sat beside her.
‘I’m tending to him.’
‘Listen, sorry for way I behave. You know my tongue.’
‘I didn’t take it to heart.’ she smiled and touched Estela’s hands.
Alberto walked over to Tomás and patted his forehead. A layer of sweat wetted his palm.
‘Estela, come and feel his head.’
Estela freed her hands and went to Tomás’s side.
‘Alberto, go, go!’ she looked at Marilyn with a quivering jaw. Alberto ran out.
‘I swear he was fine the last time I checked, honestly!’ shrieked Marilyn.
Estela looked towards the door. Within a minute they heard loud running. The East Asian-American nurse entered with Alberto, pushing a trolley of medication. He walked over to Tomás and felt his wrist.
‘Take it easy ma’am, he’s not gonna fade.’ he picked up a glass ampoule and smashed the top with a nail file then quickly assembled a needle and syringe to draw the fluid.
‘What that? What that?’ cried Estela.
The nurse ignored her. He pulled down the shoulder of Tomás’s pyjama top, rubbed a swab and darted the needle.
Alberto looked at Marilyn and shook his head. Tears formed in her eyes.
‘Page Dr Klimek!’ Marilyn snorted.
The nurse looked at her and nodded aggressively. He lifted his shirt and pressed a few buttons clipped to his belt.
‘What?’ shouted Estela at the nurse.
‘His pulse is outta control.’
Marilyn put a hand to her mouth.
Within minutes the sound of running came, climaxed and burst through the door. Doctors Klimek and Goldberg glanced at the family then gathered around the bed.
‘It’s not doing anything.’ said the nurse.
Dr Klimek examined the broken ampoule then rattled his hand through the trolley.
‘This one!’ he assembled an injection.
Tomás opened his eyes, arched his back and gasped.
Dr Goldberg shook his head. ‘Maybe it wouldn’t have happened without that gel?’
Dr Klimek fiercely sunk the needle into Tomás’s arm. ‘He should respond in seconds.’
Tomás closed his eyes tight and drilled his head into the pillow. His face shone with sweat. Marilyn made a step towards him. Estela put an arm out as a cordon. She walked over to Tomás herself and held his hand.
Alberto pressed the bridge of his nose hard.
Dr Goldberg touched Tomás’s head. ‘It’s no use.’
Dr Klimek felt Tomás’s pulse and took a deep breath. After two minutes he put his wrist down and made brief, intense eye contact with Marilyn.
‘I’m truly sorry.’
Estela let out a curdling cry and squeezed Tomás’s hand tight. Alberto rushed to hold her shoulders. He could no longer hold his tears.
Marilyn froze in her spot; grief stuck in her eyes.
‘There is nothing to fret about.’ said Dr Klimek. ‘It seems we nabbed him at an exceedingly good time. He’ll be awake by the end of the day.’ he walked out before anyone could reply.
Estela nuzzled her face into Tomás’s neck. Alberto looked at Marilyn with a nodding weep.
‘I have to join Dr Klimek now.’ said Dr Goldberg woodenly. ‘I would like if we could use this body. We can have the usable organs preserved without delay. They can help prevent more deaths.’
‘Look, do what you want!’ yelled Alberto.
‘Marilyn.’ Dr Goldberg patted her arm. ‘You will have your husband back tonight.’ he left the room.
Marilyn collapsed against the wall behind her; motionless while her in-laws sobs echoed out.
Tomás’s blue face had expired with no expression.
Estela composed herself and walked swiftly towards Marilyn. She raised her hand. Alberto grabbed it mid-descent.
‘Control! Estela! What is her fault?’
Estela dropped herself against Alberto’s chest and winced.
‘Forget I looked angry at you, Marilyn.’ said Alberto. ‘My head was lost.’
‘Don’t apologise.’ she replied numbly.
Estela turned back towards Tomás then recoiled. Alberto rubbed her shoulder.
‘Estela, don’t grieve.’ he said.
‘Tomás is dead. Is dead!’ cried Estela.
Alberto looked up at the ceiling.
Marilyn began edging towards Tomás when the door burst open. A blue-uniformed team swarmed around the bed like eagles.
‘Why you think I let you take?’ Estela stood beside Tomás.
The team looked at each other.
‘Estela, don’t block them. This is his instruction.’ Alberto pulled her aside.
One of the team pulled the cover over Tomás’s face while another kicked the bed’s wheel lock. They then quickly pulled it out through the door. Tomás’s family watched through the entrance as the bed rolled down the corridor, its wheels clanking aggressively. The sound of the lift opening paused Estela’s tears. The shutting made her scream.
‘Shsh, shsh now.’ Alberto squeezed her against him.
Marilyn walked back in and stared at the empty space. Alberto left Estela at the doorway and walked to Marilyn.
‘Don’t tire your eyes, Marilyn. It has no purpose.’
‘That’s what’s troubling me. I could deal with the fact that Tomás is gone but I don’t know what to feel knowing he’s coming back, or if he really is. I don’t feel anything. I don’t know!’ she put a hand to her head.
‘Alberto. What we done is right, yes?’
‘Your guess is as good as mine. But there is no need to cry. His body’s gone, that’s all.’
Estela wiped her eyes and snorted. ‘So, what do now?’
‘This is his room.’ replied Marilyn. ‘He’s going to open his eyes back here and we’re going to walk past our doormat, and everything will start rebuilding itself. It will.’
‘Learn from her, Estela.’
Estela looked at Marilyn and sighed. She walked up to Marilyn and put her arms round her. Her nails dug into her back. Marilyn buried her face in Estela’s shoulder and produced a tear.
Alberto and Estela then stood quietly against a wall. Marilyn walked up to the windows and stared at the communal bins. Prof Barber soon appeared at the doorway.
‘I’m sorry it was so abrupt.’ he said.
Alberto and Estela looked at him then at the floor. Marilyn stared at Prof Barber.
‘I just came to let you know that everything was captured without a hitch. And the donor body will be our responsibility shortly. I must thank you for donating his...’
‘He will be back before tomorrow, won’t he?’ interrupted Marilyn.
‘Well, it’s going to be a dark-hour procedure. Early evening. Everything going to plan he should be discharged by ten. I’ll write you a follow-up. You can’t skip that.’
‘Should we go home for now?’ asked Alberto.
‘No use in staying. I’ll call you when the donation arrives and we’ve done everything.’
Estela walked past Prof Barber.
‘Come, Alberto.’ said Estela. ‘Marilyn.’
‘Don’t leave us sad, Professor.’ said Alberto. ‘I still have faith.’ he placed his hand on Marilyn’s back and ushered her out.
Prof Barber nodded.
The family walked slowly out and into the lift. Turning around, their corridor view narrowed in as the thick steel doors shut.
It was sunny through the ground floor windows. The receptionists were smiling and none queuing for them looked evidently sad either.
‘I need something to read.’ said Alberto. ‘You wait outside.’ he walked to the newsagent corner.
Estela closed her eyes and muttered something to herself. Marilyn looked across the road and then to her right. She imagined the snacks woman.
‘I’m not a witch, Estela. I hope you know that.’
Estela opened her mouth just as Alberto came out.
‘Okay, let’s move.’ he said. ‘No water works now. And both of you stretch your cheek muscles. My son is not going to the reaper. End.’
The two kept up with his quick steps. Marilyn looked back at the entrance before proceeding on to the train station.
Back at Caldwell a guard clinked his truncheon against the bars. Jim raised his head from the pillow.
‘Not you, wrinkly.’ said the guard. ‘Oi, Pascual. Get up off that pillow! Time to move school.’
Pascual slowly slid his forearm from his face.
‘I don’t do school at this time.’ he mumbled.
‘Zip it and move it, your bus’ll be here soon.’
Pascual rubbed his eyes. Jim’s lips quivered.
‘Jim,’ Pascual held up his hand, ‘you’re not a girl.’ he sat himself up.
‘Kiss and shag or whatever.’ the guard dropped a sack through the bars. ‘We got your other shit downstairs. You got a few minutes.’
Pascual nodded. The guard walked away.
‘Jim, stay shut the fuck up! No pussy-ass mushiness.’ he took the sack to the shelf.
‘...Ya can ‘ave those saucy cards, if ya like?’
‘I was gonna anyway.’
‘Look out fer yer arse, though, eh? Kitchen smells o’ fish, if ya know what I mean?’
Pascual raised his brows and scooped toiletries and handwritten letters into the sack. He then sat on the mattress to squeeze into his black shoes. Jim slid a hand under his duvet and tossed a cigarette.
‘My last, it’ll ‘elp yer first night.’
‘Sweet.’ he slipped the cigarette between his trouser elastic and hip. Swerving his bottom, he looked away from Jim towards the bars.
‘No school for you. Go back to your dreams of freedom.’
He listened to Jim inhale, the adjusting of springs and the whoop of his duvet. Pascual then sat hunched and leant back on his hands. He stared at the ice-blue floor outside the bars.
Minutes later footsteps accompanied a shadow across the floor. He looked up and saw Stanley holding a card. A short, hunched guard stood beside him. Stanley’s pupils shone like trains in tunnels. Pascual grabbed his sack as the door opened.
‘Shall we?’ asked Stanley.
Pascual nodded. ‘Thanks for the long notice.’
‘That’s life here.’
‘Don’t seem in a jokey today, warden? Lookin’ battered.’ he stared at him.
Stanley lowered his head. ‘None of your bloody business. Out.’
Pascual stood beside Stanley as he locked the door. Balling his hands he looked at Stanley’s neck until cuffs hooked his wrists. On walking behind Stanley he heard the creak of mattress springs.
‘Hey, Jimmy Breeze... Don’t take no shit here, man.’
‘Come on!’ prodded the guard.
Pascual sighed and continued. Their shoes thudded arrhythmically through the corridor. Steel bar shadows quivered across their faces.
‘Where I’m going,’ coughed Pascual, ‘is it quite a trek?’
‘You’re not getting a return ticket, mate.’ laughed Stanley.
‘Smart fucker.’ he mumbled.
‘Going to take you down for some bureaucracy rubbish first.’
Pascual nodded and continued following Stanley’s clunking steps down an iron staircase. Beige paint was cracking off of the walls. They walked a few paces off and stopped at a worn brown door.
‘Don’t you have other duties now, maybe?’ asked Stanley.
The guard lowered his head and jogged back upstairs. Stanley held the doorknob and closed his eyes.
‘You turnin’ yellow, man.’
Stanley opened his eyes and breathed out. He turned the knob.
‘Don’t fret about me.’ he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his forehead.
Pushing the door wide he dragged Pascual in by an elbow. He then pushed him in front of him and locked the door. Pascual looked back at Stanley, then ahead.
In front of him was a bed and a machine resembling a tower computer. Two built guards stood by it in green plastic army figure poses. Seated at a desk to Pascual’s right, Dave adjusted the plunger of a filled syringe. Dr Klimek stood beside him.
‘What the fuck?’ Pascual pointed and walked backwards.
Stanley wearily shook his head. The guards marched forward in unison and grabbed Pascual’s sides.
‘Easy on him!’ shouted Dr Klimek. ‘Don’t scare him!’
‘Woah! Get the fuck away from me! Save some for the ill!’
‘Dave. Don’t dilly-dally this, please.’ begged Stanley quietly.
Dave got up and walked forward. Pascual struggled hard.
‘Pascual, Pascual, my man.’ said Dave. ‘Babies can handle these, why can’t you?’
Pascual recovered his breath. The guards eased their grip.
He spat in Dave’s face. ‘Shove it up your ass. I ain’t yours any more. This is bullshit! I never been jabbed before!’
The guards eyed each other and slammed Pascual against the door. Pascual’s chest rose up and down rapidly.
‘Why so forceful? Leave me be, man!’ he trembled.
Dave rubbed the spit off. He looked back at Dr Klimek then at Pascual.
‘Look! Pascual. This jab is better than being in this biscuit tin!’ he pushed the needle deeply into his shoulder.
Pascual let out a boyish cry. His eyes rolled shut as he flopped against the guards’ thick hands.
‘I said easy on him, guys.’ said Dr Klimek. ‘Make him comfortable.’
‘Won’t happen again.’ said a guard.
As the guards laid Pascual down Dr Klimek pulled out a large tube from under the bed. From it he squeezed a small clear blob onto his palm and rubbed it across Pascual’s forehead.
‘So how does the blasted thing work?’ asked Dave. He dumped the injection in the sharps bin. ‘Zapping?’
‘No. This wonderful machine,’ he tapped the top of it, ‘complements its clever big brother in the hospital. When you want to erase a computer disk, you zero-fill it. That is, you fill it with nothing but blank data. The human mind is a bit more complex than that, but essentially that’s what we’re doing. The brain will still be physically alive but not mentally active.’
‘How droll. It would’ve been barrels of the black stuff to do that in my day.’
‘Well, we’re hoping to consign pills and knives to the past, if we can help it.’ he placed a pad wired to the machine to Pascual’s forehead.
‘How can you be sure he’s, er?’
‘We look at the electrical activity after, but the human brain only has so much storage capacity anyway, and this machine sends many times that in blank data that, effectively, a brain is zero-filled multiple times. But this isn’t the same thing as inducing brain death. Just everything from post-birth development is gone. If we wake him up straight after this, as he is, you could put him in an adult cot and watch him soon gurgle.’
‘Can’t you just put the new mind in without all this business?’
‘I wish. An intact mind, even partly, will try and spit new, odd data out.’
‘I’m crowding the room.’ said Stanley quietly. ‘Here’s the cuff keys.’
Dr Klimek caught them and nodded. Stanley dabbed the handkerchief at his face and walked out.
‘I’d have kicked up a fuss about this stuff until recently.’ said Dave. ‘It’s a living butcher’s shop in here that people in society perhaps should be able to tuck into. I know that sounds unwarm, but when you’ve been here as long as me you don’t mince things.’
&n
bsp; ‘Well, it’s not like we’re even murdering these men, just discarding their unfortunate characters. You and I know to be realistic.’
‘I think some wives and girlfriends would feel the same!’
‘Anyway, let’s not hang around!’
‘I hope this doesn’t overrun breakfast.’
‘You’ll get your muffins, don’t worry. The machine doesn’t transmit much, it just keeps sending the same blank data over and over in a loop. Flick the switch? You’ll have to do this unsupervised in future.’
‘Is it remote controlled?’
‘There’s a button that wants pressing.’
Dave pressed the button softly, then harder. A low whine emitted.
‘You’re not going to see any drama from him. When it’s done the sound will go.’
‘Looks like some bank accounts are going to swell soon from this.’ laughed Dave.
‘Once we follow-up the patient this will certainly be the future for currently incurable illnesses.’
‘Permanently incurable you mean?’ he laughed.
Dr Klimek went to the desk. He put down the keys and picked up a glossy photo and a black marker. Walking back to Pascual he alternated between looking at the photo and his face. Pulling the marker cap off with his teeth he started drawing broken lines around Pascual’s nose, lips and eyes.
‘Get his bottom half off.’ said Dr, Klimek.
Dave tugged hard on Pascual’s shoes. On popping off the ankles revealed tightness lines. Dr Klimek hurriedly unbuttoned Pascual’s top and drew circles around the nipples. Dave pulled Pascual’s trousers and briefs down to his feet. A cigarette fell to the mattress which he pocketed. Dr Klimek examined Pascual’s lower half and marked two small xs on the scrotum, then put the photo down and replaced the pen cap.
‘Don’t the surgeons do that?’ asked Dave.
‘It saves their time.’
The machine whine wound down.
‘Is that meant to stop right now?’
‘High speed, remember?’
‘So he’s...’
Dr Klimek smiled.
‘Well, rather you than me now.’ Dave extended a hand.
Dr Klimek shook it firmly. ‘We’ll cross paths again.’
Dave nodded. ‘You two, scoot. The ambulance is round the back.’
The guards exited. Dave went to Pascual’s side and touched his hair.
Dr Klimek picked up the keys from the desk and inserted a few into the cuffs before finding the one that turned. He pulled the body’s shirt out from under its back and rolled the trousers and briefs past the feet. Picking up the sack Pascual dropped he placed the clothes inside. Another sack from beneath the desk was put next to it.