by Aziz, M.
‘Don’t.’ he exhaled deeply. ‘Just my head. The outside.’
‘Tomás, son. Fine, don’t tell us. But co-operate with those looking after you.’
‘Why do you think I’m here talking to you then, Dad? And you know, there’s nothing like a good crash for a chassis check.’ his laugh morphed into a wince.
‘So, you stay close lips with mother, yes?’
He looked at the ceiling. ‘Just let me shut my eyes a bit. Please.’
During the next few minutes the echoing, blurring voices of his parents increased in speed and volume. Then came a knock.
‘No need to be polite there.’ coughed Tomás.
The doctors re-entered. Dr Goldberg held a ribbed transparent cup. Its powdery solution fizzed.
‘This will take you away from the real world for a while.’
Tomás slowly sat up. He used a palm to support himself. Marilyn went to hold the back of his head. Grabbing the cup, he downed it in one go. A small amount of powder remained.
‘Mmm. Taste makes a change.’ he crushed the cup.
‘Don’t lay in an awkward position now.’ said Dr Klimek.
‘Yeah, the head on arm thing isn’t the best feeling in the world, is it?’ he laid down and turned on his side. ‘I’m losing the stinging al...’ his eyelids clamped.
Marilyn touched his forehead. ‘So, I’m guessing you aim to do more than endlessly drug him?’
‘Observation is the key, Mrs Gabino.’ replied Dr Klimek. ‘If things aren’t on the up it will become evident. But time alone is powerful. That said, this will be the only bed he’ll be on for at least a few days.’
Marilyn nodded. Seconds later Estela and Alberto copied.
‘You might want to get more air,’ said Dr Goldberg, ‘something to eat and drink if you have not already. Do not go too far, though. Your presence will be a reliable test of his mind.’
‘Doctor, I really value what you people are doing for him.’ said Alberto. ‘He looks like hell is over.’ he looked again at Tomás before leading the women out.
Dr Goldberg locked the door. He placed his back against it. ‘Well, I have dealt with harder things.’
‘I thought Tomás was a warrior when it came to dealing with greater discomfort. Strange.’
‘The positive-thinking side of me says it is just because he was not proud of the mess he got into. But that voice is not so loud.’
‘Barber must be free by now?’
Dr Goldberg pulled his phone from a pocket. Holding down a button he pressed it to his ear. Three tones rang.
‘...I do not care about what you are doing, Alan. You are in the wrong place... Yeah, we do not want to be penalised for a move you disapprove of.’
Several minutes later a hard trio of knocks rapped. Dr Klimek opened the door.
Prof Barber entered like a hurricane. ‘He didn’t do anything odd, did he?’
‘There is a danger he will if we rely on just sitting around.’ replied Dr Goldberg. ‘I heard you had something put in him earlier.’
‘I’m pretty sure that slowed down the clock for us. Just watch what happens as the serum continues to circulate.’ he leaned over Tomás.
‘But is there another outcome we should look out for too?’ asked Dr Klimek.
‘Let’s just pin things on this first. I have a red button, but I don’t want to put my finger on it. Lighten up, I don’t plan for my work to go under the ground just yet. Our work.’
Dr Goldberg scratched his cheek. Dr Klimek looked at his feet.
‘You two are going to have to keep rowing until, or should I say if, heavy waves come along. We cut this pie into three pieces so I’ll be damned if I’m filling my whole plate.’
‘No problem.’ said Dr Goldberg.
Dr Klimek parroted.
Prof Barber left. The door thudded behind him.
Pascual slowly raised his pistol. Then pulled the trigger. Twice. The bangs echoed through the night. Someone thudded to the pavement. He ran into a lightening blackness.
A mass of blurry grey formed into a white ceiling vent. He lowered his eyes. A shaking, shiny black shoe toe to the left of his peripheral vision made him turn. Dr Klimek had a leg over the other. He was studying a tablet computer on his thigh.
‘You’re not going to turn me off again are you, doc? This body’s been in standby mode too long.’
Dr Klimek looked up. ‘Ah, Mr Gabino. I hope you’re feeling less sore?’
‘I can move without making faces now.’
‘I was jotting down things I’d like to discuss. I hope you’ve changed your mind about keeping tight-lipped. I won’t pester you over and over.’
Tomás rolled his eyes. ‘And then make sure you forget about it!’
Dr Klimek smiled. Putting a hand under his chair he lifted it towards Tomás while still seated.
‘This is just like basic application form stuff. So don’t think too long about it.’
Tomás winked.
‘Right, then.’ Dr Klimek coughed into a fist. ‘Don’t think I’m poking fun at you now. Name?’
Tomás replied his full name.
‘Birth date?’
He supplied his on-record birth date.
‘Your parents are who and who?’
‘Alejandro and Helena. But she got ill and er... I was small at the time.’
Dr Klimek’s stylus fell to the ground.
‘Alejandro Gabino?’
‘Wait! I don’t know how that came out...’
‘There’s more to get through.’ he interrupted.
‘You’re going to read something into it that’s not there!’
‘Doesn’t someone else live with you?’
‘Er... Marilyn. Married, right? I think you need to check the air conditioning.’ he laughed in a high voice.
‘Mr Gabino, what brought you to us originally?’
‘...Dyslexia?’
‘You mean to say you underwent a radical procedure for no other reason?’
‘Now let’s not go too fast, okay? Um...’
‘I bet you had a hard time with other inmates?’
‘More like the other way round.’
‘...That so, Pascual?’
‘Uh-uh... Give me a second!’ he closed his eyes. ‘I’ll fess up about why I went out, alright?’
‘Maybe you’d better.’
Dr Klimek listened as Tomás explained.
‘But there’s no need to break a sweat now, doc. Won’t have to x many calendar squares before the last stuff flushes out. I’m not losing it or anything. And those folks of his didn’t get all wound up. Maybe they thought I, him, was on something anyway?’
‘Can you pinpoint when this all started?’
‘Pretty much the day I woke up dead, I guess. But it wasn’t big shit.’
Dr Klimek puffed his cheeks. ‘You do realise you’re staying where you are for the time being?’
‘Just put some dates on an appointment card, please.’
‘We can’t work like that.’
‘Go on, out with an excuse.’
‘Mr Gabino, you’re not fit to be in the community.’
After mock repeating Dr Klimek’s sentence he pushed a fist against the mattress for leverage.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Dr Klimek.
‘Your eyes still working?’ he wobbled as he rose.
‘Don’t, Mr Gabino. I’m not so foolish to have kept the door unlocked now.’
‘That’s a damn shame.’ Tomás lunged.
Dr Klimek fell back on his seat. Tomás placed both hands on Dr Klimek’s neck and squeezed tight.
‘Just give me it and you’ll be able to fucking go home too, alright?’
Dr Klimek’s mouth opened wide. His tongue poked out and curled. A moist redness filled his face. He weakly pushed against Tomás’s shoulders.
Tomás let one hand go. While locking eyes he thrust the hand deep into Dr Klimek’s trouser pockets. Something with a tinkling sound was retrieved. He
eyed it carefully and threw it to one side.
‘You go fucking deaf or something when I told you I never got jabs in there before? I was all good!’
Tomás delivered a series of resonant blows to the side of Dr Klimek’s head. The first pulled Dr Klimek off the chair. The last made his face limply roll left.
Tomás’s feet clapped the ground upon walking back. Shedding his gown he raided the carrier bag.
As he finished buttoning up he noticed Dr Klimek slightly move his legs. By the time he tied his laces Dr Klimek began moving off an elbow. Tomás sped forward for a penalty kick.
The body returned to sprawled stillness.
Tomás picked up the keys. Facing the door he shuffled through the various-sized metals. Each was stabbed in the lock until one sunk. Quickly turning it clockwise he opened the door a crack to accommodate his body. He slipped out.
After gently locking the door he ran to the lift. His soles squeaked. The light panel lit upon being struck.
A buzz came down the corridor.
Dr Goldberg stepped out from the treatment room. ‘What is the hurry there?’
Tomás tip-toed right up to the lift. Spreading his arms, he hugged the doors’ width. His cheek pressed against the metal. Seconds later it opened. Stumbling inside he repeatedly struck the G button until he felt the air close off.
Dr Goldberg looked down the corridor. Shrugging, he approached Tomás’s room with a hand in his pocket.
As he stepped inside his phone came out in reflex. He held down a button. His hand trembled in bringing it to his ear.
‘Listen. I do not want anybody exiting, pay attention to the lifts. Just use initiative!’
He ran out as he pocketed his phone. The bare lift opened upon slamming the panel. Inside he pressed G to begin descent.
It stopped abruptly.
‘Of all bloody times!’ he jumped frantically.
A few seconds later the lift moved again and finally settled. The level display matched the button press.
The metallic view scrolled open to silence. He ran towards the reception desk. Looking around he saw frozen patients and staff with mouths agape, focused beyond the revolving door.
A quartet of black and white uniformed security, whose barks were muted by the glass, seemingly hammered batons at the entrance steps. Jogging forward he saw Tomás cover his head while trying to kick. Dr Goldberg ran through the door.
‘That is enough! He is one of mine!’
The security stopped. They stepped back. Tomás laid back panting heavily. His scalp firework glistened.
‘This wasn’t in the contract, was it, doc?’ he gasped.
Dr Goldberg nodded at the security.
One of them unhooked a pair of handcuffs from their belt. The metal circles clamped short of cutting Tomás’s wrists.
‘This way.’ said Dr Goldberg.
Security pulled Tomás up. They dragged him through the door. Dr Goldberg glared at the receptionists. They returned to their screens. Everyone else appeared to resume conversations based on what they saw.
Dr Goldberg called a lift. A number of seconds later the doors opened. A man and young girl stared at the drunk-motioned Tomás as they hurriedly swapped places with the entrants.
Upon reaching their level, security looked around the corridor as if viewing a prospective property. Dr Goldberg remained trained ahead. Reaching Tomás’s room he found Dr Klimek now sitting on the floor with his back against a wall. He was cupping an eye with one hand, his nose the other. Random red spots peppered the floor.
‘You don’t look too good.’ said Dr Goldberg.
‘Nothing casualty can’t deal with.’
Dr Goldberg looked at the security. ‘I want Mr Gabino fastened.’
They nodded in turns.
Dr Goldberg extended a hand to Dr Klimek. He ushered him outside.
‘I’m thinking of handing the wheel back to Captain.’ said Dr Klimek.
‘Ditto. Leave it to me, you go get yourself cleaned. You going to be alright on your own?’
‘No problem. You’re going to have to break it to the Gabinos somehow.’
‘I am not going to cook up a tale for them. Walking or getting the boot are both fine by me.’
Dr Klimek patted Dr Goldberg’s shoulder and staggered off.
Dr Goldberg re-entered the room. The security stood either side of the bed. Tomás was fixed in a crucifixion pose.
‘I appreciate it,’ said Dr Goldberg, ‘you men must be thirsty or something, maybe?’
The security waddled out like penguins.
‘You want a prize for your finding?’ asked Tomás.
‘Do not underestimate what we can do for you.’
‘You shouldn’t have lured me into your circus freaks project to begin with.’
‘Just try and make yourself at home.’
Dr Goldberg walked out. He locked the door. The lift whined as he went in its direction. Further ahead the security stepped aside before they entered it.
‘Doctor.’ said Marilyn. She looked back as the lift closed.
The in-laws emerged from behind her.
Dr Goldberg breathed in. ‘You are going to have to turn back.’
Estela walked forward. Alberto gripped her hand.
‘Why am I not so surprised by that?’ asked Marilyn.
Dr Goldberg raised a hand. ‘We are trying to work against each second.’
‘You just don’t have a clue, do you?’ her volume echoed.
‘Safety is first priority. Wait by your phone, you should be happy he is in good hands.’
‘I just out, in, out, in! Is some game?’
‘Estela, not so loud.’ replied Alberto. ‘Doctor, I do not want my son to spend one day more here than needed. Am I being clear? My son is a human, not a toy.’
He nodded. ‘I take no pleasure in yo-yoing you about.’
‘Sure you don’t!’ shouted Marilyn. ‘I’m not leaving this floor. Where’s your master?’
‘He has other matters to attend to. Go on, call him. He will direct you back to me.’
Alberto touched Marilyn’s shoulder. She scowled and turned back to the lift. Her in-laws followed.
Dr Goldberg ran into the treatment room. He pulled out his mobile. Upon holding a button the name “Prof. Barber” appeared on the screen. His hand shook at twice the dial tone tempo.
‘Do you need me to repeat what I said to you earlier?’ barked Prof Barber.
‘You are going to have to finish whatever you are doing. And I am not joking unless you want not one but two colleagues clogging up beds.’
‘Come again?’
‘I will be waiting.’
‘Alright, I’ll get in my car now.’
Dr Goldberg clicked off.
10
Around an hour later Prof Barber stood before a sleeping Tomás.
‘I did not induce this.’ said Dr Goldberg. ‘His episode must have affected his energy. The scalp was all I saw to.’
‘Did Klimek behave in a certain way or something?’
‘What use is there wondering now?’
Prof Barber waggled a finger. Dr Goldberg followed him out.
‘Remember my line about a red button?’ Prof Barber adjusted his sleeves.
Dr Goldberg nodded.
‘It’s not brain surgery.’ he added, laughing. ‘Just remove all of what’s there and replant without error correction.’
‘You are just messing, right? Our notes say in bold underlined red about one procedure part per brain only.’
‘I haven’t heard any other bright ideas.’
Dr Goldberg pressed his lips together. ‘I would not even expect a first-year student to come up with that.’
‘So, we’re fine with that, then?’
‘Since when have you needed my permission? However this goes, I tick myself out. The same goes for Dr Klimek.’
‘If that’s how you feel.’
‘It is about time the Gabino family heard more of yo
ur voice again.’
‘Things didn’t go right and I put my hands up about it. My God, man, you don’t reach a finishing line by complaining about hurdles!’
‘I am just not comfortable about who we are using as donors now. The monkey trial follow-up time seems inadequate to me. This is not just about lines on a screen.’
‘You were quiet when you first found those extra zeroes in your account.’
‘I had good expectations.’
‘Look. You don’t worry about the Gabinos. If they warm to what I say then it’s full speed ahead. Otherwise we pull the plug. He isn’t legally alive anyway. We could see what needs improving to prevent this work from going into oblivion. I have a heart as well as a wallet.’
‘Charming as ever.’ he pressed the bridge of his nose. ‘It is a date, then.’
‘My ears didn’t want to hear anything else.’ he put a hand on Dr Goldberg’s arm. ‘It would be an injustice if you walked away just before we dug out the big treasure chest.’
‘Let us keep our hopes at a normal level for now. Give the Gabinos a rest today. I’ll go see if Tomás needs anything.’
Prof Barber smiled. ‘You do that.’
Dr Goldberg entered the treatment room. Prof Barber walked down the corridor. He loosened his tie as he entered the lift.
Next morning the Gabinos sat opposite Prof Barber and a swollen-faced Dr Klimek in the treatment room. Prof Barber explained the proposal.
‘There must be something wrong with my ears.’ said Marilyn. ‘High risk?’
Prof Barber swivelled in his chair. ‘It’s not my call but I’d give it a shot. This isn’t just about my benefit.’
‘And what if this does nothing for him?’
‘The gamble is on when you want him to rest in peace.’
Marilyn looked either side of her. Alberto shrugged his shoulders. Estela held a scrambled egg of tissue to her nose.
‘Shouldn’t you be asking who this directly concerns?’ asked Miranda.
‘We’ve had to sedate him a number of times in the last twenty-four hours.’
Marilyn looked up at the ceiling and shook her head. ‘Coming this far it’s wrong to do nothing.’ she sighed. ‘He wants a future. A proper one.’
Prof Barber looked at Dr Klimek who nodded. Marilyn felt Alberto’s hand on her shoulder.
‘We won’t waste a single minute, Mrs Gabino.’ said Dr Klimek.