300 The Unbearable Heaviness of Being (1/2)
Chapter 300: The Unbearable Heaviness of Being
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Pain.
Its whole body was in smoldering pain.
Especially in its lungs—every time it breathed, it felt like it was inhaling a vat of burning dust; every time it coughed, it felt like sparks were spurting out its throat.
Its eyelids seemed to have become swollen, and as if there were lead blocks being attached upon them, it was difficult for Richard to open its eyes. It could only half-open its eyes and observe the world through its narrow visions.
It heard some sounds buzzing near its ears. Sometimes, the sounds were so vague like they were from a far cry, but the next moment, they were roaring beside its ears, penetrating its brain like steel needles.
Such painful feelings were familiar, for it had experienced them once. Since this time, its senses were more acute than before, it felt even more painful.
Its consciousness ran into the state of confusion, as if it was back in the lab again.
”Irene, please listen to me carefully. It’s got aspergillosis, and you know how terrible this disease is.”
”My God! Are we going to lose it?”
”No, we will not lose it, at least not now.”
”What should we do?”
”We have a cure for aspergillosis, but it's designed for large raptorial birds like hawks, so we must explore carefully until we find the right dosage for it. Listen, Irene, I'll do my best and then together let’s pray to God to not to take it away!”
...
”Irene, I'm sorry, but the drug therapy did not produce the effects I expected.”
”No! No!”
”Please calm down, Irene! We have not reached the point of despair. As your friend and as a veterinarian, I recommend performing a thoracotomy on it, to scrape off the aspergilli in its chest.”
”Thoracotomy? Are you kidding me! It's a bird weighing only one pound!”
”Listen, Irene, this is our last resort. You don’t want to lose it, right?”
”...Yes, you are right. Are you going to operate on it, my friend?”
”No, I have contacted the best veterinarians in the country for it. They are all the experts in microsurgery treatment, and they will cure it. I promise!”
...
”Irene, I have good news for you—the operation was very successful!”
”Great! I've been waiting for your call… I...”
”Irene, are you crying?”
”No, I’m not…not crying. They have cleaned up the damn aspergilli, right? It will be fine, right? Please tell me it will!”
”Yes, Irene, their operation was very successful, and soon it will be back by your side—there may be some side effects, but it will be all right.”
”Thank God!”
...
”Doctor...” murmured Richard.
”Richard, are you awake?”