Part 26 (1/2)

The kidney let out another thump.

10.

”So that's why I need to see the young woman who received my wife's kidney. As soon as possible.”

Tos.h.i.+aki had decided to call the CCH from his lab. Eve 1 would surely make an appearance at the recipient's hospital. He had to get to her before Eve 1 did.

”I realize that, sir, but there's no way we can grant your request. I'm sorry. It's against legal policy.”

Unfortunately, the receptionist was insistent on this point. Tos.h.i.+aki raised his voice.

”This is a dire situation. If that patient is not evacuated to a safe place immediately, something terrible will happen to her. To h.e.l.l with the rules.”

”Excuse me, sir, but what are you talking about?” The receptionist suddenly changed tone.

”That patient is in great danger! What don't you understand?” He was outraged.

”If this is a prank call, I want you to stop this right now.”

”Don't be stupid. I just told you. I am the donor's husband, my name is...”

”I don't know what you're trying to pull here, but I won't have you terrorizing any patients at this hospital. I take my job seriously and I'm not about to jeopardize it. If you keep this up, I'll report you to the police.”

”d.a.m.n you!”

Tos.h.i.+aki threw down the receiver.

He was at a loss for words, but refused to let it end there.

Stuffing his open s.h.i.+rt into his pants, he exited the room and rushed down the hallway.

Thankfully, the elevator was already at the fifth floor. He opened the doors, went inside, and beat the first floor b.u.t.ton with his fist. The elevator began its sluggish descent. He swore at the delay.

All he was concerned about was how far Eve 1 had managed to get. When Tos.h.i.+aki had heard the gurgling in the sink, he went over it to see Eve 1's stains around the mouth of the drain. Sticking a finger inside, he felt slime, and knew she had escaped through the pipe.

Eve 1 could change shape at will, so it was nothing for her to travel underground. He was certain she was storing a fertilized egg.

It was impossible to look up every pipe that ran through the city. The only thing he knew for certain was that she would emerge at a hospital. This was all he had to go on to cut her off.

The elevator stopped with a clank. Tos.h.i.+aki leapt out as the doors opened. He went through the dark lobby and made a dash for his car parked just outside. The key was still in the ignition. He got inside, stepped on the gas pedal as he started the engine, and broke into full speed.

The City Central Hospital was fifteen minutes away. He was not confident he would make it in time, but there was no choice. He had to do everything in his power to defend the recipient of Kiyomi's organ.

But even though she was in a hospital, how was he supposed to look for her? The CCH was the major kidney transplant hospital in this region. There would be many transplant patients there alone. How was he supposed to find the right one among them? Asking any staff was clearly out of the question, and no one would ever believe him if he told them the truth. Should he track down Odagiri, the transplant coordinator? Or talk to the doctor who performed the transplant itself? He thought hard. Both seemed to be dead ends. The hospital was doing its best to maintain its prized confidentiality.

He was convinced there was nothing he could do. But there had to be something. He didn't want there to be a single other victim.

Tos.h.i.+aki gained speed, nearly skidding off the road as he curved downhill.

11.

s.h.i.+genori Anzai was alone, sitting on a sofa in the lifeless hospital lobby.

The lights were out. The window, normally overrun with patients, was covered by a beige curtain as if to reject him. A big clock on the wall tapped a rhythm as it ticked away the seconds. At noontime, this place was racked with so much noise that no one could hear a thing, certainly not the hand of a clock. Now, the ticking annoyed him.

The only light came from the yellow glow of a late-night drug pickup window. But there, too, a curtain was drawn and he could not see inside. Anzai saw flitting shadows of people moving behind it, but could not tell what they were doing.

He looked up at the clock. Over thirty minutes had pa.s.sed since he came to sit here.

Mariko's face floated before his eyes. She was clearly threatened by something. She had still not opened up to him, but occasionally gave Anzai a look that seemed to implore for help. Whenever he gazed back at her, she turned her face to the side, probably wavering about how to respond.

When visiting hours ended and Anzai got up to leave, Mariko sat up and stared at him.

Her eyes begged him not to go. He remembered her saying how afraid she was the night before.

He held her hand. She squeezed it tightly in return. He tried to pull away, but she held on tighter. He watched her patiently.

Before long, he said he needed to get going.

As he walked out, he felt Mariko's gaze upon him the entire time, and as the door closed, he sensed almost a scream of terror from her.

But visiting hours were over and there was nothing he could do. He rationalized his departure like any adult.

As he walked down the hall towards the elevators, he realized his error. Shouldn't he be by her side? He was trying his best to understand her, but maybe that was still just a front, and she had not opened up completely because she saw right through it. Anzai had felt like turning back on his heel but kept walking, against all instinct.

He had no strength to return to her room, but neither could he go home, so he had stayed in the lobby trying to calm his conflicting emotions.

”What are you doing over there?”

Anzai was surprised at the sudden voice.

An older nurse was standing there, carrying what looked like a shopping basket in her hands and eyeing him suspiciously. She had probably come to pick up some meds. Were it not for her uniform, he'd have mistaken her for a housewife on some errand.

He faltered for an explanation as she approached him.

”Visiting hours are over for the night. Why are you here?”

Anzai was silent.

He stood up sluggishly. The main entrance was closed. The only way out was through the service entrance.