Part 19 (1/2)
The seriousness in his face vanished and was replaced by a jovial expression. ”Of course they will. There are many things that will amaze you about the lab.” I felt a slow pressure on my foot. ”There is so much to show you. It's all quite fascinating.”
There was a noise near the door. I pivoted to see a guard looking in our direction. I gave him a wave and a smile, and turned back to the doctor. ”Yeah, it seems really cool,” I said, trying to act oblivious to the tension in the room.
”It is that indeed,” he returned, continuing to sound happy. I heard the doors open and close, and the doctor's face dropped again. ”Things are much worse than I've had a chance to explain. It looks like my time with you is running out.”
”I'm beginning to get a little nervous, Doc.”
”I'm sorry it had to be like this. I wanted to explain everything so you would understand my position. My only intention was to help my friend. If it helped you and the others in the process, that was good too, but things are getting out of control. Strange men in suits have been showing up. Weird demands are being placed on us. It appears the project is being undermined, like they're afraid of what we might find in there.”
”In where? In the computer?”
”No, in the minds of the patients. It's not about the computer anymore. Something is going on. We don't understand the implications.” He paused.
”Implications...?”
”Of Vrin. It's gone far beyond the original project specifications. There are elements in the texts which are completely baffling.” His face went smooth and his smile reappeared. ”So are you almost finished?”
”Yes, thank you,” I said, matching his mood.
”Then let's give you a tour of the lab.”
As I got up, I ventured another glance at the doors. A different man was standing at the entrance. He was dressed in a dark blue suit. His face was stern. ”Who's that?” I asked innocently.
”That's Mr. Philips. He is,” the doctor hesitated, ”ah-- responsible for security in the building.”
We walked over and deposited our trays. The man watched quietly as we pa.s.sed. ”h.e.l.lo,” I said, trying to convey a relaxed friendly bearing over my nervous interior.
We continued on into the hall and down toward the lab. ”There is much more to tell,” the doctor said.
I caught his double meaning.
Perhaps I should have stayed in the coma I thought. Instead of finding out about my family, here I was, stuck in some weird cloak and dagger game. I wanted to whisper more questions, but thought it prudent to wait for the doctor to resume the conversation. The doors to the lab opened and the warm light of the monitors touched my face. A few people in white lab coats were busy working, and I received a couple of curious glances, but nothing more. I thought. Instead of finding out about my family, here I was, stuck in some weird cloak and dagger game. I wanted to whisper more questions, but thought it prudent to wait for the doctor to resume the conversation. The doors to the lab opened and the warm light of the monitors touched my face. A few people in white lab coats were busy working, and I received a couple of curious glances, but nothing more.
”Come over here to my office,” said Dr. Solomon. We stepped in and he closed the gla.s.s door. With his back to the door, he put his finger to his lips. I remained silent as he reached into his desk drawer. I heard a beep and after a few seconds, he looked up. ”It's okay. We can talk for a little, but they'll be suspicious if we take too long. Have a seat, and keep your expressions neutral.”
”Okay,” I said, faking a smile, and looking out the gla.s.s wall of the office.
”I'm about to say something distressing. Remain calm please,” he said with a straight empty face. ”Your life is in danger, but I am going to help you. It is important that you trust me. Do you trust me?”
”Do I have a choice?” I found it difficult to remain expressionless.
”No.” He leaned forward and slid a small pill in my direction. ”Place this capsule in your mouth without drawing suspicion, but do not not chew.” chew.”
I looked out the large gla.s.s. No one was looking, so I turned slightly and inserted the capsule into the rear of my mouth.
”It is the antidote to a poison which will be administered to you. Even though the pill will work, you will feel a paralysis, and will be unable to move for a time. This is important to the illusion that you're dead.”
The illusion that I'm dead? I did I did not not like the sound of that one bit! He was going to poison me? like the sound of that one bit! He was going to poison me? My G.o.d! My G.o.d! Had the world gone mad while I was sleeping? Had the world gone mad while I was sleeping?
”Okay.” He smiled. ”Let's go put on a show. You all right?”
”I'm scared stiff,” I said, barely keeping my composure.
”I wish it didn't have to be this way. And listen. There is one thing I want you to do when you get out of here. A package will be provided for you. In it will be a green packet. Mail it to the address on the envelope.”
”If this works,” I said sarcastically.
He stood and opened the door. ”It has to.”
We stepped out onto the floor, and he guided me back to my bed. ”Sit down, Thomas. There you go.” He smiled as I did as he requested. ”Now, we are going to do a few tests to make sure you are in full capacity, then I'll give you that tour I've been promising.”
”Cool,” I said, trying desperately to sound excited.
He directed me to lie back down. The bed was soft beneath me. It was hard when I first came to, but now it was soft and squishy. The doctor prepped a few things, then performed a series of tests, all the while glancing at the door. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a green light next to the door came on. The doctor looked at me nervously. ”That's almost it, now let me see your arm.” He produced a needle and flicked it with his finger. ”This will only hurt for a second.”
I flinched as the needle sank into my arm, and within seconds the room began to spin. My joints ached and my jaw began to tighten involuntarily. I felt the pill crush between my back teeth. Bitterness filled my mouth. It was a good thing the pill was between my teeth, there wouldn't have been a second chance.
I must have lost consciousness, because instantly two figures were standing over me. I squinted and tried to focus on them. One was the man I'd seen in the cafeteria, and the other-- was my mother! Tears welled up in my eyes. She looked concerned, but I could say nothing to console her. I felt her hand take mine. Slowly I tracked her with my eyes. She had aged so much. I tried to speak but my voice was caught in my throat. ”Mmmm,” was all I could get out.
”Thomas?” she said, her chest heaving with emotion. ”Are you okay?”
I heard the doctor's voice. ”This is the most coherent he's been, and I'm afraid his condition is deteriorating. We're not sure what brought him out, but his mind has been through too much,” he said gently. ”I'm sorry Mrs. Tardin-- but we do not believe he will make it.”
With great effort, I reached out and touched her hand. Her skin felt like rubber in my grasp. She began to cry as her body pressed down against mine. ”No!” she said, taking me into her arms. ”He she said, taking me into her arms. ”He has has to make it. You've come so far, Thomas!” she sobbed. ”You can do it!” to make it. You've come so far, Thomas!” she sobbed. ”You can do it!”
Again I tried to speak. ”Maaaaam.”
”That's it, Thomas! I'm here with you! You can do this!” But her words were useless. Off in the distance, I heard the heart monitor go flat line. My mother shook me tightly in her grasp. ”No! NO! NO! He can't die! He was He can't die! He was here! here! He was He was alive! alive! He can't DIE!” He can't DIE!”
The pain, and the frantic screams of my mother, were left far behind, as I drifted away into darkness.
CHAPTER 18.
HOME.
001001011001110.
There was a b.u.mp, and m.u.f.fled voices. It was dark, and something was covering me. I was picked up, lowered to the ground, then someone unzipped the thing covering my face. I squinted at the brightness of the sun floating in the sky overhead.
”Hey there,” said a young male voice.
The plastic covering fell away and I realized, to my disgust, that I was lying in a body bag. I struggled to get the hideous thing off. A strong pair of arms helped me with the task. ”It's all right. It's all right. You're with friends.” I squinted at the handsome face hovering before me.
”Hurry up! Get him in the car!” said a female voice. I turned my head to see a black sedan parked near us. Get him in the car!” said a female voice. I turned my head to see a black sedan parked near us.
”I guess we're going to have to wait for introductions,” he said. His strong hands gripped me under the arms and lifted me to my feet.