Daughter of Nothing by Eric Kent Edstrom

Author:Eric Kent Edstrom
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Undermountain Books LLC

19

The Good Stuff

Dr. Carlhagen leaned on his cane and yawned as he waited for Nurse Smith to open the steel door behind her desk. Though she was only fifty-five, the old woman didn’t know the meaning of speed.

Dr. Carlhagen yawned again. The disastrous dinner the night before had taken a toll on him. He’d awakened to a muddled memory of the whole affair. He had to admit that the pills were becoming a problem.

And now he felt so sleepy, so completely used up, he considered calling for Mr. Justin to bring the truck down from the hacienda to pick him up.

“He kept trying to get up this morning,” Nurse Smith said, as she guided him to Vaughan’s bedside. “I had to put him on the same drip as Janicka.”

Vaughan lay with his mouth open, glassy eyes staring at nothing.

“The ribs and skull are nearly healed,” Nurse Smith said. “Miraculous and unnatural, if you ask me.”

Of all the nurses in the world, Dr. Carlhagen had unwittingly chosen the most superstitious. “Their resilience is wholly due to slight tweaks made to their DNA. It is as natural as your hair.”

That caused Nurse Smith to gasp and pat her coal-black bun. Apparently her hair color was anything but natural. “They are abominations, Doctor. I know you think you’re doing good, but the devil’s plans can easily hatch in the hearts of well-intentioned men.”

“I have no time for one of your sermons right now, Nurse. Go fetch me a bottle of ibuprofen.”

The woman had seemed so clear-minded in the interview. Next time he’d run a battery of psychological tests on a candidate before hiring them. Bah! How he hated administrative work.

“But the boy feels no pain in this state,” Nurse Smith said. “And he can’t even swallow pudding, let alone pills.”

“The ibuprofen is not for him!” Dr. Carlhagen snapped.

Nurse Smith squawked, but she got moving.

Vaughan’s vitals looked good. The low brain activity and pulse were due to the drip. Dr. Carlhagen envied the boy his vegetative state. He’d skipped his andleprixen that morning, and his joints were screaming. Especially his left hip.

Nurse Smith returned with a bottle of ibuprofen. Dr. Carlhagen shook out four pills and popped them in his mouth. He doubted they would do much good, but any relief would be welcome.

He put the bottle in his coat pocket. “Mr. Justin is preparing a room in the hacienda for Vaughan. I’ll have him moved soon.”

“And if we have an emergency before then?”

“Call me, but let no one into the ward. And continue to say nothing of his condition.”

Dr. Carlhagen needed the Scions to fear the worst about Vaughan’s state, needed to prepare them for the differences in Vaughan’s behavior when he rejoined them.

“What about the client?” Nurse Smith asked.

“I can’t worry about her right now.” He’d have to address the whole Janicka problem soon. She needed to be brought up from her drugged stupor at intervals so that he could work with her. He had no doubt he could guide her through integration, though the new entity would necessarily be a blend of Janicka and Sarah.

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