The End of Getting Lost by Robin Kirman

Author:Robin Kirman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Eight Duncan // Prague

June 1996

His body hit the ground with such a powerful jolt it felt like the breath was sucked out of his lungs. He felt nothing but a buzzing numbness; he heard nothing but ringing in his ears. When he slowly opened his eyes he saw blue sky above, and then Gina’s panicked face above his own. She was speaking to him, asking him if he was okay. Her voice came out muffled. His was a gasp.

“Gina.”

“You can see me? Hear me?”

“Yes.”

Her hand was trembling as she reached for his. “Are you in pain?”

“I don’t know. What happened?”

“Ask him if he can move,” said Violet, standing out of view, some feet away.

“No, don’t!” Gina ordered him, pinning down his arms. More calmly, she explained: “I think the rule is to lie still until the paramedics come.”

“Is that right?” Bette’s voice now, Duncan realized, coming from somewhere near. He was afraid to turn his neck to see.

“Somebody needs to call an ambulance!” Gina shouted, looking up to where the other girls must be standing. “Please call whatever 911 is here, tell them what’s happened!”

Duncan was dimly aware then of a discussion taking place around him. The ringing in his ears was growing dimmer, and he could make out phrases, even those spoken in a hushed voice, at some distance. “The hospitals in this city… who can say when or even if… but we know someone… a real doctor, absolutely.…”

“All right, then, get him,” said Gina, and came again to crouch by Duncan and take his hand in hers. He was squeezing her palm, holding on for dear life. He felt her grip against his, squeezing back. He had her. And so, he told himself, even if bones were broken, even if the damage was worse, what he’d done was worth it.

“Duncan, eh?” A stranger was kneeling above him now, with his thinning black hair pulled into a ponytail.

“Duncan, yeah,” he croaked.

“My name’s Terry,” said the man, in a thick Australian accent. “I’m the next-door neighbor but I’m also a doctor, right? And I’m gonna give you a little look-see, eh?”

The man leaned down next to him and peered into his eyes. He then wagged his fingers back and forth in front of Duncan’s face, and asked permission to check under his shirt. “This hurt you, mate? When I press here?”

Duncan writhed away. The pain was searing.

Terry slapped his knees and stood, addressing Gina. “Your friend’s bloody lucky he landed somewhere soft.” Turning back to Duncan, he explained. “You’ve got some bad bruising in one spot on the side there. Possibly a fractured rib, but there’s really not much to do about that except stop falling off of buildings.”

“Thanks,” said Duncan weakly.

“Pick up a thermometer,” the man resumed, facing Gina, “and if his temp goes above thirty-nine, or if you notice some red or yellow in his eyes, you get him to a hospital. Other than that, get your hands on some good painkillers and he should be all right.

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