Blueprint for Disaster: A life for a life - that's what they say, isn't it? by Dan Garrett

Author:Dan Garrett [Garrett, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

DAY TWENTY – Friday, 13th December

(i)

A warm hand touched Jake’s as the brakes clicked off his bed.

“Right, this is it, mate … Time to get that blasted thing out of your head.”

Ryan was trying for humour, but his voice sounded hoarse and snuffly.

Chloë was there, alongside Scott, Marty, Shaun, Claudia, and Raff. Everyone’s tone was upbeat, but the laughter was brittle and the humour forced. The group talked of family life and upcoming plans, but they wouldn’t have amassed like that if he’d had any real chance of surviving.

The entourage set off, escorting him on his final journey.

“Just a small procedure, mate,” Ryan whispered. “Nothing to w-worry about.”

Persuading himself or me?

The pre-med introduced to the IV had made him woozy, but even so, the distress beneath his partner’s cheery countenance was unmistakable. Everyone had done their best to stay positive, but when the Chief Super had arrived to wish him luck on behalf of everyone at work, that had said it all. He was destined to bleed out on the table, and everybody knew it.

The silent porters were concentrating hard as they rolled his bed out of the lift, moving it painfully slowly around several corners and through the flapping plastic doors.

“Welcome back to the surgical floor, Mr Taberner,” Professor Akhtar said, touching his arm. “Including our good friend Mr Decker, we’ve got a team of five surgeons, seven nurses and one incredible robot, ready to give you their best this morning.

And one pesky old ghost, I hope …

“—I’ll introduce you to everyone shortly, but your friends and family need to leave us at this point, so I’ll give you and Mr Shale a moment alone together.”

The man’s footsteps faded, and everyone else offered their farewells and stepped outside. Hush fell as Ryan carefully dropped the bed rail on the right side and took his hand.

“I’ll see you w-when they’re finished, mate.”

Tell me you love me …

“—You’ll be in and out in ten m-minutes, Tabs. It’s a tiny op to remove that splinter and m-make your head more comfy. No sweat, okay?”

Please tell me you still love me and that we can be what we were …

“—Mart’s gone to get us some coffee, so we’ll w-wait outside the door, okay? Then, when you’re back on the ward, I’ll tell you about my p-plans for your Christmas present. You’re going to love it.”

Ryan leaned over him, breath trembling, as he placed a featherlight kiss on his clammy forehead.

“Until then …”

A tear splashed on Jake’s temple and ran down onto the bandages covering his eyes. There was whispering, and someone female escorted him out.

Jake was glad he’d gone. The empty talk of family life and Christmas treats was more than he could bear.

Take care of our boys, Ryan. You be strong for them …

The anaesthetist arrived and introduced himself, chatting about the procedure and what lay ahead. None of it meant anything. The pre-med was kicking in, and Jake could hardly stay awake, his mind spinning in waves of warmth.

His bed was moved slowly through more doors, where he was introduced to the surgical team.

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