fEaR 3 by Jack Wallen

fEaR 3 by Jack Wallen

Author:Jack Wallen [Wallen, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DevilDog Press
Published: 2021-10-04T16:00:00+00:00


9

SMOOTH OPERATOR

Our lavage patient slept through the night without dying or even making overtures or flirtations with death. After a quick breakfast of Cap'n Crunch PUKs, I joined Janet in the recovery room to see the woman sitting up in her bed, being helped to some form of spoon-fed paste. Darcy made it easy on the woman by feeding her with the gentle care of a professional.

I grabbed the patient's chart from the end of the bed as though the apocalypse wasn't raging beyond our doors. It felt good to pretend everything was normal for a moment.

"Feel like I should've come in wearing clown shoes and speaking in my best Groucho Marx voice.” I faked a cigar in my hand and said, "A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running."

Darcy laughed. The woman in the bed attempted to as well, but the pain in her throat stopped her short. I was about to double-down with my Marxian wit, but didn't want to be the cause of anyone's suffering—physical or mental. That and comedy was best left to the pros (and the cannibals, apparently).

"How are you feeling,” I glanced back at the chart, "Emily?"

The woman nodded. I looked to Darcy for an explanation. "I had her fill out a questionnaire, so you'd have enough information."

"Excellent." I turned my focus back to Emily. "Well? Feeling any better?"

"I can breathe now. I'd say that's…" Emily was hit with a racking cough as she grabbed at her throat.

"I'm so sorry. That pain will subside within a few days. Until then, I'll get you some pain relief."

Emily nodded.

"Can you tell me what happened to you? The contents from your lungs indicated—"

"Explosion," she rasped.

I handed the woman a tablet of paper and a pen. She grabbed the proffered items and wrote like a woman possessed. She tore the piece of paper out and handed it to me.

I recited the words aloud. "We were trapped in a building and a group of cannibals tried to force us out by burning the building down."

Emily requested I return the paper to her, at which point she scribbled wildly and handed it back to me.

"As they were setting the fire, they sang hymns." I looked back at her. "Did you hear anyone say 'Cannibal Christ?'"

Emily tilted her head and nodded.

All of a sudden I wanted that bastard dead in the worst possible way, and the idea of me attending the Sunday meeting wasn't nearly as off-putting.

Emily requested the paper. When she returned it, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, I can arrange for you to have some pudding."

Had the woman somehow read my thoughts and misheard me speak?

Listen to me. First it's cannibals, now I'm entertaining the idea of telepathy.

"Darcy, when you have a moment, get Emily a pudding."

I felt like I'd just rewarded a child. The grin on Emily's face certainly reinforced that position.

"In case no one has bothered to inform you, Emily, you're going to be fine. I'll be back in a bit with some pain meds.



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