Wake-Up Call. Joaquin De Torres

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СКАЧАТЬ did he pass?” I asked.

      “We’ve got to talk,” Zelda snapped.

      “My office,” Ivana confirmed. “Let’s go.”

      * * *

      Ivana poured the Šlivovica quickly into our shot glasses, and we slammed them down even quicker than before. The sweet burn somehow barely registered as it singed down our throats.

      “We’ve got to find out if there are others walking around out there,” I said. “Other than Patricia, do you have any others who are candidates?” Ivana nodded her head.

      “I’ve got a whole ward of Catatonia and Lethargica patients on the third floor, but they’ve not moved at all. After Patricia’s first recovery day, I put papers and pencils next to all their beds, 10 of them. I’ve checked every day, but nothing.” Suddenly, her cell phone rang.

      “Orinda State, Dr. Livancic speaking.” I saw her face suddenly plunge into concentration. She quickly sat at her desk and pulled out a pad of paper. Yes, Dr. Sturnage, hello! How are you? I’m fine, thank you. Yes? You do? My God! How many?” She glanced at me. “Yes! Okay, Doctor! Would you mind if my team came down to view them and test them? Yes. I’ll let you know when, but I’m doing a field study on this phenomena. Yes. We have two ourselves.” She nodded frequently, scribbling on the notepad. I looked at Zelda, but she was on the other side of the office talking on her cell phone.

      “I understand, and yes, we should not contact the media. In fact, once I find out if there are other similar cases, I plan to call a conference with all their primary care therapists to discuss my theory. Yes. Very good, sir. Okay, I’ll keep in touch. Thank you so much! You, too. Bye.” She put down her phone and turned to me.

      “That was Dr. Dale Sturnage at Atascadero State in San Luis Obispo. He was my mentor. He has three recoveries!”

      “We’ve got to keep a list,” I suggested. Ivana agreed.

      “I’ll create a database. Sturnage said he’ll send me the records tomorrow.” She turned towards the Šlivovica bottle and refilled our glasses. She moved very slowly, a look of disappointment shadowing her face.

      “What’s wrong, Ivana? What’s bothering you?”

      “I’m wondering why the rest of my patients haven’t woken up. They were homeless, they were found on the street.”

      “Maybe they just weren’t implanted at the time,” I offered. She nodded and gave me her best smile.

      “That must be it. We really don’t know what this implanting entails. How are they being contacted, and where?”

      “We’ll have those answers this week.” We turned our heads to find Zelda smiling, and taking her seat at the desk.

      “I was just on the phone with Dr. Terlaje! Just Googled his profile, and go his contact info!”

      “Great job, Z!”

      “Z? Hmmm, I like that! Thanks, Jav! He remembered me after two years.”

      “Well, who could forget someone as gorgeous as you?” I suddenly got a sharp look from Ivana although Z took a moment to smile approvingly at me.

      “So, he’s coming?” Ivana asked.

      “He’s clearing his schedule, but said he could be here by Friday. He’ll let me know his itinerary.”

      “Did you tell him about our patients?”

      “Yes, and he was excited that there could be actual proof of his theory. He honestly didn’t think it would happen in his lifetime. I also asked the same question you ask Jav about how these people could be contacted and implanted physically.”

      “What’d he say?” I asked.

      “He said he had a theory, but he mentioned that we could probably get the answer through therapeutic hypnotism of the subjects. I immediately thought of Doogie.” I nodded my head.

      “I agree. Patricia hasn’t spoken a word yet.” Ivana nodded also. Zelda then raised her glass and we joined her. We looked to each other not knowing what to say or what to think.

      “Well, we know what we saw,” I said finally. I looked at Ivana. “We have three more possibilities with Dr. Sturnage.” I turned to Zelda. “And we have the man whose theory we’re going to stake our reputations on coming in four days.” I inhaled. “Are we in this to the end, no matter what?”

      “No matter what!” confirmed Zelda with a smile. We looked at Ivana. She took a moment, but then nodded confidently.

      “No matter what.” We toasted and slammed down the shots. Suddenly, Ivana’s cell phone chimed. It was a text. She read it and looked at us.

      “It’s from Sturnage. He said three other state hospitals checked in with him.” She swallowed. “He said there are at least 30 more!”

      “I’ll begin work on that database,” I said.

      “I’m going to call my dean and ask him for an extended leave of absence!” exclaimed Zelda as she reached for her cell again. “He owes me, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

      “You can stay at my place,” offered Ivana.

      “That would be great! Thank you!”

      There was a knock at the door.

      “Come in!” Ivana called out as she quickly put the tray of alcohol and glasses beneath her desk. A young female intern stuck her head in. “Hello, Marcy! Come on in!” There seemed to be more than one person outside the door; in fact, there were excited conversations of at least 10 people. Marcy looked like she was holding back tears as she smiled.

      “Marcy? What’s wrong?” Ivana asked as she stood up. Then tears burst from the young woman’s eyes, but she laughed at the same time. She swung open the door and standing there, amongst a group of tearfully excited interns and doctors, was Patricia Miren.

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