By now I was getting used to the white spot of expanding vision. This time it was accompanied immediately with sound and with a rush of crushing pain. I could hardly believe the agony. It was as if every part of my body had the circulation cut off from it and pins and needles were setting in simultaneously in every muscle fibre I possessed.
I sat up as the images in my vision cleared and feeling a little off balance from the speed of my action, I stopped before swinging my legs over the side of the table. I looked around and saw the old man with the gramophone baritone. I looked straight at him and willed myself to speak. I opened my mouth and the sound of inarticulate feedback assaulted my ears. I clapped my hands to my ears with such force I thought I was going to crack my skull.
“Rodney, I’m Dr Vasimo. I have been working on your case. Please be patient for one moment and I will see if I can rectify a small problem”, the old man said.
He reached towards my head and I felt some pressure behind my right ear. Everything went black.
*
That blasted white spot came back. This time I was determined to stay awake. My body ached now as if I had done an intensive fitness routine. At least I wasn’t still suffering from pins and needles. My vision focussed and I sat up. I could hear the breeze sighing through the ventilation shaft above my head.
I looked around and saw that I was alone. I swung my legs over the side of the gurney. Why was I still on this thing? I stepped down and with some difficulty gained my balance. I felt a bit precarious standing there wobbling back and forth. It was as if the simple act of standing, something I had done my whole life, was too difficult for me. I opened my mouth to speak and remembered what happened last time.
Tentatively I put my hands to my head to avoid the crushing blow I had given myself before. I covered my ears and tried to whisper. Very softly I heard myself say, “Hello.”
I ventured another sentence. “Is anybody there?” I heard sounds coming towards me. I identified Dr Vasimo’s gramophone baritone and a number of other voices. There were five in all. I waited patiently for what seemed like two or three minutes before the voices became loud enough for me to determine that they were outside my room. Then the door opened inwards and Dr Vasimo was standing there with four other people. Somehow I already knew there were two women and two other men. It must have been the sounds of their voices.
“Ah. You’re awake I see”, said Dr Vasimo. “Good. Now let’s see if we’ve fixed all those minor problems we were having shall we? Please…Rodney, come over here to this chair and sit down.”
I looked at the chair he was indicating. It was very solid with steel reinforced legs and a very thick seat pan. It was a wicked looking contraption that might have belonged in a torturer’s dungeon in another time. I didn’t like the looks of it and shook my head. I opened my mouth and concentrating to speak quietly said, “No thanks. I think I’ll stand.”
Dr Vasimo smiled and said, “As you wish. But if you get tired, as I’m sure you will, come over and sit down.” I nodded that I would.
“Now then, Rodney, tell me what you remember please,” asked Dr Vasimo.
“Remember about what?” I responded.
“You had an accident and were brought here to my facility. We are responsible for giving you back your life. It was touch and go there for a while,” Dr Vasimo said.
That would explain the blackouts and the pain. It might even explain the trouble I’m having now. “I don’t remember anything. I’m sorry,” I said. “Please. Tell me who I am, where I am and what’s going on?” I requested.
Dr Vasimo looked at one of the women accompanying him. He nodded. She stepped forward and said, “First things first Rodney. You might want to put some clothes on.” I looked down and to my surprise I was stark naked. I saw a fit, healthy looking body only sparsely covered with fine body hair. Too my eyes, I was almost anatomically perfect, you know, like those drawings you see in encyclopedias. Something was wrong. I remembered myself being a little out of shape and slightly on the chubby side.
“What’s going on here?” I said. “I don’t look like this. How long have I been here? What have you done to me?” The questions tumbled out and I could hear the volume of my voice getting louder, panicked and more strident. I stopped myself and looked at Dr Vasimo.
He just smiled at me and indicated a pile of clothing on the end of the gurney. “I hope they’re the right size. We had them specially made. Your clothes were all but destroyed in the accident.”
Gees, it must have been one hell of an accident. I looked at the clothes and went over to put them on. As I turned and started to walk towards the end of the gurney, only a few feet away, I lost my balance and fell to the floor. I saw the two men move towards me. I remembered what had occurred the last couple of times someone got behind me and I jumped up.
To my surprise I actually leapt into the air and landed on my feet before they had moved three paces into the room. I landed stiffly on my feet but retained my balance. I walked gingerly to the end of the gurney and started to dress. I should have been embarrassed about being naked in front of two complete female strangers but I was too astonished at what I had just done. I started to dress quickly and turned to face Dr Vasimo. “Will someone tell me what is going on please?” I asked.
“You had better sit down Rodney,” Dr Vasimo said. “What I’m about to tell you will no doubt come as a bit of a shock.”
