by D M Arnold
“I'm still reeling from the news. How's she doing?”
“They gave her some pain medication and she's back to her chipper self.”
“Did they say how long?”
“The doctors think six to eight months -- but I know from...”
“Don't you dare recite any of that damned genealogy to me, Nykkyo. You once told me a glimpse into the future was a gift. Now, I know it's a curse. There are things in life we're better off not knowing.”
“Whatever you wish, korlyta.” He heard the doorbell. “That must be the hospice nurse. I'll talk to you later.” The vidphone session went dark.
A thirty-something woman stepped into the living room. “I'm Janet. I'm with the hospice program at the hospital.”
“I'm Nick Kane -- Mrs Kyhana's son-in-law. Pleased to meet you.”
“When people think of hospice, they think of a building -- like a hospital. Our program is different.”
“I have no preconceptions,” he replied. “I hadn't heard the word before now.”
She smiled. “Mrs Kyhana has drafted a living will instructing no resuscitation or extraordinary treatment.” Nyk nodded. “The goal of our program is to make the patient as comfortable as possible -- both physically and emotionally -- as their disease progresses to its ultimate conclusion. It is our approach to regard the whole family as patients in the process.”
Nyk nodded again.
“Mrs Kyhana's treatment will be a progressively aggressive pain management regimen. We'll start with some mild oral medication and ramp up as needed. We began the treatment during her confinement, and so far she has responded well.”
“She has seemed more herself the past few days.”
“I will be coming around on a regular basis to check on her progress. When we reach the end stages, I may find myself here all day.”
“She wishes to die in her own home,” Nyk said.
“We will do everything possible to honor that wish.”
* * *
Yasuko sat in a reclining chair in the living room. “I'm getting weaker,” she said to Nyk. “I can feel my stamina ebbing.”
“Janet will be here shortly. I've also asked Seymor to come by. He has the final draft of your will. He and Janet can witness it.”
“He's your old boss, isn't he?”
“Yes -- and a licensed attorney. He's more than happy to do this for you.”
The doorbell rang and Nyk admitted Janet. He paced around the kitchen as Janet conferred with Yasuko.
The doorbell rang again. He opened the door, saw Seymor and stepped outside. “How are you bearing up, lad?”
“As well as to be expected.”
“I can't imagine this -- first Sukiko and her dad -- now her mom.”
“Suki's alive and well, Seymor.”
“Oh ... yes, I keep forgetting... Tell me, how are you going to handle the boy once she's gone?”
“I haven't thought that far ahead. I'm thinking of closing the Tribeca office and working out of the house.”
“What about Jaquie?”
“I love Jaquie, Seymor -- but I'm accustomed to typing my own memoranda. There's really not enough work to keep her busy.”
“You can't let her go -- she's part of the organization.”
“Maybe I don't have to. Nothing says I can't put her into a room here and keep her on. Maybe we could mix some housekeeping chores with her secretarial duties. How do you think she'd react to that notion?”
“I don't know, Nyk -- it'll test your skills at diplomacy to suggest it to her. What about your assistant?”
“What assistant, Seymor?”
“You haven't hired one?”
“Actually, Dyppa is doing such a good job in Wisconsin -- she's practically my assistant already. Besides her exobotany, she's handling most of the day-to-day liaison with the plant breeders. There's no reason to keep that office in Manhattan, and we could save the Agency some money.”
“Do what you think is right, lad. You're in charge, now.”
“Come inside and let's get our business transacted.” Nyk opened the door and gestured Seymor in.
He approached Yasuko. “Mrs Kyhana -- I have the final draft of your will.” He opened his case and withdrew a pair of envelopes. “Nick Kane is named as the executor of your estate. I've made all the changes you requested. If you'd like to read it over...”
She waved her hand. “I trust you.”
“Then, sign here.” He handed the pen to Yasuko, who signed her name with a pair of kanji characters. Seymor picked up the paper and squinted at it.
“That is my legal signature,” Yasuko said.
“I'm not doubting it -- I never saw one like it before.” He handed another copy to her. “Once again, if you please.”
Seymor turned to Janet. “If you please...” She signed. Seymor added his signatures, folded the documents and slipped them into envelopes. “Here.” He handed one to Yasuko. “I'll keep the other copy on file.”
* * *
Nyk opened the door to the house and walked in. “Hello, Janet.”
“Mr Kane.”
“How's she doing?”
Janet lowered her voice. “I think we're very near the end.”
“How much longer?”
“Within a week, most likely -- though I've seen some hang on much longer than I expected. She's comfortable -- and lucid. I just started a fresh bag of saline for her IV. It should last until I can arrive in the morning.” She picked up her case. “I'll see you tomorrow, Mr Kane.”
Nicky ran to him. “Hey, Nick!”
“Hey, Nick!” Nyk slapped his palm against Nicky's. “What do you feel like for dinner?”
“Burger!”
“Again? Let's see what we can put together. I want to check on Grandma, first.”
Nyk rapped on the door to Yasuko's bedroom and poked his head in. “Come in, Nick.” She was lying in a hospital bed. An IV line was inserted into a vein on the back of her left hand. Nyk saw the bag of saline dripping into the line. She pointed to a box on the end of a wire. “See the button? I press it for a dose of morphine. I can press it as often as I want, but I get the morphine only once every fifteen minutes. Nicky was here this afternoon, pressing the button so I could get some rest.”
“Is the pain very bad?”
“If I keep my mind off it, no. Sukiko began to teach me to meditate. I'm using some of what she taught me to wall off the pain.” Nyk sat beside her and held her free hand. “The problem is, when I want to sleep, I must relax my concentration and that's when the pain starts to intrude. I'm ready to let go, Nick. I've reconciled it in my mind. It's been a good life. I thank you for bringing Sukiko back into it. I only wish I hadn't out-lived her. It's the child's duty to bury the parent -- not the other way around.”
Nyk stroked her cheek. “Yasuko -- you rest now. You and I have some things to discuss after Nicky's in bed. Save your strength for then.” He kissed her forehead.
He opened the freezer and grabbed a couple of frozen burger patties. “Okay, buddy,” he said to Nicky. “Let's put together some dinner.”
* * *
Nyk descended from the apartment with his laptop computer. He stepped into Yasuko's bedroom. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.
“Nicky's asleep,” he said. “We can talk.”
“Nick, what is on your mind?”
“I don't quite know how to start.” He thought for a moment. “I guess the best way is the direct way. Yasuko -- Suki is alive.”
“She can't be -- no one in George's office survived.”
“She wasn't in George's office. She was with me.”
“Where is she now?”
“She's on another world. I'm going to reveal something about me. It's something I've wanted to tell you -- I should have told you years ago. Yasuko -- I'm from another planet. My world was founded two hundred years in your future. An accident in time has made your future and my history one and the same. I knew about the World Trade Center attac
k before it happened. The event was recorded in our history.” He held her hand. “Are you following me?”
She nodded. “Barely.”
“I can prove everything I say. Yasuko -- no one can change history. I knew Suki was destined to leave Earth on September 11. But, she needn't to die in order to depart this world -- if I could take her to another. That is what I have done, and she's there now -- alive, and successful, and doing what she loves -- teaching -- teaching the youth of my world about yours.”
Yasuko looked at him with her jaw dropped. She smiled. “You're telling me this ... story so I can go to my death in peace.”
“No, Yasuko -- it's no story -- as you'll see. I'm going to raise your head a bit.” He pressed the control to lift the bed and swung a dining tray before her. He flipped open the laptop computer and set it on the tray. “Suki is alive and well on my planet of origin. And, she's waiting to talk to you.” He turned the laptop toward her.
“Mom? Mom! It's me!” Suki's image was on the screen.
“Sukiko? Is it really you?”
“I'll leave you two to talk and catch up,” Nyk said, left the room and closed the door. He sat in the reclining chair in the living room and shut his eyes.
When he opened them again, it was two hours later. He cracked open the door to Yasuko's room. Her eyes were closed. The vidphone screen was blank. He switched off the laptop.
Yasuko stirred. “Oh ... Nick -- or should I call you ... Nykkyo?”
“I answer to either.”
“She named her son after you.” She reached for him and took his hand. “She told me everything.”
“I'm so sorry, Yasuko -- I should've told you from the start. I apologize for the needless heartache I caused.”
She shook her head. “No need, Nykkyo. I understand why you did what you did. You saved my baby's life.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “You can't possibly understand the comfort you've given me tonight.”
“I'm a parent, too. I do understand, and it's why I broke my people's number one directive to tell you.”
“She is so happy and so successful, and she revels in learning about Nicky. It's a miracle. I'm so proud of her -- and of you.”
“If I could've saved George, too -- I would've, Yasuko.”
“It wouldn't have worked. He wouldn't have been happy on your world the way my Sukiko is. And to think you can talk to her on that computer -- and see her face. It's no wonder you spend so much time with that thing.”
“It's more than that, Yasuko. By the way my people reckon it, the Kyhana family -- the Floran branch -- starts with Nicky. Suki really is a mother to us. We all are her children. That makes us your grandchildren. I wanted you to know of the glorious achievement of your progeny.”
“It's a gift,” she replied. “Few have an opportunity to glimpse the future.”
“I never wanted to deceive you. I was sent here on a nine-month assignment to gather some plants. I never anticipated such involvement with an Earth family.”
She took his hand. “You were God-sent. Without you, my baby would be dead.”
“I wish I could tell Nicky the truth about his mom. You do understand why I can't.”
“Of course -- I can't fault any of your decision-making, Nykkyo. At least he was young enough not to remember her -- so he doesn't feel the loss.”
“Nor does he feel enriched from knowing her.”
“I suppose you're right about that. Now I understand why you were so adamant about not bringing another woman into the household. It will be difficult for you without me to help -- not that I've been much help the past two months. What do you plan to do?”
“Maybe I'll hire a housekeeper. I can afford one.” He kissed her forehead. “This must've been tiring for you.”
“No -- invigorating. Thank you. Good night, Nykkyo.”
“Bon'noka.” He switched off the lamp and closed the door.
* * *
Nyk opened the door and peered in. “Good morning, Nykkyo,” Yasuko said to him.
“How did you sleep?”
“Better than in years.”
“Nicky's on the bus -- last day of school. He can't wait for summer to begin.”
“Will you take him to the beach house?”
“We haven't made plans, yet.”
“Nykkyo -- on your world -- how do you bury your dead?”
“We don't.” He pulled a chair close to her and sat. “It's been our tradition -- ever since PlanetFall -- not to put our dead into the ground. We never regarded Floran as our home, but as a waystation, until we could be reunited with our true home.”
“That didn't happen.”
“It can't -- until after the Centauri mission. I won't see it in my lifetime. That's not to say it will never happen. I hope it does. I hope our worlds can unite in peace and friendship. Maybe it will help the natives of this rock realize how petty and insignificant are their national squabbles.”
“Maybe -- just maybe -- it will put an end to this insane tribal mentality that took George and so many other innocent lives.”
“Not even my people are completely immune from that insanity.” He squeezed her hand. “We cremate our dead. Some scatter ashes and others keep them.”
“Then, do that for me. It seems a sensible solution. No sense cluttering up this world with discarded shells.” She pinched the back of her hand. “I'll be done with this one, soon enough. I don't fear death -- I'm a Buddhist. We believe souls are eternal, repeating the cycle of life, death and rebirth. I would say, Nykkyo -- you must be a very old soul.”
“There are about two hundred generations between you and me, Yasuko. The Centauri mission might be two hundred years in your future, but it's five thousand years in my past.”
“Two hundred generations? So many rebirths! I knew something was special about you, Nykkyo. Perhaps this explains it.”
The doorbell rang. “I'll get that,” Nyk said and went to answer the door. “Come in, Janet.”
“How is she this morning?”
“I think she's doing well.”
Nyk followed Janet into the bedroom and watched her change the IV pouch. He kissed Yasuko's forehead. “I'll be on my way. I'll see you tonight.”
* * *
Nyk sat at his desk reviewing his inbox. He checked his to-do list. He was overdue setting up a meeting with Lev to review the diamond inventory. The head of Plant Breeding was due next week to discuss the upcoming year's strategy.
He glanced at the calendar -- June 7. He felt his heart sink. The intercom signaled him. “Mr Kane -- Janet on two.”
He closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath and reached for the phone. “Yes, Janet?”
“Mr Kane -- she's gone.”
“How long...”
“I checked on her half an hour ago, and she was alert and watching TV. I just checked her again and...”
“She was at peace,” Nyk said.
“This happens often -- they don't want to let go when family are close by. The doctor is on his way over.”
“I'll be there as soon as possible.”
* * *
Nyk walked into the bedroom. The bed was flat and the IV tubes and catheters were gone. Yasuko lay, covered with a sheet. He uncovered her face, kissed her forehead and replaced the sheet.
Janet walked into the room. “I have the death certificate here. There's no need for an autopsy --unless you want one.” He shook his head. “I can help make arrangements. Have you chosen a funeral home?”
“Yes -- but there's been a change in plan. I'll phone them.” He looked at his watch. “Nicky will be home shortly. I want him to see her.” He carried his laptop computer upstairs to the apartment. A vidphone window came up and he saw Suki's image.
“She's gone, isn't she? I can tell by the look on your face.”
He nodded. “She was at peace. I wish I were. I should've told her sooner about you and me. I might have spared her some heartache.”
“Might-haves don't count,” Suki replied. “
I'm at peace. The conversation we had yesterday helped us both come to terms. Thank you for doing that.”
“I wish I had done more.”
“She told me she could die happy, and now so can I.”
“You're not planning on...”
“Of course not -- I left my suicidal tendencies back on Earth. I have too much work to do here, and I pray I have enough years left to achieve it.”
“Pray? You? To whom?”
“To Destiny -- don't all Florans?”
“I'm at a loss to know what to do about a memorial service. I'm not very solid on what are the practices on this world.”
“My mother's life was her family,” Suki replied. “She had little else -- she led a simple life with few friends. Memorial services are for the living. Nothing you do will benefit her, now. She'd best be remembered by carrying on with life.”
* * *
“Hey buddy -- hand me the hammer,” Nyk said. Nicky picked up the hammer and gave it to him. He tapped the nail into the wall and hung the frame. “I had to hunt high and low for a picture of your grandma, but I found one. There -- Grandpa, Grandma and Mommy.”
He hung the crest with the photographs and placed an urn on a stand. Nyk picked up Nicky and held him. “Well, buddy -- I guess it's just you and me, now.”
THE END
