The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments)

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Will do.”

  “Oh, and Stan, I appreciate it.” Staring for a moment in thought Aldo slowly hung up the phone. He rang his driver to bring the car around and walked to his office door flinging it open. “And what’s this stomping shit?” he sternly asked his daughter. “I was on the phone. I find one scuff mark on my floor, one and you’ll be scrubbing it, not Grace.”

  “We’re late.” Alison flung her thick black hair, folded her arms and quickly walked away.

  “That’s it. You’re going to boarding school.” With a lot on his mind, Aldo followed his spoiled daughter out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada

  November 24 - 1:00 A.M.

  Rickie wasn’t asked to go back in Cal’s room, but he couldn’t sleep. The last he saw was when he brought another penicillin base for Jake. Cal still sat at Jake’s side, her arm woven through his, her head resting on the bed as she sat. The food Rickie brought her still sat in the same place he set it down, untouched. “Cal,” he whispered softly. “If you want, I can like sit with the Sarge. You can sleep in my room.”

  “No, Rickie, thanks.” Cal raised her head. “I can’t leave him.”

  “Still the same?” Rickie took a step into the room.

  Cal nodded, sitting upright in the chair. “I don’t . . .” She paused, closing her eyes. “I don’t know what else to do for him. I’m scared. He’s trembling and he won’t wake up. Why won’t he wake up?” Her head fell back down to the bed.

  Rickie could hear her sniffling. “The Sarge is strong.” Afraid to but unable to stop himself, Rickie reached out his hand and rested it on her back.

  Cal lifted her head and wiped her eyes. “Wake up, Jake. Please wake up for me.” Staring at his closed eyes, Cal prayed for a response. She hoped her heartfelt pleas would be heard. They weren’t. Jake didn’t respond.

  ^^^^

  Cal knew the longer Jake stayed out, the worse things looked. Day break had come and still nothing from him. His temperature was high and his shaking grew worse around three AM. It was so bad Cal feared that Jake would go into convulsions and there would be nothing she could do to help him.

  It wasn’t her coffee that caused her the jump; she barely slept enough to need it. It was the noise, the rumbling that caused vibrations on the top of her coffee when it began. It was a situation she hadn’t given much thought to in the past twenty-four hours—the wolves.

  Rickie flew into the room. “They’re coming.”

  “I hear them.” Cal said calmly and reached under the bed for the duffle bags.

  “You have to get out of this room.”

  “Right, Rickie.” She looked at Jake. A pounding began on her door.

  “Cal, come on, get out of there!” John called to her.

  The banging, the normal banging of the determined wolves against the metal walls started. It was becoming such so commonplace that it no longer seemed so loud.

  “I’m not leaving here,” she responded.

  “Then give us a gun. We’ll shoot at them,” John yelled.

  “No fuckin’ way.” Cal made sure the shotgun was loaded. She jumped when she heard the banging against her wall and ignored John’s pounding at the door.

  Rickie stepped closer. “I’ll stay in here with you. Unless . . . Cal-babe, I’m like the king of videos. Let me go up there with a rifle. All I have to do is show myself and they’ll book. I promise I won’t waste bullets. I promise. I ruled in Area 51.”

  Cal looked to the open duffel bag. “Jake, would kill me . . .”

  “Yeah, but if we don’t scare them away, they are going to get in.”

  “Take it.” Cal motioned her head to the bag and lifted her shotgun. “Take it and hurry.”

  “Excellent.” Rickie grabbed the top one and flew out the door.

  Through the banging and the rumbling, Cal could hear Rickie shouting as he ran down the hall.

  John made another attempt on the door pounding hard with his fist hard. “Cal, please. They can break through the glass. You and Jake have to . . .”

  “I’m not leaving him!” Cal shouted and turned in horror to see what they all feared. A wolf was leaping up trying to get in. His every attempt was unsuccessful. But for how long? Cal raised her shot gun, aiming at the window. She watched the gaping jaws of the wolf every time he jumped. And each time she saw his head, her heart skipped a beat. “Try it you bastard.”

  She heard gun shots coming from above her head followed by stomping. Rickie probably hit one. She heard him fire again. Cal kept her aim steady. Then, like an earthquake dying down, so did the wolf stampede. The firing sent them scattering and eventually even the wolf at the window gave up as well.

  Cal’s head sank forward at the same time she lowered her gun.

  “I got two!” Rickie ran back in the room excited. “I got two of them. They saw the Rickie-Miester and said no man, we don’t want . . .” He moved closer. “What’s wrong?”

  “He’s so vulnerable.” Cal faced Rickie. “It would kill him if he knew how vulnerable he was.”

  Rickie reached out to her and to his surprise, Cal rested her head against his chest. He put his arms around her, trying to do the best he could to be so reassuring. “He’s not vulnerable. He has you.”

  “Cal,” Weakly Jake called out her name.

  Without hesitation Cal ran to his side, dropping to her knees before him. “Jake, I’m here.”

  Jake’s eyes opened just barely. “Cal?” His voice trembled as much as his body. “I can’t see you, Cal.” Jake reached his hand up. A tone of panic took over. “I can’t see.” He closed his eyes and passed out.

  ^^^^

  How much longer would it be? Cal wondered. Another day neared an end and Jake hadn’t gotten any better. Fear started to hit her, fear that possibly he never would. The thought of that angered her. She entered the experiment with no intentions of talking or being with anyone. She had every intention of doing it alone. And as time has passed, she couldn’t imagine finishing it without Jake. Dipping the cloth into the water, Cal raised her exhausted arms to his face, wiping him off slowly. She brought it down to his lips which were getting worse. They showed the effects of the fever that ravaged him.

  “Cold,” Jake moaned softly. Feeling the cloth go to his neck, he tried to swipe it away.

  “Good. Fight me.” She moved his hand so she could continue.

  “Rather see you.”

  Cal swallowed the lump in her throat. Jake opened his eyes and then closed them quickly. “You will.” She brought her lips to his cheek kissing him. “Then you’ll get sick of me.” Cal smoothed the wash cloth over his chest.

  Jake shook his head. He lacked the control he wished he had. “Don’t baby me.”

  “I’m not.” Cal wrung out the cloth. Her voice stayed calm. “I’m trying to break this fever.” She dropped the cloth. “Done . . . for now.”

  “You shouldn’t be here.” Jake kept his eyes closed tightly. “Sick.”

  “That’s too bad. You think that bothers me?”

  “Bothers me,” Jake spoke through his short, quick breaths. “Please leave.” Jake tried to push her away when he felt her presence.

  “Quit pushing me away. If you want to fight, Major, I’m not what you should be fighting.”

  “I’m cold.”

  “I know.” Cal walked over to the other side of the bed and slid in, pressing her body tight against his back. “I’ll warm you.” She ran her hand down his arm and brought her lips to his ear. “Please fight this, Jake. You have to fight this.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “I know you are.” She grazed her hand softly across his face, kissing him again. She held him tighter when she felt him start to shake more. “I need you to fight because . . . I need you.” She waited for Jake to say anything, but he was quiet. “I never thought I’d need anyone again, Jake. I never thought I’d feel again.” She rested her hand on top of his hand that lay
flat on his thigh. “Don’t make me face this alone. Please. Don’t take away what I never thought I’d have in my life.” Her eyes watered up as she stared down at a quiet Jake. “More than all the battles you ever won, I need you to win this one. I love you, Major Graison. Fight hard.” Cal thought he was sleeping, that he didn’t hear her but Jake did. He spread his fingers wide, allowing for hers to slip in the spaces between his. Then he gripped her hand bringing it to his chest. He gripped it tightly.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada

  November 25 - 7:10 A.M.

  It was Jake that awakened Cal. Not his voice, not his normal nudge to her backside, but the eeriness that surrounded him. She was still lying against him, holding him, but Jake had stopped trembling. He lay quiet, the pronounced breaths he took almost inaudible. And no longer did she feel the heat of his body against her chest. Frightfully, she brought her hand up his arm, sliding it to his chest. Where was the fever? He no longer felt like he was on fire. Cal’s eyes widened and her heart beat faster. An awesome fear struck her. She feared that perhaps Jake had not made it through the rough night that he had experienced. “Oh, God, no,” she said.

  Cal was afraid to move, afraid to call his name, afraid to see if he was still alive. She just let herself lie against him and as she did, she placed her ear to his shoulder blade. Slow long breathing and a no longer rapid heartbeat echoed in his chest. Grateful and relieved, Cal raised her eyes up to the ceiling in a quick prayer. She pressed her lips to his shoulder before sliding out of bed and covering him back up. Jake’s fever had broken.

  It had to have been the greatest thing Jake had ever seen. That moment when he opened his eyes everything was still blurry, but it was great. He could see Cal, see her. And even though it looked as if he was looking through someone’s very strong eyeglasses, Jake knew he was getting better. He laid there in the bed, his body feeling much heavier than it actually weighed. Cal didn’t even know he was awake. She checked the shotgun while occasionally sipping her coffee. Morning, he thought. Cal looked like she did in the morning. Messy clothes and her hair in that thing Jake hated on the top of her head. Just because he was sick shouldn’t be any reason for her to revert back to wearing a ponytail. Jake knew it was time to try to get out of the bed. He felt weak, but he would only get weaker if he stayed in the bed. Even though he was clueless on how long he’d been out of it, he wasn’t clueless to the fact that he was out of it long enough to have to go to the bathroom so bad his bladder hurt.

  Lifting his head would be the first step. He remembered the headache he had before he passed out. That was gone and he didn’t feel quite as cold. And why is Rickie just walking in this room without knocking? Jake squinted trying to focus. No! She’s not. She’s giving him a gun? That was all the incentive Jake needed to rush his rising. With all his reserve strength, he sat straight up. The rush of blood made him immediately dizzy and he fell back down the other way. “Fuck.”

  “Jake!” Giving Rickie the shotgun, Cal raced over to him. “What are you doing? Stay in bed.”

  “Don’t.” Jake held his hand up to her to stop her. He placed it on the bed and lifted himself to a sitting position. The room spun in front of him and Jake rolled his eyes. “Don’t give him a rifle.”

  With a shriek of excitement, Cal grabbed his face and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re better.” She looked at his eyes which seemed to be bouncing. “Sort of. . . Rickie,” she called to him. “Get him some water.”

  “No water.” Jake shook his head and leaned closer to Cal. “Not yet. I have to piss really bad.”

  “I’ll help you.” She stood up and braced his arm.

  “I can make it,” Jake argued.

  “I know, but just let me guide you.”

  “OK.” Jake rubbed his eyes and motioned his head to Rickie.

  Cal knew what he meant. “Rickie, why don’t you take the roof?”

  Jake shivered with fear. “No! He can’t have a gun.”

  Holding up the rifle, Rickie showed Jake. “Sarge, I’m cool. I don’t waste bullets.”

  “Shells.”

  “Whatever. Sarge . . .” Rickie walked to the door. “I’m glad you’re better.”

  Jake’s head dropped as he looked at Cal. “I can’t believe you armed that kid.”

  “Do you have to use the bathroom, Major Graison, or would you rather bitch?” Cal smiled at him. “Which by the way, I am very glad to hear.”

  “Bathroom.” Jake tried to stand on his own and swayed from front to back, then side to side.

  Cal braced him, one hand on his back the other on his stomach. “Just don’t try to walk too fast, Jake, or you’ll fall.”

  “I’d crush you.”

  “You haven’t yet.”

  With one hand extended out, Jake counted on Cal to lead him correctly to the bathroom. Once inside he planted his feet, resting his left hand to the wall behind the commode as he leaned in. “I’m good now.”

  “OK.” She ran her hand down his back. “I’ll just wait right . . .”

  “Cal. When I look down, everything moves.” Jake turned his head to her with a look of embarrassment.

  Cal stepped back into the bathroom. She peeked her head under his arm and around to his front. “You’re good. Fire away.”

  “Can you . . . This is so humiliating.”

  “Oh, stop it, it is not.” Cal assisted as best as she could by providing him with a sense of support as well as guidance, until she heard he was done.

  Using the wall as a guide, Jake slid his way over to the sink and turned on the water. He washed his hands and splashed water on his face, lifting it to the mirror. “My lips, what the hell happened to my lips?”

  “Fever blisters. Actually they look a lot better than I thought they would.”

  “They look a mess. I look a mess.”

  “You were really sick, Jake.” Cal rubbed her hand up and down his back as he brushed his teeth. “In fact, you shouldn’t even be out of bed. I won’t be able to take another relapse.”

  “I will after I get cleaned up. I’ll feel better if I let the water run on me.”

  “I’ll agree to that. Let me take care of you, Major, instead of you always taking care of me.”

  “Don’t get too used to it.” Jake rinsed his mouth. “And don’t you ever tell a soul you helped me go to the bathroom.”

  “Never.” Cal walked over to the shower stall, opened the door and turned on the water. “Are you ready for our shower, Jake?” She saw his puzzled look. “Unless you think you’ll be able to on your own.”

  “You can help me take a shower . . . wait . . . the wolves.”

  “The wolves are going to have to attack . . .” Cal looked at her watch, “. . . without me. In fact, they’re late.” She began to undress.

  ^^^^

  Rickie was ready for them, but they didn’t come. His desire to play hero atop the building was thwarted. Seven-thirty passed and they still hadn’t attacked. The wolves acted different this time. They swarmed like bees at the bottom of the hillside, not peering through the trees as usual, waiting to attack, waiting for someone to step out. The wolves wandered around in one small area, almost as if they were planning a new course of attack.

  ^^^^

  Cal stood behind Jake in the shower as he let the water fall on him. He was still wobbly, Cal could see that, whether he chose to admit it or not. “Is the shower helping?”

  “Some. I still feel like I’m in a fog. God I hate this.” Jake turned slowly to face her. “I know what you did for me. It may all seem like a dream, but I remember. I’ll never forget it.”

  “You’d do the same for me. You have done the same for me.” She handed him the soap.

  “I’m sorry . . .” Jake began to feel dizzy and took a moment to let the feeling subside. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that. This is not how I want you to see me.”

  “I still saw you as strong, Jake. I think that’s how I’ll
always see you.” She placed the shampoo in his free hand. “I thought you were dying. I was scared. Wash your hair.” She raised his arm up to his head.

  “Is that why you said you loved me? Or did I dream that?

  “No, you didn’t dream it. I said it. I said it because I meant it. Is that why you said it? Did you think you were dying?”

  “Nah.” Jake tilted his head back slightly letting the water run across his face. He lifted his head weakly wiping the water from his eyes. “I didn’t think I was dying. I said it because I was too sick to worry if you thought I was being a sap.” He reached for her. “It was weird hearing it, Cal.”

  “I’m sorry. If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll not say it again.”

  “No.” Jake shook his head as his hand slid from her face with less control than he would have liked. “I haven’t heard those words since before my parents died. It felt . . . good. Thank you for that.”

  Cal smiled as she held on to his waist reaching behind him to turn off the water. She looked at him as she handed him a towel and thought how sad what Jake just said made her feel. How sad it was for someone to go that many years of their life without anyone telling them something positive about the way they felt about them. That explained to her why he was like he was. Noticing as she wrapped the towel around his waist that he was weakening again, Cal grabbed a towel for herself and opened the shower stall. “Let’s get you back to bed, Jake.”

  Though Jake would rather not, he knew his body was telling him otherwise. “OK, just for a little bit.” Jake’s words started to slur as he stepped with Cal from the shower. “I promise I won’t make you deal with me like this much longer.”

  “Are you kidding?” Cal escorted him slowly back into her room. “I’m loving it. I’m keeping score, Major Graison, and guess what? We’re now tied.”

  ^^^^

  “You’re right, Rickie.” Cal lowered the binoculars as she stood on the rooftop with everyone but Jake. “They do seem different.” She handed the glasses to Carlos. “Take a look, what do you think?”