manner changed. He was no longer lecturing, but leading with authority.
Now as to my own conclusions. There can be absolutely no doubt that
certain function of the optic nerve remains. It is still conveying
impulses to the brain. At least a part of it is still intact. The
question arises as to just how much that is, and to what extent that
function can be improved. it is possible that the grenade fragment cut
through part of the nerve, severing five strands of a six-strand rope,
or four or three. We do not know the extent, but what we do know is
that damage of that nature is irreversible. What Debra may be left with
is what she has now, almost nothing. Ruby paused and was silent. The
two men opposite him watched his face intently, leaning forward in their
seats.
That is the dark side, if it is true, then Debra is for all practical
purposes blind and will remain that way.
However, there is another side to the question. It is possible that the
optic nerve has suffered little damage, or none at all, please God Then
why is she blind? David asked angrily. He felt baited, driven by
words, goaded like the bull from so long ago. You can't have it both
ways. Ruby looked at him, and for the first time saw beyond that blank
mask of scarred flesh and realized the pain he was inflicting, saw the
hurt in the dark eyes, blue as rifle steel.
Forgive me, David. I have been carried away by the intriguing facts of
this case, seeing it from my own academic point of view rather than
yours, I'm afraid. I will come to it now without further hedging. He
leaned back in his chair and went on speaking. You recall the notch in
the outline of the chiasma. Well, I believe that is the nerve itself,
twisted out of position, kinked and pinched like a garden hose by bone
fragments and the pressure of the metal fragment so that it is no longer
capable of carrying impulses to the brain. 'The blows on her temple -?
'David asked.
Yes. Those blows may have been just sufficient to alter the position of
the bone fragments, or of the nerve itself, so as to enable the passage
of a minimal amount of impulse to the brain, like the garden hose,
movement could allow a little water to pass through but still hold back
any significant flow, but once the twist is straightened the full volume
of flow would be regained. They were all silent then, each of them
considering the enormity of what they had heard.
The eyes, the Brig said at last. They are healthy? Perfectly, Ruby
nodded.
How could you find out, I mean, what steps would you take next? David
asked quietly.
There is only one way. We would have to go to the site of the trauma.
Operate? David asked again.
Yes.
Open Debra's skull? The horror of it showed only in his eyes.
Yes, Ruby nodded.
Her head, David's own flesh quailed in memory of the ruthless knife. He
saw the lovely face mutilated and the pain in those blind eyes. Her
face - His voice shook now. No, I won't let you cut her. I won't let
you ruin her, like they have me David! The Brig's voice cracked like
