“I’ve studied the neurological effects pornography has on the human brain. You’ve heard the old story, that men are turned on visually, while women are stimulated emotionally? Not according to my research. I’ve found that men and women get equally excited, mentally that is, while viewing pornography.”
“Interesting.” Bill felt his collar get a little tighter, and he fought the urge to pull at his tie.
“No one else seemed to think so, and I lost my funding. I think this country places too much importance on sex. It’s a natural, necessary, biological process, but we keep it behind closed doors. No good comes from repression, don’t you agree?”
Her smile sent a shock through him.
“I, uh, agree. Repression isn’t a good thing.”
“It’s different in Europe. More relaxed. There is no shame in a naked body. No shame in being open about your sexuality. Have you been with a woman since your wife died?”
Bill blushed. He was at a loss for an answer. The truth was he hadn’t had sex in over a year, but that wasn’t any of Theena’s business. She may have been born in Europe, but Bill hadn’t had that luxury. Her bluntness made him uncomfortable, and if that was an indication of his own repression, so be it.
Still, he was flattered to be hit on. If, indeed, that’s what she was doing.
Theena touched his hand. Bill’s ears burned.
“Would you like to see Manny’s bedroom?”
He fought the urge to take a step back.
“Dr. Boone-Theena, I find you very attractive, but I don’t think this is the right time.”
“Do strong willed women scare you, Bill?”
“No. But I wouldn’t want to take advantage of your situation.”
She moved closer, her hand touching his hip, her long curly hair brushing against his neck.
“But I’m the one in control, Bill. How could you be taking advantage of me?”
Damn good question.
“Your father just died. You’re confused.”
“He really wanted N-Som to be approved.”
Bill pushed her at arm’s length.
“Is that what this is about? Theena, my job here is to review your research and based on that…”
Theena began to laugh. Her abrupt change of character was shocking.
“What’s funny?”
“Sorry, Bill. I was just messing around with you.”
“Excuse me?”
“I wanted to see how you’d react, that’s all. It’s strange to find any gentlemen left in this profession.”
Bill blinked. He blinked again.
“This-this was a put on?”
“You’re cute.” Theena touched him on the end of the nose. “But I’m not that easy. And my father did just die yesterday. Call it an integrity check. You passed. Come on, I’ll show you the other rooms.”
Theena took his hand and led him out of the pseudo apartment. Bill felt as if he’d just been subjected to a battery of psych tests. He had to remind himself she was mourning, and people did crazy things while mourning.
But had it really been a gag? Bill was positive, if he’d wanted, he could have had her right there. Was he that easily fooled? Or was she that good?
Or was he that needy?
“We call this the Sweat Room. Treadmill, Nautilus Machines, Stairmaster, free weights. One of our testing criteria is to judge N-Som’s effects on motor skills and muscle fatigue. Lack of sleep makes a person physically tired. Before Manny was put on the drug, we did a series of control scores. Prior to N-Som, he could stay on a Stairmaster for three hours before collapsing from exhaustion.”
Bill studied Theena. She was acting like a professional again. Part of him was disappointed.
“And while he was on N-Som?”
“We had to quit at nine hours because the machine blew a gear.”
She took him to a room across the hallway. Bill recognized several machines, including an EEG and an oscilloscope. Both were in operation, the electroencephalogram drawing a jagged polygraph line on an endless ream of paper.
“Is someone being tested right now?”
“Those are Manny’s. He has remote sensors surgically implanted in his scalp, and they send the signal here. It’s the only way to be sure he never sleeps, since it is almost impossible to watch him twenty-four hours a day.”
Bill was familiar enough to interpret the data. The frequency of the peaks and troughs indicated beta waves. Manny was awake and aware. Curiosity made Bill flip through the pile of folded pages, all with the same, continuous pattern.
He looked for a variation which would indicate unconsciousness. Delta, theta, or spindle waves were obvious signs of sleep; the frequency would slow and the voltage would increase, making bigger and wider peaks. But he couldn’t even find alpha waves.
“Doesn’t he ever close his eyes?”
“Amazing, isn’t it? Normally closed eyes slow down electrical activity, because the brain isn’t being visually stimulated. Manny’s brain remains in beta, even when he keeps his eyes closed for hours.”
“Shouldn’t this show when he was put under for his operation last night?”
“Manny didn’t go under. He insisted on a local anesthetic.”
“To repair a collapsed lung?”
“He didn’t want to jeopardize the experiment.”
Bill thought about invasive surgery while being conscious. He shuddered. The guy was either very committed, or out of his mind.
The EEG needle began to move faster, the small peaks and troughs so close together it was hard to see the cycles between them.
“What’s happening now?”
Theena looked closely at the readouts and frowned.
“Beta 2 waves. I’ve seen this before, usually when he’s very irritated, or having an argument. But the police have a guard on him, and no one is allowed into his hospital room.”
“Maybe some reaction to medication.”
“No. He’s not on any medication.”
“Not even antibiotics?”
“He doesn’t need them. His immune system is incredible.” Theena pursed her lips. “No, he’s definitely arguing with somebody. I wonder who?”
Jack Kilborn
Disturb
“How did you get in here?”
Manny’s voice was high pitched, frantic. The flimsy hospital gown he wore made him feel even more vulnerable.
David smiled at him.
“Your armed guard is taking a nap outside. Remember naps, Manny? Don’t you miss them?”
Manny tried to rise out of the hospital bed, but David put a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t bother getting up. I won’t stay long. Pity about Dr. Nikos, isn’t it? You know what I saw in his eyes when I slit his throat? Not fear. Not pain. Just disappointment. It was delicious. How’s your chest?”
David lifted up Manny’s gown and peeked.
“Looks nasty. What is that tube?”
Manny tried to melt into his mattress.
“A drain.”
“Does it hurt?”
David prodded at the protruding plastic, pinching it between his fingers. Manny forced courage.
“What do you want, David? Did you come back to finish the job?”
