mc.prey-第8章

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　Back　in　the　emergency　room；　they　wouldn't　let　Amanda　go　home。　The　surgeons　still　thought　she　had　a　tumor　or　a　bowel　emergency；　and　they　wanted　to　keep　her　in　the　hospital　for　observation。　But　the　rash　continued　to　clear　steadily。　Over　the　next　hour；　the　pink　color　faded；　and　vanished。　No　one　could　understand　what　had　happened；　and　the　doctors　were　uneasy。　The　scalp　vein　IV　was　back　in　on　the　other　side　of　her　forehead。　But　Amanda　took　a　bottle　of　formula；　guzzling　it　down　hungrily　while　I　held　her。　She　was　staring　up　at　me　with　her　usual　hypnotic　feeding　stare。　She　really　seemed　to　be　fine。　She　fell　asleep　in　my　arms。
　I　sat　there　for　another　hour；　then　began　to　make　noises　about　how　I　had　to　get　back　to　my　kids；　I　had　to　get　them　to　school。　And　not　long　afterward；　the　doctors　announced　another　victory　for　modern　medicine　and　sent　me　home　with　her。　Amanda　slept　soundly　all　the　way；　and　didn't　wake　when　I　got　her　out　of　her　car　seat。　The　night　sky　was　turning　gray　when　I　carried　her　up　the　driveway　and　into　the　house。
　　
　DAY　3　
　6：07　A。M。
　The　house　was　silent。　The　kids　were　still　asleep。　I　found　Julia　standing　in　the　dining　room；　looking　out　the　window　at　the　backyard。　The　sprinklers　were　on；　hissing　and　clicking。　Julia　held　a　cup　of　coffee　and　stared　out　the　window；　unmoving。
　I　said；　〃We're　back。〃
　She　turned。　〃She's　okay？〃
　I　held　out　the　baby　to　her。　〃Seems　to　be。〃
　〃Thank　God；〃　she　said；　〃I　was　so　worried；　Jack。〃　But　she　didn't　approach　Amanda；　and　didn't　touch　her。　〃I　was　so　worried。〃
　Her　voice　was　strange；　distant。　She　didn't　really　sound　worried；　she　sounded　formal；　like　someone　reciting　the　rituals　of　another　culture　that　they　didn't　really　understand。　She　took　a　sip　from　her　coffee　mug。
　〃I　couldn't　sleep　all　night；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　so　worried。　I　felt　awful。　God。〃　Her　eyes　flicked　to　my　face；　then　away。　She　looked　guilty。
　〃Want　to　hold　her？〃
　〃I；　uh　。。。〃　Julia　shook　her　head；　and　nodded　to　the　coffee　cup　in　her　hand。　〃Not　right　now；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　to　check　the　sprinklers。　They're　overwatering　my　roses。〃　And　she　walked　into　the　backyard。
　I　watched　her　go　out　in　the　back　and　stand　looking　at　the　sprinklers。　She　glanced　back　at　me；　then　made　a　show　of　checking　the　timer　box　on　the　wall。　She　opened　the　lid　and　looked　inside。　I　didn't　get　it。　The　gardeners　had　adjusted　the　sprinkler　timers　just　last　week。　Maybe　they　hadn't　done　it　right。
　Amanda　snuffled　in　my　arms。　I　took　her　into　the　nursery　to　change　her；　and　put　her　back　in　bed。　When　I　returned；　I　saw　Julia　in　the　kitchen；　talking　on　her　cell　phone。　This　was　another　new　habit　of　hers。　She　didn't　use　the　house　phone　much　anymore；　she　used　her　cell。　When　I　had　asked　her　about　it；　she'd　said　it　was　just　easier　because　she　was　calling　long　distance　a　lot；　and　the　pany　paid　her　cellular　bills。
　I　slowed　my　approach；　and　walked　on　the　carpet。　I　heard　her　say；　〃Yes；　damn　it；　of　course　I　do；　but　we　have　to　be　careful　now　。。。〃
　She　looked　up　and　saw　me　ing。　Her　tone　immediately　changed。　〃Okay；　uh　。。。　look；　Carol；　I　think　we　can　handle　that　with　a　phone　call　to　Frankfurt。　Follow　up　with　a　fax；　and　let　me　know　how　he　responds；　all　right？〃　And　she　snapped　the　phone　shut。　I　came　into　the　kitchen。　〃Jack；　I　hate　to　leave　before　the　kids　are　up；　but　。。。〃
　〃You've　got　to　go？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　so。　Something's　e　up　at　work。〃
　I　glanced　at　my　watch。　It　was　a　quarter　after　six。　〃Okay。〃
　She　said；　〃So；　will　you；　uh　。。。　the　kids　。。。〃
　〃Sure；　I'll　handle　everything。〃
　〃Thanks。　I'll　call　you　later。〃
　And　she　was　gone。
　I　was　so　tired　I　wasn't　thinking　clearly。　The　baby　was　still　asleep；　and　with　luck　she'd　sleep　several　hours　more。　My　housekeeper；　Maria；　came　in　at　six…thirty　and　put　out　the　breakfast　bowls。　The　kids　ate　and　I　drove　them　to　school。　I　was　trying　hard　to　stay　awake。　I　yawned。　Eric　was　sitting　on　the　front　seat　next　to　me。　He　yawned；　too。
　〃Sleepy　today？〃
　He　nodded。　〃Those　men　kept　waking　me　up；〃　he　said。
　〃What　men？〃
　〃The　men　that　came　in　the　house　last　night。〃
　〃What　men？〃　I　said。
　〃The　vacuum　men；〃　he　said。　〃They　vacuumed　everything。　And　they　vacuumed　up　the　ghost。〃
　From　the　backseat；　Nicole　snickered。　〃The　ghost　。。。〃
　I　said；　〃I　think　you　were　dreaming；　son。〃　Lately　Eric　had　been　having　vivid　nightmares　that　often　woke　him　in　the　night。　I　was　pretty　sure　it　was　because　Nicole　let　him　watch　horror　movies　with　her；　knowing　they　would　upset　him。　Nicole　was　at　the　age　where　her　favorite　movies　featured　masked　killers　who　murdered　teenagers　after　they　had　had　sex。　It　was　the　old　formula：　you　have　sex；　you　die。　But　it　wasn't　appropriate　for　Eric。　I'd　spoken　to　her　many　times　about　letting　him　see　them。
　〃No；　Dad；　it　wasn't　a　dream；〃　Eric　said；　yawning　again。　〃The　men　were　there。　A　whole　bunch　of　them。〃
　〃Uh…huh。　And　what　was　the　ghost？〃
　〃He　was　a　ghost。　All　silver　and　shimmery；　except　he　didn't　have　a　face。〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃　By　now　we　were　pulling　up　at　the　school；　and　Nicole　was　saying　I　had　to　pick　her　up　at　4：15　instead　of　3：45　because　she　had　a　chorus　rehearsal　after　class；　and　Eric　was　saying　he　wasn't　going　to　his　pediatrician　appointment　if　he　had　to　get　a　shot。　I　repeated　the　timeless　mantra　of　all　parents：　〃We'll　see。〃
　The　two　kids　piled　out　of　the　car；　dragging　their　backpacks　behind　them。　They　both　had　backpacks　that　weighed　about　twenty　pounds。　I　never　got　used　to　this。　Kids　didn't　have　huge　backpacks　when　I　was　their　age。　We　didn't　have　backpacks　at　all。　Now　it　seemed　all　the　kids　had　them。　You　saw　little　second…graders　bent　over　like　sherpas；　dragging　themselves　through　the　school　doors　under　the　weight　of　their　packs。　Some　of　the　kids　had　their　packs　on　rollers；　hauling　them　like　luggage　at　the　airport。　I　didn't　understand　any　of　this。　The　world　was　being　digital；　everything　was　smaller　and　lighter。　But　kids　at　school　lugged　more　weight　than　ever。　A　couple　of　months　ago；　at　a　parents'　meeting；　I'd　asked　about　it。　And　the　principal　said；　〃Yes；　it's　a　big　problem。　We're　all　concerned。〃　And　then　changed　the　subject。　I　didn't　get　that；　either。　If　they　were　all　concerned；　why　didn't　they　do　something　about　it？　But　of　course　that's　human　nature。　Nobody　does　anything　until　it's　too　late。　We　put　the　stoplight　at　the　intersection　after　the　kid　is　killed。
　I　drove　home　again；　through　sluggish　morning　traffic。　I　was　thinking　I　might　get　a　couple　of　hours　of　sleep。　It　was　the　only　thing　on　my　mind。
　Maria　woke　me　up　around　eleven；　shaking　my　shoulder　insistently。　〃Mr。　Forman。　Mr。　Forman。〃
　I　was　groggy。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃The　baby。〃
　I　was　immediately　awake。　〃What　about　her？〃
　〃You　see　the　baby；　Mr。　Forman。　She　all　。。。〃　She　made　a　gesture；　rubbing　her　shoulder　and　arm。
　〃She's　all　what？〃
　〃You　see　the　baby；　Mr。　Forman。〃
　I　staggered　out　of　bed；　and　went　into　the　nursery。　Amanda　was　standing　up　in　her　crib；　holding　on　to　the　railing。　She　was　bouncing　and　smiling　happily。　Everything　seemed　normal；　except　for　the　fact　that　her　entire　body　was　a　uniform　purple…blue　color。　Like　a　big　bruise。　〃Oh；　Jesus；〃　I　said。
　I　couldn't　take　another　episode　at　the　hospital；　I　couldn't　take　more　white…coated　doctors　who　didn't　tell　you　anything；　I　couldn't　take　being　scared　all　over　again。　I　was　still　drained　from　the　night　before。　The　thought　that　there　was　something　wrong　with　my　daughter　wrenched　my　stomach。　I　went　over　to　Amanda；　who　gurgled　with　pleasure；　smiling　up　at　me。　She　stretched　one　hand　toward　me；　grasping　air；　her　signal　for　me　to　pick　her　up。　So　I　picked　her　up。　She　seemed　fine；　immediately　grabbing　my　hair　and　trying　to　pull　off　my　glasses；　the　way　she　always　did。　I　felt　relieved；　even　though　I　could　now　see　her　skin　better。　It　looked　bruised…it　was　the　color　of　a　bruise…except　it　was　absolutely　uniform　everywhere　on　her　body。　Amanda　looked　like　she'd　been　dipped　in　dye。　The　evenness　of　the　color　was　alarming。
　I　decided　I　had　to　call　the　doctor　in　the　emergency　room；　after　all。　I　fished　in　my　pocket　for　his　card；　while　Amanda　tried　to　grab　my　glasses。　I　dialed　one…handed。　I　could　do　pretty　much　everything　one…handed。　I　got　right　through；　he　sounded　surprised。　〃Oh；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　just　about　to　call　you。　How　is　your　daughter　feeling？〃
　〃Well；　she　seems　to　feel　fine；〃　I　said；　jerking　my　head　back　so　Amanda　couldn't　get　my　glasses。　She　was　giggling；　it　was　a　game；　now。　〃She's　fine；〃　I　said；　〃but　the　thing　is…〃
　〃Has　she　by　any　chance　had　bruising？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　she　has。　That's　why　I　was　calling　you。〃
　〃The　bruising　is　all　over　her　body？　Uniformly？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃Pretty　much。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃Well；〃　the　doctor　said；　〃all　her　lab　work　has　e　back；　and　it's　all　normal。　pletely　normal。　Healthy　child。　The　only　thing　we're　still　waiting　on　is　the　MRI　report；　but　the　MRI's　broken　down。　They　say　it'll　be　a　few　days。〃
　I　couldn't　keep　ducking　and　weaving；　I　put　Amanda　back　in　her　crib　while　I　talked。　She　didn't　like　that；　of　course；　and　scrunched　up　her　face；　preparing　to　cry。　I　gave　her　her　Cookie　Monster　toy；　and　she　sat　down　and　played　with　that。　I　knew　Cookie　Monster　was　good　for　about　five　minutes。
　〃Anyway；〃　the　doctor　was　saying；　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　she's　doing　well。〃
　I　said　that　I　was　glad；　too。
　There　was　a　pause。　The　doctor　coughed。
　〃Mr。　Forman；　I　noticed　on　your　hospital　admissions　form　you　said　your　occupation　was　software　engineer。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃Does　that　mean　you　are　involved　with　manufacturing？〃
　〃No。　I　do　program　development。〃
　〃And　where　do　you　do　that　work？〃
　〃In　the　Valley。〃
　〃You　don't　work　in　a　factory；　for　example？〃
　〃No。　I　work　in　an　office。〃
　〃I　see。〃　A　pause。　〃May　I　ask　where？〃
　〃Actually；　at　the　moment；　I'm　unemployed。〃
　〃I　see。　All　right。　How　long　has　that　been？〃
　〃Six　months。〃
　〃I　see。〃　A　short　pause。　〃Well；　okay；　I　just　wanted　to　clear　that　up。〃
　I　said；　〃Why？〃
　〃I'm　sorry？〃
　〃Why　are　you　asking　me　those　questions？〃
　〃Oh。　They're　on　the　form。〃
　〃What　form？〃　I　said。　〃I　filled　out　all　the　forms　at　the　hospital。〃
　〃This　is　another　form；〃　he　said。　〃It's　an　OHS　inquiry。　Office　of　Health　and　Safety。〃
　I　said；　〃What's　this　all　about？〃
　〃There's　been　another　case　reported；〃　he　said；　〃that's　very　similar　to　your　daughter's。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃Sacramento　General。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃Five　days　ago。　But　it's　a　pletely　different　situation。　This　case　involved　a　forty…two…year…old　naturalist　sleeping　out　in　the　Sierras；　some　wildflower　expert。　There　was　a　particular　kind　of　flower　or　something。　Anyway；　he　was　hospitalized　in　Sacramento。　And　he　had　the　same　clinical　course　as　your　daughter…sudden　unexplained　onset；　no　fever；　painful　erythematous　reaction。〃
　〃And　an　MRI　stopped　it？〃
　〃I　don't　know　if　he　had　an　MRI；〃　he　said。　〃But　apparently　this　syndrome…whatever　it　is…is　self…limited。　Very　sudden　onset；　and　very　abrupt　termination。〃
　〃He's　okay　now？　The　naturalist？〃
　〃He's　fine。　A　couple　of　days　of　bruising；　and　nothing　more。〃
　〃Good；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　it。〃
　〃I　thought　you'd　want　to　know；〃　he　said。　Then　he　said　he　might　be　calling　me　again；　with　some　more　questions；　and　would　that　be　all　right？　I　said　he　could　call　whenever　he　wanted。　He　asked　me　to　call　if　there　was　any　change　in　Amanda；　and　I　said　I　would；　and　I　hung　up。
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　Amanda　had　abandoned　Cookie　Monster；　and　was