Nirvana Effect

28



“Dr. Knowles, there is another matter that I would like to discuss with you.”

“Here is the second examination room.” Callista Knowles showed it to him. “And what is that?”

“What was that?” asked Fields suddenly. His plump red face jerked to the side. He stared wide-eyed down the hall.

Callista followed his gaze. The closet had swung open.

“Someone just came out of the closet. I just saw it in a flash as I looked up. Was someone in the closet?” He was puzzled more than alarmed.

Callista chuckled nervously, filling in the time while her mind caught up to the situation. Edward. The closet.

“Probably Diane getting a pen or something,” she said quickly. “Or perhaps a ghost.” She laughed. “I may be needing your services, Father.” He laughed but still kept looking at the closet. “Still, unlike her to leave the closet open,” she said. “There are very important medications inside, and it’s vital that they don’t get stolen or spoiled. Excuse me for a minute.”

She walked up to the reception area, playing the part of indignant doctor. In a suitable tone, using a dialect she knew Fields would be unable to decipher, she asked, “Did my patient leave?”

“Yes, just a minute ago,” answered Duiyon. “He told me to stay quiet. I’m sorry if you didn’t want him to go.”

“It’s fine he went. He might come back, though. Expect him. But speak to no one about him. He’s a secret.”

Duiyon nodded. There had been other visitors to the clinic who desired discretion on the part of the staff. This was nothing new.

Edward. Edward. Edward. She wanted to end this inspection as soon as possible. She needed time to digest this sudden shift in her life. At least he was gone for a moment. That was some respite.

Eventually he would be back, though, for whatever he had wanted to begin with. At least, I hope.

There was another part of her that hoped he went elsewhere. Please. Maybe he could go to the same place she’d buried all those memories from a decade ago.

When Callista returned, Fields was already poking around in the closet. “Dr. Knowles, you barely have anything in here that you need.”

“I’ve been making do. I haven’t been able to stock disposables since the last time St. Mary’s gave us a grant.” There were more basics in the basement, but who was counting? There was no other clinic on the island and no better use for the funds.

“Hmmm…” mumbled the old priest. He then turned to her suddenly. “Oh yes, the other thing I need to discuss with you. It’s not in your province, actually, but maybe you’ve heard something from one of your patients.”

“Yes?” she asked, trying to keep the nerves out of her voice as best she could.

“Do you know anything about the Onge village that lies some miles south of here?”

What sort of trouble has Edward gotten himself into? “I don’t usually treat Onge. They don’t trust Westerners.”

“Treat any traders that deal with them?”

“A couple years ago I treated someone like that. From what I understand, they don’t have much to trade - live off the land, basically.”

“Basically,” echoed Fields, walking back toward the reception area. “Well, there have been some alarming rumors from a couple of the natives that have dealings with them.”

“What sort of rumors?” she asked.

“That they have a living god in their midst, a sort of Onge messiah that is leading them to liberation. There is a new structure in their camp, and all of their motions have changed. It is all quite peculiar,” he said.

“Are these sources reliable?” she asked.

“Hardly. There are only two, they give conflicting stories, and they were both taken through a splotchy translator. But those fundamentals I just stated were in common.”

“Tribal superstition. Maybe a new war chief amongst them. I hear it is commonplace for them to duel and kill each other off.”

“Yes,” acknowledged Fields. They had stopped walking. His eyes were on the clean floor of the clinic, but his mind was obviously elsewhere. “Dr. Knowles,” he finally said. “I tell you this in strictest confidence, but it may help you to help me in case you run across any information that could be of assistance. One of our very own priests is on mission in that Onge camp. He’s the only Westerner there. I haven’t heard from him in over a month, which is not uncommon, but not common either. I fear for his safety.”

“Of course, you‘ll be the first person to know if I hear anything,” said Callista. In other words, I guess I won’t tell anyone

Odd looking at Edward as a priest now, she thought as she saw Fields out. It was bizarre having Edward in the same category as Fields. Edward certainly didn’t act priestly when he was dating me back in our teenage years. And he certainly didn’t act priestly hiding in my closet…

After the priest left, she couldn’t help but check the streets for Edward. She saw no signs of him. He’ll be back. She hoped so, and she didn’t.

What has Edward gotten himself into?

She didn’t know. She was not one prone to worry. She knew she didn’t have any way to determine an answer, so that was that. She wasn’t going to think about it again until she had more data.

She would probably need to do a lot of thinking in the coming months; no use wasting all that brainpower.

She walked back to the exam room where she’d first seen Edward after a decade, only half an hour ago. She could almost see him again, sitting in that chair. It had been so long since she’d seen him. She hadn’t expected to react like that.

She’d done everything she could think of to leave the door open for something like this. In one way it was a triumph for her. It was a painful triumph.

The seven years had been kind to him. He was more handsome now than before. He’d shed his boyish features for a more chiseled look.

Stop thinking. Think about it later. Stop thinking. There’s nothing to think about now. So think of nothing.

Edward. Edward.

She closed the door so Duiyon couldn’t hear her cry. She could blot out everything from her mind but his name. The name was all it took to make her bonkers.