Coma

The morning sky was dull and overcast and there was the unmistakeable smell of rain in the air, and as the storm clouds gathered, thunder could be heard overhead. A road, which was devoid of any traffic, stretched far into the distance. It seemed to be waiting for the heavy onslaught of the day's traffic. Suddenly, under the sound of thunder the roar of an engine could just be heard, a second later, a green open topped sports car could be seen hurtling down that long empty road. The driver's face was set in a grimace, the wind blowing through his once reddish but now greying hair. The cars speedometer was pushing 100 mph, the driver's foot pressing the accelerator pedal to the floor. There was a loud bang as a front tyre burst, the driver desperately fought to keep control of the vehicle but to no avail. The sports car rolled over twice before coming to a rest upright on the grass verge, the driver slumped unconscious over the steering wheel with blood running from an open head wound. Steam was escaping from under the crumpled bonnet and there was a strong smell of petrol.

A telephone rang for the third and then a fourth time. "Why can't they leave me alone?" he thought to himself. He was in his kitchen preparing a ham salad and a pot of tea for his lunch, in the lounge the telephone continued to ring. Now, a persistently ringing telephone can be ignored for only so long, then you have to answer it. Unless of course it suddenly stops ringing, this one didn't! Number 41 left the kitchen and crossed the lounge to the telephone, at the same time picking up and donning his blazer, pinned on the left lapel was a white round badge, upon the badge was a black penny farthing and the red 41. He was about 5 feet 10 inches tall of slim build and in his early forties, although he did not look his age. He wore a blue blazer with white piping, a black polo neck sweater, brown trousers and blue deck shoes which all went to make up the uniform of 'The Village'. Number 41 picked up the receiver of the telephone.

"What do you want?" he asked in annoyance. "Your attitude has changed little during the time that you have been with us," said a female voice. "I can assure you that I am not with you" 41 replied. "But just how long have I been here?" he asked. "How long do you think?" asked the voice. Number 41 (who had always had a good sense of time) replied "I know exactly how long I've been here, two months. Am I correct?" "Perhaps" the voice replied, "but it's always longer than you think!" 41 smiled to himself. "You're trying to be clever, can't you even tell me how long I've been here?" he asked. "I thought that you had worked that out for yourself" replied the voice. "You're another new Number Two aren't you" asked Number 41. "At least you got that right" replied Number Two. "What happened to the last one" 41 asked. "He failed in his duty, oh nothing to do with you old chap" Two replied. Pausing for a moment, she went on "I am here to specifically deal with you".

"I'm honoured" 41 replied sarcastically". I'd like to see you in my office this afternoon" asked Number Two. "Oh what a shame, my diary is completely full this afternoon, I have a chess match with the Admiral and then I have to go shopping, sorry, but I can't seem to fit you in". There was more sarcasm in 41's voice. "How about a week on Tuesday, I'm free then," he said cockily. "Full of yourself aren't you. Well I can promise you that there is one thing you will never be, free. You had better pay me a call this afternoon, while it is still an invitation". Number Two's voice suddenly sounded threatening and menacing for the first time. "You are not so important to us Number 41, nor are you indispensable" number Two explained. "You were brought here because a certain file came into your possession, a file which was not meant for your eyes. The file concerns this village and was not meant for the department for which you work".

"I don't know what you are talking about" replied 41 as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. "You are going to tell me all you know about that file," said Number Two. "If I had this file, which I haven't, and if as you say this file is yours, then that means you already know all about it" replied 41 defiantly. "Don't get clever with me. Refuse to talk and you force me into using extreme measures, and believe me it will hurt you more than it will hurt me. If you are still alive afterwards to feel the pain, that is. So until this afternoon then" said Number Two. And with that, his telephone went dead and he replaced the receiver on its cradle.

Number 41 had (he felt) received an invitation that he could hardly refuse. Unlike the previous Number Two's which he had encountered, Number 41 felt that this Number Two would not let anything get between her and the information, which she wanted. Possibly for the first time he wished that he had never laid eyes on that green file that had had a penny farthing and the words 'The Village' embossed on the front cover. He knew that he should have returned the file to the 'Central Filing Bureau' from whence it came. But he hadn't, and now he felt that the decision would cost him dearly. What's more, his appetite for lunch had disappeared.

Later that afternoon, Number 41 was taking the long scenic route to Number Two's office, housed in the Green Dome. He had plenty on his mind as he walked through the peaceful atmosphere of the village. As Number 41 crossed the central square he heard a voice call out. "Wait up lad!" He turned to see a man who looked to be in his early sixties wearing a red and white striped top, grey trousers and a naval officers cap walking towards him. Number 41 knew the man as 'The Admiral', but somehow he doubted the rank.

"Afternoon lad, you didn't turn up for our chess match," said the Admiral. "Sorry I have something on my mind and I wouldn't have made a great opponent for you" replied 41. "Trouble?" the Admiral asked. Sitting down on the edge of the 'free sea' pool. "You could say that" 41 replied. "Number Two has given me an invitation which I find difficult to refuse". The Admiral motioned Number 41 to sit beside him. "Some advice for you lad, they always get what they want. Which leaves you with only one of two choices to make, and that is whether you want to make it easy or hard on yourself". 41 stared at the Admiral. "I am afraid I did not resist them for very long" the Admiral said. "You told them all you knew?" 41 asked. "We all talk in the end lad, it's only a question of time," replied the Admiral. There was sadness in his voice as if he regretted not resisting them for a much greater time. "Be careful lad, you could end up like her". The Admiral pointed to a woman being pushed in a wheelchair. "Why does she have to wear that plastic sort of welding mask?" Number 41 asked. "Blowed if I know lad, but there's a lot of it about!" smiled the Admiral. "How long has this village been going? And how long have you been here?" 41 asked. "An eternity!" came the reply.

Number 41 looked at the Admiral quizzically. "Number Two talks like that! Is an eternity the answer to my first or second question?" asked 41. "Both" the Admiral replied. Number 41 stood up. "Are you going?" the Admiral asked. "Yes" 41 replied. The Admiral looked up at him. "Are you important to them?" Sort of indispensable?" "No, not really" 41 replied. "Something fell into my possession which shouldn't have done, by mistake of course. The trouble is, I didn't return it to where I should have" 41 explained. "Then perhaps you should" remarked the Admiral. "Whose side are you on?" 41 asked. The Admiral smiled "The side of self preservation!" he said. "Be seeing you," said Number 41, and he gave the customary salute. "I hope so lad, I hope so" the Admiral said quietly to himself, and he sat watching as Number 41 made his way to the Green Dome.

Steel doors closed behind him. "Ah Number 41, come in and sit down" invited Number Two who was sitting in a black spherical chair behind a curved desk. Number 41 walked down a small ramp and walked towards the desk, as he did so Number Two pressed a button on her desk and a piece of the floor slid back leaving a hole in the floor. Within seconds up through the hole appeared a black leather chair and Number 41 sat down. Number Two was in her late forties � early fifties. She wore a green sweater and fawn slacks. On her sweater she wore a badge, on it a penny-farthing and the red number two. Number 41 thought she had rather a hatchet shaped face and that she looked rather evil.

"Let's cut the small talk," she said. "You know why you are here. I take it you have had ample time to think about your position?" Number Two asked. "I have absolutely nothing to say" 41 stated. He may have appeared strong and determined, but it was not how he felt. Inside he was afraid, very afraid. "A file concerning this village came into your possession, admittedly by mistake because it had nothing to do with the department you work for" explained Number Two. "I know, you have said all that before," remarked 41. Number Two continued. "But instead of returning it, you decided to read it and keep it. In fact, removing it from your office, because you understood its importance and value". "I have nothing to say" repeated Number 41.

"What did you do with that file?" shouted Number Two. Number 41 remained silent. "After it was discovered that the village file was indeed missing, we put two and two together and came up with you. From that moment on we had you watched every moment of every day" Number Two explained. "Well I hope you liked all you saw" quipped Number 41. "However, we now believe that the village file is no longer in your possession," said Number Two." Well we seem to be wasting each other's time," said 41 and he made a move to get out of the chair. As he did so Number Two pressed a button on her desk and two steel clamps sprang out of the chair's armrests securing Number 41's wrists. Number 41 was taken by surprise, he was sure his heart missed a beat.

"As I was saying," smiled Number Two "the village file is no longer in your possession because you have passed it on to someone. What we want to know is, who was that someone?" "If I had your file and if I had passed it on to someone, you should already know the answer because I was being watched. Remember?" It was Number 41's time to shout. Seconds later a charge of electricity passed through his body, he screamed loudly. "That was a low charge, don't force me to use a higher voltage. Give me the name of whom you passed the file," demanded Number Two. "I have nothing to say, because I don't know anything about your file," replied 41. "Come on now we both know you are only a clerk. You aren't trained for this, the name, give me his or her name" Number Two demanded once more as a second and much stronger electrical charge passed through his body, only this time it lasted much longer. Number 41 screamed and screamed, the pain was intolerable. Relief came as Number 41 slipped into unconsciousness. "You're tougher than you look," thought Number Two. She pressed another button upon her desk and at once the steel clamps released their grip upon Number 41's wrists.

Number Two picked up a blue telephone at the same time depressing its button. "You can collect him now" she said. "No, he's unconscious and he hasn't talked, believe it or not he's tougher than he looks. No, there are no restrictions he's dispensable remember, but he must be made to talk. We must have that name" ordered Number Two, under any circumstances".

The first thing that he became aware of was the sound of a constant beeping somewhere close to him on his left. Then he could feel that someone was gently holding his right hand. It was then that he began to slowly open his eyes; it took a moment for them to focus. He was lying in a bed in a white room, there was a woman sitting in a chair beside his bed. She was in her late forties to early fifties and she wore a red dress. Her hair was dark and very long. She had a kind loving face with thin lips and lovely green eyes. It had taken him a moment or two but he recognised her, she was his wife Fiona. She looked at him and smiled "Oh darling you're awake" she said and reaching for the bell she pressed it three times. A doctor and nurse were soon in attendance; the doctor listened to his heart and shone a light in both his eyes while the nurse took his pulse and temperature. "Do you remember your name?" The doctor asked his patient. The man looked up at him "Paul, Paul Utterson" he replied. "Good, very good. And who is this lady?" the doctor asked. He looked at her. "Fiona, my wife. We live in Slough" he replied. "Is my husband going to be alright doctor?" Fiona asked. "Oh yes, there appears to be no sign of amnesia. He does have a broken collarbone, two cracked ribs, cuts and bruises. But they will mend" the doctor said. "Doctor, where am I?" he asked. "You were in a car crash Mr Utterson, you're very lucky to be alive" the doctor replied. "Where am I? And how did I get here? Paul asked. "You're in St. Hughes hospital and a passing motorist found you and called for an ambulance" replied the doctor. "I think I should tell you that you have been in a coma". Paul was shocked. "A coma! For how long?" he asked. "Six months, quite a short time really. I've known patients to be in a coma for years, and then they come out of them. So don't worry Mr Utterson, you're going to be fine" the doctor replied. "I will leave you together Mrs Utterson, but only for a short time. We mustn't tire him". And with that the doctor and nurse left to tend to other patients.

"Could I have a drink of water darling?" Paul asked. "Why of course" Fiona replied and crossed the room to a small chest of drawers upon which was a carafe of water and a glass. She poured some water into the glass. Above the set of drawers was a small mirror. Fiona looked at her reflection, she looked tired.

She returned to Paul's bedside, putting the glass of water to her husband's lips. He took a few sips and then indicated that he had had enough. Paul could see that he was connected to a drip feed via a needle in his left arm. Also there were wires attached to his head and chest, which in turn were connected to an E.C.G machine. "I've been so worried darling, I feared that you would never wake up" said Fiona almost in tears. "I have been here every day, well almost every day, sitting here talking to you, hoping you would wake up. Do you remember the accident?" she asked. Paul nodded and it was then he remembered his green sports car, which had been his pride and joy.

"Where were you going so early that morning?" Fiona asked. "I had a meeting with JD" Paul replied. "It must have been very important for you to meet with him. You were driving fast, nearly 100 mph when one of the car's tyres burst. Well that's what the police had said" she replied. "It was an important meeting, I was on my way to meet John in his London club, just off the strand" Paul explained. "John was going to return a file which I had lent him, and I in turn was going to replace it, back where it belonged. But after six months it has bound to have been missed by now!" I suppose John still ahs this file that is so important," Fiona asked. "Of yes, he wouldn't give it to anyone else" he replied. "Good" she said. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Well" she replied. "There's a great chance to get it back". "But I'm in hospital, I can't go anywhere" he replied. "No, but John can" said Fiona. Suddenly Paul began to feel tired. "Must sleep darling, must sleep" he said yawning. "That's right darling, you sleep and I shall pay John a call" Fiona said quietly, but Paul did not hear the words.

Behind a two-way mirror, two people could see and hear everything. "Well done doctor, your technique's are improving," said Number Two. "I knew it would work" the doctor replied, "but you only have his initials and his Christian name". "Yes doctor, but his wife knows who John D is" Number Two replied. "Ah yes, Number 41 has a very loving and attentive wife" remarked the doctor. "Yes indeed" replied Number Two "and she knows where her loyalties lie, she will do anything for us! Thanks to Number 24 and your techniques, we shall have 'the village file' back in a day or two". Number Two made for the door, she turned. "Be seeing you doctor," she said smiling.