“No.” Julian sighed.
“Can’t you do it?” Punch chirped.
Julian paused and visibly strained—squinting. “No.” He said after awhile.
“Maybe if we tried together,” Mr. Punch said frantically.
“You know we can’t control the body at the same time.” Julian smiled softly.
“I don’t know that.” Punch shook his head. “We never tried before, we haven’t.”
“Think about it Mr. Punch, if two puppeteers are trying to work the same figure, what would happen? The puppet would rip in half. Only one hand at a time can work a puppet.”
“But, we ain’t a puppet no more…” Mr. Punch said, beginning to cry. “Our chum’s talkin’ to us, he is. I don’t want him to think we don’t hear him! It’ll make him sad.”
“Dear Punch,” Julian replied gently, “Some things are out of our control.”
“What’s happenin’ in here?” Mr. Punch croaked. “It’s so hot in here! And, the room…it’s changin’ again. Look at the fire! Look how big it’s gotten! And the walls, they’re all orange and bright! Ain’t you hot?”
“Quite.” Julian nodded.
“How can you be so calm?”
“Don’t let my outward reserve fool you.” Julian shook his head.
“Listen,” Punch exclaimed. “It’s our chum! He’s callin’’ to us.” Mr. Punch looked up and shouted, “I’m here! We’re both in here. Julian ‘n’ me! We’re hot! It’s so hot!”
“He can’t hear you, Mr. Punch. It’s no use exhausting yourself. You’d do better to settle in and reserve your energy. We’re going to need all of the strength we can muster.”
“Robert!” Mr. Punch shouted again, ignoring his other-self.
“Mr. Punch,” Julian repeated, “please.”
“I don’t want him to be sad.” Punch moaned.
“He’s going to be sadder still if we are too weak to…” Julian paused. “Please, come and sit by me.”
Punch looked exasperatedly at Julian.
“Please,” Julian smiled.
Meanwhile, Robert and Marjani leaned over Julian’s sweating, limp body.
“Come on, my man.” Robert whispered. “Come back to us. Marjani’s here. She wants to talk with you, too.”
“He can hear ya.” Marjani said sweetly. “They both can hear ya.”
“Why is there no response?” Robert groaned angrily.
“You know why as well as I do.” Marjani whispered. “You’re the doctor.”
“Damn it!” Robert shouted.
“Now, Dr. Halifax, you done got to keep yourself still. Ain’t no good lettin’ your anger take you over. There’s somethin’ we got to do.”
“I know.” Robert sighed.
“I know you’re scared, but you’re a doctor, and you know we got to do it.” Marjani patted Robert’s shoulder.
“It’s difficult,” Robert replied so softly that Marjani could barely hear him. “When you’re a physician, you can keep some level of detachment from your patients. But, when it’s someone you know, someone you love…”
“All the more reason to take good care.” Marjani answered.
Robert took a deep breath.
“Go on, now.” Marjani urged him. “We got to know.”
“Yes.” Robert exhaled.
He put his hand on Julian’s face and gently parted the man’s lips, studying Julian’s teeth and gums.
“Well?” Marjani asked.
“I can’t believe it…” Robert growled.
Did you miss Chapters 1-161? If so, you can read them here.
4 comments:
It's hard not to hold your breath while Punch is struggling to be heard. How interesting to see both aspects of this one person interact. Good job.
Thanks, Dashwood! Have a good weekend!
Robert and Marjani are good people to have on your side when your in trouble.
This is true, Darcy. They soldier on, no matter what.
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