High Country Nocturne

Chapter Thirty-six

After I set down the phone, I made a note of our entire conversation.

Then I heard my name and turned to see Lindsey’s top surgeon. I had never seen him at this time of day and a spike ran into my solar plexus, my hand gripped the wooden arm of the bench.

Maybe if I didn’t acknowledge him, didn’t turn around and stand up…

He said, “I have good news.”

I almost leapt off the bench but he sat me back down.

“I don’t use the word miracle lightly but your wife’s recovery comes pretty close. A medically induced coma and hypothermic treatment…In other words, lowering her body temperature. It can take up to two weeks. But we’re ready to start bringing her out now.”

“Let’s go!”

“Hang on.” He put a firm hand on my arm.

“This will be very gradual and intermittent. In stages. Think of it like a deep-sea diver being brought up.”

I curbed my enthusiasm, at least on the outside.

He said, “The goal is to bring her to general sedation until she has recovered enough to sustain herself. She’ll come off the ventilator as soon as she’s strong enough to breathe on her own. We’re thinking twelve to twenty-four hours, but if anything looks bad, we’ll need to resume the hypothermic treatment.”

I nodded too many times. I must have looked like an idiot.

I said, “What will she be like?”

“Her brain didn’t sustain any oxygen loss. That’s very good. Toward the end, she should be able to respond normally. Her memories may be affected.”

He sat with me for a surprisingly long time, saying nothing.

Finally he stood. “We can’t declare victory quite yet, Mister Mapstone. But your wife is a very strong woman.”

I knew that.