Autonomy Pt 5

The two nurses finished cleaning and re-dressing John’s head wound.  Ana picked up the sheet with the old dressings, razor and odd ends of tape and put it on the trolley.  She and Sam pulled the covers back up the bed.

“Are you feeling any better?” Sam asked.  He looked at the monitors.

“I think so.” John answered.  “Thank you for telling me those things.”

“How about the wounds?  More comfortable?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Ana pulled the curtain back.  She wheeled the trolley into the middle of the ward.

“Ana!”

John had raised himself on his elbows.

“Can I talk to you? For a few minutes, that’s all.”

Sam took the trolley.  “It’s ok.  Take your time.”

Ana went back to the bedside and poured some water.  She offered it to John.  He nodded.

“Thank you.”

Ana pulled up a chair.

“You hold it this time.” she said, offering the cup.  “There isn’t too much in.  See if you can do it on your own.”

John took the cup.  His hand was shaking, but nothing spilt.  He brought it to his lips using both hands.  As he sipped, it felt cool and refreshing.  He managed to tilt the cup.

“Good.” Ana encouraged.  “Some more?”

“Yes please.”  John licked the water from his lips.

“I’ve been thinking.” he said as Ana refilled the cup. “About the police.”

“Yes?”

“Do you think I can trust them?”

Ana returned the cup.  She’d added a little extra.  He seemed steadier holding it by himself.

“If I was in trouble, I would.  What else can you do?”

“I started to tell them about something big.”

Ana sat and waited.

“A conspiracy.”

She raised her brow.

“Are you sure you want to tell me this?”

“About the conspiracy?  It’s all in the public domain.  News channels have been carrying the articles for months.  That’s the problem.”

“You’re a journalist.”

“Investigative journalist, yes.”

“And can you remember all this?  After your injury?”

“Everything.  I just can’t tell you what day it is.  Or what I had for dinner.”

“Wednesday.  Puréed chicken.”

“You’ve already told me it’s Wednesday.”

Ana grinned.  “Yes.  And the puréed chicken's today’s dinner.”

Her smile suddenly dropped.  “John, we’re really busy.  I can’t stay long.  Maybe you should tell all this to the police.”

“I’m scared, Ana.  I don’t know who to trust.  That car was driven at me.  Fast.  I don’t care what they’re saying about autonomous mode.”

“John, I don’t really understand about driverless cars.  I don’t know anything about it.  I cycle everywhere.”

“Be careful, Ana.  We’re all lab rats.  Be careful when you’re cycling.”

Ana felt a shudder.  It was something she hadn’t considered.

“I thought someone had to be in control.”

“They should.  But they’re often not.  Human nature.”

“Why are they letting it happen?”

“They?”

“The Government.  People in authority.  How can people buy these cars and use them on the road?”

“That’s the point, Ana.  That’s what I’ve been writing about.  That’s the conspiracy.  That’s why I’m in this bed all broken.”

“Have you told all this to the police?”

“I started to.  But they’re just a pair of local bobbies.  They’re investigating a road traffic accident.  There’s more.  Much more.”

Ana stood up to leave.

“I don’t know what to say, John.  We’re really short-staffed.  I’ve got to go and help.”

John followed her with his eyes.

“Ana?  Can I trust you?”

“Yes John.”

She smiled and put the chair against the wall.

“Ana?”

“Yes?”

“Can you take this please?”

He held out the plastic cup.