Machine Man (serial)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I was by Lola’s side when she woke. She took me by surprise, even though I’d been waiting for it: her eyelids fluttered and two dozen tiny muscles contracted and suddenly her face looked completely different. It was a little disconcerting, to be honest. I hadn’t watched many people sleep before. Any, now I think about it. Maybe a couple of dogs. And they had not prepared me for this: this sudden infusion of consciousness, where a second ago there had been none. Not to insult dogs. But it was different.

“Hey,” I said softly. Lola reached for her nose, because there were a couple tubes in there. I guided her hand away. “You’ve had surgery. They had to fix your heart.”

Her eyes widened. Her fingers moved down to her chest, touched the bulge beneath her gown. “Bah.”

“It’s okay. Just try to relax.”

“Bah.”

I leaned closer. “What?”

“Bah.” Her fingers closed around my shirt. “Bah.”

“Don’t exert yourself,” I said, alarmed. “You’re not supposed to raise your blood pressure.”

She pulled. I went with it, because I feared that if I resisted, she would pop her stitches. Her lips brushed my ear. “Back,” she said. “Put it back.”

49.