Artificial Heart

For the next few days Prisha didn’t move from her room. She barely saw anyone except for Lucy and Doctor Embry. Three times a day Lucy would enter to take her observations. Each morning, after Prisha had a shower, she would collect her urine. Once, she even collected her stool—to Prisha’s disgust.

After the bathroom incident, the nurse was no longer so friendly nor forthcoming, barely saying anything except to ask medical questions.

As for the doctor, he would visit her every evening to see how she was, to ask questions, to assess her tummy and overall health.

’Any dizziness or lethargy?

‘PV loss?’

‘Body changes, diarrhoea or nausea?’

‘No changes,’ Prisha told him. His bald head gleamed in the light. He was youngish and muscular-looking and looked around her age. She would have found him attractive if he didn’t frustrate her so much.

‘Did you tell “them” that Alf is waiting for me?’

‘Yes.’

He looked down at his notepad.

Prisha sniffed. ‘And …?’

‘I haven’t heard back.’

‘Don’t they care? Don’t they want to see him?’

’Will they see him?’ he asked quickly. ‘From what I’ve heard, they haven’t seen him at all.’

‘And they never will if they don’t let me go.’

‘What if you go and he vanishes altogether and we never see either of you again?’

Prisha frowned. ‘So that’s it? You’re afraid if you release me, that will be it.’

‘Wouldn’t it?’

‘I don’t know.’ Prisha fell quiet. ‘What about my sister? Do you know anything?’

‘Your sister?’

Prisha explained.

‘I will ask for you.’ He stood and went over to the bag of fluid dripping slowly into her veins. ‘I want to take more blood from you. See how your electrolytes are going.’

‘Is that really necessary? You only took some two days ago. I’m not a pin cushion. It hurts, you know.’

‘I’m sorry about that but it must be done. If the foetus is growing as fast as we think, we need to make sure you’re okay and that we’re nourishing you both properly. I’ve been told you’ve been eating well.’

‘I’ve been VERY hungry.’ Prisha frowned. ‘I shouldn’t eat so much. Not even for a pregnant woman.’

‘And not so early on.’ He pondered her with his intelligent eyes. ‘There’s another reason why I want your blood. We’ve collected your alien’s sachets.’

Prisha’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Really? Can I have them?’

‘We’re testing them first. When we’re sure they’re safe …’

‘Of course they’re safe! Alf gave them to me!’

‘Did he know you were pregnant when he gave them to you?’ When she didn’t answer, Embry raised an eyebrow. ’You say he wants to see you. Does he know?’

Prisha bit down on her lower lip. ‘I can’t read his mind.’

‘Then how do you know he’s waiting for you?’

Prisha reached up to touch the back of her neck. ‘I just know.’

He pursed his lips, unconvinced.

‘Don’t look at me like that. I’m not lying.’ Prisha glared back. ‘He’s waiting for me. Who knows what he’ll do if he is forced to wait too long.’

The doctor leaned back, frowning. They both turned as Lucy entered, pushing in her trolley. She raised her eyebrows at them both. ‘Ready for your blood test?’

The doctor left. Lucy took her blood. Then Prisha was left alone again with her guard no doubt standing tirelessly outside her locked door. There were no windows in the room. It was a Goddamn shoe box. But she turned her head anyway, knowing which way the field was. Feeling Alf like a beacon. Prisha shrugged as her neck itched.

‘I’m not imagining things. I’m not lying.’ I’m not lying to myself.

It was the next day when she received a surprising visitor. Prisha was in the middle of reading one of the books they’d given her to read when “Black Moustache” entered the room.

Prisha froze.

He smiled as he stood at the foot of her bed. ‘Recognise me? Nice to finally put a face to our mystery woman.’

Prisha lowered her book. She shifted anxiously as he pulled up a chair close beside her. The usual man stood at the rear corner of the room.

‘Hello … finally. My name is Tobias.’ Tobias waited for her to respond, still smiling politely. His dark eyes studied her in a way she really did not like. ‘There’s no need to be frightened. I only want to talk.’

‘Prisha.’

He held out is hand. Prisha took it. His eyes darted over her face. Then he released her and looked around the room. ‘I’m sorry about your quarters. It must be tiresome. We’ll get you somewhere new.’

‘I’d prefer if you’d let me go home.’

‘Yes, I suspect you would.’

He maintained his patronising smile. His moustache twitched.

‘Well …’

‘You know we can’t let you go home. You’re too important. You’re the most important person on the planet right now.’ He laughed. ‘Special. Extraordinary! How does that make you feel?’

‘Embarrassed. I am nothing. Just a messenger.’

’Oh, you’re more than just a messenger. We both know that.’ His eyes caught alight. ‘You are important to a very unique being. He, at least, seems to think you worthy and useful, even if you don’t.’ He fell silent, as though waiting for her to say something. Again, his moustache twitched. ‘The question of you is an important one but more important still is the sphere you gave us.’

‘What about it?’

‘What do you know about it?’

’Nothing. Alf told me nothing. He just told me to give it to you. That it would help you. That it would help us.’ Prisha paused. ‘What is it?’

‘If I told you, you would never leave this place.’

‘So I am due to leave this place?’ Prisha said hopefully.

‘Oh, yes, I think so. If you’re helpful and when we have no more use for you.’

‘You have no use for me now.’

‘Don’t we?’ He dropped his eyes to her belly.

Feeling distinctly uncomfortable, Prisha dragged over a pillow and cuddled it to her chest.

‘It complicates things,’ he said. ’But makes things more exciting. Much more exciting.’

Prisha’s stomach swam sickeningly.

‘We need more information,’ he said. ‘We need to know everything that’s happened. Every word you spoke to him. Every word he spoke to you. Every action and nuance. I want to know about his expressions and demeanour and behaviour. I want you to describe the ship and how you felt. Your moods. Your thoughts. Everything. Even the most unimportant thing could be useful. Do you understand?’

His thick black eyebrows pressed together. ’I believe you when you say you know nothing about the sphere. I can’t tell you what it’s for but like you already know, it’s extremely important for us, for humanity’s survival. We need you to help us.’

Prisha’s skin goose pimpled. She gave a small nod.

Tobias lifted his wrist to his mouth. ‘He can come in,’ he spoke into his watch.

The door opened and another man walked in, carrying a video camera and an accompanying stand tucked under his armpit.

Prisha’s heart raced. ‘What is that for?’

‘To record everything you say,’ Tobias said. ‘For posterity.’

And I won’t be able to deny anything I’ve said, Prisha thought to herself.

‘That’s okay, isn’t it?’ His mouth pulled back into that patronising smile again.

The room was quiet as the man set up the camera. It took him several times to find the best angle. Finally he nodded at Tobias to begin.

‘Now, Prisha, just start from the evening of the abduction. Like I said, make sure to tell me everything, no matter how inconsequential it might seem to you. I want step by step. Minute by minute. All the way up to now.’

Prisha was a bit rattly in the beginning but she soon got used to it, building some confidence and momentum. It was cathartic to relive it all, to tell someone. As she spoke aloud, she remembered more and more. But it wasn’t exactly easy. Her memories of those early days were cloudy and it was hard to discern between what was real and what she’d dreamed or imagined.

It wasn’t made easier when Tobias kept interrupting her for elaboration, leading her with questions that asked about specific things she wasn’t sure happened. Sometimes it became confusing and she was made to feel stupid.

‘I actually have a notebook at home,’ Prisha told him. ‘I wrote down everything about what happened soon after I got back home. Each time.’

His eyebrows shot up. ‘You did? Where can we find it?’

She told him and continued with her recount. She spoke about her sister. She spoke about Scott and her dizzy spells. Her stint in the hospital. That was all easy and inconsequential. But then she spoke about that first hug—she felt her body burning up.

‘Go on,’ Tobias said when she stopped speaking.

’I-I can’t. It’s private. I can’t, I won’t tell you everything.’

’I don’t expect you too. Not that. But tell me what you were feeling. Tell me what you think he was feeling.’

‘But that’s private too. Maybe even more so.’

‘Prisha …’

‘I don’t see why such things matter. How are they going to help you?’

‘Because it will give us an idea of who this alien truly is. What his intentions are. What his species is like.’

‘What his intentions are? I told you, he’s here to help us.’

‘So you say.’

‘You think he’s lying?’ Prisha bristled.

‘He could be lying. Or perhaps sidestepping the truth. He might not be who you think he is. Particularly if you’ve been intimate with him.’

‘I know …’

‘You wouldn’t be the first person to be deceived by another. We can’t take things for granted.’ He paused. ‘This sphere could be dangerous.’

‘You still don’t know what it really is, do you?’

’No. We’re quite certain what its function is. But we’re not … entirely certain. Enough to be cautious.’

‘You’re worried it’s a weapon.’ Prisha shook her head. ‘Of course you are. Why wouldn’t you be? That’s your default, isn’t it? Conflict. War.’

’Our default is the safety of the masses. The safety of eight billion lives. That is our default.’ He gestured at her. ‘Tell me more. Continue with your story.’