Chapter 72

Veronica is in the same room of the tower block hospital. The view through the window has changed from Nice's Baie des Anges to a scene from the Ice planet. Like Switzerland only bigger. The paramedics wrapped her in some kind of clear foil and put her into a recovery tank, and took me along with them. Cocooned like that it was impossible to tell if she was dead or alive, there was no sign of life, no breath on the glass, no rising of the chest, and then we were back on Mars, pow, in an instant. The IGBI surgeons know their way around her body by now, so once in the building I stopped the intense worrying and just worried. They sent me home for a few days to my pad and Brian the paranoid computer. I slunk around not even playing the piano, living on baynut butter sandwiches and Mars beer. Vidcalls from Zeno and Red had stacked up but I deleted them all, just one from Artie asking do I want a gig on a Star Ship, did I answer with a no.

The hospital room is kept at body heat, but I am sweating a little. It must be the diet I"m on. Baynut has a slight narcotic element, I must have OD"d. The nurse in reception gave me that, where did they dig you up look, but I kept my cool and walked straight passed the desk, without acknowledging, that on any other day, she would have turned my head with her starched beauty. But I was on a mission I had a call that Veronica had come round and was asking for me. That was as good as a shot from a starting pistol, I was up buffed and dressed in record time. Now I have the problem, should I wake her or just wait? I walk over to the balcony and lean out over the fjord. The air is fresh and cool out here.

I wait a few minutes then go back into the room. Veronica has opened her eyes and smiles.

"Hi honey."

I am so pleased that she has awoken that I start to harangue her.

"How many times do you have to get shot stabbed or otherwise maimed? Mars in a bucket it is wearing on the nerves."

"They patch me up fine Joe, it's all in days work. Look." She slips the sheet from her body and points to her stomach.

"No holes." I take a closer look, not a blemish, in fact it all looks pretty damn perfect. She pulls the sheet back over herself before my eyes fall fully out of their sockets.

"Just as you remember, eh, Joe?"

Just as I remember, milk white skin, and nipples the colour of the Blushing Akito rose. But why has she asked for me, surely not for sex? I sigh.

"You can put any idea of bedroom gymnastics back in it's box, this meeting is strictly business. Pull up a chair Hon. and pay attention, no blanks." She must have just read my thoughts.