Counting Up To Infinity Read online

  The technician moved the wand all around, and a head was soon apparent.”

  “I think you may have forgotten to take the pages off your calendar. I clearly see a head.” She took some measurements, of the size of the head, the arm and legs. Finally, she spoke again. “My best guess is that the baby is five to six months old. You can see the eyebrows and the eyelids. Are you a patient of Dr. Ryan?”

  Corey objected, “No, it can only be two to three months old.”

  Martin interjected, “Actually, my wife is forgetful. It could be five months, right? But yes, Janet Ryan is my wife’s gynecologist. Is anything wrong? Both of us are doctors as well.”

  “Perhaps you would best speak to her. I’m just a technician. I’m going to need to take more measurements.”

  The technician hardly spoke after that, except to point out the different bones of the developing child.

  After leaving the hospital, Martin put his phone on his ear. “David, Corey just had an ultrasound. The technician seemed concerned; can you tell what was wrong?”

  “One second Dad, she’s just downloading her measurements and clinical observations. Here it is. She was concerned by possible bone irregularities. They were unusually reflective. The bone length indicates that the baby is estimated to be 10 inches tall – that’s normal for a 5 month old. On the other hand, she seemed to detect body fat developing – that only occurs for 7 month olds. Dad, I think you may need to see a real gynecologist. We have no idea at what ages the Panacea children are born. I’ll ask Josh and see if he knows.”

  A few minutes later, David spoke, “Dad, Josh has no idea. Except Panacea people’s cells divides much faster than regular people do. I just told Janet the great news. By the way, I may have forgotten to say it yesterday, but congratulations. Phyl also says congratulations.”

  ***

  Corey spoke, “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

  Doctor Brockway nodded, “I have to admit that the donor of an entire wing of a hospital does get their name bumped up a bit on the lists.”

  Corey said, “I was able to get a copy of an ultrasound results taken today. I’ve already looked at it.”

  “I see. Do you always get the results before your physician?” Dr. Brockway tone was a bit icy.

  “I’m sorry, you see, my regular doctor, Dr. Ryan suspected something unusual so she had me take the ultrasound. Both my husband and I are also doctors. I should mention that I have an unusual condition.”

  “Let me be the judge of that.” She opened the clipboard with the nurse’s notes. “Hmm, weight normal, blood pressure …”, she turned the page, “Mrs. Klein, uh, Dr. Klein can you sit down. I’m seeing a pathologically low blood pressure and heart rate. I am going to have to put you onto complete bed rest. This is quite dangerous. I’m surprised you’re still standing.”

  Dr. Brockway went to a phone. “Nurse, please call for a trolley, I’m going to be admitting Dr. Klein.”

  Corey sprang for the phone and hung it up. “NO. This is a mistake. I’m sorry for your time.” Corey stood and dressed.

  “I must protest, if not for yourself, think about your child. You’re criminally putting your child at risk. You are seriously ill. You need to be admitted immediately. You may have a very life-threatening infection or another lethal condition.”

  Corey put on the last of her clothes, “Do I seem like I’m listless to you?”

  “Doctors make the very worst patients! Yes, you are ill. You should be hospitalized.”

  Corey hurriedly left the office, crying.

  She immediately called Martin.

  ***

  Janet and Sidney came to Martin’s home. The door was unlocked.

  Janet went up to Corey and hugged her. “Don’t worry, we’ll work it out.”

  Corey was holding Martin’s hand tightly.

  Sidney spoke up. “First the obvious good news, both you and Martin are healthier than any human has a right to be. You’re in great health. You haven’t been on any drugs, except for very moderate alcohol usage. And knowing Joshie’s talent for understatement, I’m sure you and the baby are impervious to alcohol poisoning as well. Therefore, for that we’re lucky. Second, whoever programmed Panacea obviously knew what they were doing. Remember, you and now the baby will live almost forever. Just remember that. When you say the baby has great genes that will REALLY be true.”

  Sidney smiled.

  “OK, we can’t go to a normal gynecologist without divulging the program’s secrets. And we can’t do that right now. So our logical conclusion is that either we handle the birth ourselves or have someone we can trust to do it, perhaps a midwife or a retired gynecologist. We have a tremendous pool of money we can buy their silence with.”

  Martin picked up his wife’s hand and kissed it. “Whatever you want, hun. Whatever.”

  Corey looked up at Martin and smiled.

  Janet said, “That’s the stuff. Do you remember when Josh was born you agreed to do neurosurgery on my son? Well it’s time for me to return the favor. But I like the idea of having someone with actual experience around too.”

  The front door bell rang, David and Phyllis entered. “Uhh, a party, don’t worry, we know you just forgot to invite us. Where are the chips?”

  Phyllis rolled her eyes and shook her head. “What my emotionally retarded husband is saying is that we’re here to help.”

  Martin nodded. “Sorry, we’ve been through a lot today. I’m glad you could come.” He stood and hugged Phyllis and smiled at David. David went up to Corey and gave her a long hug. “Don’t worry; we’re all here.”

  David said, “I can give a possible short list of nurse-midwives. On the top of my list is a nurse’s nurse of 30 years of experience who might look the other way.” David had a devilish grin.

  ***

  Corey heard a knock on their front door. She looked at her watch; it was precisely at 9:30, the time of the appointment. Corey looked at Martin, who held her hand and had a faint smile. David looked at both and saw their apprehension, and said, “Dad, Corey would you like me to handle it?” David knew that his father and step-mother now looked like they looked nineteen years old and he looked slightly older.

  “I would appreciate it son.”

  David opened the door and greeted the woman with a warm “Hello, please come in.”

  The woman was in her early 60s, with a beehive hairdo, and a southern accent. “My name is Marie Carbarra, I’m a nurse-midwife. May I come in?”

  She was brought to the dining room and they all sat down.

  David said, “The Kleins, Martin and Corey are two of my favorite employees. We are so close, that they are like family to me. Corey wanted to have a natural, old-fashioned delivery, and their doctor, Janet Ryan, agreed. I heard that you were available.”

  Marie looked hesitant. “Actually, I’ve been out of the field for the last eight years, due to some family difficulties.”

  David said, “Yes, I heard that your husband died a few months ago, and you were caring for him. A very long illness?”

  Marie nodded, “Yes, he had a stroke and needed someone with him constantly. It was followed by some minor strokes, and then the big one.”

  Corey said, “I’m so sorry to hear that. Martin had a minor heart attack himself a few months ago. But I can’t begin to appreciate the energy and time that you obviously needed to care for your husband.”

  Marie said, “Thank you dear.”

  David said, “As I said, the Kleins work for me and I would be willing to pay for Corey’s entire care. Would a check now for thirty five thousand dollars cover round the clock care for Corey?”

  “God bless you, but I typically only charge five thousand, but that would definitely cover some of Don’s medical bills.”

  “And another thirty five thousand dollars at the end when the baby is born and you feel you can leave the mother and child alon
e.”

  “Bless your heart, but, but – Thank you.”

  “The only thing you may need to know is that the Kleins were affected by a drug, which we’re developing to treat LPH deficiency. Unfortunately, it made Corey and Martin have a much lower heart rate and blood pressure and an increased body temperature. However, it has no other bad side effects. Corey is as strong as a horse.”

  David: Actually 3.6 Clydesdales.

  Martin rolled his eyes and exhaled through his nose. David continued, “Dr. Ryan agreed she’s an excellent candidate for a natural childbirth with a midwife.”

  Marie looked at Martin, “Did the accident cause your heart attack?”

  Martin gave a knowing smile, “Actually the heart attack occurred first. The heart attack caused the accident to my wife and me.”

  Martin: See son, you now have me lying by telling the 100% truth.

  “When are you expecting Mrs. Klein?” Marie asked.

  Corey said, “That is a second issue, we don’t know. We had an ultrasound and it said the baby was in its fifth to seventh month. The baby also was affected by the compound I was accidentally given, so the baby could be born at any time. We actually think much sooner then later. Could you start now?”

  Marie quickly said, “Yes”.

  David wrote out a check for thirty five thousand dollars.

  Marie had a long list of the changes that needed to be made in their life. For example, coffee and strong teas were out. So was sugar and Corey’s omnipresent telephone. One of Corey’s major problems was in coming up with a reason that she wasn’t dead with a body temperature of 114 degrees Fahrenheit.

  ***

  Six weeks later, in the middle of Corey’s fourth month, Corey complained that the food did not agree with her, as they were starting to bed. The ultrasound, a week prior, indicated the baby was 16 inches tall.

  Martin asked, “Your stomach is having slight tremors?” Corey shook her head yes. Martin said, “I don’t think it was anything you ate.” Martin rang the spare bedroom and told Marie this.

  Marie entered their bedroom three minutes later in her robe. She shooed Martin away and checked Corey’s dilatation. “You’re 2 centimeters dilated. Are you feeling contractions?”

  Corey nodded.

  “OK, why don’t you time them and I’ll be back. There’s no rush.”

  Marie returned fifteen minutes later, as she got dressed and set up a birthing room.

  Corey said “Contractions are twelve minutes apart.” Martin added, “She’s 4 centimeters dilated, too.”

  Marie asked Corey to stand and led Corey out. “Can you walk?”

  Corey yelled as a contraction suddenly hit, “Of course I can walk.”

  Marie ignored this outburst and gently led Corey to the room she had prepared. They slowly walked into the hallway. “It’s actually good to walk a bit, especially between contractions. Gravity is now your best friend. Just pause when you feel a contraction.”

  Corey cried out in pain, as another contraction hit her. Martin who was timing it said, “four and a half minutes since the last one.”

  Marie said, “No worry, there’s plenty of time.”

  As they reached the birthing room, Corey’s water broke as she had another contraction. Martin announced, “Two minutes fifteen seconds.”

  After positioning her and examining her, Marie noticed that the baby had crowned and was in an excellent position, “OK, let’s just try a test push. Next time you have a contraction, give it a push. You can squeeze my hand.”

  Martin yelled, “No” and grabbed Marie’s hand away as he put Corey’s hands on the bed rails. Corey pushed and a head popped out.

  Marie was startled by the rapidity of the birth said, “OK, Corey at the next contraction g…”

  Corey strained and the baby came out. It was a girl. The baby’s skin tone was initially light blue, but quickly turned creamy chocolate brown, like Corey’s. Marie quickly regained her composure and suctioned out the baby’s nose. The baby gave a very brief cry, then started to look around. Corey said, “I want her.” Marie shook her head no, as she first cleaned the child, weighed, measured her, and then swaddled the infant. The baby looked thinner, but more muscular, than the typical newborn. “Five pounds seven ounces.” She put a temperature probe into the baby’s ear, and then activated a machine to record the pulse and blood pressure. Marie allowed Martin to cut off the umbilical cord as she tied it down.

  Martin told the two, “the baby’s pulse was 28, the blood pressure was 75 over 42, and the temperature was 117 degrees Fahrenheit”, values that would be incompatible with normal human life. Martin said, “Good, the baby is normal.” Marie looked at Martin as if he was crazy, but gave the baby to Corey. Martin whispered to Marie, “Remember who you’re dealing with.” The baby and Corey were staring deeply into each other’s eyes. Corey, who was lying down and looking at her daughter, felt that every pore was being stored into the baby’s memory. After four minutes of intense scrutiny, Martin asked Corey if he could hold the baby, the quietly crying Corey said yes. Martin walked to Corey’s side, knelt down and asked the baby, “Hello, I’m your father, may I hold you?” The baby looked at Martin as Martin picked her up. The baby locked Martin’s gaze and held it. She was also memorizing everything about her father.

  After five more minutes, Marie came up to Martin, “I think the baby and your wife need some rest. They’ve both have been through a lot.”

  Martin nodded and handed the baby to her. Martin asked, “Could you draw a small sample of blood? I’d like to test it for bacteria and viruses, as well as testing her laboratory values.”

  Marie took a small sample of the umbilical blood and Martin took it. The two Klein women were allowed to sleep and Martin left. Marie was left filling in the paperwork.

  Of course, all the Ins were already aware of the entire birth. Martin had deliberately stood behind his wife during the entire labor, to protect his wife’s modesty. The number one question that was asked was, “What are you calling her?” As Martin walked to the lab with the blood sample, he said “Dionne Elizabeth Klein”.

  David: Elizabeth for my mother?

  Martin: Yes, and Dionne for a singer Corey loved when she was growing up, Dionne Warwick.

  Joshua: Uncle Martin?

  Martin: Yes Josh.

  Joshua: I have a small present for you, if you find it useful. I’ve figured a way to put a membrane sheath around a computer, impregnating it with some DNA, so a Panacea recipient wouldn’t reject it or absorb it.

  Martin: Thank you very much Josh. I’m really missing my link. However, to answer your real question, Corey and I are not ready to make that decision yet. Dee’s birth has been much too sudden.

  David: However Dad. If you do decide to do it, I’ve been working on changing the entire interface to make it much more proactive at a younger age. I think we can cut the autistic phase by two thirds, maybe more. I also modified the carbon nano-tube blanket so it contacts eight times more neurons than Josh’s.

  Martin: I’ll mention it to Corey.

  ***

  Corey woke at 3 AM to the sound of a small whimper from the basinet beside her. She got out of bed, as a small head lifted up and turned to track her. Corey picked the baby up, sat in a comfortable chair, and bared a breast to feed Dee.

  Martin was woken by the sound of his wife’s yelp. “Sorry, she has a death grip on my nipple.” Martin helped to pry away the baby’s lips. Dee was repositioned and allowed to suckle again. Corey grimaced, “a bit better.” The baby relaxed and was able suckle normally.

  Marie knocked and entered, “I heard a cry. Is everything alright?”

  “Just the baby clamping down too hard. Everything’s fine now.”

  Marie said, “You know, for the first few days, you’ll only produce a clear yellowish liquid, colostrums. It is a precursor to milk. But this is what your baby needs now and suc
kling will help induce regular milk.” Corey shifted position and pried the baby’s mouth to move it from the first aching breast to the other. A trickle of thick milky white liquid escaped the baby’s mouth as she repositioned the infant. Corey’s other breast was also leaking a white liquid in anticipation.

  Corey looked at Marie and shrugged. “Looks like I was ready.” The baby ignored everything and continued to suckle with her eyes shut. Corey turned the night-stand’s light down, closed her eyes, and said, “Why don’t we all try to get some sleep?” Marie nodded and she returned to her room.

  ***

  At six-thirty Corey was awakened to feed the baby again. Thirty minutes later, after feeding, Corey carefully put Dee back into her basinet. Corey was careful in placing the baby on her back as she was taught. Martin was watching from the bed. “Rough night?”

  “Actually no, except for that first few minutes. I was able to doze a bit. I’m not tired. Want breakfast?”

  Martin nodded, put on his phone and told Le Chef his plans.

  At 8:00 Martin got a call asking if it was a good time for a visit. Corey, who had put her CompuHead phone on for the first time in the last month, said yes.

  Janet, David and Phyllis joined them. The three women went upstairs after hearing the baby making a slight whimper.

  ***

  On entering the room, Corey noticed that the baby was on her belly and Dee was lifting her head to look at Corey.

  ***

  After the girls went upstairs, David looked at his father. “Dad, did you think about what Josh said about being able to get you your computer back? Would you or Corey consider it again?”

  Martin smiled, “Definitely, I feel I’m firing on only two cylinders now.”

  “And Corey?”

  “She also can’t wait.”

  “I can’t see us releasing the technology for infants, but what do you think about marketing it for the adult masses?”

  Martin turned to his son and looked at him with disbelief, “The masses? Sounds very radical to me.”

  “Not really. People wear headphones all the time, piping music to their ears, the same with an iPod piping a picture to them. The computer just cuts out the middleman, or in this case, the middle ear. Sure, there will be those back-to-nature types who will speak out against it. But you know what it’s like to be able to talk to anyone, like Corey, at any second of the day. See what she sees, feel what she feels. I mean the first time they had sex, we’d have a fanatic on our hands.”