Harper And Bastien update

ROUGH


Eventually the early morning light roused Harper to life, and for a few moments after he couldn’t piece together last night's events. He shifted his weight and winced as he felt the pain in his numb legs. His shoulder ached from being propped up on the sofa all night and uncurling his back was a herculean effort. He started to remember the strange night he had, he looked onto the sofa and saw the young woman from the night before. He had almost thought it was dream, but there she was. still asleep. still a little damp. He found his hand still wrapped around her wrist, at one point in the night checking her pulse, but now just holding it. He could see the gentle rise and fall of her body, and he knew she was still alive. That much was a relief. Harper began to withdraw his hand, but he stop when the woman opened her eyes. Her fingers curled around his hand and stopped his retreat.

“A little longer...” her voice was soft and hoarse. “May we stay like this a little longer?”

Harper didn’t see how he could refuse, and returned the woman's grip, their finger interlacing comfortably. He readjusted himself again the couch, allowed their time to continue in silence. He watched the sunbeams turn yellow and grow into daylight, until finally he couldn’t ignore them anymore.

“My name is Doctor William Harper, I’ve been looking after you since last night. I’m afraid I have to apologize for the accommodations, I don’t usually treat patients in my home...”

Above him on the sofa he could hear her laugh, “Well, accomodations aside, I’m sure I’m in excellent hands, Dr. Harper.”

“Do you remember what happened last night?”

This time she hesitated, eventually she said, “No, I’m afraid I don’t recall anything from last night...”

“What is the last thing you do remember?”

There was no response this time.

“Miss?” Harper tried again, “What is the last memory you can recall?”

The woman simply shook her head, and slowly realization dawned on Harper.

“Miss, what’s your name?”

“I- I don’t know.”

______________________________________________________________

Harper and Bastien stood in the adjoining study, the connecting door to the parlor closed. Harper had unceremoniously roused Bastien and none to gently dragged him into the office. Outside the woman continued to doze on the sofa undisturbed.

“Bastien, It's about time you explained exactly what is going on. What have you gotten yourself into?”

“Before I explain exactly what I did, you have to understand, I saved her life.”

Harped slammed his hand down on the desk in frustration, “The woman out there has no memories, Bastien! Is that how you save people these days?”

“It was a side effect! She understood the risks, we all takes risks- God, you're a surgeon, William, you’ve lost patients before!”

“Yes, and at the rate you’re going, we’ll have that much in common soon enough.” Harper took a step forwards, closing the distance between himself and Bastien. “Now tell me what you did, so I can help fix this.”

Bastien swallowed uncomfortably, “It was the shock therapy. She started to have seizures during the treatment, we should have stopped- but I kept going. The voltage was already- well higher than it should have been, let's just say that. But I could feel it, we were so close. And if we had stopped she would have died on that table anyway... So we just kept going.” Bastien turned away from Harper.

Harper’s voice softened, “Bastien... She needs to be in a hospital- I’m not equipped to take care of her here. What if she starts to have seizures again?”

“She won’t! I told you, I cured her! I just-” Bastien faltered, trying to come back from his outburst. “I need some time- a few weeks at the most, to type up my results and send them to the journal. I can’t risk anyone finding out until it's published- don’t you see, Harper, this therapy is revolutionary!”

Harper shook his head, “Two weeks- you have two weeks. I’ll do what I can for her in the meantime, though it's not like I can bring her memories back with scalpels.”

Young Adult Story

really rough draft 1

Somewhere in the distance a firework crashed and sparked across the sky. It lit the inside of my car for just a moment, I could see Maggie for instant, but it was all I needed to see. After a few more moments of sitting in darkness and silence, I asked, "Do you want me drive you home?".

I could hear her shake her head. 

"No, my mom doesn't expect me back for hours, and I don't to explain this." 

"lets go to my house then, you should really change out of... that." 

We both looked at her vomit stained prom dress. 

She laughed humorlessly, "Yeah, the tulle is kind of itchy."

___________________

"Anaphylaxis?"

"No, idiot, anorexia, Anaplyalixs is like when you can't eat nuts"

"Well, you would know a lot about eating nuts, Amber"

 "Oh my god! At least I eat something, unlike Maggie!"

"Yeah Maggie, what do you do in the bathroom all the time?"

"I heard you throwing up yesterday. I could hear all of it, so gross."

"Eww! Thats so disgusting,"

"Oh my god, look at her face! I think she's gonna puke!"

"Oh my god move, she's gonna puke on me!"

______________________

I just spat my food all over Amber Connolly. For a moment, she forgot about the vomit on her shoes. 

"What the fuck Conner!" But that was as far as she got. I felt the bus slam on the breaks and the bus driver yell. 

_______________________

Maggie sat on my bed, she was swimming in one of my old hoodies. I tossed her a pair of my mom's pajama pants, but she ignored them. My hoodie was practically a dress on her anyway. I sat down next to her, "Do you want to talk about what happened?"

She laughed, "What always happens. But I couldn't make it to a bathroom this time." 

She flopped backwards. "I haven't been so embarrassed since..."   

"Since the last time this happened." I finished for her. "Sorry I wasn't there to spit food on him."

She laughed at the memory. "But you were still there. That's more than anyone else has every been." 

______________________

"Hello, Martha speaking?"

"Hello, Martha, its Ms. principle Wesmore. I'm calling about your son Conner."

"Oh god, what's he done already? School only started last month..."

"Well that's actually what I wanted to talk about, Conner hasn't missed a single day yet, and I know its early still, but I just wanted to congratulate you whatever you have been doing, Conner's grades and attendance have greatly improved."      

"Really? I'm glad to hear it. I was worried that with Conner driving himself to school now, his attendance would get worse. Well thank you for the good news."

"Tell Conner to keep up the good work, I look forwards to signing his honor slip."

Martha hung up the phone, pleasantly bewildered. 

It was early in the morning and she had just returned from her night shift at the hospital. She could hear Conner upstairs getting ready.  

"Hey, Conner." She said poking her head into his room. 

"Hey, mom" He said stuffing books into his bag. 

"You're up early, school doesn't start for another hour."

"Yeah, but I have to pick up Maggie, and she has a student council meeting this morning."

Martha nodded slowly. 

"Maggie, from down the street?"

"Yeah, that one."

"I just got off the phone with your principle."

Conner looked up, obviously worried, but his mom smiled and said, "She said your grades are really good this quarter, you're gonna make honor roll."   

Conner let out a relived sigh. "Thank god, I was worried I'd lose my parking privilege. That's great news, thanks mom."

__________________________

Dear Martha Iverson, 

I regret to inform you that your son, Conner Iverson, has been banned from using the school's bus service. After the incident last Friday, where Conner and his friend spit food all over the bus and the students, neither are them are allowed on the bus for the duration of their time at Mayfair high school. You may summit a formal petition about this action. 

-Wesmore

Principle    

_________________________

I sat in the detention room. It was only Maggie and I. 

"What were you thinking? Especially you Maggie, student council, honor roll, you just made variety volleyball.  I'm hardly surprised you're involved, Conner. It's not the first time I've see you here. But spitting food at other students, disgusting and immature. you're sophomores now, start acting like it!"

______________________

"Hey... um, sorry I got you kicked off the bus..."

"Funny, that's what I was gonna say..."

"Nah, if I hadn't spit food at Amber, you would still be able to ride the bus."

"Like I'd want to. At least its cool story now. No ones even talking about how I... got sick..."

"I'm still sorry..."

"Don't be. You were trying to save me..."

"I know it doesn't help now, but next year I'll have car. So if you want, I can pick you up in the morning and take you home. I have to drive by your house anyway..."

"Yeah, I'd like that..."

________________________

I pulled my car up to the front of the school. I could see Maggie waving goodbye to her volleyball teammates. I stuffed loose paper into the glove-box hurriedly. Maggie got into my car and plopped down with a huff. I pulled out onto the streets, we still hadn't spoken. 

"I don't think I'll be able to pick you up tomorrow."

"What?" Maggie looked up from her phone in surprise.  "Why not?"

I had never missed a day of picking her up. 

"Yeah, um, I'm probably not coming to school tomorrow, sorry."

 "But tomorrow is the college fair, Jesus Christ, Conner, we don't even have classes, why are you skipping?" 

"I- I just feel like I'm getting sick." 

"Bullshit, Conner!" 

"Its not! I just don't feel like going, alright?"

"What's wrong with you today?"

"Its nothing, have fun at the fair."

"Whatever..."

___________________________

Dear, Conner

On reviewing your academic performance over the past three years, I'm afraid I cannot recommend you seek higher education. When you take into account your financial situation, and your poor academic track record, I do not feel higher education is a smart investment in your future. If you would like to discuss your options further my door is always open, feel free to stop by. 

Janet Marlowe

Adviser

_____________________________  

"So, I asked Mark to go to prom with me," Maggie said as she jumped in my car. 

"How'd that go?" I put the car into drive. 

"Good! He said yes, I didn't even feel sick." 

"That's great."

"Which leads me to my next question..."

"Yeah what's that?"

"Would you be able to drive us?  Mark got a DUI last month, so we can't take his car."

"Well, you sure know how to pick'em."

"Shaddup," She laughed. "So, do you mind?"

"Nah, I'll drive you." 

"Thanks, I owe you."

I took a moment before I responded, and when I spoke tried to keep my voice light. 

"Don't worry about it, if it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't even get up in the mornings."

__________________________

"What do you mean you're not applying for college!" 

Maggie had been shouting at me the whole ride home. I had been quiet until now, but I finally snapped. 

"Because, I'm not you, Maggie! I'm not in the honor society, or student body president, or captain of the volley ball team. I'm just me, I wouldn't even go to school if it wasn't to pick you up. I probably would have flunked out by now."

"So its my fault?" Maggie sounded so offended. 

"You're not listening, Maggie!" I pulled over and stopped the car, I couldn't focus on driving. "Maggie, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I never cared about school or grades until I met you. Maggie, you saved me, and I'm grateful for that, but its not enough. I'm not you, I'm not cut out for college. That's your life, you are going to go on and do great things. But I'm just me, I'll probably die in this town. You can't save me this time."

"Oh my god, you are such an idiot."

"What?"

"Did it ever cross your mind to just ask for my help? Stop trying to push me out of your life. You can't get rid of me, Conner, I'm here to stay- get used to it."

She started at me meaningfully. "Now drive the damn car."

_______________________

Maggie was in my arms now. It was strange feeling my sweatshirt on her. She was finally crying, the whole story coming out in short sobs. 

 "It was going so well too, we danced and took photos- but then it got later and then... God what's wrong with me..."

I pulled her tighter. "Nothings wrong with you." 

"He just wanted to kiss me, and he was so sweet about it- and I wanted to kiss him back but I just..." She pulled away from me to wipe her runny nose on something other than my shoulder. "What kind of a broken pathetic person am I?"

"You're not broken, Maggie. You're an amazing, wonderful person- and I don't even like to think about the depressing life you saved me from." 

Maggie sniffed and laughed dryly.

"That's rich coming form the boy who has saved my ass countless times, the dysfunctional girl who throws up when ever she gets too nervous. You've held my hair out of the toilet more times than I can count. Is that really such a great addition to your life?"

"Yeah, and I wouldn't change it for the world." 

She laid back down on my bed and stared up at the ceiling. "So what does that make us, two incompetent assholes who can't survive on their own?"

I laid down net to her, studying my ceiling fan. "I think it makes us to incompetent assholes who are trying their best, and need a little help sometimes." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a crumpled letter. 

"Whats this?" She asked as I slid the letter into her hand. I didn't answer, but gave her a moment to examine the letter. "Oh my god, Conner!" She sat up in her excitement. "You got into the community college you applied for, that's great!" 

"The college you helped me apply for," I corrected her. 

"Conner, this is so great. We'll be going to school in the same city, you can still drive me places!" It was nice to see her laugh and smile, prom becoming a distant memory. 

"I guess we'll just have to keep saving each other  a little longer."

"Well, I suppose that's not such a bad thing."          

Some edits and updates

Doctors Bastien & Harper

and

The Unforgettable Woman

Doctor William Harper was a solitary young man, much to the disappointment of the professors and colleagues who often attempted to seek his company. For as introverted as Dr. Harper was, he was undeniably brilliant, and this alone garnered him the endless attention of the medical community. However, despite the mountain of party invitations that eternally cluttered his desk, Harper only truly took refuge in one other human, a friend and former classmate by the name of Edouard Bastien.  

It was an evening in late September and was as uneventful as every other evening Harper and Bastien had spent in one another's company. The time ambled by pleasantly as Bastien told animated and exaggerated tales about his life while Harper listened thoughtfully. Tonight's tale was full of cloaks and daggers, as Bastien allegedly helped a friend smuggle research out of the country so the government could not suppress his findings. Of course, Bastien could not reveal the identity of this friend or what the nature of his research was, he could only assure Harper that it was of the utmost importance.

“I’m telling you, Harper, a new day is coming. The world of medicine has been stagnant for too long, and they want to keep it that way. The old ways the old traditions, they are scared of us, Harper, scared of the revolution we are bringing.”

Harper laughed softly, “What revolution? I’m not aware of joining a revolt against anything.”

“Don’t laugh, Harper, I’m serious. You better than anyone should see the cusp of power we stand on. You are the youngest and most ingenious brain surgeon of our time. You are breaking the rules and pushing the boundaries, not yet willing to settle for the way things have always been done.”

Harper waved his hand to dismiss Bastien's misplaced affections. “I don’t know where you get these ideas from, you make it sound like I’m doing miracles instead of surgeries. I wouldn’t, in fact neither of us would, be where we are without the the old ways, as you put it. These traditions are the foundation of the entire medical field.”  

“And it is time to crush those foundations, don’t you see, they are only holding us back. For example, right at this very moment I am conducting a radical study, the ethics board almost didn’t approve it.” Bastien conspiratorially leaned closer to Harper, warming to his theme. “The others are held back by outdated morals, but I’m willing to take the risks. I believe that this new therapy will revolutionize neurophysiology.”

“What new therapy?” Harper asked cautiously.

“Electroconvulsive therapy, it's largely untested, but I’m ready to change all that.”     

Harper couldn't help his audible intake of breath and Bastien seized the moment to plunge on with his pitch.

"I see you have heard the rumours about it, they have been doing trials in the prison systems for years. But it's time to bring this dirty secret of medical science out into the light. I intend to be the one who makes it an honest and respectable treatment."

"Who could possibly be desperate enough to volunteer for this study, Bastien? I'm hardly surprised the ethics board tried to turn you down, the mortality risk is huge and the success rate suspect at best."

Bastien quieted for a moment, his next words were solemn and lacked his previous charisma.

"We have a group of volunteers, they are all prone to intense chronic seizures. Many of them will die within the year due to the increasing severity of the seizures... in fact one woman, my current patient, may not survive this week. Her seizures have become so frequent and so violent that, well, let's just say this therapy is her only option left. She understands the risks, but without this therapy she will die. I know I can save her, Harper, I can save her and so many others..."

After a moment, Harper's face softened and he conceded. "I'm sure you will, Bastien, I have never met anyone as maddeningly optimistic and driven as you."

___________________________________________________________________________

Harper wandered aimlessly through his empty house, absorbed in the book he held a few inches from his nose. He had all but forgotten his conversation with Bastien earlier in the week. Bastien had been that way since he knew him, idealistic, passionate, almost obsessive. None of this was new, and while he could sympathize with Bastien's drive to cure all ills, Harper was also aware how impulsive and extreme Bastien's methodology was.

After thinking very little of their meeting, Harper was more than surprised to hear a sudden desperate banging at his front door. In fact, Harper didn't immediately recognize the sound, it had been storming all day, and for a moment, Harper could almost convince himself it was only thunder. With loath footsteps, Harper went to his door.

On opening the door he found his friend. Bastien had obviously been in the storm for a while, his clothes were soaked through and his hair was damp and windswept.  Initially, all Harper could do was stand there, taking in the strange scene. Because it wasn’t only Bastien standing on his doorstep, on his shoulder he supported another human, equally bedraggled as himself.  

In his shock, Harper attempted to start several sentences, but couldn’t quite gather his wits to form anything intelligible.

“Good God, man, let us in!”

Bastien’s shouting brought Harper back into the moment and he hurried to usher them inside.

Harper quickly assisted Bastien in moving the other person, a woman who looked to be in her earlier twenties, onto his sofa. He fetched a towel for her and offered Bastien access to his closet, which Bastien gratefully accepted.

After little more than an hour, Bastien’s boots and wet clothing were drying near the fireplace and the woman sleeping on the sofa was wrapped in her own weight worth of blankets and towels.  

“How long has she been unconscious?” Harper’s attention was focused on her now.

“A few hours...” Bastien sat in a chair near by, despite the change of clothing he still looked haggard and unwell. “I didn’t know where else to take her.”

“Well a hospital may have been a better choice, if I’m being honest.”

Bastien shook his head, “I couldn’t take her there, it had to be you- you’re the only one I trust.”

Harper didn’t respond immediately, he looked at Bastien and then at the young woman.

“I will do what I can, but tomorrow you will explain exactly what this is all about.”

Bastien nodded, relief flushing his features. “Yes of course, tomorrow I will tell you everything. Thank you, William.”  

Harper knelt down next to the woman, he took her wrist in his hand and studied his watch carefully, timing her heartbeats.

_____________________________________________________________________

Grey morning light filtered through the thick curtains of Harper’s sitting room, gently illuminating its sleeping occupants. Bastien had simply fallen asleep in the chair where he sat, bodyparts precariously balanced, threatening at any moment to topple him onto the floor. Harper was a few feet away on the floor, his head supported by the sofa. He had been awake most of the night, periodically checking his patient's breath and pulse. Even in his sleep, his hand was still wrapped around her wrist.

Eventually the early morning light roused Harper to life, and for a few moments after he couldn’t piece together last night's events.  

    

Rough Scene 2

        Harper wandered through his empty house, absorbed in the book he held. He had all but forgotten the conversation he had with Bastien earlier in the week. Bastien had been that way since he knew him, driven and passionate and idealistic. None of this was new, and while he could sympathise with Bastien's drive to cure all ills, Harper was almost aware how impractical Bastien's methodology was.

So, thinking very little of their meeting, Harper was more than a little surprised to hear banging at his front door. It took Harper a moment for the sound to register, it had been storming all day, and for a moment, Harper could almost convince himself it had only been thunder. With more than a little apprehension, Harper went to his front door.

On the other side he was shocked to see his friend, he had obviously been in the storm for awhile. For a moment all Harper could do was stand there, taking in the strange scene. Because it wasn’t only Bastien standing on his doorstep, on his shoulder he supported another human, equally bedraggled as himself.

Harper made a few attempts to start a sentence, but couldn’t quite gather his wits to form anything intelligible.

“Good God, man, let us in!”

Bastien’s shouting brought Harper back into the moment and he hurried to usher them inside.

Harper assisted Bastien in moving the other person, a woman who looked to be in her earlier twenties, onto his sofa. He fetched a towel for her and offer Bastien access to his closet, Bastien gratefully accept.

After about an hour, Bastien’s boots and wet clothing were drying near the fireplace and the woman sleeping on the sofa was wrapped in her own weight worth of blankets and towels.

“How long has she been unconscious?” Harper’s attention was focused on her now.

“A few hours...” Bastien sat in a chair near by, despite the change of clothes he still looked haggard and unwell. “I didn’t know where else to take her.”

“Well a hospital may have been a better choice, if I’m being honest”

Bastien shook his head, “I couldn’t take her there, it had to be you- you’re the only one I trust.”

Harper knelt down next to the woman, he took her wrist in her hand and watched his watch carefully as he timed her heartbeats.

    

Harper couldn't help his audible intake of breath and Bastien seized the moment to plunge on with his pitch.

"I see you have heard the rumors about it, they have been doing trials in the prison systems for years. But it's time to bring this dirty secret of medical science out into the light. I intend to be the one who makes it an honest and respectable treatment."

"Who could possibly be desperate enough to volunteer for this study, Bastien? I'm hardly surprised the ethics board tried to turn you down, the mortality risk is huge and the success rate suspect at best."

Bastien quieted for a moment, his next words were solemn and lacked his previous charisma.

"We have a group of volunteers, they are all prone to intense chronic seizures. Many of them will die within the year due to the increasing severity of the seizures... in fact one woman, my current patient, may not survive this week. Her seizures have become so frequent and so violent that, well, let's just say this therapy is the only thing left. She understands the risks, but without this therapy she will die. I know I can save her, Harper, I can save her and so many others..."

After a moment, Harper's face softened and he conceded.

"I'm sure you will, Bastien, I have never met anyone as maddeningly optimistic and driven as you."

“Doll Bones” is a middle grade novel by Holly Black, it was published in 2013 by McElderry Books.

This supernatural horror novel revolves around three middle schoolers who are being haunted by the ghost of girl whose remains were used to create a bone-china doll. Zach, Poppy and Alice have a long running game of make believe that involves pirates and magic and The Queen, who happens to be the haunted china doll. When The Game abruptly comes to an end, Poppy breaks the rules and takes The Queen out of the display case, only to become plagued by dreams about a murdered girl. In an attempt to save this girl’s spirit, as well as the group’s friendship, Poppy convinces Alice and Zach to help put the doll to rest. The three embark on a real life adventure to travel to the girl’s grave and bury the doll. However, the difficult journey puts an even greater strain on their already tenuous friendship.

I really enjoy the simple premise of this books, it is three children who have been playing make believe all their lives, who finally go on a real quest. It takes advantage of the very special age that middle grade books are geared towards. The age of our characters allows their journey to be plausible, they are old enough to read a map, buy a bus ticket and steer a sailboat. However, they are young enough that this is all still new and exciting and getting a few towns over is not an easy task. A little younger and this would all be impossible and a little older and they could have easily made it. I think this book really capitalizes and the possibilities this age range offers.

On a technical level, I also really enjoyed that the author kept you guessing as to whether or not the haunting was real. While the main plot is about putting the doll to rest, the subplot, and arguably the more important one, was about three friends teetering on the edge of childhood. Poppy, for example, actively does not want to let go of her childhood, she sees her friends changing and is doing everything in her power to stop them from leaving her behind. This raises the question of if she is fabricating the haunting just to keep her friends involved in their game. Alice, on the other hand, could be seen as the one who has to grow up fast. Her parents died when she was younger and her life is not easy, while it is not dwelled on, you get the impression that Alice can not afford to stay a child much longer. Also, she exhibits the want of “dating” first of all three of them, adding to the idea that she may be closest to leaving her childhood behind. Zach, on the other hand, lands squarely in the middle. He senses that things are changing, is aware that people like his father want him to grow up and is evening acting on some of these things by playing basketball and hanging out with his team members. However, Zach doesn’t really understand why things “have to change” and seems convinced that they don’t have to. Between the three of them, you are constantly being pulled between Poppy’s world, where the ghosts are real and they are on an epic quest- and Alice’s world, where her main concern is getting home before her grandmother knows she is missing and her suspicions that this is just a game of make believe gone too far. As the reader, both sides seem plausible, enough hints are dropped that the supernatural might be afoot, however, Poppy’s desperation not to lose their friendship is a powerful motivator and would be a good explanation as for why the haunting suddenly started.        

    

Doctors Bastien & Harper

and

The Unforgettable Woman

Doctor William Harper was a solitary young man, much to the disappointment of the professors and colleagues who often attempted to seek his company. For as introverted as Dr. Harper was, he was undeniably brilliant, and this alone garnered him the endless attention of the medical community. However, despite the mountain of party invitations that enterally cluttered his desk, Harper only truly took refuge in one other human, a friend and former classmate by the name of Edouard Bastien.  

It was an evening in late September and was as uneventful as every other evening Harper and Bastien had spent in one another's company. The time ambled by as Bastien told animated and exaggerated tales about his life while Harper listened thoughtfully. Tonight's tale was full of cloaks and daggers, as Bastien allegedly helped a friend smuggle research out of the country so the government could not suppress his findings. Of course, Bastien could not reveal the identity of this friend or what the nature of his research was, he could only assure Harper that it was of the utmost importance.

“I’m telling you, Harper, a new day is coming. The world of medicine has been stagnant for too long, and they want to keep it that way. The old ways the old traditions, they are scared of us, Harper, scared of the revolution we are bringing.”

Harper laughed softly, “What revolution? I’m not aware of joining a revolt against anything.”

“Don’t laugh, Harper, I’m serious. You better than anyone should see the cusp of power we stand on. You are the youngest and most ingenious brain surgeon of our time. You are breaking the rules and pushing the boundaries, not yet willing to settle for the way things have always been done.”

Harper waved his hand to dismiss Bastien's misplaced affections. “I don’t know where you get these ideas from, you make it sound like I’m doing miracles instead of surgeries. I wouldn’t, in fact neither of us would, be where we are without the the old ways, as you put it. These traditions are the foundation of the entire medical field.”  

“And it is time to crush those foundations, don’t you see, they are only holding us back. For example, right at this very moment I am conducting a radical study, the ethics board almost didn’t approve it.” Bastien conspiratorially leaned closer to Harper, warming to his theme. “The others are held back by outdated morals, but I’m willing to take the risks. I believe that this new therapy will revolutionize neurophysiology.”

“What new therapy?” Harper asked cautiously.

“Electroconvulsive therapy, it's larged untested, but I’m ready to change all that.”