Chapter 27

"What are you guys thinking?" Henry asked calmly as he put the needle inside the drilled skull of the dead body.

He was guiding the needle through camera and the brain visible in the screen was irregular and seemed to have melted with heat.

"No one has dared to do it at this level"

"Yes everyone is afraid of the dead bodies. Though it's going to be the same fate for everyone... Eventually!" He said with a pause still looking down. Dr Henry was a cautious surgeon and had a great level of control over his hands no matter how tense the situation was. He was deemed the best in all circumstances whether the surgery was tough or delicate. "Some people are gifted," Olivia whispered in Peter's ears. "No matter whatever their age, they are easy on their hands and have eyes as a hawk." She giggled beneath the mask and surgical goggles as she looked at Henry's hands slicing through the dead brain.

"Age doesn't count when you have eyes in your heart" Sir Henry answered without looking up as if hearing her whispers.

He took out the needle from the brain and placed it in the specimen bottle with the liquid and tissue he just extracted from the dead body.

"It has taken so much time than usual," he exhaled tiredly looking at them. "Why? Is it because of the brain structure?" Asked Amelia.

"Why is it leaking?" Interrupted by David whose eyes froze at the sight of the dead man's skull which was dripping constantly. "Nothing it's just the needle disturbing the brain tissues which has already become a soup of brain cells."

"We should dispose off the body as soon as possible," Henry commanded instantly presuming the danger of proliferation.

"We have already taken a great risk by bringing it here. We don't know yet what we are dealing with"

All of them agreed in unison.

"Say thanks to your aunt Olivia for helping us in managing and bringing the dead body here. Without her help it would not have been possible," Henry smiled.

"I hope it works sir," she replied.

"It will... People like her are miracles in this unkind world where humans are suffering endlessly. But.. she gives them hope. A light which is rare but powerful." He said with a smile. "Let us put our part too." He iterated.

"Sir, what if the results are different than we thought?" Amelia asked impatiently. "The first thing is we wait for the results" he explained. "Secondly, we decide according to the results."

"Finally, we will find solution to the problem no matter what." He pressed with conviction.

They all nodded happily. Somehow they were convinced that he would help them find something.

"Sir Henry!" Amelia was in deep thoughts when he was giving them hopes.

"It is a chance for us to find what the thing is," she said with a pause. Henry had fixed his eyes on her as he waited for her words. "So?" He got impatient too. "Why don't we take a sample of tissue from the liver too?" She bit her lips not knowing about his reaction. "It's because I have a feeling that the virus we are looking for in the brain is also playing it's role in the liver's exponential damage." Everyone looked at her with surprise. Because that was not the plan. "I don't know i may be wrong." She stared at

David. "But I feel like it's the right thing to do." She shrugged her shoulders. Sir Henry fell silent for a while as he rubbed his chin with index finger. "I think it will make it easy for us to rule out the other possibilities without any more delay," she continued with her opinion.

There was a confused silence for a while. "Well!" Sir Henry spoke, " You are right."

He agreed to her idea. "We won't have another chance to get another dead body."

He said. "We would have better results for the samples of the same body." He said after a little more thinking.

"I appreciate your idea Amelia" he praised her with utter admiration.

"No doubt why you are valued." She was extremely elated with his words but pretended to be normal.

Sir Henry's words of recognitions were rare and always came out for the right person at the right time. Amelia had always won that. And everyone was aware of her passion and hardwork.

"Let's prepare for the second sample," he signalled at Peter to get the instruments needed for the extraction of liver tissue. He ran for the surgical tools and made preparation for the second sample.

"This has to be done with more caution." Ĥe said. "If the brain has become liquid the liver could be no different. So be careful."

"Why don't you try it Amelia." He offered her the scalpel to make incision in the abdomen at the side of the liver. "Be careful," he iterated. Amelia nervously took the instrument and began cutting the blood soaked skin of the dead body. "Nobody knows what lies inside" David helped Amelia by cleaning the skin where she was supposed to make a cut. "Sir why don't we use the cut needle instrument for extraction?" She suddenly asked him who was already observing her actions. He smiled and said. "I was waiting for you to say that. I am glad that you don't just give ideas you also know the technique of execution."

This time it was Peter who offered her the needle and appreciated her presence of mind. "Comm'on do it."

She carefully inserted the needle in the liver and drew the blood and small tissue out of it.

"I hope it is the liver?" She incredulously asked as she held it above to see it clearly in the OT light. "Good job" sir Henry patted her on the back. "I hope it answers all your doubts,"he said with a smile. "How am i supposed to know that unless we get the results," she said. "Sure," Henry replied.