spot runs through the main axis of the skull, but is bent upwards in the
shape of an inverted U. It is just possible that this may be the most
significant discovery of our whole examination. Ruby switched off the
light of the scanner.
I don't understand any of this, the Brig's voice was sharp. He did not
like being bludgeoned by another man's special knowledge.
No, of course. Ruby was smooth. I am merely setting the background for
the explanations that will follow. He turned back to the desk, and his
manner changed. He was no longer lecturing, but leading with authority.
Now as to my own conclusions. There can be absolutely no doubt that
certain function of the optic nerve remains. It is still conveying
impulses to the brain. At least a part of it is still intact. The
question arises as to just how much that is, and to what extent that
function can be improved. it is possible that the grenade fragment cut
through part of the nerve, severing five strands of a six-strand rope,
or four or three. We do not know the extent, but what we do know is
that damage of that nature is irreversible. What Debra may be left with
is what she has now, almost nothing. Ruby paused and was silent. The
two men opposite him watched his face intently, leaning forward in their
seats.
That is the dark side, if it is true, then Debra is for all practical
purposes blind and will remain that way.
However, there is another side to the question. It is possible that the
optic nerve has suffered little damage, or none at all, please God Then
why is she blind? David asked angrily. He felt baited, driven by
words, goaded like the bull from so long ago. You can't have it both
ways. Ruby looked at him, and for the first time saw beyond that blank
mask of scarred flesh and realized the pain he was inflicting, saw the
hurt in the dark eyes, blue as rifle steel.
Forgive me, David. I have been carried away by the intriguing facts of
this case, seeing it from my own academic point of view rather than
yours, I'm afraid. I will come to it now without further hedging. He
leaned back in his chair and went on speaking. You recall the notch in
the outline of the chiasma. Well, I believe that is the nerve itself,
twisted out of position, kinked and pinched like a garden hose by bone
fragments and the pressure of the metal fragment so that it is no longer
capable of carrying impulses to the brain. 'The blows on her temple -?
'David asked.
Yes. Those blows may have been just sufficient to alter the position of
the bone fragments, or of the nerve itself, so as to enable the passage
of a minimal amount of impulse to the brain, like the garden hose,
movement could allow a little water to pass through but still hold back
any significant flow, but once the twist is straightened the full volume
of flow would be regained. They were all silent then, each of them
considering the enormity of what they had heard.
The eyes, the Brig said at last. They are healthy? Perfectly, Ruby
nodded.
How could you find out, I mean, what steps would you take next? David
asked quietly.
There is only one way. We would have to go to the site of the trauma.
Operate? David asked again.
Yes.
Open Debra's skull? The horror of it showed only in his eyes.
Yes, Ruby nodded.
Her head, David's own flesh quailed in memory of the ruthless knife. He
saw the lovely face mutilated and the pain in those blind eyes. Her
face - His voice shook now. No, I won't let you cut her. I won't let
you ruin her, like they have me David! The Brig's voice cracked like
breaking ice, and David sank back in his chair.
I understand how you feel, Ruby spoke gently, his voice in contrast to
the Brig's. But we will go in from behind the hairline, there will be
no disfigurement. The scar will be covered by her hair when it grows
out, and the incision will not be very large anyway - I won't have her
suffer more. David was trying to control his voice, but the catch and
break were still in it. She has suffered enough, can't you see that, We
are talking about giving her back her sight the Brig broke in again. His
voice was hard and cold. A little pain is a small price to pay for
that.
There will be very little pain, David. Less than an appendectomy. Again
they were silent, the two older men watching the younger in the agony of
his decision.
What are the chances? David looked for help, wanting the decision made
for him, wanting it taken out of his hands.
That is impossible to say. Ruby shook his head.
Oh God, how can I judge if I don't know the odds? David cried out.
All right. Let me put it this way, there is a possibility, not
probability, that she may regain a useful part of her sight. Ruby chose
his words with care. And there is a remote possibility that she may
regain full vision or almost full vision. That is the best that can
happen. David agreed. But what is the worst? The worst that can
happen is there will be no change.
She will have undergone a deal of discomfort and pain to no avail. David
jumped out of his chair and crossed to the windows.
He stared out at the great sweep of bay where the tankers lay moored and
the far hills of the Tygerberg rose smoky blue to the brilliant sky.
You know what the choice must be, David. The Brig was ruthless,
allowing him no quarter, driving him on to meet his fate.
All right, David surrendered at last, and turned back to face them. But
on one condition. One on which I insist. Debra must not be told that
there is a chance of her regaining her sight, Ruby Friedman shook his
head. She must be told The Brig's mustache bristled fiercely. Why not?
Why don't you want her to know?
You know why. David answered without looking at him.
How will you get her there, if you don't explain it to her? Ruby asked.
She has been having headaches, we'll tell her there is a growth, that
you've discovered a growth, that it has to be removed. That's true,
isn't it? No. Ruby shook his head.
I couldn't tell her that. I can't deceive her. Then I will tell her,
said David, his voice firm and steady now. And I will tell her when we
discover the result after the operation. Good or bad. I will be the
one who tells her, is that understood? Do we agree on that? And after
a moment the two others nodded and murmured their agreement to the terms
David had set.
David had the hotel chef prepare a picnic basket, and the service bar
provided a cool bag with two bottles of champagne.
David craved for the feeling of height and space, but he needed also to
be able to concentrate all his attention on Debra, so he reluctantly
rejected the impulse to fly with her, and instead they took the cableway
up the precipitous cliffs of Table Mountain, and from the top station
they found a path along the plateau and followed it, hand in hand, to a
lonely place upon the cliff's edge where they could sit together high
above the city and the measureless spread of ocean.
The sounds of the city came up two thousand feet to them, tiny and
disjointed, on freak gusts of the wind or bouncing from the soaring
canyons of grey rock, the horn of an automobile, the clang of a
locomotive shunting in the train yards, the cry of a muezzin calling the
faithful of Islam to pray, and the distant shrilling of children
released from the classroom, yet all these faint echoes of humanity
seemed to enhance their aloneness and the breeze out of the south east