SSS: THE LAST ANTIDOTE

chapter 9

They ended up at a diner. Nella hadn't ever been inside before, and it was busy, catering mostly to the electric plant's workmen and laborers from the Farm. She was surprised and pleased to be surrounded by so many others. Frank worked his way through the crowd to the back and found them a table. Nella sat down, her head a little dizzy.

"Are you okay?" asked Frank, leaning over the table toward her.

Nella grinned in genuine comfort. "Yes, I just haven't heard this many voices talking at once in- I don't know, years? Do you eat here a lot?"

Frank shrugged, "Once in a while. They have good food and I know many of the regulars." He looked around with a smile. "Not the kind of place you'll be able to talk confidentially though," he said, raising his voice to be heard. They were late for the lunch rush and the diner soon emptied, but the comfortable bustle of the waitstaff and kitchen still filled it with life and warmth and Nella was happy they had come.

"How's your hand?" asked Frank. She opened and closed it gently.

"Sore, but not too bad. It should be okay in a few days."

"Look, I'm sorry for how Dr. Pazzo acted today. He's not usually like this."

Nella shook her head. "You're his lawyer, not his mother. You aren't responsible for what he says. Besides, he's just flexing his muscles, trying to make us both uncomfortable."

An older lady with an eyepatch and a clawmark wriggling down her arm gently laid a cup of grain coffee in front of them. Nella smiled at her and Frank thanked her. He turned back to Nella, absently stirring the cup although there was neither sugar nor milk on the table.

"Aren't you?" he asked.

"Am I what?"

"Uncomfortable."

"I worked in the Cure camps for two years. It was my job to listen to far worse stories than yours. Before that, I worked in a mental hospital where I heard stories beyond anything Dr. Pazzo has up his sleeve. He's going to have to try a lot harder to shock me." She leaned forward and put her hand near his on the table. "You shouldn't let him make you uncomfortable either. He's only trying to make himself feel more powerful."

Frank smiled, but it wasn't a happy smile. "Nothing he's said isn't true." He put down the spoon and slid back, his legs brushing by hers as they stretched out.

"Just because he aired your dirty laundry doesn't mean nobody else has any. Including him. And Mr. Grant." Nella frowned at the bad taste his name left in her mouth. She looked up and saw Frank watching her. She smiled gently. "And me," she said.

He was silent, but he continued to watch her. She blushed. The waitress brought their food.

"Why did you agree to do this trial?" he asked.

"The simplest answer is that I was asked to do it. You don't really say no to the Military Governor if he asks you for a favor. And he told me about Ann. I hope that I can help her. He told me it would be one of the most important trials in history we needed to be sure that it was fair." Nella sighed. "Although, from the attitudes of the people I've spoken with, that seems to be an incredibly optimistic view."

"Dr. Rider, I know I said that acquitting Dr. Pazzo wasn't my goal-"

Nella shrugged. "You were just being realistic," she interrupted.

"I hope this world is still as decent as you seem to think it is. I hope that, whatever the outcome, the trial is fair. I just don't expect it."

They ate in a comfortable silence. The waitress brought their check. Nella sighed. "What's wrong? Is your hand hurting?" Frank asked.

Nella smiled. "No, I just don't want to leave yet. This was nice. Well, this part of the day anyway."

Frank laughed. "Really? I haven't just depressed you more?"

"It's nice to just be able to be me and not a psychiatrist for a while. Even if our conversation wasn't light. It's nice to be around normal people, doing normal things."

"We can come back."

Nella smiled and paid the bill.

The day had turned gray and dull as they returned to

the prison. Yesterday's snow was slithering into the gutters in dirty silver slumps. Frank stopped the car next to hers. "Has the aspirin worn off enough? Will you be okay to get home?" he asked.

Nella slid out of the car. "I'm fine," she said, "and I'll go slow. It's not like there's much to run into any more."

"That's true. But if it snows-"

"It's okay, I'm just down the road. I'll see you tomorrow." She began to shut the door and changed her mind. She leaned down to see Frank's face. "Mr. Courtlen- maybe it's not my place to say- we don't know each other that well. But since no one else seems to have told you, I guess I will. You don't deserve to be treated the way Mr. Grant and Dr. Pazzo did today. What you did when you were sick- none of us can say we were any better. Not the Cured or the Immunes." Nella blushed. "Okay, good night," she said and shut the door before he could respond.

She found he had parked in the same spot the next morning and half expected him to be sitting in his car in the same clothes as the day before. But he was inside already, laughing with Officer Kembrey and Terry, the nervous soldier was nowhere in sight.

"Good morning Dr. Rider," said Stan, "I heard you were injured. Are you feeling better today?"

"Yes," Nella lied. The pain had been flashy and sizzling all morning and the willow tea she'd had was a very poor substitute for the little aspirin pills she'd run out of.

"Good. You'll be glad to know that Ann has been doing fine today, thanks to your orders and we haven't heard a peep."

"That's great news. Maybe we'll start to make some progress now."

Stan exchanged a quick glance with Mr. Courtlen. Nella ignored it. "I guess you'll be wanting Frank then," he said.

Nella smiled. "If you're ready Mr. Courtlen."

"As I'll ever be," said Frank, "Have a good day Stan." Officer Kembrey waved them off. "How long have you

two known each other?"

"Stan? He was at the prison before I even got here. We

play poker sometimes with a group. And I introduced him to his wife. She was in the same Cure camp as me. He's a good friend."

They had reached the dented metal door. "Last chance. You can go home and call in sick if you want," said Frank with a grin.

"No," sighed Nella, "let's get this over with."

Dr. Pazzo was already sitting at the plastic picnic table as if he'd never left. Nella sat down across from him. Mr. Courtlen sat next to her rather than crossing to his client. She guessed that he hadn't forgiven him for yesterday yet.

"We're all ready then?" Dr. Pazzo asked brightly, as if nothing had happened, "Good, let's start the show."

A guard wheeled in an old black television set and Nella took advantage of Dr. Pazzo's distraction. She lightly squeezed Frank's arm and gave him a comforting smile when he looked over at her. She was relieved that he smiled back.