Myshouldersatanobtuseangleandbendoverthelimplittlefigureofmyeighteenmontholddaughter.Memorizedearlierfreeingmylefthandclearingunderneathherlittlelegfallinglikeawetragtostretchontheexaminationtablevirtuallyspineless.Astrangesilence,sincethatfirstmomentafterherbirthsheunveiledherspirit,nowhergenieonastrangeescapade,leftherwithouttheslightestresistance.Then,Iwasdistractedtoasilentblindcall,andturnedtowardthedirectivebysightovermyleftshoulderinthedistancemeetingtheFlemishwoman.Inaglitchoftimesheswappedplaceswiththedoctor,andsuchasanefficientsecretary,sherufflesthroughpapersacrosstheLshapeddesk.Hermannerismunveilsthesearchforanemergencycontact,whichthedoctorbeforehercouldn'tfind.Foiledtohisregret,leftperhapsathandnearthetelephoneapparatusforsuchanoccasion.

Atthenextcallingnotion,Iglanceoverthearchofmyrightarmtothehandthatremainedaspillowformydaughter'slittlehead.Caught,shifty,thephysician'swomanindiagonalacrossthewhitetiledfloor.Underneaththe"Private"signtothedoorwaywithfewrisersthatdogleggedright,sheisvirtuallyabsorbedinthebrightnesstotheapartmentupstairs.Nosoonerdidshereappearedservingrightandwrigglinguptothedoctor.Angelicrisingontoesandoverhisshoulderuttering

briefwordshencealogictiming,readingthesceneofacomplicity,TheambulanceisonitswayShebackeddownpausingheelstoaswiftwithdrawal.

Bentoverfromeithersidearmsvaultingababygirl'swinterbluecoat,Ibrushedbysightherlittlepaleface,whenIspottedtheFlemishwomanposturedinaswapofplaceearlierwiththephysician.Deepinsidetheajardoorsofthemysteriousjunkofstock.Contrarytothedoctorbeforeher,shestrugglesinserenityhandlingthewrappingsinanattemptatcorrelatingmaleandfemaleendsforaresuscitationmask.Shewithdrawsinaswirl,andlikeaneffectivenursemoveuptheaislealongthewallofsatinateddoors,placesabunchofventilationtubesontheledgenexttomylittlegirl'shead.Thedoctor'sfingerstakesafirsttube,triestopressthemountingofanozzlefirminhisleftpalm.Interchangesthetransparenttube,sootheshisangerbythemismatchandchucksitbacksaying,[Dutch]Wrongsizes!

Butthen,therearenoothers,repliedthewomaninacalmvoice.

Asthedoctorturnsawayinfrontofme,Iintroducedmyselfsaying,[Dutch]CanIbeofanyhelp?InlongignoringstrideshebacktracksinthewakeoftheFlemishwomanearlier,andhisownstepsbefore.Aphysician'sarrogancefoiledinhisinfalliblemedicalmilieu.Moreso,feelingdeprivedofequipment,thesourceofamountingheat.Scorching,andturninghisbeingmeltlikewax.Shyingawayfromansweringme,haunup,andinahesitantreflection,saystohimself,Hecanbecomeuseful.

Onthedoctor'sreturnsquaringuptothebabywithtransparenttubes,tactlessattemptsassemblingtheillsuitedtubeconstrainedbythenozzled.

Instinctive,bysightafteranactivenotionoverthearchofmyarm,appearsinthediagonalpracticalpassageway,theshiftypresenceontheopenfloor,likeafiremanhandlinganextinguisher,theFlemishwomanhustlingwithastubbornbluecap.

Whilefranticnimblyfingerschangestoanothertubeandapplyinganincreaseforce.Thedoctorglimpsesoverfollowinghiswoman'sprogress.Withamountingfrustrationbuttingendslackingelasticitytoslipoverthegadgetofridicule.

Thedoctor'scallingglimpsesbringstheFlemishwomanadvancingbyhustlinghandsandcuddlinginherarmsthemetallicbottle.Aroundthetableshestepsuptothedoctorwiththeleadingbluepointer,sayinginitself,It'snotcomingoff!Thedoctorinabrisksweepofmovementsswirlsofftograbthebottle.Sparingafacetofacemomenthishandswrenchthetopoff,thebluepartreturned,exposingthetransitbottletohispoiseinturn.

Resolute,withanoxygenbottleheldovermybabyfigure,thedoctorturnedthevalvegashingoxygenthroughtheair.Playingthehissingpressurevalvewiththeregulatorhebrushedtheoutletacrossherlittleface,whichplacedmeinviewofavirtualcircuscomediantoaspectacleatrisingacrowdinaburstwithlaughter.Whentechniqueminded,theinvisibleoxygencloudspreadsintheatmosphere,thecrispywaftfarfromherlittlenostrils,atalimentingthewindpipeandarouselungsabsorption.

Thevirtualquicksandofsophistication,takingthedoctorbeyondhimself,toforgeideasingradualretrievesongoingfromanassaultatthesceneofourearlierarrival,compromisingapreconceivedailmentdiagnosis.Arousingdithery,hisfingersfumbledthetransparenttubesearlierdiscardedonacornerofthetable.Throughasweepofmovements,heasked,"Liftherupandtiltherheadback."Hesparedrighthandfingerspartingherlittlesoftlips,whileintroducinghisindexpressingdownhertongue.Hishandceedingthetasktotheleft,andfreeapparentfromadoctorandnursekitforchildrenthefingersintroducedaslenderplastictube,toimaginedabradingdownmybaby'sthroat.Delicate,andthreadinghandmovementsdistinctiveofaslippingtubefurtheranddeeperdownherwindpipe.Uponreleasingthetube,hereachesoutfortheoxygenbottleofftheassortmentoftubes.Liftingthebottleandtorquingthewheelvalve.Alerttoanescapinghissing,hisfaceclosingin,lipssqueezingovertheoutlet,tospareamomentabsorbingoxygen.

TheFlemishdoctorreleaseshislipsfromtheregulatingvalve,straighteningheadandshoulders,whileIwaitedforasigntomaneuverandturnofftheregulatorvalve,atleastholdthebottle.Instead,hegoesonplacingnexttomylittlegirl'sheadthebottle,transitsoxygeninbodyducts.Intheprocesspincheshernostrilscloseandpressesherchinupsealingherlips.Bysoftpoutedlipshediveforanapparentdrinkingstraw,sealsthetubeandensueswithaslightcheekmuscularpuffing.

Thewomanwhisperedatoneofcaution,saying,"[Dutch]It'sthelastofthree."Understanding,Oxygentanksinstock.

Timeandagainanascenthissingbroughtthedoctortoswallowamouthfulofoxygen.Theevanescentsoundraisedmyquestioning,Whereisstoredtheoxygenintransit?Onceagainthedoctorheldhisbreathwithoutpuffingouthischest,histiltedheadmovingdownvirtuallyeclipsinghersoftmoonexpressivecomplexion.Anintimatemomentwithhisthoughts,andafterthesefewtrialswithoutattainherbreathing,thedoctorhandedmeovertheoxygenbottle.

Withthejittersofbodyandsoul,inanimminenttoneofvoice,andhardexpressionofconcerned,thedoctorordered,Herclothsoff!Withmyfreehand,Iliftedherlittlearm,slippingacoatsleeveoffandgrabbedtheother.Afterwhich,toomanyhandsforafewlittlelamelimbs.Iletthecoupleacrossthetableafreedomofmovement.Seeing,toofrailapairoffemalefingersthroughscissorsholes,aftersheunbuttonedthecoatandmomentarymyvirtualhand,thebladesstuckinthethickgreenfullbodysuitfromsnippingthroughthecartoonsnowmanandunderwear.Abandoningforatwofistfightedhandgrabasweatercollarandpulling.Upagainstclothesthatdidn'ttearapart,readingherthoughts,Rushingisn'tadvancingmemuch?Sheresortedtohercalmbeing,scissorssnippingthrougheachlayeratthesleevesandontotheneck.Asthewoman'shandspeeledoffclothinglayers,thedoctor'speedymovementstakesoverhurryingrockingandrollingthelittlebodystrippinganddiscardingclothesinthehandsofthewoman.Inviewofmylittlegirlexposureofshame,mountinganintrusivesensationbytheeyesofauniversestealingherintimacy,thewomanstucktheclothesinaplasticshoppingbag.HelplessIsplitathoughts,Theycan'tbethinkingofthrowingthoseourbaby'sclothesfortrash?

Bentlopsidedoverthenakedfigureofmybaby,myrightarmlowsupportingherhead.Idelvedintoherlargeblackextinctpupils.Windowofhervolitioninthetenebrousuniversethrobbingbiorhythmicwavescuddlingitsbirthorgans.Sendingaheadadiagnosticdamagereports.Bythe

translucentgeometriccoloredshapedconcreteslab,Likeadriverabandonsanexplosivevehicle.Fromheightsherspiritinthelightofconscioushoversoverthescene.throughthethreearchingfiguresovertheexaminationtableherconsciousspiritonthescene,followsadynamicofbusyworkshopmechanicsfortherecuperationofherorganicvehicle.

Insilenceandrapidlikeravagingforestfires,theemergentillpreparedresuscitationendeavorwhichmymindgrabbedbyitsunbelievableglowatsightthroughfardistancemountains.Tolerantandunfortunatecarriedbythewinds.UntilIheardMartine'simpertinentandanxioustimbreofvoicecallingout[Dutch]What'sthematterDoc?"Arousedbyanegatingsensoryperception,indeathshemasteredthatchildinher,Alikeconvolutedsmoketrailsfromthefireofherexistencebyanemergenttheatricalrebirth.Inrevengethatsevenyearoldgirlonaworldlystageseekingindeathanemotionalrevivalofthecruelunbearableaftermathofherfather'sdeath.Inoutrageatthewetragdroppedonthefloor.Infuriating,atthethought,She'sbetteroffcommunicationwiththedoctorthanI.Theglowoffireflaringinmychestatthethought,Sheisneglectingherdyingdaughter.Onthealert,Iglancedawayovermyshoulder,meetingherbysightinthedistance,andaffirmative,Isaidtomyself,ThereshesitsonthefloorfingerspluggedinthemouthHowcanshedothatHowcanshejustsitthere?

That'ssoabsurd,Ithought.Thedoctorseemedconclusivetoo,passingacrossthebottleofoxygenboggeddownlikeavehicleonamuddyforestroadinviewofatimeglassvirtuallyrunemptydenigrativetoamanofsciencefrowningtheimprobableofhissophisticatedmilieu.

Seeingmylittlegirl'stummy,bringsbackaschildrenthemovingimagesduringthefamilyfarmingperiod.Thesceneofourmischiefpet,andgrowingcalfrepeatingawittybreakinthefodderstorageandeatchickenmeal.Savedbyaveterinarian,andhalfayearlaterhewasn'tthatlucky,hisstomachburstanddied.

Thedoctordesignatedtohimselfbywideningeyesherbloatedtranslucentbelly,shookhishypnoticmindontheloose,andcatchhisthoughts,Nooxygengoestothelungs!Hefretsturningbehindhim,andbringsbackfromwithinthecupboardaplasticrevolver.Pointingthebarreltoglowalightinmybaby'sear,whichIperceiveasgadgetofmoderntimesinmymindplaysthatlaserbeamexperimentingwiththefirstlasertapethatflawsthegivenmeasurementsonroughmasonry.ThedoctorreadsthethermostaticgivendatathatIfailedtohearhimexclaim,fortyone!Hegrabbedhisneckpendulum,andplugthestethoscopeearpiecesendsinhisears,bendsovermylittlegirlandonherimpressedlittleribcagedabbedherlittlechestthinkingoutloud,"[Dutch]Theheartisstillbeating...Ithink?"

Byahandflickthedoctordropsdowntheearpiecestoanecklace.Returnsbendingovermybaby'sbody,loweringhisheadtoanapparentgirlishplayplaydrinkingstraw.Afteralipclasp,hischeekshollowedout.Thenhisscalpofhairraisesfromherface.Hestraightensslippingthesuctiontubefromhermouth.Handsleadingaswingoverforthebarewhitefootofthetabletop,bringingthetubeenddownonthepaperanddrawinguptowipeclean,leavesavirtualsnailslimetrailacrossthepaper,withoutclearingthevisiblestickyandslimyfoodparticlesinthetube.Thedoctorbringshismouthcloser,andblowsinthetube.Hegoesonresortingtoafingerspinchandwipes

thelengthdown.Failingtosqueezethetubeclean,hesitanthedropsathoughttohimself,Getacleantube,movingacrossbytheswingoverofhishandsforthetablehead.

Byanexchangethroughnimblefingers,anewtubeisintroducinginmybaby'smouth,speediousandcarefulthedoctorthreadsitdownherthroat.Hisheadlowersherfaceintohiding,hesiphons,andraiseshistuftofhairclear.byasidestepshortensthedistancetoawhitepaperledgebyherlittlegirl'sfeet.Heblowsthroughthetube.Spewsonthespotthestickymucktastefromthetipofhistongue.Flipsastickyfinger.Wipesoffhislipsbyabackhand,andsmearsafingersoffonthepaper,toareturnstanceanddropsathoughttohimself,Searchesforalargertube.

Inconceivable,speedinguphissuccessiveattempts,tospewonthefloor,thedoctorlosthisdrive,constrainedbyaslimyandstickysyphoningmechanismboundtofailclearingababy'sairways.Bailing,thoughtlessliftinghiseyesfrommylittlegirlandstraighteninghisfigureincapitulation,eyesightpassingmebyasoaringlookintospace.Thedoctorwakesupfromanephemeralhypnosis,acrosstheroomimpededbythetwelveyearoldboystandingbyhisfamiliarfurnishedconsultingcornertoavacantdeskchair.Cowardly,thedoctoruttered,"[Dutch]Thisvomitcomesfromherlungs.Sheprobablyinhaledandcloggedtheairways."

Whileeveryinstantapartofaninstance,hardupatcatchingamomenttothinkback,henceI'llsparereflectivemoments,Howmuchtimehadlapsed,thedegradationofoxygensupplyfromthoselittlelungssuffocatingherbrain?Fiddlingnumbfingersbetweenhershoulderblades,unconscientiousthenofherremotevolitionpuppeteeringorganwithbiorhythmicwavesinherapparentjellyfigureasshelaidontheexaminationtable.

ThedoctorreadAlexandre'sprayinggaze,Savemybabysister,doctorYouaretheonlyonewhocanmakehercomeback!Thedoctorimmersedbyaconscious,systematichiseyesightdrewinretrieve,bringinghiseyestorolldownandfixingthenaivepoiseofaneighteenmontholdbaby.Hebendsforwardhisfacemetamorphosingintoatuftofhaircomingdownandenshroudmybaby'sface.Holdingherchinup,hissubtledeterminationinaprolongedpause,prominentjawboneshollowedandholdingout.Hisheadjerksbackswingingrightaside.Overtheedgeofthetablebreaksareigningsilencewithawildbeastgutturalroar,Thetwistedfigurespewsandcoughstothefloor.Hisfigurenosoonerunwound,streakyrunshungfromhisbottomlip,hiswomanturnedopenandofferedtheoutletvalveoftheoxygenbottlewhileherhandmovedinandrushedtowipehismouthclean.Inashrewdshrugthedoctorfacedivesandplugsthelittleface.Timestandsstill,untilhishead'ssuddenriseandbodytwistoverandthrowingupanothermouthfulofvomit.

Afteranotherresiduesclearingfromherairways,thedoctorturnedtowardthehissingnozzle,anddrewabodyofoxygeninhisaircavities.Inanacceleratedrhythmatcatchingupearlierlostprecioussplitseconds.Faceboltingdownandswoopingupaslowmotionsmackinglips.Byagradualpressureblowingawhiffofoxygen.Amesmericeyefixationonherchestshiftedlikeahandonherbloatedtummy.Perceivingdownherwindpipe,afilteringofherfragilepronetotearingupbabylungsceasedcravingforoxygen.

Whenahustleandbustlebrokesilenttimeonholdthroughoutthebrightwhiteheavenlylightoftheroom,apassagewayhollowsouttoasurgeofdistantandapproachingvoices.ThePhysician's

womanleftthedoctor'side,meetingupwithaclosinginarmyactivityinrelaytakingoverthevoices.Inmyblindangleofsightsquealingbootsbreakingintotheroom,andcaughtbythecuriousactivityovermyleftshoulder.IlaysightonthebackofafluorescentjacketofafigurekneeledinfrontoftheLshapeddeskunwrappinganapparentmedicalkit,whichpushedAlexandreasideandlefthimglancingdown.Coweringsurrogatesisterinretrieve,thechild'sashlongblondlankyhair,theplasticdollofaningeniousDutchmothercontainedthelittlemindshakeninpartofthemysteriousagitationwhichbefellonherlife.

Asetofbootsstompedacontourbehindme,andwithbrokenhissesoftheallweatherrescueclothing,aparamedicappearovermyrightarmandstallattheheadoftheexaminationtablenosooneraccompaniedbythedoctor'swoman.