The Complex - Chapter 3 - Part D

(To read the beginning of the original novel "The Complex" click HERE.)


Chapter 3 - Part D


Duncan was looking forward to seeing two people as he arrived in the Complex. Sarah, of course, but also Sasha when she was ready for her rehabilitation. He was hoping she could explain to him what happened--not only her accident, but how her clothes got packed and when she had decided to leave.



His first weekend was spent unpacking and settling into his new apartment. Then he was responsible for reviewing the current client files. Since the last time he was here the little community had doubled in size, but the working staff had stayed the same. This was due to the overseeing job he had just come from. Duncan and Conner had always called it the "ultimate bug" because what better way to keep track of someone than by putting a tiny microchip in their brain and just listening in when they spoke. This had been one of the accidental discoveries that Dr. Thornton had developed while trying to electrically stimulate the nerve growth centers of the brain. So, while all the clients had some kind of electrode implant, they had varying degrees of results with their recovery.


When Duncan came to Sarah's file, he studied her history very carefully. After reading it and re-reading it, he stared off into space for some time. Something was not adding up, but he was not sure what it was. The person he remembered was not in a wheelchair and this person had been, according to this chart. Could he have been wrong about her? He would have to wait until he met her to see anything for sure and that would mean waiting until Monday morning.


On Sunday, While Duncan still had time off, he wanted to keep his promise to go light a candle at the old church that stood with the monastery on the island. The road to get there had been left undeveloped by the contractors, who only paved the part of the road that belonged to the hospital. As Duncan walked along the rutted old road, he enjoyed seeing the tall trees and thick ferns. They had moss growing on the branches that hung over each side, making a thick canopy above the road. He had been down here before, when time permitted, but rarely saw many other visitors from the hospital. Conner had always teased him about his "religious fetish", but his strong beliefs--especially after seeing unexplainable things in the hospital--left him continually returning to worship and thank God for the life he was given and the path he had chosen to walk.


His silent meditation was broken by the sound of an SUV making its way down the road. It pulled up beside him and the driver smiled. "Hello!" It was Dr. Thornton. "Need a ride?" he amiably asked.


Duncan's emotions went on alert. He was angry at this man right now for the way things were fouled up around Sasha. But, maybe he could get some answers. Maybe it was not all Dr. Thornton's fault.


"I'm just going to the monastery up the road." Duncan answered.


"Great! So am I!" Dr. Thornton opened the passenger door and motioned for him to get in. He knew many of his employees were reticent and uncertain about how to act around him. He usually had to take the lead and be the first to offer friendship outside the work atmosphere. Because of his position, he had very few friends on the island, but he had seen Duncan at the church before and had always wanted to speak to him. As Duncan jumped in and slammed the door, Dr. Thornton asked, "How often are you able to get down here?"


"Oh... every other week or so, sir." Duncan was a little vague because his schedule was always changing.


Dr. Thornton reminded Duncan of the way he remembered his father. He had the same thinning gray-black hair and soft gentle, but sad eyes. And up close, he felt like someone with whom you could talk. But still, there was this mess about Sasha. His feelings told him to go ahead and try to find out about Dr. Thornton.


"I like to come here just to get away once in a while." Duncan offered.


"That's my feeling exactly. Your name is Duncan... something, right?"


"Yes. And that something is McNealy, sir."


"Please... no sir's out here, OK?"


Duncan smiled. This guy did not seem half bad away from the tensions of the hospital. "OK... si..." He broke off the automatic sir that came with a man of authority.


"So, Duncan McNealy, what else do you like to do in your free time?" Dr. Thornton wanted to speak of anything besides the hospital. He was hoping Duncan would oblige him.


"Hmm... free time... what's that?" Duncan said playfully.


They both laughed together, enjoying the sunshine as they pulled into the parking lot of the old church. Before they got out, Dr. Thornton said, "On the way home, I have a story to tell you." He smiled, indicating they were riding home together and then they both turned and separately went inside to do their more serious business.


Inside, Duncan remembered to light a candle for Sasha. It was not the only one lit and he hoped some of them were for her. While he was sitting in a pew waiting for Dr. Thornton, he observed the doctor standing off to the side with a young looking priest. What piqued his interest was the way the priest was dressed. Along with his black shirt and white collar, he wore a pair of faded blue jeans and leather sandals. They seemed to be in a very serious conversation, but what caught his eye most was the rosary that Dr. Thornton took out of his pocket and handed to the priest. It was a beautiful shade of turquoise blue with a large silver crucifix. He thought for a moment how strange it was, the doctor giving it to the priest, but he never totally understood everything about his own religion, so maybe Dr. Thornton had a reason he did not understand. He thought to himself that he would have to remember to ask Dr. Thornton about it, if the moment came up.


As they left the monastery, Duncan accepted an invitation for dinner at the doctor's garden apartment. They climbed into the SUV and Duncan listened to the tale of Dr. Thornton's fishing expedition off the Oregon coast. He was listening to a whole other side of this brilliant doctor and he hoped to find out just who RJ Thornton was up close and personal.


They sat finishing a delicious meal that had been sent over from the hospital's kitchen. It was then that Duncan remembered to broach the subject of religion. "Tell me about what you believe..." he began akwardly.


Dr. Thornton put his coffee cup down thoughtfully. "Believe? About what?"


"You know..." Duncan stammered, "About God."


Dr. Thornton's face paled visibly and he looked away slightly embarrassed. After a moment of silence he carefully said, "I'm afraid I'm in trouble with God right now."


Duncan sensed his distress and offered, "Whatever trouble it is, you know God will forgive you. All you have to do is ask and then stop whatever thing it is that's causing the trouble." Duncan stopped talking when he saw the stricken look on Dr. Thornton's face. Fearing he had gone somewhere that he did not belong, he quickly apologized for his forwardness and stood up to leave. He came to the other side of the table to shake hands with Dr. Thornton, who had remained seated.


Dr. Thornton looked up at Duncan and whispered, "Are you sure about that?"


Duncan turned and faced him squarely. "Yes, I'm sure."


As Duncan walked home to his apartment in the Complex, he thought it was strange that Dr. Thornton had picked him up and then invited him to his home. He was grateful for this opportunity to get to know such a great man personally, since he still had some nagging doubts about the Complex. Perhaps now he would have a way to get some of his questions answered. He could only wait and see what happens.






(to be continued...)


Original novel "The Complex"
by Karen Elizabeth Brown
Copyright 2009