Surgery

"Are they fully unconscious?"

It looks that way.

"Alright, bring them in and place them here, on the slab. I can't have the body getting too cold. Do they have any ID on them?"

Just a driver's license.

"Throw it in the fire."

Fine.

"Switch on the spotlights, tie them to the slab and I'll go and collect the equipment we'll need. I'm going to have to find a big enough knife, but it's probably buried under some more-..."

Do you want me to tie the hands and the feet or just the body?

"Every joint possible. If they wake up in the midst of this, it could be very dangerous for us."

Fine.

"Ah! I've found the big knife. It's still horribly dirty. Didn't you clean this from last time?"

No.

"Why not?"

You told me to toss it over there when the person-

"Oh yes, oh yes, I remember... I'll clean it quickly..."

It's too hot with the fire on in this cave. Can we put it out?

"Not all of it. We need the warmth to stop the body getting cold whilst we do this. Here, hold the big knife whilst I put the little ones on the table..."

Fine.

"Is this better?"

It's fine now.

"Alright, well we will have to begin or we risk them waking up in the midst of the operation. It seems to be a running theme with us."

Of course. Let's begin.

"As we discussed, I will make the incision with the small knife and you scoop out the cord of the brain with the big one. Do you remember?"

Yes, of course.

"Don't worry about all this blood, I'll get someone to clean it up just try not to get it all over your clothes..."

All over my clothes.

"Well, shit."

Sorry.

"It's alright. Just try not to get in the way so it doesn't happen again."

Fine.

"The more slaves we can create, the more people we can have under our power."

Your power.

"And yours. Remember why you're here."

Yes, I remember.

"Alright, your turn. Take out the brain's cord. Carefully now..."

Did I do it right?

"Yes, that is very, very good! Well done, my friend! The whole thing removed in one go with just one swipe of the big knife. Gosh, on my own I would have had to go around a few times. You're a natural!"

Thank you for your kind words.

"Yes, now all we need to do is take out some smaller parts of the brain, if you look at my drawing at the other end of the slab, you'll see...I'm getting pretty good at drawing brains. What do you think?"

It is very good.

"Come, take this knife. I know you don't like little knives but we have to be very careful with some of this. It's very delicate. Here, hold this piece of the brain. We are going to collect them after cutting them out and then burn them in the fire."

We didn't burn them last time.

"Well, last time we were out of food. Do you have any better ideas? This job doesn't pay, my friend. But we have enough for now, don't worry."

Of course.

"We will eat well tonight!"

We will eat well tonight.

"Here, cut just here where I've made a small incision. I'm going to teach you how to cut the brain just right."

Just right.

"Yes, there you go... You're getting it!"

Thank you.

"Gosh, you're even more accurate than I am. This is quite something, my friend..."

You are too kind.

"You may try the next incision for yourself if you feel ready."

I shall.

"Ah! That is definitely the correct incision! Even more accurate, even more brilliant than my own!"

I am glad you are proud of me.

"I am definitely proud of you. Now, we must reattach the scalp to the rest of the head so that if they wake up, they actually have the top part of their skull."

Unlike myself.

"You were a special case. I sometimes prefer you this way."

I thank you.

"Here, you can do the reattaching."

Yes, I can do the reattaching.

"Very good, I am impressed at your skills with the thread. I've not taught you how to do that though - where did you learn?"

I have watched you all this time.

"Of course. Do you think they will live? Live like you did?"

I am alive....?

"Very much so."

What kind of life do I have?

"Does it matter?"

No, no it doesn't.

"Well, there we go then. Do you remember who you were before this?"

No, no I don't.

"Ah well, then it can't have been that important."

I guess it was not.

"Your life is here now."

Did the operation work?

"I don't know."

Look how their eyelids flicker in the moonlight.