IMMOLATION: CHAPTER 38

“But what did you do with Judge Dervin?” Matt asked more pointedly.

Dr. Muto furrowed his brow.

“Well?” Matt pressed.

* * *

The room was dark. That much he could tell. For some reason his body wasn't responding as it should and his senses were dulled to near uselessness. A light was flickering somewhere in front of him but he still couldn't get his eyes to open. Or if they were open they weren't working right. Muted sounds seemed to follow the flickering light but, again, his senses were too muted to be of any real use.

Judge Dervin shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind.

“...be alright...minute...” A voice murmured from somewhere close by.

His eyes opened and his vision swam.

“...few days now...” The voice said and Judge Dervin could make out the blurred outline of a figure sitting beside him. “...should wear off quickly now...”

Judge Dervin gave himself another good shake all over. His wrists and ankles didn't move and a strange tightness kept them immobile. And he was sitting, which was odd since he rarely ever fell asleep while sitting.

“Did I miss my taxi?” Judge Dervin finally managed to ask. “I'm suppose to get back for a hearing.”

“Hmmm,” The person to his side responded, “Must've been a fair blow to your head. Don't worry, I'm sure you're happier not remembering, unlike me.”

Judge Dervin's vision cleared at last and he stared, blinking, over at his companion. The man's face was bruised and bloodied, though the blood and bruises looked to be several days old. His tweed jacket was torn and stained and his wrists were swollen where tight bonds had been tied around them to keep him strapped to his chair.

The reason for the tightness in his own wrists and ankles became suddenly clear. He looked himself over and, sure enough, he too was bound, though not so tightly that the ropes were digging into his flesh as they were on the other man.

“Where are we?” Judge Dervin asked.

“Oh, well,” The other man said, and Judge Dervin realized his companion was British. “This use to be my place...until,” He glanced down to his bonds and Judge Dervin nodded.

“What happened?” Judge Dervin asked.

“I was suppose to kill someone,” He said as though it was the most natural response to give. “What about you?”

Judge Dervin rubbed his head against the back of his chair to massage the lump there. Memories were coming back now, memories of his revelation, of his confrontation with Dr. Muto.

“They kidnapped my daughter,” judge Dervin said, “and I found out who one of them was.”

“Kidnapped your daughter?” The Englishman said in shock, “Whatever would they do that for?”

“She was a nuclear physicist,” Judge Dervin said, “and I think she may have been working for them.”

The other man sat quietly for a moment.

“I see,” He said at last. “So sorry to hear that. Her name wasn't Samantha, was it?”

Judge Dervin perked up, “Yes, that's her!” He exclaimed excitedly. “Do you know where she is? Is she alright?”

The man was silent for a time and Judge Dervin's heart sank deeper with each passing moment. Finally, the man spoke.

“She was here for a time,” He said, “Stayed in that very chair,” He nodded toward Judge Dervin's chair. “But she...left...shortly before you arrived. I'm sorry.”

Tears ran down Judge Dervin's face and his throat constricted as though it too were being bound by ropes.

“She was a brave soul,” The other man went on, “Never gave up on trying to escape, always hopeful, always strong until...” He faded off and Judge Dervin turned his attention to the only source of light in the small room.

A television set, showing the news with the volume down low and the subtitles on.

“...have been forced to shut down all remaining nuclear reactors across the nation,” The reporter on the television was saying. “FEMA's been working around the clock as they try to contain the spread of the most recent nuclear disaster.”

“She was going to try to put a stop to all that if she got out,” the man beside Judge Dervin said. “Pitty.”