Henceforththeunconsciousweighsfallacyfromreality,walkingoutonourdaughter,ceedingherlifetowhitedressedfigures,mindchurningourearlierarrival.Whenaflittingmalefigureacrosstheemergencyhallway,camebeforebeingledonbyanothertrainee,throughacrystalanimationchangingourproperevanescentreflectionsofthegeometricplacedglazedpartitionsalongourwayoutoftheemergencyarea.

AsMartineandI,werelefttoroam,withananxiouseyesightreturntoourbabydaughter.Intheroundabout,toavirtualrealityoftwowaymirror,weweren'tmeanttoseeafullspectruminachangingsunlight.Insteadapartialresolutionofduality,letcreepingguilt,stirs.shimmeringfearinmindoutofthetenebrousentrancetothebuildingclosedforthenight.

Withtimeonstandstill,arainbowdreamarousedavisionofourearliertraildown,throughanapparentwaterfilmacrossthecorridorplateglassdoors.Shadowlessatthetopoftheindistinctslightslantedfloor,bathinginaheavenlyuniformfluorescentlighting,asymboliccricketfieldofplayers,indistinctofranksorgender,reminderlikespectators,Keepouttillcalled!

Atalistlessmomentretrievedinthewaitingroom,Iwassurprisedbytheemergentagitatedfigureinawhiteoutfitswerveandupcomingforthedoorway.Ipausedfromditheringupanddownalongthechainlinkedandproofrecumbentchairs.Thetraineenurseearlierandouttheteam,withaponytailsweepleftuslikechildrenswirlingoffatthethreshold.There,hurtbyaninestimableleaf,thetraineemaleexploitingaphysicianarrogance,inanabrupthaltpiercingeyesturningawaywithasweepingeyesighttrackingbackhistracks,hevoicedafewcurtword,saying,"[Dutch]Thatthefatherofthechildfollowme!"

OvermyshoulderMartineexpressingtheinconceivable,withaforthcomingnarcissisticouterbodygenie.Inherimpatientmoment,IquestionedmyrelevanceinthemidstofFlemings.Bysighttrailinginsilence,callingafterthedistancingfigure,DidIquitewellunderstandyouDoyouwantmetofollowyou?Ashedidn'tbudge,Imovedoff,whileMartineinahesitantretrieved,eyesshamedbeenleftfeelingnaked.

Harmedbyafailedrecognitivemaleglimpse,orthegiftofbeenportrayedbyamereeyesightbrushstroke,shefallsbackinheradvance.

Withoutresponsefromthetraineephysician,Isetoffthroughthewaitingroomdoorwaytoanacceleratingstepgoingafterthedarktuftsofhair.Caughtsightofhimstretchingoutarighthandandpressingwithanephemerichunggaittoclearthewaterfilmintotheemergencyarea.IponderedoverleavingMartinebehind.WheninturnIpressedtheplateglassdoorleaf,ceasedbyagripandheldopentakingaresolutestance.Hailingthetraineephysician,withaneyequitheldinsuspense,thefacelessfigureintheleadinggridofwhitetilesuptheslightslantingcorridorfloor.Inlineofsighttoafardistantemergentsculpture,featuresthewaitinggrizzly'surgeon'immersedinthemiddleofthesnowwhitecorridor.Hesitantundertheregardofamaster,thetraineephysicianheldhisstepmidwayup.Showinghisface,receptivetomywords,"[Dutch]Isthechild'smotherallowedtocomewith?"Whichherelayedacross,echoedbackthe'surgeon's'reply,"[Dutch]Yes,shecan.Letheralsocomealong."

ByaneyesignalretransmittedbehindtoMartine,Ilethersprightlymoveon,asIturnedandfocusedonthe'surgeon'offleftandthenthetrainee'sfigurespenetratetheblindpartitiondisappearingfromview.Approachinginanelanswerving,instinctiveluredaway,foracuriousglimpseindiagonalacrossthedesertedhallway,atthestilldeepcurtainfoldofacubicleformysteriousmedics,equipment,areassuringsignofourbabygirlbeingattended.

Inasizablearchitecturaltoiletrecesstoaprobableblinddoorway,swifttoapace,Ienteredasilentreigningoffice.Onasecondimpressionamessroom,striking,atanacuteanglealongthelateralwall,butnotrecognizableintheirwhiteoutfit.Thetraineephysicianabreastthenurse,fingersrolledovertheedgeateithersideoftheirbuttocks,bylitteredstretchedworktopwithparaphernalia.Intheirjointsecreteglareandinsistenteyebeamsacrosstheroom,Ifetchedtheslandering'surgeon.'

Ceasedinasculpticgesture,throughpeeringeyesthatspeaks,Youseewhatisgoingonhere?Atarm'slengthloud,the'surgeon'heldfarfromhisearanunyieldingsilenthandsetreceiver.Expressedinitself,bythedroopofalongspiralingcordoverthevoidafewpaceaway.Inviewoftheprolongingcorridor,connecteduptoacoldcradleinthefarcornerpillar,withanopenlinetotheoutsideworld.

Skeptic,pacingarattlesnakepit,inviewtheinsistent'surgeon'wigglingthelureofahandset,Isoughttoeavesdropinontheline,keepingfarfrommeddlingin.Approachedthesuggestivehandsetlargerthanreality.Atspeakingdistancehesaid,"[Dutch]Shedoesn'tunderstandwhatI'msaying!"Distinctmischievousheldbackfromhandingoverthehandset,untilIheardhimoutsaying,Youspeak...Hesitant,allayingamoralthreshold,stretchingaplasticsmileattenuatinghisdespicableplotwithafinalemphasison...toThem!Iwasreluctanttofallintothechildishgame,egggrippedmydissipatingescape,withanaddedcontempt.The'surgeon'sidesteps,sneakedawayfrommyfieldofsight,asIreluctantly,withoutthebreezeofathought,broughtthereceivertomyearandlistenedtoadeadsilenttube.

Intheglitchofamomenttoanunyieldingspeakerontheline,listening,andslowIswirledaroundtoquestionthe'surgeon.'Laysightonthefigurecomingoutofadistinctivegreatercirclingparcour.Distinctiveshortcuttheearlierpairoftrainees'eyebeams,inamannerpromotedforthepurposetoaseniorcollaboratingrank.Hesitantatcrossingthethreshold,avirtualquicksilvermirrorportrayinghiscowardicequickexit.Afootout,andoneinside,hechosefromafacinglegofthedoorjamb,toturnsbysight,andcheckouthowfarIgoton.

Keptinthelimelightofatheatricalspeechlessscene,choreographedbythe'surgeon'andcollaborators,andbytheiruncomfortablesearchlightbeamofeyesight,Imetamorphosedmyselfintoamedievalspy.Coldlistenedforanintruderinthesilentpipe,expandinganeighborhoodcircle,byadialecticcolloquial

password,fortheresonance,"SchildtenVriendt."InthemicrophoneIdivulgedmyrustedappartenance.Achildhoodflemish,screeching,earsbreakingsyllabletheseriesofhingesofphrasecreakingtheweatheredoldwoodengate,saying,[Dutch]Ihavemydaughterhereandsheneedstobetransferredtoanotherhospital?

Atsuchmoments,Iexertpatience,turningsightawayfromtheblindwallaninadvertentslowsearchforthevanished'surgeon'whilelisteningtotheacoustic.Inthedistancearousingabreathing.Byanincreasingvolumeawakensadragon'sanger,anddissonantofthepassword,afemalevoicesquawks,[Dutch]Idon'tunderstand!

Iasked,withoutdiscardingDutch,"[French]Whatlanguagedoyouspeak?"SeekinginWallonia,orBrussels.InquicksuccessionrepeatedthesamewordssummingupinEnglish,assignofgoodwillcommunicatewiththewomanonherterms.

ThemomentaryrealitymorphedafardistantallWhiteCongoleseschooltomind.Onthewoodenclassroombench,Iraisedafingerinanswertotheteacher,"WhoisWalloon."Hereyessweptpastme,leavingmebehindasashadowinexistentinthesenseofdifferentfromclassmates.AsfatherhadlaiddowntherulesafterhearingusspeakFrenchamongsiblings.Inanauthoritarianvoiceordered,"YouspeakFlemishathome,"gesturingamongourselves,"...andFrenchatschool!"

Inanauthoritariansighofrelief,likeanunconcedingteacher'straditiontheconstraintsofforeignexigenciesinaninstantadespisingelementaryschoolteachersurprisedbyanartworkwhichshiftedmefromthebackofaclassroomtothefrontrowhervocalcordsattuned,andinaoilytoneofvoicesaid,[French]French.

However,Ithought,whethersheisfromWalloniaorBrussels,atsuchamomentthought,I'mgladsheemergedfromhercommunicationreticence.

AtsightIcaughtupwiththe'surgeon's'hintacrossthethreshold.Tohissurprisefacingnowheretogothatnight,thanbehindthedeepfoldsofthealcove,assuringunderintensivecarethechild'stransfertoaclinicbytheparents'placeofresidence.Hesitantshiftyeyes,byobligationretrievingtotheroom,exposingthatchildishunexpectedattitudeattheprofessionallevelofmaturityforemostcaringforpatients.Inbodystayingbehind,relayingacharacterialrightsspanningavirtualbarbedwireoftherefusaltocoordinateacrossathornylanguageborder.

Suchfather'scartesianspiritwhiffsthegrizzly'surgeon'inahesitantstepinaselfeffacingmoveupcloser,enablingmetorelayhiswordsoverthephone.Isaid,[French]We'llneedanambulance.Certainconditionshavetobefulfilled."Withoutquestioningthe'surgeon's'motive.Howeverexigentthesedeemedabsurd,Iheardmyselfrepeat,"[French]Theyare:theambulancemustbeaccompaniedbyadoctor.Thedoctormustbeaccompaniedbyanurse,totransfermybabydaughter."

"[French]Why,doyouwantadoctoraccompanied,"unambiguousthefemalevoicedidn'thesitatethrowbackatme.,

InreplyIsaid,"Thosearetheinstructionsgiventomehere.Wehaveacriticalsituation,ourdaughterhastohaveconstantspecializedsupervision."

Apparent,hardofhearingattheotherendoftheline,Irepeated,"[French]Ourdaughter'spediatricianhasaconsultingservicesattheBaronLambertMemorialHospital,inBrussels."WonderedNeedIrepeatmyself?Hervoiceblaredtolive,inamomentofaneutralintrigue,asking,[French]DoyouspeakEnglish?"

[French]Yes!"Isaid,openingatelepathicoverexposedsluice,submergedinawhitecloudofthemind.Emergent,sculpturingasilverlininginthelight,outlinedapparentatareceptiondesk.Ihadvisualstandingbeforeher,withanarmraisedhandsettotherightofherhead,readingherthoughts,deducedstressed.

Influencedbyourdaughter'searliertransfer,ridingwithintheambulance,whenahospitalisamerenotioninthetenebrea.Withoutaplaceofferingtofetchmydaughter,thewomanwithaknackatbringingupcontradiction,inaconclusivetoneofvoicesaid,[French]Ihaveaproblem!I'mtheonlydoctorhereatthehospitalandIcan'tleavetheplaceunattended."

[French]Iunderstand,butcan'tyougetareplacementforyourself,"Iasked.

[French]Can'tyougetanambulancefromthere,"thewomandoctorreplicated,andhearthedropofathought,Whyshouldwetaketheresponsibilityofgoingoutacrossthecountry?

[French]Holdthelineforamoment,"Ipleaded,bringingmyfreehandcoverthetransmitter.Iaskedthe'surgeon'creepinguptostandatspeakingdistancebesidesme."[Dutch]Couldn'tyousendoutanambulancefromherewithadoctor,"

[Dutch]Wehavetohandoverthechildtothem.Thatcanonlybedonefromhere,"Thesurgeonsaid.AscenarioIimaginedcrumbled,wherehospitalandmedicswithambulanceandrigmarolesasabody.Checkmate,Iexclaimedtomyself.Atsuchacriticalmomentachildinacoma,IdeducedisolatingneitherFlemishspeakingastheFrenchinstitutions.WhenMartinesteppedinsidethestaffroom,the'surgeon'asked,[Dutch]Isn'tthereanotherhospitalyourchildcanbesentto,eitherauniversityhospital?"

Atsuchmomentsoflucidity,spursMartine'sinnatetalenttoenvy.Mappingaworldinmotion,acquiredtalentoperatingaswitchboardattheinternationallawfirm.Martinesaid,"I'llcallDoctorChatelaine,"steppinguptothewallcradle.Revivingtheapparentstoneface,dressedinamormonblacksuitsappearingintheroomthemorningaftershegavebirth,impressivedragoneyesfondlingourdaughter.Fromamentaldirectory,atthetipofherfingers.Shedialsthepediatrician'snumber,andthefamilygeneralpractitioner,customaryrelayedtoareceptioncentral,nottowonderneitherofthesemenwereaccessibleonaSundayinthemiddleofnight.

Thetraineedoctorandnursehadturnedtheirfacestowardthewall.Seatedbentovertheworktop,letbeoverheardfromcontactcalls,"Erasmus,StLuc"andsomeother'Saint's'hospital.Neithermeetingapediatricrequirementfromtheghostlywomanphysicianmomentaryappearfromthealcovewhitecurtains.Swiftlyreturnedtoourbabydaughter,afterexpressingherself,"Nothinglessapediatricianaccompaniedbythreenurses,forthejourney!"Deemedconfusing,tohavemisunderstoodaraisedlevelofsecurityfromanearlierexaggeration.Discreetasashadowcrossingtheroomforagradualexit,Iheardthesarcastic'surgeon's'remark,"[Dutch]You'llseeFlemishhospitalsthat'swhereonefindtheseneeds".

Indeed.

Inanappeasingatmosphere,MartineandI,wefoundourselvesoutsidetheroom,curiositystrickenacrossthehallway,inquisitivetoanobviousblindintensivecare,tofindourdaughter.Iturnedclockwisefromthedeepcurtainfolds,meetingMartinecomingoutofherroamingaboutanticlockwisecircle,pleadingtothewrongperson,"Can'tweseeheryet?Awhilelater,comingoutofanotheropposingmerrygoround,mypatienceexhausted.Byaninvoluntarysweepingmovement,Ipinchthecurtainseamandpeeredthroughtheslitclearingthepediatricwoman.Onthealert,shelayssightonmyintrusion.Surprising,infriendlytoneofvoice,shepleaded,formachineandpatient,[Dutch]Canwehaveanotherfewminutes?"

InretrivetoanswerMartine'look,Imetoverhershoulderthe'surgeon.'appearingtostrollawayfromtheblinddoorwayengagingthehallway.Nosooner,distractedIwentafterMartine'sbrighteningwideeyes,followingherbeamofsighttoseethepediatricphysicianwalkatarm'slengthfromtheaccordioncurtainfold,andclearinganailesviewintothedepthofthealcove.Equipmenttowered,whichIassociatedearlierinaparamedicdynamics,byinadvertentglimpseatthefashioneddisplaywithneonchangingdials.Thephysiciansaidinherpassage,[Dutch]Youmayproceedtoenter."

[Dutch]Thanks,"Isaid,andsteppedon,seekingbysightoverthebulgyelongatedwhitesheet,reminiscent,mybaby'sgracioussleepymoonface,atwhateverailsherathomeandsinceherninthmonthherhecticdaysatNytzanimCreche.Distractedovermyshoulder,bythepediatricphysicianvoicing,"SheispeacefulnowTakeachairandsitdown."Martineoustawingspantipsofthehandsbypassingmeinawildstep.Leavingmetoresigntothefootofthegurney,towatchMartinepullthereignsofheremotiveassaultdowntherightaisle.Eyesdiving,shepreysforherdaughter'sface,bothhandsleadingtheway.Reachinguptotheheadofthegurney,withoutabalancedstanceleansover,caresshershorttuftofhair.Softstrokingherbaby'stemplesandslowaroundherbabycheeks.Martineapproachedfurtherheaddown,andpeckinghercheek,whenthepediatricwomaninasurprisedwrongdoingalarmedtoneofvoice,turnedheadstotheaccessgap,atsightingtheresonantwords,"Don'ttouchher!"

Whileourbaby'sbrainshakenfromthechannelsofthemind,acomatothebody,Iquestioningmydaughter,HownearwereyoutodyingYoupulledthrough.Reasoning,whatmyminddidn'tregister,asmyeyesfailedtosee,whatherbodywentthrough.

Indesperationattheweightdraggingdownmytiredbody,myeyesearmarkedthevacantchair,towatchMartinehumblyretrieveherselftositdown.Sorrowfulinconflict,shakenatkeepingabreakofcontractwithherdaughter,atthefearofbeinghailtosurprise,inwrongdoing.Atcause,thepulledbackofherwanderinghandundercoversalongherbaby'sbody.Repeatinginmindtoherself,No!No!IfItouchLouloushewillstarthavingfits!Atlengthoftimeschemedtorecuperatetheonlychair,inadvertentwanderingeyessweepsabovethealcovesonthefarendwallclockneartheceiling,thedialread11:10o'clock.Whilediligent,thepediatricwomanoccupyingherself.Withoutarousingthealert,whenthebodyofourbabyinaapparentimprovisedgrip,tremorsvisiblyshakingwavesthroughthelinen.ShetakestheopportunityatremindingMartine,saying,[Dutch]Yousee.That'scausedbyinsertingthethermometer!"

Anursebroughtadditionalchairsintothealcove,oneofwhichIpushedinthecorner,andseatedwithMartineintheprolongation.Thepediatricwomanenteringtoldus,"TheambulanceisonitswayfromBrussels."Sheseated,wakingateitherend,acrossamountainousrangeofthesnowwhitelinen,seizuresfewerandmilderatlengthoftime.Thetoweralongsideher,ofaheartbeatindicatorstayingaroundthe160's,Eventuallydroppingtothe140's.Attimespeaking,wonderingwhenstabilizedagain,Isn'ttheworstover?

Focusedonourbaby'sface,movingherlittlehandtohernose,thepediatricwomansaid,"[Dutch]Amovementofnormalization.Thenherlittlehandrubbedlazilythetubescomingfromhernostrils.[Dutch]That'sasignshe'scomingto.Themovementisaconscientiousreactioninrelationtouncontrollableconvulsions."