Day 43: Intercom, Dawn
Good morning, and welcome to your personalized tour of Landel's Institute! My name is I.R.I.S. and I will be your automated guide during your stay here. If you have any specific questions during our tour, please direct them to the personal console in your welcome bag. We will do our very best to address any concerns you may have
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"You're awake!" she said, then looked down at his feet. "Why don't you have your slippers on yet? You heard the intercom: you have a choice of the sun room, the chapel, or brunch."
His stare was more oppressive than fascinated. "Please tell me where I am."
She looked at him as if this was a strange query. "You're at Landel's."
"Who is Landel?"
"The doctor. He'll be able to help you. We all will, and maybe you'll be better soon."
Better? thought L, who was not aware that anything was wrong with him to begin with. It is obvious that this is some kind of medical scenario; it is also obvious that this woman either is a nurse, or is pretending to be one. They would have a way of dealing with unruly patients even if they are not what they appear to be.
"All of you?" he asked, in his low, polite tone. "How many of you are there?"
"Oh -- " she smiled, looking a little impatient -- "Enough to help you with whatever you need. We have orderlies, too."
The idea of attacking the young woman was tempting; however, it would only be a good idea if the "medical" analogy went no further than the door of this room -- if it were a set-piece in a vacuum, with no guards, no one else to fight, no guns. Because she seemed willing to lead him from the room to one of a few proscribed activities, it was obvious to him that the hospital atmosphere must extend to at least several corridors, if not the entire structure that they were in.
The only way to find out whether or not she was telling the truth about the other "staff members" would be to accompany her and look for them. Further observation might supply L with the information he would need to break out of captivity, or it might show him why an attempt at escape would be a disastrous plan on his part.
He slipped down from the bed, setting his feet on the floor.
"You can't go anywhere without your slippers," the woman reiterated, in her pleasant tone. "On your closet floor." She gestured towards the door.
Watching her from the corner of his eye, and with a hint of mild annoyance at being forced into footwear, he padded around to the closet. There, among other things, he found several pairs of slippers. After slipping them onto his feet, he smiled at her, a bright, false, close-mouthed smile.
"Please take me to the sun room, Miss -- ?"
"Nurse Carter. Right this way."
All his senses tuned to his surroundings, he followed her out of the room.
[to here.]
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