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After he’s gone, I shed my clothes and grab a pair of black pants and a black shirt. After I slip my boots on, I also grab a black cloak to help hide my face.
Having grown up in the palace means I know all the secret passageways. I didn’t pointblank ask Kyan how he would leave the castle unnoticed, but I can only assume he knows about a few hidden exits as well.
Once I’m out on the streets of New Aos, I head straight for the Institute of Science to check on Harold’s progress. When I reach my private floor of the building, I’m surprised to find Oberon there.
“I thought you would have returned to your ship by now,” I say as I enter the laboratory, taking off my cloak.
“And miss the excitement of Harold’s transformation?” he says with an affable grin. “Never. I want to know if this machine works or not. If it does, it’ll be a miracle and a way to reverse what your father has done to what’s left of humanity.”
“We’ve been working on a solution for years.” I toss my cloak on one of the lab chairs before walking to Oberon. He’s standing a few feet away from the machine that Harold will be strapped into. “Justin thought he came up with a cure a while ago, but its efficiency was too low. Besides, it used the Water of the Well from Aos, and we ran out of what we had access to.”
“So, you came up with this machine?” Oberon nods to the contraption.
“Yes. It’s our last hope.”
The machine in question looks more like a large glass tube. Inside the tube is a platform that slides out so the subject can be strapped to it. Once the person is inside the tube, it’s sealed, and the procedure is initiated. I have no idea what the science behind it is, but I have faith in Justin to do his best.
“All right, everyone,” Justin says to the other scientists in his lab. “I think we’re ready.”
Spying me, Justin makes his way over to us.
“I’m happy to see you made it in time to witness the transformation,” he says to me.
“So, you’re sure it will work?” I have my doubts, but I try to remain hopeful.
“On paper, it works perfectly,” he says, “but we’ll have to wait and see how it works in the real world.”
“How long will it take?” Oberon asks.
“Considering Harold’s deformities and his size, we estimate that an hour should see it done.”
“So quickly?” I ask in surprise. “Will it hurt him?”
“It would if we left him awake, but we will place him in a near coma state, so he doesn’t feel anything.”
“Good.” I nod my approval. “That’s the way it should be. He’s been put through enough as it is. I don’t want this to be remembered as a bad experience.”
Harold sits in a chair on the other side of the machine watching me closely. A couple of lab technicians are placing needles in his arms. I assume they’ll be hooked up to chemical solutions needed to facilitate the transformation.
“Why does he have to be placed in a tube?” Oberon asks.
“We can’t rely solely on science to reverse the mutation,” Justin explains. “The tube helps contain the magic of the rejuvenators we have on staff. The combination of our serum and their magic should do the trick. It’s the element that was missing in the previous serum we concocted. That’s why it only worked some of the time.”
“We’re ready, sir,” one of the lab technicians who was sticking the needles in Harold’s arm says.
Justin’s eyes sparkle with delight. For a moment, he looks like a mad scientist ready to embark on a long-awaited trial. That’s exactly what he is, of course. We’ve been working on a permanent solution to the problem for years now, and this will be the ultimate test of its validity.
After they have Harold settled on the sliding platform, I go to him and touch his arm.
“Are you all right, Harold?” I ask, worried he might be second guessing his decision. “Is this still what you want?”
Harold nods. With his other hand, he reaches over and touches the hand I still have resting on his arm. It’s a simple motion meant to reassure me that he understands the risks and accepts them.
“I won’t go anywhere,” I promise. “I’ll be waiting here for you.”
He pats my hand before returning it to his side.
“Okay, people,” Justin says with a clap of his hands. “Let’s do this.”
