CHAPTER TWENTY: THE TREATMENT

When Ian awoke, he was still in a great deal of pain. He struggled to sit up, realized that was a mistake, and lay down again.

Justin, in his own box a few inches away, heard the stirring and came over to investigate. "Ah, Ian. How are you feeling?"

"Lousy." Ian saw through the office window that it was light outside. "What time is it?"

"About four o'clock. You slept for nearly twenty-four hours."

"Then why don't I feel well-rested?"

"That's one of the effects of the drugs." Justin lay a forepaw on Ian's shoulder. "You're in for some rough times ahead. I know; I've been through this myself. Do you feel like eating anything? Harry left some food in case you were hungry."

"Food? You must be joking. I couldn't eat now." Ian pulled himself up so he could look over the edge of his box, and saw that the office was empty. "Just where is Harry anyway?"

"He's out doing something or other," Justin replied. "If there's anything I can do for you, say the word."

"Thanks, but I don't think so." Ian leaned back against his handkerchief pillow and closed his eyes. "I'll just rest up until Harry returns."

The scientist came back to his office a couple of hours later with a carton of hot Chinese food. He asked how Ian was doing.

"Not too good," Justin translated. "He says he never knew anything could hurt so much."

"Nothing I can do about that." Harry offered Ian some of the food. "Here, Doctor Hargraves, have some of this. You've got to build up strength for the next series of injections."

Ian pushed away the plastic spoon of noodles. "I don't want this, Harry. I want the second series of shots right now."

"I really don't think that's a good idea," Justin said.

"What's not a good idea?" Harry cut in.

"He wants more shots now," Justin told the human.

"I don't know … " Harry pondered Ian's request. "Dr. Hargraves, it might be risky giving you shots two days in a row. Are you sure it's what you want?" Ian nodded firmly. "All right. You're the boss."

Harry prepared the four syringes. Justin bounded into Ian's box. "Ian, what are you thinking of? When I went through this treatment, I was given the shots over a period of many weeks, not in a few days."

"We haven't got weeks," said Ian. "Jenner has to be stopped as soon as possible, so I don't want to spend any more time here than I have to."

"But you could die! You're still so weak from yesterday's injections that you can barely stand up on your own."

"I appreciate your concern, Justin, but it's what I have to do." Harry came forward with the first needle at the ready. "Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to be tortured some more."

After Harry was done with the fourth shot, Justin sat beside Ian, and found that his companion was still awake. "Justin?" he gasped.

"Yes, Ian?"

"I understand now why you were afraid of this place. I'm sorry you and your people were put through this."

"I'll tell Harry to give you a pain killer," Justin said.

"No," Ian protested. "No, that might dilute the effects of the treatment. I'll do without it."

"Okay. If you're sure."

Harry slept on his office couch that night. He wanted to be around in case Ian had any severe reaction to the second series of shots. Justin sat up with Ian well into the night, but he eventually nodded off himself. Ian could not get to sleep, and tossed and turned until morning, never able to find a position which would ease the pain he felt in every fiber of his being.

Harry and Justin awoke within a minute of each other. They found Ian awake, weak and miserable. Harry left to get breakfast, and returned a short while later with a couple of donuts and some orange juice. Ian nibbled at a piece of one donut and had a few sips of the juice. "Come, now," Harry said to him, "you've got to have more than that. You haven't eaten in nearly two days. You have to regain your strength."

Ian shook his head. "That's all I can stomach at the moment. Justin, tell Harry that I want the third set of injections this afternoon."

Justin felt Ian's pulse for several seconds. "Your heart is beating much faster than it should be." Then he turned to Harry. "Dr. Hargraves says he wants to wait at least until tomorrow to have any more shots."

"Justin! That's not what I said!"

"Yes," Harry nodded, "I think that's wise."

Ian grabbed Justin's shirt. "Tell him I want the third series today! If you don't, I'll write him a note myself."

"It's best you wait," Justin went on as if nothing were the matter. "If you took more shots today, it would probably be too much of a strain on you."

"Is everything all right?" Harry asked, peering into the box. "Dr. Hargraves seems excited about something."

"Oh, he's just saying how much the injections hurt. He's very weak, you know."

"I can imagine." Harry finished his breakfast and went to the door. "Well, since the doctor doesn't seem to be in any danger, I may as well get an early start on my work. I'll be back later with something for lunch."

When Harry was gone, Ian looked sternly at Justin. "Why didn't you tell him what I wanted?"

"You wouldn't survive another set of shots so soon. You heard Harry; he agrees with me."

"You had no right to interfere like that!" Ian raged.

"If you were expecting me to stand by while you committed suicide, you picked the wrong rat to be your friend."

Ian threw himself down on his handkerchief mattress. "I'm not going to forget this, Justin."

"Forget that I saved your life? I should hope not. Harry's going to bring us lunch, and after that some dinner, and I want you to eat a little of each. You can be as angry at me as you want, but I have a feeling you'll be thanking me for this someday."

Ian didn't say anything, so Justin hopped out of the box and continued reading a magazine that Harry had brought him two days earlier. He wanted to learn as much as he could about the world of humans, since it was beginning to look as if Jenner had placed the destiny of the rats of NIMH on a collision course with that world.

Harry stopped by his office two more times that day with meals for Ian and Justin. He noticed that Ian was strangely silent, but accepted food readily. He said goodnight, wanting to spend the night in his own bed at home, and left the two rodents alone.

Justin crawled into his box and called out, "Good night, Ian." The other rat didn't answer. "Don't mope. It's bad for the spirit." Justin buried himself under a handkerchief and drifted off to sleep.

Harry came in early the next morning and found Ian out of his box, standing on top of the desk. The rat thrust a note at him, scribbled on a piece of tablet paper from the top desk drawer. Harry set down the breakfast he had brought for Ian and Justin and read the note.

Harry,

I want you to give me the third series of shots today, no matter what Justin says.

Ian went over to the tray of bottles and syringes on the end of the desk and patted it with his forepaw.

"You want them now?" asked Harry. Ian nodded. "Well, you seem chipper enough, especially if you got into my desk and wrote this yourself." Harry put the note aside and readied the needles. "I suppose you're strong enough for more of the treatment, although I think this should be the last for a couple of days."

When all the shots had been given, Ian staggered back to his box. Justin was standing by it, arms folded. "What are you looking at?" Ian snapped.

"I simply can't understand why you're putting yourself through this," said Justin. "It wouldn't do anyone any harm if you waited several days between shots. Uh, need some help?"

Ian was trying without success to climb into his box. "No, I don't!"

Justin stepped forward to give Ian a hand anyway. "You shouldn't be straining yourself in your condition."

"I'll do just fine," Ian wheezed, then his eyes rolled and he collapsed into Justin's arms.

Justin tried for a moment to revive Ian, but couldn't. "Harry, come quick! I think something's gone very wrong with Ian! I think he may be dying!"