K-Pax by Gene Brewer Read Free Book Online

d her s too , hard . I t wa s unbelievably sof t an d warm .I didn' t fee l an y les s guilty , bu t wit h he r   han d   i n min e i t   seeme d   a s   thoug h   I   migh t b e   able t o ge t throug h lif e somehow . An d I'v e bee n holdin g i t eve r since.
     
     
     
    O N   Frida y   o f   tha t   wee k   w e   receive d   a   visito r   fro m   th e   Stat e   Boar d   o f   Health .   Hi s   jo b   i s   t o   check ou r facilitie s periodically , se e tha t   th e   patient s   ar e   clea n   an d   properl y   fed ,   tha t   th e   plumbin g   works ,   etc. Althoug h h e ha d bee n her e   man y   time s   before ,   w e   gav e   hi m th e   usua l   gran d   tour :   th e   kitchen ,   th e   dining an d laundr y an d furnac e rooms , th e shop , th e   grounds ,   th e   recreation/exercis e   room ,   th e   quie t   room ,   the medica l facilitie s and , finally , th e wards.
    I t   wa s   i n   th e   re c   roo m   tha t   w e   foun d   pro t   sittin g   a t   a   car d   tabl e   wit h   tw o   o f   m y   othe r   patients .   I though t tha ta bi t od d inasmuc h a s on e   o f   them ,   who m   I   shal l   cal l   Ernie ,   almos t   alway s   keep s   t o   himself, o r   talk s   quietl y   wit h   Russell ,   ou r   unofficia l   chaplain .   Th e   other ,   Howie ,   i s   usuall y   to o   bus y   t o   tal k   to anyon e   (th e   whit e   rabbi t   syndrome) .   Bot h   Erni e   an d   Howi e   hav e   bee n   her e   fo r   years ,   sharin g   th e   same room , an d bot h ar e ver y difficul t cases.
    Ernie ,   like ,   mos t   people ,   i s   afrai d   o f   death .   Unlik e   mos t   o f   us ,   however ,   h e   i s   unabl e   t o   thin k   about anythin g else . H e   check s   hi s   puls e   an d   temperatur e   regularly .   H e   insist s   o n   wearin g   a   surgica l   mas k   and rubbe r glove s a t al l times .   H e   i s   neve r   withou t   hi s   stethoscop e   an d   thermomete r   an d   h e   shower s   several time s   a   day ,   demandin g   fres h   clothin g   afte r   eac h   one ,   rejectin g   anythin g   tha t   show s   th e   slightes t   spo t   or stain . W e humo r hi m i n thi s becaus e otherwis e h e woul d wea r nothing.
    Eatin g i sa seriou s proble m fo r Ernie , fo r severa l reasons . First , becaus e o f   hi s   fea r   o f   foo d   poisoning h e wil l no t   consum e   anythin g   tha t   isn' t   thoroughl y   cooke d   an d   come s   t o   hi m pipin g   hot .   Second ,   h e   will onl y ea t foo d tha t i s broke n o r cu t int o tin y piece s   s o   h e   won' t   chok e   t o   deat h   o n   somethin g   to o   larg e   to swallow . Finally , ther e i s th e proble m o f preservative s an d additives . H e wil l no t   ea t   mea t   o r   poultry ,   and i s suspiciou s eve n o f fres h fruit s an d vegetables.
    Non e   o f   thi s   i s   unusual ,   o f   course ,   an d   ever y   psychiatri c   hospita l   ha s   a n   Erni e   o r   two .   Wha t   makes ou r Erni e differen t i s tha t h e raise s hi s defense sa notc h o r tw o   highe r   tha n   mos t   necrophobes .   H e   cannot b e induce d t o ventur e outsid e th e building , fo r example , fearin g bombardmen t b y   meteorites ,   cosmi c   rays an d   th e   like ,   poisonin g   b y   chemical s   i n   th e   air ,   attac k   b y   insect s   an d   birds ,   infectio n   b y   dust-borne organisms , an d s o on.
    Bu t that' s no t all . Afrai d h e wil l unconsciousl y strangl e himsel f a t nigh t h e sleep s   wit h   hi s   hand s   tie d   to hi s feet , an d bite s dow n o na woode n dowe l   s o   h e   won' t   swallo w   hi s   tongue .   Fo r   simila r   reason s   h