Chapter 10 - Software Glitch

The technician takes his time with the computer, fiddling with the joints and yanking the fleshy levers. A quiet sizzling sound intensifies within the machine.

Standing behind him, the doctor impatiently clears his throat. He raps the computer sharply on its head, eliciting a whimper from the device. The technician suggests unplugging the machine and re-plugging it back in. The doctor hastily rips out the cord, muttering that he’s tried this already. When the doctor tries to fit the plug back into the fleshy mouth socket, nothing happens.

“Now we’ve gone and killed it!” he says in exasperation.

“Hm…” The technician rubs his beak with a birdlike talon. “Let me look into this a little more. I’ll get back to you tomorrow.”

“But how will I chart my notes?” the doctor shouts. “How will I care for my patients? This is unacceptable!”

“I know you’re angry,” says the technician in an even voice. “But it may be a faulty software update. Or maybe a virus—something serious like rabies. We’ll have to do a clean sweep, but it's going to take a few days.”

“A few—” the doctor stutters, throwing up his hands. He storms off down the hallway, bellowing, “Unacceptable!” The walls rattle with his anger. “UN. AKKK. CEPTABLE!”

The technician sighs and begins packing up his toolkit. 

These doctors, he thinks, are fucking children.

*

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