Lost in Space. Joaquim Augusto Ferreira Barbosa de Melo
Said Florbela, trying to mitigate the lack of respect manifested.
Sometime later Florbela commented with Anabela the scene that she witnessed, receiving from her an even more disconcerting answer.
-This is crazy!
-What’s the matter? – Said Florbela, surprised.
-You’ve seen the last message: «all passengers with bracelets should get off the plane». But what about the air outside?! Will it be breathable?
-Think about it! If it wasn’t, we’d all be dead by now, don’t you think?
-I’m sorry! I think I’m losing my mind!
-Come on, calm down! That won’t solve anything! – Said Florbela, also trying to keep her emotions under control.
Outside, shortly thereafter, the first passengers from the plane began to appear. Carriers of apparatus applied to the arms and guided by signs were divided into three groups: young people under the age of twenty-five; adults between the ages of twenty-five and fifty, and one for adults over the age of fifty. The border line between the groups was thus demarcated by age, so some families found themselves distributed among two and up to three groups. At first that segregation did not represent a major difficulty because, although they were in different compartments, they could see each other through glass that separated them. Some time later each of the groups was invited to perform music oriented exercises: to the youngest with rhythmic cadences; while for the older ones with soft and slow tunes. For those who, through the windows of the airplane, watched the show, it felt like they were standing in front of some holiday resort. No one would say they were looking at passengers coming out of an abducted aircraft, for who knows what terrorist purposes. Shortly thereafter, inside the airplane, the ventilation and air renewal circuits as well as the lighting were shut down. For the crew and some passengers who were still inside the plane, that was an alarm signal. The passengers in those conditions would have to leave as soon as possible, because the habitable conditions would deteriorate considerably. From there, the meals on board would cease to be usable and even the air would gradually become more unbreathable. The use of the sanitary facilities itself would have to be stopped, as they would no longer operate either the waste disposal systems or the water supply for discharges (life on board was gradually becoming impossible).
The people who remained on board, still in significant numbers, became more aware that they had little time left to get off the plane. Among them were all members of the governmental team and their auxiliary personnel as well as security staff. After having pondered the new condition, they decided to accept the Commander’s recommendation: « applying the bracelets without reservations». When the Minister of Finance announced to his team the decision, made in a meeting with the other government colleagues, he had done so in the painful acceptance that this was the only way out. With the departure of the entire governmental entourage, the plane was almost deserted. From there they ceased to feel the need to ingest any kind of solid or liquid food, to the surprise of everyone and perplexity of the doctor Clara Sobral, who did not find an explanation for that extraordinary phenomenon!
The only passenger on board was Judge Marcelo, irreducible in his position. Gradually he became weaker and even after the many appeals of his daughter, wife and hostesses, he refused to reconsider. Clara Sobral, upon learning of the situation, made herself available to the flight attendant Felisbela, to serve in the mediation of the conflict.
-I’d like to talk to the passenger who’s been detained on the plane.
-Come, please. It’s the Judge. I’ve never seen such difficult person! We’ve done everything to convince him to leave, but no result!
When they entered the airplane, they felt an atmosphere that was already degraded and unpleasant. They went to the seat where the Judge was and came across a scenario that greatly moved them. A child bathed in tears embraced her father’s legs in a suffocated cry. Beside the Judge, his wife, whose face was disfigured by the bitterness in his soul, held her daughter’s head in her hands.
-So! What’s the matter? – Said Clara Sobral.
The Judge, with half-shut eyes, tried to figure out who dared to talk to him like that, but very tired closed them again without saying anything. His face expressed an advanced state of physical weakness. The flight attendant, in front of that desolated picture, intervened with a few words of encouragement.
-You’re lucky we have a doctor who can help you! But it’s essential that you cooperate!
This time the Judge did not react to Felisbela’s words and shortly thereafter leaned inanimate. Faced with that scenario the flight attendant was disturbed and not containing what was in her soul said in a low voice «you want to see that he died! ». Little Christina, realizing that something very serious was happening with her father, ran off, in an uncontrollable cry toward the outside of the airplane. Giving up to her pain she said to herself and to her guardian angel: «my father cannot die, do whatever is in your power to save him! ». Inside the airplane the doctor, identifying the gravity of the situation took on the Judge’s arm to check his pulse while, in a firm voice, ordered the flight attendant:
-Quickly! Bring me the device to apply to his arm!
Felisbela ran off like she hadn’t done in a long time. Outside she ran into her sister Florbela, who hugged Cristina and tried to understand the reasons for that scenario.
-What’s going on?
-It’s the Judge, he is in a bad shape! We’ll talk later!
While Florbela sought to console little Cristina, Felisbela mobilized all resources to attend to that medical urgency.
Inside the airplane the clinical picture of the Judge was increasingly critical to Clara Sobral. The bracelet application was an imperative condition of the kidnappers so that any passenger could leave. And, as the Judge’s physical condition prevented him from making a definitive decision on the subject, the doctor thought it was right to put the question to his wife.
-Your husband’s life requires the use of resources that we don’t have on the plane and as you know his departure is conditioned by the application of the device I ordered to be brought. What do you think we should do?
-My husband came to this state because he always refused its application. I really, really want him to live! I think, however, I have no right to oppose his will - I feel so deeply divided!
-I understand! But a decision has to be made! Urgently! Let me tell you this, maybe I can help you: I’ve always been on the side of life when I have to choose between life and death! And unless you oppose it, I’m applying the device to him as soon as I have it.
-I don’t object! Do the best for my husband’s life!
A few moments later, Felisbela arrived carrying the bracelet, accompanied by two security guards carrying an improvised gurney. The doctor applied the bracelet immediately. Then the security guards transferred the Judge by carrying him outside.
That scenario brought back to the doctor’s mind moments of strong anguish experienced a few years ago. After completing her first academic degree (medicine) and yet as an intern, she went through traumatic situations, which made her rethink her entire career. As a medical student she had a colourful and romantic idea about her future activity (helping people to alleviate sufferings and save lives). However, the day-to-day experienced in the ER during her time in the hospital showed her a very different reality. Beside that romantic dream of the activity, there also dark days, where death lurked at every moment. One day she witnessed an occurrence that greatly shocked her. The loss of a life that could well have been avoided. From then on, the romantic side of the activity disappeared, and she started to notice more about its dark side, especially whenever she watched the loss of lives due to indifference, bureaucracy and negligence. She decided to abandon her career and build a new one, far from that world of suffering. This time in Economics where she came to take doctorate, becoming a Professor. By this route she joined the Ministry of Finance and was later appointed Secretary of State of the Treasury.
Outside the plane the Judge was driven to a small reserved where he was