Lightning Game (GhostWalkers #17) -Christine Feehan Page 0,156

action. Her gaze flicked to him.

Rubin gave a slight shake of his head. “We still have company,” he reminded.

Hudson and Andrew were sitting in chairs, frowns on their faces, no doubt wondering what they were doing while doctors appeared to be setting up a makeshift operating room. Malichai approached, asked their names, leaned over them and gave each one a shot. Within moments they slumped over.

“Out. I’ll keep checking them, Rubin. You’ve got a go here,” he reported.

“Our donors are heading to sleep slowly,” Ezekiel said. “They’re both strong and very cooperative. Bellisia despises giving blood, it really hurts her, but she’s ready whenever you need her to transfuse.”

Rubin nodded, his concentration on Milo, assessing the damage to the man’s insides, what parts were usable and then how they could best connect them and make them work long-term. He blocked everything out but the task ahead of him.

This is impossible.

No, it is simply one thing at a time. Surgery, just as if you were in an operating room. We have to keep him breathing. He’s struggling. So that first. Then his blood pumping. Once we deal with those two things, we can fix each problem. He kept his voice calm and certain, infusing her with confidence.

Jonquille followed his lead, dealing with the lung issues first, making certain their patient could get oxygen to his lungs, into his bloodstream, heart and brain. They would have to reroute the blood away from the heart to deal with the heart issues, but one thing at a time.

Once we stabilize Milo, we’ll do the same for Leon and then you’ll have to operate on one while I take the other.

Jonquille’s head snapped up. She shook her head. “No. Absolutely not. This is complete reconstructive surgery of the entire inside of his body, Rubin. I’m not capable of that. In an operating room I wouldn’t be capable. No.” She started to back away, complete panic on her face. “I would kill him.”

“Jonquille. I don’t believe you noticed, but our patients are dying. They don’t have anyone else. If Zeke could operate, he would. If Wyatt could, he would have done so already. We are their only chance. We don’t have time for discussion. I know you can do it. You just follow what I’m doing.” Rubin was very calm. “Look at him. You’re all he’s got. Take a breath. We’ll do this one step at a time. Joe will be with you for anything you need. He’s experienced and fast. Wyatt’s right here as well. Look to me if you get into trouble.”

Deliberately, as if he had complete confidence she would step back to their patient’s side, he indicated Milo. He isn’t able to get the oxygen to his lungs properly because the parts aren’t fitting together. It’s like they took pieces of pipes and connected all the wrong tubing. Check Leon and see if he’s the same way. I want a good look at Milo’s lungs. You do the same with Leon.

Starting with assessing the damage would give Jonquille confidence. She could see the inside of both men’s bodies easily. She had a strong healing ability, and that transferred into a need to help, no matter how afraid she was.

Rubin didn’t take his mental image off the inside of Milo’s chest. Over time, he had learned to treat surgery exactly as if he were in an operating room. He had to deal with all the same body parts. It was a matter of moving everything with his mind, rather than his hands. The problem was, Milo’s body parts weren’t exactly all human, and they really were like a mismatched puzzle.

The inside of the body appeared as if a child had thrown pieces together, connecting the organs with too-small veins and arteries—even the chambers of the heart were mismatched, as if the creator had taken leftover parts and shoved them together. Blood leaked everywhere. It was a wonder the man had lasted this long. It was a testament to his strength of will and the care his fellow Ghost-Walkers gave him.

Leon appears to be a mirror image of Milo as far as I can see, Rubin. Jonquille filled his mind with an image of Leon’s upper chest. If they put the two bodies on top of each other, they would pretty much have the same problems, other than a few of Leon’s veins and arteries allowed for better blood flow.

Let’s get it done, Rubin said. They had to reroute the blood so they could fix