A Good Harvest, Part 3 — Montauk EP08

Ned recovers from his surgery, taking advantage of his newfound power to learn the truth about life in the SIC. But it will take more than a donation to stay on Hegemony's good side

Welcome to the world of “Montauk.” This serial novella explores this ruined world from a collection of different perspectives ranging from astronauts, to late night comedians — all pieced together by a mysterious radio D.J. on a mission to uncover what really happened to the world.

New to Montauk? Start here!

Shutters, driven by a winch, whined and squeaked. Daylight flooded in through the enormous glass window along Ned’s bedroom wall. Distant waves lapped at the shoreline, dozens of stories below. Occasionally, a large breaker came crashing into the rocky shore.

“Good morning Ned,” a disembodied woman’s voice said. “The time is just after eight, the forecast is partly cloudy with chance of fast-moving thunderstorms”

Ned grumbled, yawned, and stretched. “Ow!”

“Please refrain from excessive movement. Your body is still recovering from surgery.”

Ned grabbed a fistful of his blankets, preparing to throw back the covers. He paused. Blankets, he thought. Real ones. “I don’t recognize— wait, who are you?”

“You are still under the effects of the sedative. I am Liv, the personal assistant installed in your home. I will help you with daily tasks, and aid the transition to your new environment.”

Ned tried out the name with some apprehension. “Okay, ah, Liv. When you say new environment…” Ned trailed off when the window caught his undivided attention. He drank in his first real glimpse of the outside world in years.

“Windows,” he savored the word. “All of this, it’s beautiful. I was starting to think I’d never see the ocean again. Is it... Is this... Real?”

“Sound from the waves wouldn’t normally carry up this high, through glass this thick. Microphones are recording down on the beach and feeding the signal into ambient speakers located around your apartment,” Liv explained. “Aside from the minor experience enhancement, yes: it’s real. The beach is at the foot of your tower.”

“This is incredible, I have to get a better—” Ned yelped in pain, sucked his teeth, and swore.

“Please refrain from excessive movement,” Liv repeated. “Your body is still recovering from surgery.”

“Oh my gosh, that’s right, my kidney.” He pulled back his shirt to reveal a patchwork of bandages. “I donated my kidney.Hey, how did things turn out for that woman who needed one? Doctor, ah, what was it, Kaplan?

“Regrettably, and through no fault of yours, there were some complications in the operating room. Doctor Kaplan has passed.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“There was another match in the hospital who has been on dilation for close to a year. Your donation was given to him instead. He will be able to return home now as well. Thanks to you,” Liv said.

“Was he with Hegemony?”

“A judge, yes.”

“Ah, hence the upgrade to my living quarters, then?”

“The upgrade is not just to your living quarters, but your station as well. You now serve in a leadership role. I can debrief you after breakfast arrives. A buzzing blur zipped by the window, circling back around the tower before setting down for a landing on the rooftop pad Madison had promised. “The resupply drone carrying your breakfast has landed. Analyzing the package during disinfection,” Liv said. Somewhere above, a high powered disinfecting beam hummed.

“Eggs, freshly squeezed orange juice, and light roast coffee.” As Liv announced the arrival, a self-propelled cart bearing the meal wheeled itself in. The contraption extended the tray on a long arm, allowing Ned to eat in bed.

Ned chuckled. “I don’t know what’s more surprising; the eggs, the orange juice, or the coffee.”

“Is there an issue? Liv asked. “If any of these meal items are not to your liking, let me know and I will have them removed from your rotating menu.”

“No, no that sounds fantastic. Just, I’ve been eating those ration bars for so long, I can’t remember the last time I actually tasted something.”

“I’m pleased to hear you are excited. Ned, your nurse will be entering the room shortly.”

“Wait, sorry, I think I’m still a little groggy from the meds. How can there be another person here?” Ned asked. “That’s not allowed, right?”