A Good Harvest, Part 2 — Montauk EP06

Hegemony researcher Katherine Kaplan reconnects with one of her former students, ahead of her emergency kidney transplant surgery

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.

A Good Harvest II

Doctor Katherine Kaplan had been in the sterile operating theater of Holy Cross Medical many times before, always as a patient. She hadn’t performed surgery since the start of the outbreak. This day was no different. She lay on the silver slab in a surgical gown, blinking up at the bright overhead lights. The unnatural quality of the fluorescents made her gaunt skin look even more yellow. In the corner of the room, a heart rate monitor counted out the passing seconds in regular beeps.

A shrill ringing cut across the noise of the medical equipment. Kaplan rolled over to answer the incoming call on a bedside computer screen.

“Hey, Doctor Kaplan? Kathy? It’s me, Maddie.” Maddie, or Madison as most clients knew her, had a round face, shoulder length brown hair, and makeup thicker than cake frosting. “Can you see me okay on here? I know these hospital monitors can get a little scratched up.”

The doctor, Kathy, greeted Madison like an old friend. “Yes, hi! You look fantastic; I haven’t seen you since, what’s it been? Years, I guess.”

“Not since we were both working down in Riviera Beach. Have they moved you yet?” Madison asked.

Kathy shook her head. “Not yet. I think they’d like to see some more progress from me on phase two. Next class of doctors graduates in June, and Hegemony promised them the procedure will be far, far less invasive.”

“Can you actually deliver?”

Kathy folded her arms across her chest. “I honestly don’t know. And I’m getting worried, Maddie. Just got a call from the higher ups.”

Madison’s eyes grew wide on the video screen. “Oh my God. What did they say?”

“Same as always: the phone never rang, went straight to voice mail. They just said something big was coming up, and that there would be hell to pay if I wasn’t ready.”

“What we’re their exact words?”

“That I would be... hmm, I think: ‘Punished severely for failing to uphold the public order.’ That’s more or less it. They didn’t get specific.”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kathy said. “I think the best I can do is make the class four procedure look less invasive. I’m hoping that’s the part Hegemony actually cares about. People used to actually want to be doctors. They didn’t have to be forced. Would be nice to get back to that.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll be recovered and back at it in no time.”

“Thanks. It really is good to see you again Maddie.” Kathy tapped her fingers together. “How did the donor do, that Ned— what was his name?”

“Abernathy? Perfect. Final compatibility test came back excellent. Whatever he’s got going on genetically, he’s a perfect donor.”

Kathy raised an eyebrow. “A willing one this time?”

“Yes. I offered him the works.”

“And he didn’t question?”

“Well, a little. I had to tell him the Jockeys and Reapers might try to steal his kidneys—”

“Only half true.”

“—and they’d be a lot less gentle than our surgeons.”

“Good, good. You’d better keep him handy. At the rate I’m going, I’ll need his other one before too long.”

“How are you ah—” Madison paused to carefully select her words, “—managing your condition?”