Natty Stories/Page7

The Aftermath
Thank you, Jesus. IT'S OVER.

That's all I can think of as I am bundled onto a stretcher and taken to the nearest hospital. It's over, and that slimeball is going to be a penny himself. I will gladly testify. Anything to keep him from doing that again.

Nanolotion is smeared all over my terribly welted little body. "Your parents are coming," says the nurse. "I'm going to put you under now. Sleep is the best cure, you poor little thi...." And I note the delta inducer on my bed just as I drift into slumberland.

. ..

When I finally awake, Mommy and Daddy are sitting by me, talking quietly. And there is a policeman.

"Oh, sweetheart," cries Mommy. "We were so worried!"

I cannot help but flinch back from the policeman. Gently, he introduces himself as Detective Spurdoff.

"We need to get a quick deposition, Natty. For the trial. I'm sorry to make you think about this, but we need to know what happened."

Huddled into Mommy's embrace, I tell him as briefly as possible about the kidnapping, the soup, switch and...and the other.

"Right. Don't you worry, little lady," says the detective, straightening up. "We'll make him a Penitatas for a good long time. God, will we ever see the last of Klaus Merkad! Look at the repercussions, decades later!"

It is arranged that I will stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Then we will go home tomorrow. The trial will be next week.