The Angel of Panicked Mercy

Posted on August 28, 2005 in Disasters

Just as John the Baptist called a break, a streak of intense blue-white light appeared within each of two red metal knobs mounted on the wall. I had not noticed them before. They hung there, doing their silent duty, waiting to feel the tickle of electricity which would led them to sling a repetive fist at our eardrums and activate the Angel of Panicked Mercy that they imprisoned.

“Code red,” said a hospital announcer. “Laundry. Code Red.”

We went out a side door in the cafeteria and found ourselves on a loading dock next to the Laundry. Men pushed carts filled with dirty linens into a waiting truck. They showed no signs of alarm. A couple of them laughed as the bell continued to sound, went back inside through a pair of double doors, and came out with a new load.

We milled about, watching them, until the bells stopped. Cold water and ice waited in the cafeteria. I fetched my abandoned water cup and sat until our leaders ended the break.