Omake: Doctors
"Dr. Li speaking." A tired voice came over the telephone speaker, weary with exhaustion. "I'm rather busy at the moment, so I do hope you can make this quick."
"Greetings, Dr. Li. My name is Hainako, and I'm translating on behalf of Dr. Mamato of the Sunrise Research Institute."
A grunt of acknowledgement was heard, and Hainako nodded to Mami to continue.
"Hello, Dr. Li," Mami began, pausing periodically to allow Hainako to translate between herself and the Chinese man. "I wanted to discuss with you the implications of certain findings we've made in one of our private research projects.
"Please note that I'm not a medical doctor, and can't claim any expertise in that area. You are far more qualified to make the final judgement, but I trust that someone in your position will do everything in your power to save the people in your city, even if the idea is a long shot.
"And I must also apologize for not being able to provide you with our data, as it is classified. However, given the scope and ramifications of the current problem in Hong Kong, I have gained permission to apprise you of a particular possibility in terms of treatment.
"Namely, that the problem is the quarantine itself. It appears likely that there is an actual physical link to the location of the city which exacerbates the disease. Now, I cannot guarantee this, but it seems very possible that removing an infected patient and taking them to a different, remote area — with its own proper quantine facilities, of course — may be able to reduce the effects of the disease to a non-lethal level.
"Note also that I am not suggesting a full evacuation of the city. A mass exodus from an area like Hong Kong will probably only end up carrying the accelerant with the population. If my theory is correct, though, then regular removal of infected individuals from the area may allow a more controlled situation for preventing people's deaths.
"I can't claim any certainty that this method will work, and likewise cannot claim any credit if it does. As I said, the research that led us to this conclusion is classified.
There was a long pause after Mami finished her speech. Finally, the man on the other end of the line responded. "You know, diseases don't work like that. Once you catch a fatal disease, moving doesn't make it any less fatal."
"Not even if the reason for its lethality is something in the environment, like asbestos?"
"Environmental damage is long-term. You don't die in a matter of days. Or if you do, you've already taken a high enough dose that you're going to die no matter what, anyway."
Mami pursed her lips, but rather than responding again directly, said, "Are you really that eager to give up all hope? I recognize that even what I'm suggesting may be a pointless effort that has no effect, but I can't just sit here and do nothing when people are dying."
Another deep sigh was heard. "Listen, ma'am, I'm sure you have the best of intentions, but we've already tried everything we can think of, and then some. From the most advanced medical treatments, all the way to ancient folk medicine and crazy new age theories. Nothing works. And the entire city is under quarantine. Nobody leaves."
"But the people who left the city before the quarantine haven't gotten sick, right? There's been no spread of the disease outside?"
The pause was longer this time. "It doesn't matter. I wouldn't be able to do that anyway. I don't have the authority to break quarantine on some hair-brained idea. Where would we even send them? I mean.. well, I guess.. maybe call in a favor with Dr. Chen.. He might be able to set up a local quarantine spot... But no, I don't have any pull with the military. You'd have to convince them to let a helicopter out of the restricted zone. That's beyond what I could manage."
"I see. That would indeed be difficult. Unfortunately, my position is such that I have no contact with the military. And even if I did, I don't imagine the Chinese army would welcome suggestions from the Japanese."
The doctor snorted at that. "I shouldn't even be giving you the time to convince me. But we really have nothing left to try."
Mami's hands clenched in frustration. To be this close... Well, she had one more card left to play, if it came to that. Ask Kyuubey to fake the authorizations necessary to allow the helicopter clearance. However, authorization on paper isn't the same as convincing a pilot not to shoot. It would require messing with several people's memories in a way that he'd probably charge quite a bit for, and it would be hard to explain to the doctor, but she couldn't give up quite yet...
"Ah!" the doctor suddenly exclaimed. "Wait. There was a girl. Fourth floor radiology.. er, never mind that. Anyway, I was supervising some radiotherapy treatment attempts, and there was an old man there the whole time — her grandfather, I think. We didn't talk much, but I'm pretty sure he was long-service military. He just might..." The rapid tapping of a pen against a desk was heard, before the man continued. "Not that I think this hokey idea of yours would work, mind. There's no basis for it possibly being effective. But I suppose at this point even I'm willing to grasp at straws."
"Of course, Doctor. I really wish there was more I could do," Mami replied, apologetically.
"No, I understand. It's fine." A moment of hesitation, and then, "It does make me wonder, though, what you know of what might have caused this."
"I'm afraid I don't know the exact cause. All I have are theories, some more wildly speculative than others." Mami considered for a moment, and then continued, "However, I am almost completely certain that this is not the result of some sort of bioweapons attack made by Japan."
"Ah," Li said, a certain tension in his voice disappearing. "Sorry. Didn't mean to imply..."
"Don't worry, I'm not offended. I'm sure you're under an enormous amount of stress in the current situation. I can only thank you for taking the time to listen to my ideas."
"Of course, Dr. Mamato. I will let you know if anything is substantiated."
After a few more pleasantries, and finally hanging up, Mami let out a tired breath and sank down in her chair. Hainako looked at her in concern, but Mami waved her off.
"The worst part," Mami said after a few moments, "is that I don't even know if it will work. The effects of demons on the populace once they've reached such dangerously underhunted levels isn't something we've ever studied. And a mass emigration would likely carry the demons with them. But a comment Kyuubey once made, a year or two ago, makes me think that at the very least a slow emigration would leave the demons isolated in that area, which should prevent the problem from spreading."
Hainako leaned over and patted Mami's hand. "At least you tried, right?"
Mami frowned, and, half speaking to herself, said, "Perhaps I should have put more effort into helping with the military part of his problem. I'm sure we could get Kyuubey to make whoever he ends up contacting more 'cooperative' with the idea. Yes, that would be less troublesome than trying to pull those changes off whole cloth. I should ask him about that."
Hainako gave Mami's hand a squeeze, smiling because this was the Mami that everyone loved — one always striving to improve people's lives, in whatever small ways she could. Well, maybe they couldn't save the world today, but there was always tomorrow.
