Friday, June 1, 2012

"The Lamp of the Body"

"Relax," the nurse said. "Optical Coherence Tomography doesn't hurt."

I tried. The machine into which I'd placed my head threw swirling lights on a black background. The nurse blinked at the results. "Let me get the doctor."

For her part, the doctor frowned. "Your vision field is perfect, but the OCT was blank." She forced a laugh. "You can see, can't you?"

The cloud clinging to her wasn't the darkest I'd ever beheld. But images swam in its surface. A half-empty bottle of Bushmills. A crumpled Toyota Corolla. An infant carseat ripped in two.

"Yes," I said. "I can see."

The Lamp of the Body by I Saw Lightning Fall

Postscript: If the above widget is giving you trouble, visit ISLF's Soundcloud page or consider subscribing to the podcast to listen to audio recordings of this and other stories.

6 comments:

pattinase (abbott) said...

So this is how it's done!

Unknown said...

OPT is intriguing. I like this warped take on it.

Chestertonian Rambler said...

I like. I really like this, actually.

There needs to be an anthology of these stories. Cognitive noir. Brain-science of the present and near future meets old fashioned, enduring human darkness.

Loren Eaton said...

Patti,

Well, I don't know about that. You should check out Nathaniel Lee's Mirrorshards. He does one a day.

Loren Eaton said...

Aidan,

Thanks! Have you ever used one of the machines during an eye exam? It's kind of trippy.

Loren Eaton said...

CR,

Funny you should mention that; I have thoughts along that vein!