The Reincarnation

David was propped up on some pillows, again reading TIME. He read:

Ishmael Kennedy held another public money-shredding today in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The self-made billionaire shredded one million dollars in a protest of American capitalism. “Under the American capitalist system, money represents the pinnacle of environmental destruction. Every dollar bill means more of the planet has been mined, more forests have been cut, more wildlife has been destroyed, and more of the atmosphere has been polluted. By taking this money out of the system, I wipe out its ability to continue ruining the planet,” Mr. Kennedy stated at the event. He concluded, “I will continue to destroy currency in the hope that America will realize that its current economic system is destroying the planet.”

When asked about the legal implications of destroying currency, Mr. Kennedy held up a dollar bill and read, “‘This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.’ Well, America’s rampant destruction of the planet is an all-too-public debt.”

Mr. Kennedy’s demonstration is the second public money-shredding he has held this year. The first was on Wall Street in New York City.

Laura came into David’s room with some toiletries. David looked up when he heard the door. He smiled.

“Have you come to care for me, Laura?” Putting the magazine aside, he held up his hands, palms facing the ceiling.

“You are feeling better. Dr. Persey said you were. Still looking forward to that sandwich?” She was smiling as well, but tried to remain professional.

“With every bone in my body,” David answered, smiling wider.

“Well, Dr. Persey thought I should give you a shave. You’re getting a little fuzzy, plus we’d like to examine the hair.” She slid her hand over his cheek and chin. His whiskered skin was rough, like sandpaper.

“Sure, sure. Should I get up?” David motioned to stand up.

“Can you?” Laura looked surprised.

“I don’t know. I feel so good I think I could run a mile.”

“Well, I think Dr. Persey will want to be here for that, so let me just set up here by your bed.” Laura placed the toiletries on the bedside table.

“Okay, okay, I don’t want Jack to miss his baby’s first steps.”

Laura sat on the bed. Using a towel and soap, and the steaming water she had brought in, she washed David’s face.

“Here’s to my first shave! Shouldn’t we get a picture or something? Hang it on the wall?”

“If you’d like.”

“Nah, I’m just excited. I guess I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed being alive.”

“Well, it gets old quick, so enjoy it while it’s new to you.”

“I don’t think it’ll ever get old for me again. I just hope I can get these old bones moving like they used to.”

Laura lathered David’s face and neck with shaving cream. “We’ll know more about that soon enough. Take advantage of this time to get yourself up to speed. Did Dr. Persey tell you about the films?”

“What films?”

“Well, we had some films made while you were in the vitrifier that you can watch to get yourself in sync with the world you’re going to be living in. They’re each an hour long, and each one covers a year.” Laura lifted his chin and began scraping at the stubble on his neck. “It will probably take you about three days to get through them all, but stop watching if it’s too much information to take in. The rest of us had years to get used to what you’ll see in minutes.”

“Wow, sort of like ‘This Was Not Your Life.’” The joke was grossly dated, and Laura didn’t respond.

“Hold still, I’m not used to shaving faces.”

“Okay. When can I watch them?”

“I can have them bring the machine in tonight if you like.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Remember though, they may take a lot out of you.”

“Well, I think I can take it.” David enjoyed the caressing touches of Laura’s hands as she finished shaving him.

A knock on the door woke Hannibal. It came two more times and stopped. Hannibal fell back asleep.