Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist

asked a question so stupid there was no answer.

    'The heart isn't beating,' the doctor said. 'There. Are. No beats.'

    David felt a pain in his chest.

    'But don't you have to .. .' he said, 'aren't you going ... get it going?'

    The doctor looked at Eva pulling on the rubber tubing and said, 'She doesn't seem to ... require it.'

    They had to wait quite a long time for Lasse. When he finally arrived, Eva's awakening no longer appeared to be a sensation.

    Danderyd Hospital 23.46

    Mahler parked the Fiesta in the short-term lot closest to the hospital and made an ungainly exit. The car was not designed for his 190 centimetres-nor his 140 kilos. Legs first, then the rest. He stood up next to the car, fanning his shirt against his chest. Dark stains had already started forming under his arms.

    The hospital building loomed in front of him, enormous and expectant. No sign of activity. Only the quiet breath of the air conditioning, the building's respirator, its way of saying, 'I am a living being, even if it doesn't look like it.'

    He slung his bag over his shoulder, walked to the entrance. Checked his watch. A quarter to twelve.

    The shallow pool of water next to the revolving doors reflected the night sky, became a star map; standing next to it like a sentry was Ludde, smoking. When he caught sight of Mahler, he raised a hand in greeting and tossed the butt into the water with a sharp hiss.

    'Hi Gustav, how you going?'

    'Fine. Sweaty.'

    Ludde was in his forties but looked younger, in a sickly way. If it hadn't been for the blue shirt with the nametag (,Ludvig') you could have taken him for a patient. Thin lips and pale, almost unnaturally taut skin, as if he had had a facelift, or was standing in a wind tunnel. Nervous eyes.

    They walked in through the regular door since the revolving door was closed for the night. Ludde kept looking around him the whole time, but his watchfulness was redundant. The hospital seemed to be deserted.

    When they left the entrance area and reached the corridors, Ludde relaxed, asked, 'Did you bring ... ?'

    Mahler pushed his hand down into his pocket, but kept it there.

    'Ludde, don't take this the wrong way, but all this seems ... '

    Ludde stopped and stared at him with reproach.

    'Have I ever tried to con you? Huh? Have I said there was something and then there wasn't anything? Have I?'

    'Yes.'

    'You're thinking about that thing with Bjorn Borg. Yeah, yeah. But it was a damn close resemblance, you have to admit it. OK, OK. But this ... well anyway. Hold onto your cash then, you bloody miser.'

    Ludde took off down the corridor with angry strides, and Mahler had trouble keeping up. They took the elevator down in silence and then walked along a long, slightly inclined corridor with an iron door at the far end. Ludde pointedly hid the touch pad as he ran his card through and punched in his code. The lock clicked.

    Mahler took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow. It was cooler down here but the hike had taken its toll. He leaned against the green concrete wall, pleasantly cool against his hand.

    Ludde opened the iron door. In the distance, through one or more walls Mahler could hear cries, clanking metal. The first and only time he had ever been here it had been as quiet as ... the grave. Ludde looked at him with a what did I tell you grin. Mahler nodded, held out the wrinkled bills and Ludde softened, made a generous gesture toward the open door.

    'Be my guest. Your scoop awaits you.' He glanced swiftly down the corridor. 'The rest of them use the other entrance so you don't have to worry.'

    Mahler tucked his handkerchief in his pocket, adjusted his bag.

    'Aren't you coming?'

    Ludde snorted. 'How long do you think I'd keep my job after that?' He pointed around the corner inside the door. 'Take the elevator down one floor-that's it.'

    As the door banged shut behind him Mahler started to feel uncomfortable. He walked up to the elevator and hesitated before he pressed the call