Page 201 of The Sleepwalker
‘God, what’s happening?’ Hugo gasps.
‘Lay him down again,’ Erik says sharply.
‘You’re OK,’ says Grind, hugging Hugo. ‘You’re still here at the lab. They hypnotised you, but I’ve just put a stop to it. I’m putting a stop to this right now.’
Joona helps Erik to prise the agitated doctor’s arms away from Hugo. The boy’s body is red-hot as they gently lower him onto his back.
‘What are you doing?’ Hugo asks in confusion.
‘Just try to lie still,’ says Erik. ‘Breathe in through your nose and out through—’
Hugo rolls over onto his side, pushes back his hair and vomits onto the floor. The liquid spatters across Agneta’s shoes and lower legs.
‘God .?.?.’ Hugo pants. ‘That was the worst, the most horrible—’
‘Lie on your back and breathe slowly,’ says Erik.
Joona hands Hugo a piece of tissue, and he wipes his mouth and chin before slumping down on the bed.
‘Seriously, I didn’t want to see that,’ he says after a moment.
‘I’m sorry, but if I’d been able to wrap up as planned, you wouldn’t be feeling this way,’ says Erik.
Lars Grind holds out a paper cup of water and a triangular yellow pill.
‘I don’t want it,’ says Hugo, turning away.
‘Do you take Atarax regularly?’ asks Erik.
‘No, just if I’m having a total panic attack .?.?. which isn’t very often.’
‘What other medication are you on?’
‘What?’
‘I’d always assumed that your susceptibility to hypnosis had something to do with your parasomnia, but I’d like to make sure it isn’t down to your medication or any interactions .?.?. Because your memories from sleepwalking are just so precise,’ Erik explains.
‘You don’t have to answer that,’ says Grind. ‘He isn’t authorised to see your records without your dad’s permission.’
‘When I’m having an episode, I take zopiclone and a bit of Mirtazapine and Tramadol,’ Hugo replies.
‘What?’ Erik sounds surprised, and he turns to look at the doctor.
‘In small doses,’ Grind explains.
‘OK, but why? I don’t understand. Surely they just make him sleepwalk more?’
‘Recent research from La Salpêtrière suggests otherwise.’
‘Is that so?’ Erik asks, holding the doctor’s gaze.
‘We try new things. It’s called research.’
‘Hugo, talk to your dad,’ says Erik. ‘If you and he don’t mind, I’d really like to review your medication.’
* * *
Agneta stays behind with Hugo once the others leave the suite. She wipes the vomit from her shoes, sits down in the chair Erik was using and pushes a few strands of hair back from his forehead.
