The Life and Death of Lenny H.

by Karen Goldrick

In Which Lenny Is Sentenced to Death

Lenny was almost exactly 30 years old when he found out he was going to die. Most humans understand they have to die someday, but Lenny knew exactly when, where and how. And so, having been given this information, Lenny set out to make it so.

On the morning of his 31st year + one day, he woke up with a tingling in his fingers, and a stiff neck. He found he could not use his feet properly. At midday, on the day of his 31st year plus seven days, the Doctor handed him his grim prognosis, wrapped in a dusty cardboard envelope. There was no cure.

This was as it should be. When his hands could no longer hold the cartridge pen, he resigned from Hygiene, Virgin and Co Chartered Accountants. When his feet could no longer find the pedals, he sold his beloved Ford Prefect. And when his vision started to blur, be bought a pair of thick black square glasses.

Resigned to his destiny, he wrote shaky farewell letters to his three friends. He gave his cactus to the young migrant woman next door, and hoped she’d understand not to give it too much water. He tidied his few belongings away, and sat in an old chair in the sun, to wait.

And it was while he was waiting, some 6 months later, with a little fear and a little impatience, that an envelope was delivered under the door.

In Which Lenny is Extremely Cold

The letter brought with it a great deal of uncertainty. The chance to alter what Lenny had presumed was solid and unmalleable. He required the reluctant assistance of the migrant woman next door. Her name was Esther, and she had come from Babylon. She helped him to dress in a brown woollen suit, black shoes, and a black bow tie.

Lenny used two sticks to walk. One to help him lift his left leg, which no longer responded top his mental commands. The other to feel for cracks in the pavement, or stones in his path, so he would not stumble or fall. He gave Esther the pair of Jet cufflinks, his Father’s, in gratitude. He locked the house, and made his way to the clinic.

The clinic was new, recently set up in a building previously used as a morgue. Lenny’s nose, still functioning well, could smell the disinfectant and formaldehyde, tools of the previous occupants. With the help of a large ugly receptionist, he signed form number A1963, and handed over his remaining money, his watch and his shoes. His glasses stayed on.

He was made to lie in a rusty rectangular bathtub. The Doctor listened to his respiration, his heart, and noted his resting blood pressure. Then with much murmuring and nodding, which Lenny cold hear rather than see, the Doctor turned on the taps.

The water was cold, which was expected. Lenny lay still, as instructed, while water covered his failing body, and swam around his face and his ears. The last thing he remembered, as water began to fill his mouth, was Esther leaning over him, wearing no clothes. Then the lights went out.

In Which Lenny Wakes Up in the Wrong Place

When the lights returned Esther was still leaning over him. This time, however, she was wearing a blurry green overall. Her hand clamped over his mouth, her nails stabbing his chin and cheeks.

“Silence ...”

Lenny was silent. His vision was unclear. His tongue heavy and furred in his mouth. His fingers tingled, and his legs were leaden and numb. He was wet and cold. It was as expected, except for the hand.

“You will be silent. In a few more minutes you will be able to move. Your weapon is set on kill. You will use it on anyone who gets in the way.”

Only a few minutes had passed since he’d last seen her. This Esther seemed no older. But her English was remarkably good. Her accent remained only in his memory. Lenny could hear clearly. He could hear the rhythmic whirr of the blue lights flashing as if in warning. He could hear a low whine of some engine, more sophisticated than his Prefect, as it built towards an uneasy acceleration. He could hear footsteps — many footsteps — heavy on hollow metal.

“It is time A1963. We must go to the Doctor.”

Esther shoved him up to a sit, and handed him the weapon, heavy warm and vibrating. Set on kill ...

“Stay close. Take care. Don’t fire the weapon at me. If you make a noise, I will kill you.”

Lenny felt an emotion. He did not like it. It was fear. Fear of his own death. Once he had known the exact time and nature of his death. Then he had changed things. But not in order to die sooner. In a shorter period of time. It was important that he see the Doctor. Lenny followed Esther. Quietly. Weapon set on kill.

In Which Lenny Falls in Love

They met people on the way. Men and women. All dressed in the same baggy green. At first, Esther dealt with them. Swiftly. before they could cry out. Then Lenny mastered the stiff red trigger point, and could fire it with his slow to respond fingers. And although he could barely see his foe through fogged glasses, he shot them, nonetheless.

Lenny did not have the aid of his walking sticks. He fell, many times, against the rusty cold metal. The walls, also made of metal, vibrated and creaked with some unseen effort. Esther drew further away.

Lenny allowed himself a few thought about Esther. It was easier than thinking about his new circumstances. How long had she lived next door? Did she have a husband somewhere, also escaped from Babylon under siege? Did she still possess the cufflinks and the cactus? How long since her features, sharp and severe, and her long black hair, had rested favourably in his regard?

He killed another, a female, and tried to move with more speed. The corridor was straight, endless in the flashing blue light. The noise of the engines became loud, and despite being wet, he felt warm. He did not think their journey would ever end. It did.

In Which Lenny Confronts His Deeds

The Doctor was not human. He was a machine. A machine with a voice which directed the people. Lenny was surprised. But not worried. This Doctor would know how to cure his condition. How to prevent that slow paralysing death foretold on his 30th birthday. This Doctor would allow him to live beyond birthday number 32.

Esther was hidden in the shadow of a doorway, and signalled for him to join her. There were many people in the room with the Doctor. Lenny wondered how many he might need to kill. It was not so hard. To kill people. He’d never considered it before. In his other life.

“The Doctor must die,” she said. But it had to be a mistake.

“No. I need the Doctor. I need him to cure my condition.”

“You have no condition, Number A1963.”

“You are wrong. See how my fingers shake. How my legs stumble. The Doctor must cure me.”

“You have Cryosickness. the condition of any person in cryosleep for 200 years. It will subside.”

“But you do not understand.”

But Esther thought she did, and she jammed her weapon at his throat. Lenny felt another emotion. Anxiety. Things were not as they should be.

“This is why we chose you.You alone have the ability to destroy the Doctor. We checked your credentials carefully. Only you have the experience. Now you must comply. It is too late to wake another.”

She removed her weapon and allowed him to speak. Soft and low, so as not to disturb those in the Doctor’s room.

“I cannot destroy this being.”

“You are a convicted killer.”

“I have never killed any person.”

“I have seen you kill many,” And so she had. And Lenny realised that perhaps he could, after all, destroy this Doctor. And if he did, then perhaps Esther would return his affection. So he set his mind to the deed.

In Which Lenny Is Disillusioned

Lenny thought about all his experiences to find one to draw apon to solve this problem. He thought about his work as a chartered accountant with Hygenic, Virgin and Co. He thought about his beloved Ford Prefect. He tried to clean his glasses, fogged from the warmth and effort. But nothing from his previous life could help him now.

In his now life he had killed. And he had fallen in love. It was in these that he would find the way.

“You must take care of the humans. I will deal with the machine.” His voice, although hushed, resonated with a new confidence. Esther checked their weapons. Their eyes met, through his glasses, and they silently wished each other good luck.

Then Lenny moved forward into the room. His fingers were awake now. So too his limbs. He moved quietly. With dexterity. His suit was dry. He no longer needed his glasses. He felt rather than saw the others die as Esther fulfilled her requirements.

Lenny confronted the Doctor.

“You handed me my death. Now I shall hand you yours.” The Doctor had no face. No features. But his intent was clear.

“If you destroy me, then you destroy this ship and all who fly her.”

This was subterfuge, and Lenny knew it. The Doctor tried again.

“If you destroy me, there will be no cure for your condition.”

More subterfuge. Lenny was already cured. His condition no longer existed.

Esther whispered fierce in his ear.

“Do not listen.The Doctor cannot cure you. There is no cure.”

Lenny felt some confusion. He did not wish to be confused. He must think clearly.

“You said I had no condition.”

“I lied.”

“I have apparently been asleep for 200 years. There must be a cure.”

“No cure, Number A1963. Just better breeding. Cancer was eliminated over a century ago due to the commendable practice of selective breeding.There was no need to find a cure. Now get on with the job and push the trigger.”

Lenny should have been devastated. All hope now gone. He looked hard at Esther. He looked through her black shadowed eyes. She would never give him back his love. Then he pushed the trigger, set on kill, and she fell to the ground.

In Which Lenny is Sentenced to Death, Again

Lenny was almost exactly 230.5 years old when he realised again that he would die. It was exactly as he’d been shown. He would die slowly, losing the use of his arms and his legs. He would die in a dark hollow place. He would die alone, without his three friends, and without his love. He would die with only the Doctor for company. And no matter what he did. No matter what it cost. He could not avoid his prescribed death.