The Garneau Block by Todd Babiak Page A

Madison’s stomach.
    â€œWait.” Madison sobbed. “Can I hear some more?”
    â€œOnce you start crying, it’s really hard to hear. But next month it’ll be easier.”
    â€œWith uterine rupture…”
    â€œPlease don’t worry about that.” Dr. Stevens wiped the goo off Madison’s stomach, sat in an old metal chair and crossed her legs. “It’s a freak thing. And we’re far better equipped to handle emergencies like that now. Worrying about it is way more dangerous than the risk of having a rupture.”
    Madison wiped her eyes. “So how’s your husband?”
    â€œOh, he’s great.” Dr. Stevens shook her head and laughed as she started into an amusing story about her man and his friends going on a fishing trip in August. None of them had ever fished, of course, being a bunch of spoiled rich kids. The rain, a bear, no toilets.
    Madison had wanted to be a spoiled rich kid so badly, and she hoped her own child would be spoiled and rich someday. As Dr. Stevens spoke, Madison decided to concentrate on thedryness of the woman’s light brown hair. It was so dry, and her ankles were so puffy. Gloriously, there was a pimple on Dr. Stevens’s forehead and another one on her chin.
    In the clinic parking lot, the rain was fierce and cool. Madison walked slowly and deliberately as the big drops splashed down on her face. As she stepped into her father’s Yukon, completely soaked, “Born to Be Wild” began to play. “David Weiss’s phone.”
    â€œYour dad gave me the number. He also let me talk to Garith. You know what Garith said?”
    â€œIt’s two in the afternoon on a Monday, Jonas. What are you doing up?”
    â€œPlanning a reconnaissance mission. You in or what?”
    â€œI’m feeling sorry for myself, and the last time you planned an adventure you got drunk and pushed me down and the cops came. Leave me alone.”
    â€œBorrow the tank or your mom’s Civic and take it to the soaps tonight. Recon!”
    And with that, Jonas hung up.

 
    23
    leduc, leduc
    L acumseh and his braves planned an attack on Fort Edmonton in the opening segment of the soap. The nativeswanted to move from bloody colonialism to merely depressing post-colonialism, and felt they couldn’t wait 180 years for the poorly dressed palefaces in arts faculties to help them along. Only half the audience in the Varscona Theatre thought this was funny. Behind Madison, Raymond Terletsky clapped and said, “Yes, yes, too much. Way too much!”
    When Madison turned around, Shirley Wong just shrugged.
    In the end, the attack was thwarted by sex. The country wife of the Chief Factor had fallen in love with Lacumseh. She convinced him it would be a boneheaded idea to attack the fort because a bigger army would come down the river and kill everyone. Most importantly, if Lacumseh started a war, the country wife vowed not to come to his teepee anymore.
    Somehow, everything ended with a Viennese waltz competition.
    After the show, as planned, Madison spied on Carlos. She followed him across Calgary Trail to the Next Act, where he sat in a corner booth by himself. Still in his Lacumseh costume, Jonas met Madison on the sidewalk. Inside, Carlos checked his watch a few times. He ordered one beer and drank it quickly. Then, without warning, he left the bar.
    Jonas and Madison ducked behind a Dumpster. Madison ran down the avenue and fetched the Yukon. She pulled up in front of Jonas, who gestured wildly. He jumped into the SUV . “He’s in a black Mustang, headed south. Floor it!”
    It was late on a Monday night, and Calgary Trail was deserted. They caught up to Carlos at a set of street lights near a Superstore.
    â€œStay a few car lengths behind him, so he doesn’t get wise.”
    â€œAll right, Starsky.”
    The Mustang passed the big-box circus of South Edmonton Common, anchored by the gigantic