THIRTY-TWO
It took three tranquilizers and a team of caretakers to get the large male Megalania onto the wheeled cart and into the procedure room, where the medical team made sure to strap the beast down and set up an IV with a steady stream of additional sedative. The lead surgeon was not only a neurosurgeon for humans, she also was a high-ranking member of the Communist Party and had been hand-selected by General Wei. The plan was to perform a craniotomy, as they had not perfected the preferred nasopharyngeal approach yet.
Dr. Li, who wasn’t scrubbed in, stood by the anesthesiologist to oversee the procedure. He clapped his hands just as the surgeon touched the blade to flesh.
“Careful there, comrade, he’s my favorite,” Dr. Li said, his voice full of derision.
The surgeon stood motio
