A middle-aged, unmarried woman seeking medical attention finds herself at the center of a perplexing diagnostic and experimental treatment dispute between two physicians. The narrative follows her initial visit to a hospital where, despite her expectation of a serious cancer diagnosis, it is discovered that she is pregnant. Her skepticism and self-assuredness, honed by a lifetime of globe-trotting adventures and hard-won expertise as a news correspondent, clash with the clinical regimen imposed upon her. One doctor, seasoned in his practice, adheres to conventional medical wisdom and is initially incredulous when confronted with her condition—a supposed abdominal tumor that, upon further examination, is revealed to be an unexpected gestation. Maintaining a clinical detachment tinged with pragmatic humor, he navigates her protests and obstinate disbelief while attempting to reconcile the facts with the conflicting expectations of conventional medicine. In stark contrast stands a renowned yet unconventional surgeon from Paris who has developed an unorthodox theory. Claiming that the increasing incidence of certain cancers is not merely a sign of the disease but evidence of Nature’s experimental shift toward a form of asexual reproduction, he proposes that malignant tumors might, in fact, be an embryonic process gone awry. His hypothesis, rooted in a personal history of battling cancer and embracing failures in conventional treatment, challenges established medical doctrines. He theorizes that altering specific bodily conditions—such as metabolic states influenced by diet and nutrient intake—can reverse the malignant progression of neoplasms, converting what is thought to be an inoperable tumor into a controlled, developmental process culminating in birth. The patient, at first incredulous at being labeled a cancer case when she firmly believed herself to be heading toward a normal life without children, finds herself drawn into the debate between maintaining strict medical propriety and venturing into experimental treatments. The narrative unfolds with biting dialogue, as the two doctors offer contrasting perspectives: one relying on established practices and skeptical of radical hypotheses, and the other passionately devoting himself to a controversial reinterpretation of the very nature of life, reproduction, and disease. Their discussions expose deeper tensions regarding the progress of medical science, the influence of evolving theories on treatment protocols, and the practical realities faced by patients caught between scientific innovation and tradition. As the patient’s condition is monitored, treated, and subjected to this clash of ideas, the text interweaves humorous, ironic, and reflective commentary on the state of modern medicine. The patient herself oscillates between indignation, pragmatic acceptance, and a wry sense of humor as she navigates a procedure that is as much an experiment in evolution as it is in pregnancy. In a dramatic twist, the course of treatment culminates in the patient giving birth under circumstances that defy conventional expectations—a newborn exhibiting a unique, almost symbolic absence, thereby leaving both doctors to ponder the true nature of the phenomenon they have witnessed. The surprise of a "normal" birth, however, is counterbalanced by the subtle, uncanny detail that hints at an evolutionary experiment at work. The narrative thereby questions established scientific paradigms, blurs the boundaries between pathology and natural development, and invites readers to reconsider what constitutes normalcy in the face of both human and natural evolution.
By Winston K. Marks · First published 1988 · Genre: Medical Satire, Farcical Comedy, Absurdist Fiction