Identifying Birds by Observing People

Medical Center.

Observation Operating Room.

This first-ever American high thoracic epidural anesthesia coronary artery bypass graft surgery drew far too much attention.

The Observation Room on the second floor was packed shoulder to shoulder.

Watching Adam operate while chatting and laughing with the fully conscious patient, occasionally using vocal mimicry at the patient's request to imitate all kinds of bird calls with startling realism, everyone was left dumbfounded.

"Since when did Dr. Duncan like birds so much?"

"I heard he rushed to learn about them specifically for the patient."

"Impossible!"

"Why is that impossible? Did you forget that Dr. Duncan has High-Definition Image Memory? What could be difficult about cramming some bird knowledge?"

"I know learning all about birds isn't difficult for Dr. Duncan, but that's one thing. Perfectly imitating bird calls is another."

"What an idiot!"

"So stupid!"

"He just doesn't get it."

Faced with one male doctor's doubts, the female doctors all shot him sidelong looks of utter contempt.

"What don't I get?"

The female doctors ignored his objection completely. As they looked away, their expressions revealed that their thoughts had already gone wildly off track. "Being Dr. Duncan's girlfriend must be so wonderful..."

"What don't I get?"

The male doctor looked aggrievedly at the other men beside him.

"You, honestly."

One of them leaned close and muttered in his ear, "You still don't get it? The patient in the Operating Room is a birdman, you know?"

"I know."

The scorned doctor nodded. "Didn't he just say so? I know birdman is what those birdwatching enthusiasts call themselves."

"Exactly."

The other man quietly reminded him, "Dr. Duncan may have crammed bird knowledge, but at his current level, he counts as a birdman too, doesn't he?"

"Does that count?"

The scorned doctor looked completely bewildered.

"You really are dumb."