‘I’m so sorry but there isn’t. I’m from the Chapman Institute for Brain Science.’ He slipped his glasses back on, hooking the arms behind his ears. ‘We’re a research centre based at the north of the island. A collaboration of scientists, engineers, mathematicians and physicists. We explore the most challenging scientific questions.’

‘Right.’ I twisted the serviette in my fingers, not sure how this was relevant to me.

‘We’re intent on unravelling the secrets of the brain.’ He leaned forward, his eyes shining. ‘I’m confident that over time we can improve treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.’

‘How?’

‘Various means. We have advanced technology, the best equipment at our fingertips. We know the human brain has at least 133 different types of cells and each cell has a distinct function. They work together to give sensory input, motor function and ultimately consciousness. By studying subjects—’

‘Wait.’ My tone was sharp. ‘Please don’t tell me you want me to give you Adam to study? His brain to experiment on!’ I leapt to my feet, my chair toppling over with a clatter. ‘You want to cut him up.’ I was furious.

‘No!’ He stood, waving his hands. ‘God, no. Sorry. I’m not good with words. Scientists often aren’t. Please sit.’

‘I don’t think—’

‘Five more minutes. Please.’

I looked pointedly at my watch before I sat back down and crossed my arms.

‘At the Institute we’re explorative. Open-minded. Science doesn’t – it can’t – yet explain everything. Just recently we discovered two new types of neuron in the human brain that… Sorry, I’m going off track. There are many things we understand and many things we don’t. Consciousness is something we don’t fully – might never fully – understand. Adam is in a coma but does that mean his mind is a blank space? Can he assess his memories right now? What does he feel? Is there nothing or is there something?’

‘I don’t know… I…’ Why was he saying those things? ‘Are you telling me Adam is still able to think?’

‘A few years ago a Japanese neuroscientist called Yukiyasu Kamitani developed artificial intelligence to reconstruct images in a person’s mind. There was a study with patients who have locked-in syndrome. Through algorithms, a computer lab was able to interpret what the mind was “seeing” as still images. We’ve advanced it one step further and I think we’ve developed tech that will create moving images so we can observe a stream of thoughts like… like a movie is the best way to describe it. It might, and this is a might, be a way to see what locked-in patients, those with dementia, coma patients, are seeing, if anything, in their mind. If there is still anything left of them.’ He removed his glasses again.