“Brain tissue,” Voss said calmly. “Specifically, the anterior cingulate cortex and adjacent parahippocampal gyrus. The memory-processing regions. We remove them from our patients.”
Patient 023: Helen Voss. Admitted 1993. Removed tissue: 14 grams. Memory playback: A boy drowning in a river. A name called too late. Outcome: peaceful. charlotte sartre assylum
Lena’s hand went to her throat. “You perform lobotomies.” “Brain tissue,” Voss said calmly
“You’re keeping these women prisoner,” Lena said, her voice steadier than she felt. “You’re cutting pieces out of their brains and storing their memories like pickled eggs.” We remove them from our patients
At 2:47 a.m., Lena got up. She put on her shoes. She took the micro-recorder from her thigh and switched it to “record.” Then she crept out of her room and down the corridor toward the basement.