832 Dust to Dust, Ashes to Ashes

After getting Liu Wenying's approval, Zhang Zian put the phone in front of Sun Xiaomeng's face so that she could read the chat information.

Euthanizing a pet was serious business, and written consent was needed to avoid disputes. Sun Xiaomeng knew Zhang Zian well enough, so she nodded to Long Xian in agreement and started preparing for the euthanasia. 　　

The two of them worked together very well. Long Xian pressed down the Siamese cat's body, while Sun Xiaomeng injected it with anesthesia. 　　

Zhang Zian and Fina watched silently from a distance.　　

The anesthesia took effect immediately: The Siamese cat stopped seizing, struggling, and screaming violently; its head softened and bowed down; its pupils lost focus and stared at the white walls in confusion. 　　

Its brief life was about to end.　　

After confirming that the anesthesia had worked, Sun Xiaomeng held up another syringe. The needle sparkled under the bright light as a drop of clear liquid traveled down it.　　

Inside the syringe was a highly concentrated dose of potassium chloride, which would cause a sudden spike in blood potassium after the injection and the cat's heart to stop beating.　　

After the injection, there was no turning back.　　

Sun Xiaomeng looked at Zhang Zian once again. He nodded slowly, but resolutely.　　

She pierced the needle into the Siamese cat's body, then pushed a tiny amount of potassium chloride solution into its blood with her thumb.　　

Almost instantly, something flashed inside the Siamese cat's pupils. Then it disappeared permanently.　　

Sun Xiaomeng pressed he stethoscope into its chest to listen for the heart beat. After a few seconds, she announced, "The sick pet is confirmed dead."　　

It was the first time that both Zhang Zian and Fina had watched a pet being euthanized. It was quiet, without blood. Although it was a dangerous, rabid pet that was being euthanized, they felt it difficult to breathe. The treatment room was spacious, but it was still hard to breathe in there, as if the room were airtight.　　

"What a potent poison," Fina said while watching the syringe, astonished. "Tasteless and odorless, yet more potent than the deadliest snakes. Can't believe humans have invented such a potent stuff…"　　

Zhang Zian wanted to clarify that potassium chloride was present in everyone's body, and that it was not really a poison, but it was not convenient to explain in front of Sun Xiaomeng and the other girls so he gave up.　　

Sun Xiaomeng and Long Xian were used to seeing it happen and had performed pet euthanasias many times, but their faces didn't seem relaxed at all. 　　

"How would you like to dispose the carcass?" Sun Xiaomeng asked. "There are three options: cremation, you can keep the ashes after cremation, or self-disposal." 　　

Zhang Zian hesitated for a while. He felt that he should ask Liu Wenying since she was the owner, but considering her condition, it was wise not to bother her.　　

Since the pet was infected with rabies, it was clearly inappropriate to dispose of the carcass on his own. The so-called self-disposal was, in fact, claiming the carcass, then finding a place to bury it––but cat and dog carcasses that carried a deadly, infectious disease had to be buried very deep. Otherwise, wild dogs or other dirt-digging animals might dig them out, which would cause further spreading of the disease.　　

"Keep the ashes after cremation." Zhang Zian chose the middle option. At least he could return the ashes to Liu Wenying.　　

Although it was not clearly specified, the cost might have to be paid by Zhang Zian for now. He could keep the receipt and ask Liu Wenying to reimburse him. 　　

Sun Xiaomeng took her gloves off, then called a specialized pet crematorium for an appointment to pick up the carcass.　　

While she was talking on the phone, Zhang Zian calculated in his mind how much money it would cost.　　

"They are coming tomorrow," she said after hanging up.　　

"Not today?" Zhang Zian asked.　　

"No. They are busy today." Sun Xiaomeng could not help it. "There's only one pet burial service provider in Binhai City. There's a line up for cremation."　　

Zhang Zian exclaimed, "These days, it's hard to live, and equally hard to die…"　　

Pet burial was a new line of service, which became available to the general public in the last two to three years. As more and more people owned pets in China, and the owners were wealthier and wealthier, many people considered their pets as valuable as family and friends. After the pets died, they were willing to pay for a decent funeral and a quiet resting place.　　

Yet, realistically speaking, the government had not issued any laws or regulations in that area. The pet burial business was not well regulated.　　

He could not hold back anymore and asked Sun Xiaomeng about the price. She told him that group cremation was ten yuan without ashes; individual cremation was 200 yuan with ashes; individual cremation with a funeral was 1500 yuan. With the last option, monks performed rituals during the funeral while the owners could watch the entire process, and then collect the ashes on their own.　　

Zhang Zian was more or less relieved. 200 yuan was fairly acceptable.　　

The 1500 yuan for a top notch funeral was not so expensive considering the services that were included––as long as the services were decent. Someone willing to pay 300,000 yuan for expensive cat breeds such as Ragdolls or Abyssinians should be able to accept that price. At least it was much cheaper than a human funeral.　　

Fina despised his stinginess and calculations. While they talked, it jumped onto the stainless steel operating table and stared at the dead Siamese cat.　　

The Siamese cat had lost all signs of life. After being thoroughly tortured by the virus, it finally regained peace in both body and mind. The muscles on its face were relaxed as a result of the anesthesia, making it look asleep. 　　

"Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. If you have a next life, you will surely be a cat again," it whispered gently to the Siamese cat.　　

"Don't touch it!" Long Xian stretched her hands immediately to stop it, thinking it wanted to touch the dead Siamese cat.　　

Zhang Zian was asking Sun Xiaomeng about the pet burial arrangements and didn't hear Fina clearly. When he looked back, it had already jumped off the operating table.　

Long Xian put the Siamese cat's carcass into a specialized pet body bag, then labeled it and stored it into the fridge in the clinic. The pet crematorium staff would pick it up the next day.　　

After settling payment, Zhang Zian said goodbye to Sun Xiaomeng and Long Xian. He still had a lot of things to do at the shop.　　

On the way back, he still seemed absorbed with what had just happened. Neither he nor Fina spoke. 　　

When they already arrived at the pet shop, Fina suddenly uttered, "Are you puzzled? Is it true that, in your eyes, I don't value life at all?"　　

Zhang Zian paused without a word––his silence meant yes.　　

Fina said slowly, "Death is only the end of one journey. But it's not the end––in the holy pyramids, the mummies of all pharaohs and priests are waiting silently. As soon as the right time arrives, the Holy Black Land will surely rise again, and conquer the world once more!"　　

Zhang Zian shrugged. "Sounds good. Too bad I'm an atheist. To me, I only live once."