ah.thefinaldiagnosis-第47章

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　He　had　hesitated；　then　said　lightly；　tentatively；　〃We　could　stop　at　my　apartment　if　you　like。　I　have　a　well…stocked　bar；　and　it's　on　the　way。〃
　For　an　instant　he　feared　he　had　been　unwise。　He　thought　he　detected　a　sudden　coolness；　a　hint　of　pained　surprise。　Then　it　was　gone。　She　said　simply；　〃Why　don't　we　do　that？〃
　Outside　the　Buick　was　waiting；　the　doors　held　open；　the　motor　running。　Going　across　town；　he　drove　carefully；　more　slowly　then　usual；　aware　he　had　had　a　good　deal　to　drink。　It　was　a　warm　night　and　the　car　windows　were　down。　From　the　other　side　of　the　front　seat　he　caught　a　subtle　breath　of　perfume　once　again。　At　his　apartment　he　parked　the　car　on　the　street　and　they　went　up　in　the　elevator。
　When　he　had　mixed　drinks　he　took　them　across　and　gave　the　old…fashioned　to　Denise。　She　was　standing　by　an　open　window　in　the　living　room；　looking　out　at　the　lights　of　Burlington　below。　The　river　which　ran　through　the　city　cut　a　deep　swath　of　darkness　between　both　its　banks。
　Standing　beside　her；　he　said　quietly；　〃It's　been　a　while　since　I　mixed　an　old…fashioned。　I　hope　it　isn't　too　sweet。〃
　She　sipped　from　the　glass。　Then　softly；　huskily；　〃Like　so　much　else　about　you；　Kent；　it's　absolutely　right。〃
　Their　eyes　met　and　he　reached　out　for　her　glass。　When　he　had　put　it　down　she　came　gently；　effortlessly；　to　him。　As　they　kissed　his　arms　tightened　around　her。
　Then　stridently；　imperiously；　in　the　room　behind　them　a　phone　bell　clamored　out。　There　was　no　ignoring　it。
　Gently　Denise　disengaged　herself。　〃Darling；　I　think　you'd　better　answer　it。〃　She　touched　his　forehead　gently　with　her　lips。
　As　he　crossed　the　room　he　saw　her　gather　up　her　purse；　stole；　and　gloves。　It　was　obvious　the　evening　was　over。　Almost　angrily　he　picked　up　the　phone；　answered　curtly；　and　listened。　Then　the　anger　dissolved。　It　was　the　hospital…the　night…duty　intern。　One　of　O'Donnell's　own　patients　had　developed　symptoms　which　appeared　to　be　serious。　He　asked　two　swift　questions；　then；　〃Very　well；　I'll　e　at　once。　Meanwhile；　alert　the　blood　bank　and　prepare　for　a　transfusion。〃　He　broke　the　connection；　then　called　the　night　porter　to　get　a　taxi　for　Denise。
　
　Fourteen
　
　Most　nights　of　the　week　Dr。　Joseph　Pearson　made　a　practice　of　going　to　bed　early。　Necessarily；　though；　on　the　evenings　he　played　chess　with　Eustace　Swayne　he　was　much　later…an　occurrence　which　left　him　tired　and　more　irritable　than　usual　next　morning。　This　effect；　from　last　night's　session；　was　with　him　now。
　Working　his　way　through　purchase　requisitions　for　lab　supplies…a　task　he　detested　ordinarily　and　more　than　ever　at　this　moment…he　snorted　and　put　one　of　the　vouchers　aside。　He　scribbled　a　few　more　signatures；　then　paused　again　and　snatched　a　second　voucher　from　the　pile。　This　time　there　was　a　scowl　as　well　as　the　snort。　An　ultimate　would　have　known　the　danger　signs…Dr。　Pearson　was　ready　to　blow　his　top。
　The　moment　came　when　he　hesitated　over　a　third　voucher。　Then；　explosively；　he　threw　his　pencil　down；　grabbed　up　all　the　papers　in　an　untidy　heap；　and　made　for　the　door。　Storming　into　the　serology　lab；　he　looked　around　for　Bannister。　He　found　the　senior　technician　in　a　corner　preparing　a　stool　culture。
　〃Drop　whatever　you're　doing　and　e　over　here！〃　Pearson　dumped　the　pile　of　papers　on　a　center　table。　Several　fell　to　the　floor；　and　John　Alexander　bent　down　to　retrieve　them。　He　felt　an　instinctive　relief　that　Bannister；　and　not　himself；　was　the　object　of　Dr。　Pearson's　anger。
　〃What's　the　trouble？〃　Bannister　strolled　across。　He　was　so　used　to　these　outbursts　that　sometimes　they　had　the　effect　of　making　him　calmer。
　〃I'll　tell　you　what's　the　trouble…it's　all　these　purchase　orders。〃　Pearson　himself　was　more　subdued　now；　as　if　his　ill　temper　was　simmering　instead　of　being　on　the　boil。　〃Sometimes　you　seem　to　think　we're　running　the　Mayo　Clinic。〃
　〃We　gotta　have　lab　supplies；　haven't　we？〃
　Ignoring　the　question；　〃There　are　times　I　wonder　if　you　eat　the　stuff。　And　besides；　didn't　I　tell　you　to　put　a　note　on　anything　out　of　the　ordinary；　explaining　what　it　was　for？〃
　〃I　guess　I　forgot。〃　Bannister's　tone　was　resigned。
　〃All　right；　you　can　start　remembering。〃　Pearson　picked　a　form　from　the　top　of　the　pile。　〃What's　the　calcium　oxide　for？　We　never　use　that　here。〃
　Bannister's　face　creased　in　a　malicious　grin。　〃You　asked　me　to　get　that。　Isn't　it　for　your　garden？〃　The　senior　technician　was　referring　to　a　fact　which　both　of　them　knew　but　seldom　spoke　of。　As　one　of　the　county　horticultural　society's　leading　rose　growers；　Joe　Pearson　absorbed　a　goodly　quantity　of　hospital　lab　supplies　in　improving　the　growing　power　of　his　soil。
　He　had　the　grace　to　appear　embarrassed。　〃Oh　。　。　。　yeah　。　。　。　okay；　let　that　one　go。〃　He　put　down　the　voucher　and　picked　up　a　second。　〃What　about　this　one？　Why　do　we　want　Coombs　serum　all　of　a　sudden？　Who　ordered　that？〃
　〃It　was　Dr。　Coleman。〃　Bannister　answered　readily；　this　was　a　subject　he　had　hoped　would　e　up。　Alongside　him　John　Alexander　had　a　sense　of　foreboding。
　〃When？〃　Pearson's　question　was　sharp。
　〃Yesterday。　Dr。　Coleman　signed　the　requisition　anyway。〃　Bannister　pointed　to　the　voucher；　then　added　maliciously；　〃In　the　place　where　you　usually　sign。〃
　Pearson　glanced　down　at　the　form。　Until　now　he　had　not　noticed　there　was　a　signature　on　it。　He　asked　Bannister；　〃What　does　he　want　it　for？　Do　you　know？〃
　The　senior　technician　relaxed。　He　had　set　the　wheels　of　retribution　in　motion　and　now　he　could　enjoy　this　scene　as　a　spectator。　He　told　John　Alexander；　〃Go　ahead。　Tell　him。〃
　A　shade　uneasily　John　Alexander　said；　〃It's　for　a　blood…sensitization　test；　Dr。　Pearson。　For　my　wife。　Dr。　Dornberger　ordered　it。〃
　〃Why　Coombs　serum？〃
　〃It's　for　an　indirect　Coombs　test；　Doctor。〃
　〃Tell　me…is　there　something　special　about　your　wife？〃　Pearson's　voice　had　an　edge　of　sarcasm。　〃What's　wrong　with　the　saline　and　high…protein　tests？　The　same　as　we　use　for　everybody　else？〃
　Alexander　swallowed　nervously。　There　was　a　silence。　Pearson　said；　〃I'm　waiting　for　an　answer。〃
　〃Well；　sir。〃　Alexander　hesitated；　then　blurted　out；　〃I　suggested　to　Dr。　Coleman…and　he　agreed…it　would　be　more　reliable　if；　after　the　other　tests；　we　did　a〃
　〃You　suggested　to　Dr。　Coleman；　eh？〃　The　tone　of　the　question　left　no　doubt　of　what　was　about　to　happen。　Sensing　it；　Alexander　blundered　on。
　〃Yes；　sir。　We　felt　that　since　some　antibodies　can't　be　detected　in　saline　and　high　protein；　running　the　extra　test〃
　〃Cut　it　out！〃　The　words　were　loud；　harsh；　brutal。　As　he　said　them　Pearson　slammed　his　hand　hard　down　on　the　pile　of　forms　and　the　table　beneath。　There　was　silence　in　the　laboratory。
　Breathing　hard；　the　old　man　waited；　eying　Alexander。　When　he　was　ready　he　said　grimly；　〃There's　one　big　trouble　with　you…you're　just　a　bit　too　free　with　some　of　that　stuff　you　picked　up　in　technician's　school。〃
　As　Pearson　spoke　his　bitterness　came　through…the　bitterness　against　all　who　were　younger；　who　were　interfering；　trying　to　deprive　him　of　authority…absolute　and　unquestioned…which　until　now　had　been　his。　In　a　different　mood；　and　at　another　time；　he　might　have　handled　this　more　tolerantly。　Now；　ing　as　it　did；　he　had　plainly　decided；　once　and　for　all；　to　put　this　upstart　lab　assistant　in　his　place。
　〃Listen　to　me　and　get　this　straight！　I　told　you　this　once　before　and　I　don't　aim　to　do　it　again。〃　This　was　Authority　speaking；　the　head　of　a　department；　heavy…handed；　making　it　clear　to　a　minor　employee　that　there　would　be　no　more　warnings；　merely　action；　from　this　point　on。　His　face　close　to　Alexander's；　Pearson　said；　〃I'm　the　one　in　charge　of　this　department；　and　if　you　or　anybody　else　have　any　queries；　they　e　to　me。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　At　this　instant　all　Alexander　wanted　was　for　this　to　end。　He　already　knew　he　had　made　his　last　suggestion。　If　this　was　what　you　got　for　thinking；　from　here　on　he　would　do　his　work　and　keep　his　thoughts　to　himself。　Let　other　people　do　the　worrying…and　let　them　have　the　responsibility　too。
　But　Pearson　had　not　finished。　〃Don't　go　running　around　behind　my　back；〃　he　said；　〃and　taking　advantage　of　Dr。　Coleman　because　he's　new。〃
　Briefly　Alexander's　spirit　flared。　〃I　didn't　take　advantage　。　。　。〃
　〃And　I　say　you　did！　And　I'm　telling　y