hr.thecarpetbaggers-第110部分
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He turned away from the table and one of the nurses quickly wiped the perspiration from his face as the surgical resident began to clamp the edges of the incision together。
Jennie glanced up at Sister M。 Christopher。 If the senior nurse was aware that the appendix had not been infected； her dark eyes； visible over the face mask； gave no indication。
〃Suture；〃 Dr。 Lobb grunted； holding out his hand。 Automatically Jennie gave it to him。 Then she didn't have time to look up for a few minutes。 She was too busy。 But she was aware that Sister Christopher was watching her。 It didn't make her nervous； as it had at first。 But that was almost three years ago。 Next month was graduation。
Sister Christopher watched Jennie with approbation。 This girl was one of the bright spots in her class。 Perhaps one girl in a hundred had a vocation for surgery the way Jennie had。 There were so many things needed and Jennie had them all。 The sight of blood didn't upset her； not even the first time she'd experienced it。 And Jennie was deft and sure in her actions。 Quickly she'd developed an affinity between herself and the instruments； then between herself and the surgeons。 Without the affinity； which permitted an unspoken form of munication between the doctor and the nurse； surgery could be dangerously delayed while instruments were fumbled back and forth。
The final important factor was strength。 No one ever quite realized how important it was for a surgical nurse to be strong。 To be able to stand for hours beside the quiet white table； even though your feet hurt and your thighs and back ached from that peculiar； slightly…leaning…forward position。 To be able to feed the doctor that strength and reassure him with it； so that the chain of healing formed one unbroken line。 And the strength to be stoic when the chain was broken and the now forever silent patient was wheeled away； to stand there quietly and begin to scrub up again； sure that the chain would rebuild itself when a new patient was wheeled in。
Dr。 Lobb looked up and nodded。 〃Dressing。〃 He held his white…gloved hand out over the neatly stitched incision。
Jennie was ready with the gauze packing as he lifted his hand。 Immediately； she covered the incision； while with her other hand； she lifted the strips of adhesive tape from the clip board at the side of the table。 She pressed the tape down firmly with her fingers； checking the bandage for smoothness and support； then lifted both hands to signify she had finished。
Sister Christopher nodded and the patient was quickly wrapped and transferred to another table by the assistants。 There was a click as the fluorescents went out。 The morning operating…room schedule at St。 Mary's had been pleted。
〃That's the fourth good appendix he's taken out this month；〃 Jennie whispered above the gush of water into the basin。 〃Why does he do it？〃
The young resident laughed。 〃At two hundred and fifty dollars a crack； you don't fight the patients。〃
〃But he doesn't have to；〃 she whispered。 〃He's a great surgeon。 He has scarcely enough time for all he has to do。〃
〃Sure；〃 Dr。 Lobb whispered back。 〃But even great surgeons have to eat。 Most of the trick cases are either for free or tough collections。 So who's to blame if once in a while； he lifts a harmless appendix from some rich old hypochondriac？ There's no risk in it。 The doctor can pay his bills and the patient can brag about his operation。〃
He straightened up； reaching for a towel。 〃Oh…oh；〃 he said warningly。 〃Here es the great man himself。〃
Jennie took a towel from the rack and began to dry her hands。 The doctor's voice came from behind her。 〃Miss Denton？〃
She turned around； looking at him。 〃Yes； Dr。 Grant？〃
〃I understand you're graduating next month。〃
〃I hope so。〃
〃I don't think you have anything to worry about；〃 he said。 〃I was just talking to Sister Christopher。 She thinks a great deal of you。 And so do I。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃Have you made any plans yet for after graduation？〃
〃Not really；〃 Jennie answered。 〃I'm going to take the state exam and get my name on the lists for one of the big hospitals。〃
〃All hospitals are pretty well staffed。〃
Jennie knew what he really meant。 They weren't well staffed； at all。 Actually； they were all understaffed because there was no money to pay for the staff they needed。 Especially those in the operating room。 They were the best paid of all。 〃I know；〃 she said。
He hesitated a moment。 〃Are you doing anything right now？〃
〃I was just going down to the cafeteria for lunch。〃
〃I'd like to talk to you。 Sister Christopher said it would be all right if you left the hospital for lunch。 How about the Steak 'n' Sauce？〃
〃That sounds fine；〃 Jennie said。
〃Good。〃 He smiled。 〃I'll meet you down at my car。 It's the black Packard。〃
〃I know；〃 she said quickly。 All the nurses knew the car。 It was always parked just opposite their dormitory。 Outside of Dr。 Gedeon's black Cadillac； it was the most expensive car at the hospital。
〃See you in fifteen minutes； then。〃
Jennie walked out into the corridor and pressed the button for the elevator。 The door opened and she stepped in。 Dr。 Lobb rushed in right after her。
〃The Steak 'n' Sauce！〃
〃I wonder what he wants？〃 Jennie asked。
His grin grew broader。 〃I know what he wants；〃 he said lewdly。 〃But I didn't have any luck getting it at the Greasy Spoon。〃
She returned his grin。 〃His luck won't be any better at the Steak 'n' Sauce。〃
〃I don't know。〃 He laughed。 〃One of these days； you're goin' to give it up to somebody。 There's no sense feeding it to the worms。〃
〃That will never happen；〃 she said。 Too late for that； she thought。 But it didn't matter now。 It was forgotten and no one here had heard about it。 〃I still wonder what he wants？〃
〃Maybe he wants you to work for him。 Ever think of that？〃
〃I thought about it；〃 she admitted。 〃But it doesn't make sense。 Why me？ He can have his pick of the best around。〃
Dr。 Lobb grinned but his eyes were serious。 〃You are the best around； honey。 It's about time you realized that。〃
The elevator door opened and they stepped out into the basement corridor； where the employees' cafeteria was。 Jennie looked down at her white uniform。 〃I'd better get out of this and into a dress。〃
〃I'd be just as happy if you just got out of that。〃 He laughed。 〃You don't have to put on a dress for me。〃
She looked up at him； smiling。 Someday； this young man was going to be one of the really good ones。 〃Maybe I'll surprise you sometime。〃
〃Surprise me by bringing back a steak sandwich；〃 he called after her。 〃I've about given up on the other。〃
Doctor Grant held a package of cigarettes out toward her。 She took one and he held a match。 His eyes met hers over the flickering flame。 〃I suppose you're wondering why I asked you to lunch？〃
She nodded。 〃I was curious； to say the least。〃
He smiled。 〃I'm sorry if I provoked your curiosity。 But I really meant it when I said I like to forget about my practice during lunch。 But I guess now it's time to get down to business。〃
She didn't answer。
〃During the past year； Miss Denton； I've had an excellent opportunity to observe your work in surgery。 From the very first； I was aware of your aptitude and I have always appreciated； as a surgeon； the extremely petent manner in which you render assistance。〃
〃Thank you； Dr。 Grant。〃
〃As you may know； Miss Denton； I have a rather extensive and busy practice。 There are many physicians who refer their patients to me for surgery。 Much of this practice is of a minor nature and under proper conditions； can be attended to in my office。 It relieves the patient of a considerable part of the economic burden。
Jennie nodded silently。
〃This morning； I learned from Miss Janney； who's been associated with me for many years； that she's getting married and plans to move to Southern California。〃 He drew on his cigarette。 〃When I came to the hospital today； I took the liberty of speaking to Sister Christopher about you。 She agrees that you'd make an excellent replacement for Miss Janney。〃
〃You mean you want me to work for you？〃
He smiled。 〃In my roundabout manner； that is what I was about to ask。 Are you interested？〃
〃Of course。 What girl wouldn't be？〃
〃It's not an easy job； you know；〃 he said。 〃I have a few beds in my clinic and very often； we'll have to work late。 Occasionally； I even keep a patient overnight。 At such times； you'd have to remain on duty。〃
〃Dr。 Grant；〃 Jennie said； smiling； 〃I've put in two eight…hour shifts a day with only four hours' sleep between； for the last week。 Working for you will seem like a picnic。〃
He smiled and reaching across the table； patted her hand reassuringly。 Jennie smiled back at him。 He wasn't so bad； after all； even if he did take out a few perfectly healthy appendixes。 He was only the surgeon。 He couldn't be responsible for the faulty diagnosis of every physician who sent him a patient。
But that was before she went to work for him and found out that healthy appendixes weren't the only things he removed。 He also had a very busy practice in unborn babies up to ten weeks after conception。 As a matter of fact； he was probably the busiest abortionist in California。
But by the time she was aware of that； it didn't matter； because she was in love with him。 Nor did it matter that he was already married and had three children。
8
THE TELEPHONE RANG JUST AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE TINY TWO…ROOM APARTMENT OVER THE CLINIC。 She went back and picked it up。 〃Dr。 Grant's office；〃 she said。 It was an extension of the telephone in the office downstairs。
〃Jennie？〃 came the whisper。
〃Yes。〃
〃Will you be there for a while？〃
〃I was just leaving to see my folks。 I haven't seen them for three weeks。 This is the third Sunday in a row… 〃
His voice interrupted her。 〃I'll see to it you have time off during the week。 Please； Jennie； I've got to see you。〃
She hesitated a moment and he sensed her faltering over the telephone。 〃Please； Jennie！ I'll go crazy if I don't see you。〃
She looked across at the clock。 It was already after seven o'clock。 By the time she got across town； it would almost be time for her father to go to bed。 He had a WPA job and had to be at work very early。
〃Oh； all r
