ah.thefinaldiagnosis-第24部分

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　not　have　been　the　first　time　that　some　inexperienced　learner　had　lopped　off　a　gloved　finger　with　one　of　the　razor…edged　knives　of　pathology。
　All　the　same　his　attention　still　kept　wandering；　the　question　recurring：　What　was　it　about　Vivian　that　disturbed　him　so？　She　was　attractive　and　desirable；　and　he　was　anxious　to　take　her　to　bed　as　quickly　as　possible…Mike　Seddons　was　under　no　illusions　about　that。　She　seemed　amenable；　too；　assuming　the　pain　in　her　knee　the　night　before　had　been　genuine；　and　he　now　believed　it　was。　He　hoped　she　would　still　feel　the　same　way；　though　there　was　no　guarantee　she　would；　of　course。　Some　girls　were　inconsistent　like　that…you　could　have　the　most　exotic　intimacies　with　them　one　day；　then　the　next　time　round　they　would　reject　even　the　most　basic　advance；　pretending　that　the　earlier　incident　had　never　even　happened。
　But　was　there　something　more　to　Vivian　and　himself　than　merely　sex？　Mike　Seddons　was　beginning　to　wonder。　Certainly　none　of　the　earlier　episodes…and　there　had　been　several…had　caused　him　to　do　half　so　much　thinking　as　he　was　doing　right　now。　A　new　thought　occurred　to　him：　Perhaps　if　he　could　get　the　sex　bit　out　of　his　system　other　things　might　bee　clearer。　He　decided　to　ask　Vivian　to　meet　him　again；　and　tonight…assuming　she　would　be　free…was　as　good　a　time　as　any。
　
　Vivian　had　found　the　note　from　Mike　Seddons　when　she　finished　her　last　class　of　the　day　and　went　back　to　the　student　nurses'　residence。　It　had　been　delivered　by　hand　and　was　waiting　for　her　in　the　mail　rack　under　〃L。〃　It　asked　her　to　be　on　the　hospital's　fourth　floor　near　Pediatrics　at　9：45　that　night。　At　first　she　had　not　intended　to　go；　knowing　she　would　have　no　reason　officially　to　be　in　the　hospital　and　she　might　be　in　trouble　if　she　ran　into　any　of　the　nursing　supervisors。　But　she　found　herself　wanting　to　go；　and　at　9：40　she　crossed　the　wooden　boardwalk　between　the　nurses'　home　and　the　main　hospital　buildings。
　Mike　was　waiting；　strolling　in　the　corridor；　apparently　preoccupied。　But　as　soon　as　he　saw　her　he　motioned　to　a　door　and　they　went　inside。　It　led　to　an　interior　stair　well；　with　a　metal　stairway　leading　up　and　down。　At　this　time　of　night　it　was　quiet　and　deserted　and　there　would　be　plenty　of　warning　of　anyone's　approach。　Mike　went　down　half　a　flight　onto　the　next　landing；　leading　her　by　the　hand。　Then　he　turned；　and　it　seemed　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world　that　she　should　go　into　his　arms。
　As　they　kissed　she　felt　Mike's　arms　tightening　and　the　magic　of　the　night　before　came　sweeping　back。　At　this　moment　she　knew　why　she　had　wanted　so　much　to　e　here。　This　man　with　the　wild　red　hair　had　suddenly　bee　indispensable　to　her。　She　wanted　him　in　every　way…to　be　close　to　him；　talk　with　him；　make　love　with　him。　It　was　an　electric；　exciting　feeling　she　had　never　known　before。　He　was　kissing　her　cheeks　now；　her　eyes；　her　ears。　His　face　in　her　hair；　he　whispered；　〃Vivian　darling；　I've　been　thinking　about　you　all　day。　I　haven't　been　able　to　stop。〃　With　both　hands　he　took　her　face　and　looked　into　it。　〃Do　you　know　what　you're　doing？〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃You're　undermining　me。〃
　She　reached　out　for　him　again。　〃Oh；　Mike　darling！〃
　It　was　hot　on　the　stairway。　Vivian　felt　the　warmth　of　his　body　against　the　fire　of　her　own。　Now　his　hands　were　questing；　seeking。　She　whispered；　trembling；　〃Mike；　isn't　there　somewhere　else？〃
　She　felt　his　hands　pause　and　knew　he　was　considering。　He　said；　〃I　share　a　room　with　Frank　Worth。　But　he's　out　tonight；　won't　be　back　till　late。　Do　you　want　to　take　a　chance　and　e　to　the　residents'　quarters？〃
　She　hesitated。　〃What　would　happen？　If　we　got　caught。〃
　〃We'd　both　get　thrown　out　of　the　hospital。〃　He　kissed　her　again。　〃At　this　moment　I　couldn't　care。〃　He　took　her　hand。　〃e　on。〃
　They　went　down　one　flight　of　stairs　and　along　a　corridor。　They　passed　another　resident　who　grinned　as　he　saw　them　but　made　no　ment。　Then　more　stairs；　another　corridor。　This　time　a　white　figure　turned　out　of　a　doorway　just　ahead。　Vivian's　heart　leaped　as　she　recognized　the　night　nursing　supervisor。　But　the　supervisor　did　not　turn　around　and　went　in　another　doorway　before　they　passed。　Then　they　were　in　a　narrower；　quieter　corridor　with　closed　doors　on　each　side。　There　were　lights　beneath　some　of　the　doors；　and　from　one　she　could　hear　music。　She　recognized　it　as　Chopin's　Prelude　in　E　Minor；　the　Burlington　Symphony　had　played　it　a　month　or　two　before。
　〃In　here。〃　Mike　had　opened　a　door；　and　quickly　they　moved　inside。　It　was　dark；　but　she　could　make　out　the　shape　of　bunk　beds　and　an　armchair。　Behind　her　she　heard　the　lock　click　as　Mike　fastened　the　catch。
　They　reached　for　each　other　demandingly；　urgently。　His　fingers　were　at　the　buttons　of　her　uniform。　When　they　hesitated　she　helped　him。　Now　she　was　standing　in　her　slip。　For　a　moment　he　held　her　tightly；　together　savoring　the　torture　of　delay。　Then；　his　hands　moving　gently；　tenderly；　and　with　exquisite　promise；　he　lifted　the　slip　over　her　head。　As　she　moved　to　the　bed　she　kicked　off　her　shoes。　There　was　a　swift　movement　and　then　he　was　with　her；　his　hands　helping　her　again。　〃Vivian；　darling　Vivian！〃
　She　scarcely　heard　him。　〃Mike；　don't　wait！　Please　don't　wait！〃　She　felt　the　contours　of　his　body　pressing　madly；　abandonedly；　into　her。　She　responded　wildly；　fought　fiercely　to　bring　him　tighter；　nearer；　deeper。　Then　suddenly　there　was　nothing　else　in　the　world；　nothing　but　a　peak　of　tempestuous　ecstasy；　now　sweeping；　searing；　surging　。　。　。　ing　closer；　closer；　closer。
　As　they　lay　quietly　together　afterward；　Vivian　could　hear　the　music　again；　ing　faintly　from　down　the　hall。　It　was　still　Chopin；　this　time　the　Etude　in　E　Major。　It　seemed　strange；　at　this　moment；　to　be　identifying　a　musical　position；　but　the　liquid；　haunting　melody；　heard　softly　in　the　darkness；　fitted　her　mood　of　pletion。
　Mike　reached　over　and　kissed　her　gently。　Then　he　said；　〃Vivian　dearest；　I　want　to　marry　you。〃
　She　asked　him　softly；　〃Mike　darling；　are　you　sure？〃
　The　impetuousness　of　his　own　words　had　surprised　even　himself。　Mike　had　spoken　them　on　impulse；　hut　suddenly；　deeply；　he　knew　them　to　be　true。　His　objective　in　avoiding　entanglements　seemed　pointless　and　shallow；　this　was　an　entanglement　he　wanted；　to　the　exclusion　of　all　others。　He　knew　now　what　had　troubled　him　today　and　earlier；　at　this　moment　it　troubled　him　no　more。　Characteristically　he　answered　Vivian's　questions　with　a　touch　of　humor。　〃Sure　I'm　sure。　Aren't　you？〃
　As　her　arms　went　around　him　Vivian　murmured；　〃I've　never　been　more　sure　of　anything。〃
　〃Hey！〃　Mike　broke　away　and　he　propped　himself　on　an　elbow；　facing　her。　〃All　this　put　it　out　of　my　mind。　What　about　your　knee？〃
　Vivian　smiled　mischievously。　〃It　wasn't　any　trouble　tonight；　was　it？〃
　After　he　had　kissed　her　again　he　asked；　〃Tell　me　what　Lucy　Grainger　said。〃
　〃She　didn't。　She　had　Dr。　Bell　take　some　X…rays　this　afternoon。　She　said　she'd　send　for　me　in　a　couple　of　days。〃
　Mike　said；　〃I'll　be　glad　when　it's　cleared　up。〃
　Vivian　said；　〃Don't　be　silly；　darling。　How　could　a　little　bump　like　that　be　anything　serious？〃
　
　Ten
　
　Boston；　Mass。
　August　7
　Mr。　H。　N。　Tomaselli；
　Administrator；
　Three　Counties　Hospital
　Burlington；　Pa。
　
　Dear　Mr。　Tomaselli：
　Since　my　visit　to　Burlington　a　week　ago　I　have　thought　a　great　deal　about　the　appointment　in　pathology　at　Three　Counties　Hospital。
　This　letter　is　to　advise　you　that；　subject；　of　course；　to　your　still　feeling　the　same　way　about　me；　I　have　decided　to　accept　the　appointment　on　the　terms　we　discussed。
　You　mentioned　that　you　were　anxious　for　whoever　accepted　the　post　to　begin　work　as　soon　as　possible。　There　is　really　nothing　to　delay　me　here；　and　after　clearing　up　a　few　minor　things　I　could　be　in　Burlington　ready　to　begin　on　August　15…that　is；　in　just　over　a　week　from　now。　I　trust　this　will　be　a　convenient　arrangement。
　In　talking　with　Dr。　O'Donnell　he　mentioned　knowing　of　some　bachelor　apartments　which　will　be　pleted　soon　and　are　quite　near　the　hospital。　I　wonder　if　you　have　any　more　information　on　this　subject　and；　if　so；　I　would　be　interested　to　know　of　it。　Meanwhile；　perhaps　you　would　be　good　enough　to　make　a　reservation　for　me　at　one　of　the　local　hotels　for　arrival　August　14。
　On　the　subject　of　the　work　I　shall　be　doing　at　the　hospital；　there　is　one　point　which　I　felt　we　did　not　clear　up　entirely；　and　I　am　mentioning　it　now　in　the　hope　that　perhaps　you　may　be　able　to　discuss　it　with　Dr。　Pearson　sometime　before　my　arrival。
　It　is　my　feeling　that　it　would　be　advantageous；　both　for　the　hospital　and　myself；　if　there　were　some　clearly　defined　areas　of　responsibility　where　I　could　have　a　reasonably　free　hand；　both　in　general　supervision　of　the　day…to…day　work　and　also　the　carrying…out　of　any　changes　of　organization　and　technique　which；　of　course；　are　always　necessary　from　time　to　time。
　My　own　wishes　in　this　regard　would　be　to　have　direct　responsibility；　within　the　pathology　department；　for　Serology；　Hematology；　and　Biochemistry；　though；　of　course；　assisting　Dr。　Pearson　in　pathological　anatomy　and　other　matters　at　any　time　he　might　see　fit。
　As　I　say；　I　have　raised　this　point　now　in　the　hope　that　it　may　be　possible　for　you　and　Dr。　Pearson　to　consider　it　before　August　15。　But　please　be　assured　that　at　all　times　I　will　seek　to　co…operate　fully　with　Dr。　Pearson　and　to　serve　Three　Counties　Hospital　to　the　best　of　my　ability。
　Yours　very　truly；
　David　Coleman；　M。D。
　
　Coleman　read　through　the　neatly　typed　letter　once　more；　put　it　in　an　envelope；　and　sealed　it。　Then；　going　back　to　his　portable　typewriter；　he　tapped　out　a　similar　but　slightly　shorter　note　to　Dr。　Joseph　Pearson。
　
　David　Coleman　left　the　furnished　apartment　which　he　had　rented　on　a　short　lease　for　the　few　months　he　had　been　in　Boston　and　walked　to　a　mailbox　with　both　letters。　Thinking　over　what　he　had　written；　he　still　was　not　sure　why　he　had　chosen　Three　Counties　in　preference　to　the　seven　other　posts　he　had　been　offered　within　recent　weeks。　Certainly　it　was　not　the　most　remunerative。　Thought　of　in　financial　terms；　it　was　more　than　halfway　down　the　list。　Nor　was　it　a　〃name〃　hospital。　Two　of　the　other　medical　centers　in　which　he　had　been　offered　employment　had　names　that　were　internationally　renowned。　But