ah.thefinaldiagnosis-第39部分

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at　the　body　as　McNeil　recited　the　details　of　the　case。　An　hour　or　two　earlier　the　child　had　been　struck　by　an　automobile　outside　his　own　home。　He　had　been　brought　to　the　hospital　by　ambulance　but　was　dead　on　arrival。　Notified；　the　coroner　had　ordered　an　autopsy。　McNeil　told　Pearson　what　they　had　discovered。
　The　old　man　said；　〃You　mean　that's　all？〃　He　seemed　incredulous。
　McNeil　answered；　〃That's　all　that　killed　him。　Nothing　else。〃
　Pearson　moved　toward　the　body；　then　stopped。　He　knew　McNeil　well　enough　to　be　aware　that　the　resident　would　have　made　no　mistake。　He　said；　〃Then　they　must　have　just　stood　there　。　。　。　and　watched。〃
　Seddons　put　in；　〃Most　likely　nobody　knew　what　was　happening。〃
　Pearson　nodded　slowly。　Seddons　wondered　what　the　old　man　was　thinking。　Then　Pearson　asked；　〃How　old　was　the　child？〃
　〃Four；〃　McNeil　answered。　〃Nice…looking　kid　too。〃
　All　of　them　glanced　at　the　autopsy　table　and　the　still；　small　figure。　The　eyes　were　closed；　the　fair；　tousled　hair　pulled　back　in　place　now　that　the　brain　had　been　removed。　Pearson　shook　his　head；　then　turned　toward　the　door。　Over　his　shoulder　he　said；　〃All　right；　I'll　go　up　and　tell　them。〃
　The　three　occupants　of　the　hospital　anteroom　looked　up　as　Pearson　entered。　One　was　a　uniformed　patrolman　of　the　city　police；　and　near　him　was　a　tall　man　whose　eyes　were　red…rimmed。　The　third　occupant…dejected　and　sitting　alone　in　the　far　corner…was　a　mousy　little　man　with　a　straggling　mustache。
　Pearson　introduced　himself。　The　patrolman　said；　〃I'm　Stevens；　sir。　Fifth　Precinct。〃　He　produced　a　notebook　and　pencil。
　Pearson　asked　him；　〃Were　you　at　the　scene　of　the　accident？〃
　〃I　arrived　just　after　it　happened。〃　He　indicated　the　tall　man。　〃This　is　the　father　of　the　boy。　The　other　gentleman　was　the　driver　of　the　car。〃
　The　mousy　man　looked　up。　Appealing　to　Pearson；　he　said；　〃He　ran　straight　out…straight　out　from　the　side　of　the　house。　I'm　not　a　careless　driver。　I've　got　kids　of　my　own。　I　wasn't　going　fast。　I　was　almost　stopped　when　it　happened。〃
　〃And　I　say　you're　a　lousy　liar。〃　It　was　the　father；　his　voice　choked　with　emotion　and　bitterness。　〃You　killed　him；　and　I　hope　you　go　to　jail　for　it。〃
　Pearson　said　quietly；　〃Just　a　moment；　please。〃　There　was　silence；　the　others　watching　him。　He　motioned　to　the　policeman's　notebook。　〃There'll　be　a　full　report　for　the　coroner；　but　I　can　tell　you　the　preliminary　findings　now。〃　He　paused。　〃The　autopsy　has　shown　it　was　not　the　car　that　killed　the　boy。〃
　The　patrolman　looked　puzzled。　The　father　said；　〃But　I　was　there！　I　tell　you　。　。　。〃
　〃I　wish　there　were　some　other　way　to　tell　you　this；〃　Pearson　said；　〃but　I'm　afraid　there　isn't。〃　He　addressed　the　father。　〃The　blow　your　boy　received　knocked　him　to　the　road；　and　there　was　a　mild　concussion　which　rendered　him　unconscious。　He　also　sustained　a　small　fracture　of　the　nose…quite　minor；　but　unfortunately　it　caused　his　nose　to　bleed　profusely。〃　Pearson　turned　to　the　patrolman。　〃The　boy　was　left　lying　on　his　back；　I　believe…where　he　fell。〃
　The　officer　said；　〃Yes；　sir；　that's　right。　We　didn't　want　to　move　him　until　the　ambulance　came。〃
　〃And　how　long　was　that？〃
　〃I'd　say　about　ten　minutes。〃
　Pearson　nodded　slowly。　It　was　more　than　enough　time；　five　minutes　would　have　been　sufficient。　He　said；　〃I'm　afraid　that　that　was　the　cause　of　death。　The　blood　from　the　nosebleed　ran　back　into　the　boy's　throat。　He　was　unable　to　breathe　and　he　aspirated　blood　into　the　lungs。　He　died　of　asphyxiation。〃
　The　father's　face　revealed　horror；　incredulity。　He　said；　〃You　mean　。　。　。　if　we'd　only　turned　him　over　。　。　。〃
　Pearson　raised　his　hands　expressively。　〃I　meant　what　I　said…I　wish　there　were　some　other　way　to　tell　you　this。　But　I　can　only　report　the　truth：　the　original　injuries　to　your　boy　were　minor。〃
　The　patrolman　said；　〃Then　the　blow　from　the　car　。　。　。　？〃
　〃One　can't　be　sure；　of　course；　but　my　own　opinion　is　that　it　was　glancing　and　paratively　light。〃　Pearson　gestured　to　the　mousy　man；　now　standing　close　beside　them。　〃I　imagine　this　man　is　telling　the　truth　when　he　says　the　car　was　moving　slowly。〃
　〃Mother　of　God！〃　It　came　from　the　father…a　despairing；　tortured　wail。　He　was　sobbing；　his　hands　to　his　face。　After　a　moment　the　mousy　man　led　him　to　a　settee；　his　arm　around　the　other's　shoulders；　his　own　eyes　glistening。
　The　patrolman's　face　was　white。　He　said；　〃Doctor；　I　was　there　all　the　time。　I　could　have　moved　the　boy　。　。　。　but　I　didn't　know。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you　should　blame　yourself。〃
　The　man　appeared　not　to　have　heard。　He　went　on　as　if　in　a　daze。　〃I　took　a　first…aid　course。　I　got　a　badge　for　it。　All　the　time　they　taught　us…don't　move　anybody；　whatever　you　do；　don't　move　them！〃
　〃I　know。〃　Pearson　touched　the　patrolman's　arm　gently。　He　said　slowly；　〃Unfortunately　there　are　some　exceptions　to　the　rule…one　of　them　is　when　someone　is　bleeding　in　the　mouth。〃
　
　In　the　main…floor　corridor　on　his　way　to　lunch　David　Coleman　saw　Pearson　emerge　from　the　anteroom。　At　first　Coleman　wondered　if　the　senior　pathologist　were　ill。　He　seemed　distracted；　unaware　of　his　surroundings。　Then　he　caught　sight　of　Coleman　and　moved　toward　him。　The　younger　man　halted。
　〃Oh　yes　。　。　。　Dr。　Coleman　。　。　。　There　was　something　I　had　to　tell　you。〃　Coleman　sensed　that　for　some　reason　Pearson　was　having　trouble　marshaling　his　thoughts。　Now　he　reached　out　absently　and　grasped　the　lapel　of　Coleman's　white　lab　coat。　Coleman　noticed　that　the　old　man's　hands　were　nervous　and　fumbling。　He　disengaged　his　coat。
　〃What　was　it；　Dr。　Pearson？〃
　〃There　was　。　。　。　something　to　do　with　the　lab。〃　Pearson　shook　his　head。　〃Well；　it's　gone　now　。　。　。　I'll　remember　later。〃　He　seemed　about　to　turn　away　when　another　thought　came　to　him。　〃I　think　you'd　better　take　over　the　autopsy　room。　Starting　tomorrow。　Keep　your　eye　on　things。　See　they　do　a　good　job。〃
　〃Very　well。　I'll　be　glad　to　do　that。〃　David　Coleman　had　some　clear…cut　ideas　about　the　performance　of　autopsies；　and　this　would　be　an　opportunity　to　put　them　into　effect。　It　occurred　to　him　that　while　they　were　talking　he　might　as　well　bring　up　something　else。　He　said；　〃I　wonder　if　I　could　speak　to　you…about　the　laboratories。〃
　〃The　laboratories？〃　The　old　man's　mind　still　seemed　to　be　elsewhere。
　〃You'll　remember　in　my　letter　I　suggested　you　might　consider　giving　me　charge　of　some　part　of　the　laboratories。〃　It　seemed　a　little　odd　to　be　discussing　this　here　and　now；　but　Coleman　sensed　the　opportunity　might　not　occur　again。
　〃Yes　。　。　。　yes；　I　remember　something　being　said。〃　Pearson　appeared　to　be　watching　a　group　of　three　moving　down　the　corridor　away　from　them…a　policeman　and　a　little　man；　supporting　a　bigger　man　in　the　middle。
　〃I　wonder　if　I　might　start　in　Serology；〃　Coleman　said。　〃I'd　like　to　do　some　checks　on　the　procedures…standard　lab　checks；　that　is。〃
　〃Um？　What　was　that？〃
　It　was　annoying　to　have　to　keep　repeating　things。　〃I　said　I　would　like　to　make　some　lab　checks　in　Serology。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　。　。　。　that's　all　right。〃　Pearson　said　it　absently。　He　was　still　looking　away；　down　the　corridor；　when　Coleman　left。
　
　Elizabeth　Alexander　was　feeling　good。　About　to　begin　lunch　in　Three　Counties　Hospital　cafeteria；　she　realized　she　had　been　feeling　that　way　for　days；　but　especially　so　this　morning。　The　child　inside　her　was　alive　and　stirring；　even　at　this　moment　she　could　detect　its　movements　faintly。　She　had　just　e　from　a　department…store　sale　where；　amid　the　melee　of　women；　she　had　victoriously　acquired　some　bright　fabrics　for　the　apartment；　including　one　length　for　the　tiny　extra　bedroom　which　was　to　be　the　baby's。　And　now　she　had　met　John。
　It　was　the　first　time　they　had　had　a　meal　together　in　the　hospital。　Use　of　the　cafeteria　by　employees'　families　was　an　unwritten　privilege　the　hospital　allowed；　and　John　had　learned　about　it　a　few　days　earlier。　A　few　minutes　ago　they　had　lined　up　to　select　their　food　and　Elizabeth　had　chosen　a　salad；　soup；　a　roll；　roast　lamb　with　potatoes　and　cabbage；　pie　with　cheese；　and　milk。　John　had　asked　good…humoredly；　〃Are　you　sure　you　have　enough？〃
　Elizabeth　selected　a　stick　of　celery。　Biting　into　it；　she　said；　〃This　is　a　hungry　baby。〃
　John　smiled。　A　few　minutes　earlier；　on　the　way　to　lunch；　he　had　felt　defeated　and　depressed；　this　morning's　tongue…lashing　by　Dr。　Pearson　still　fresh　in　mind。　But　Elizabeth's　infectious　spirits　had　caused　him　to　shrug　it　off；　at　least　for　the　time　being。　After　all；　he　reflected；　there　would　be　no　more　trouble　in　the　lab　because　from　now　on　he　intended　to　watch　his　step　carefully。　In　any　case；　Dr。　Pearson　had　now　done　the　sensitization　tests　himself…in　saline　and　high　protein…and　had　pronounced　both　test　results　negative。　〃So　far　as　your　wife's　blood　is　concerned；〃　he　had　said；　〃there　is　nothing　for　anyone　to　worry　about。〃　In　fact；　he　had　been　almost　kindly　about　it…at　least　it　seemed　that　way　after　the　earlier　outburst。
　There　was　another　thing　to　remember：　Dr。　Pearson　was　a　pathologist　and　John　was　not。　Maybe　Dr。　Pearson　was　right；　perhaps　John　had　placed　too　much　importance　on　some　of　the　things　that　were　taught　at　technology　school。　Wasn't　it　a　well…known　fact　that　schools　always　pumped　a　lot　of　theory　into　you　that　you　had　no　use　for　in　the　practical　world　outside？　Goodness　knows；　he　thought；　there　are　plenty　of　subjects　in　high　school　and　college　that　you　never　work　at　again　once　final　exams　are　over。　Couldn't　this　be　the　same　thing？　Couldn't　John　himself　have　taken　too　seriously　the　school　theory　about　the　need　for　a　third　sensitization　test；　whereas　Dr。　Pearson；　with　all　his　practical　knowledge；　knew　it　was　unnecessary？
　What　was　it　Dr。　Pearson　had　said　while　he　was　doing　the　tests　this　morning？　〃If　we　changed　our　laboratory　methods　every　time　something　new　came　up；　there'd　never　be　any　end　to　it。　In　medicine　there　are　new　ideas　ing　out　every　day。　But　in　a　hospital　we　have　to　make　sure　they're　proven　and　valuable　before　we　start　to　use　them。　Here　we're　dealing　with　people's　lives　and　we　can't　afford　to　take　chances。〃
　John　had　not　quite　been　able　to　see　how　an　extra　blood　test　would　imperil　anybody's　life；　but；　all　the　same；　Dr。　Pearson　did　have　a　point　about　the　new　ideas。　John　knew　from　his　own　reading　that　there　were　lots　of　them　around　and　not　all　good。　Of　course；　Dr。　Coleman　had　been　pre