tc.patriotgames-第4节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　〃I'm　sorry；　Mrs。　Ryan；　but　only　medical　person　〃　
　　　　〃I'm　a　doctor。〃　She　held　up　her　plastic　ID　card。　The　man　took　it。
　　　　〃Wilmer　Eye　Institute；　Johns　Hopkins　Hospital。〃　The　surgeon　extended　his　hand　and　gave　Cathy　a　friendly；　colleague…to…colleague　smile。　〃How　do　you　do。　Doctor？　My　name　is　Charles　Scott。〃
　　　　〃That's　right；〃　Ryan　confirmed　groggily。　〃She's　the　surgeon　doctor。　I'm　the　historian　doctor。〃　No　one　seemed　to　notice。　
　　　　〃Sir　Charles　Scott？　Professor　Scott？〃
　　　　〃The　same。〃　A　benign　smile。　Everyone　likes　to　be　recognized；　Ryan　thought　as　he　watched　from　his　back。
　　　　〃One　of　my　instructors　knows　you　　Professor　Knowles。〃　
　　　　〃Ah；　and　how　is　Dennis？〃
　　　　〃Fine；　Doctor。　He's　associate　professor　of　orthopedics　now。〃　Cathy　shifted　gears　smoothly；　back　to　medical　professional。　〃Do　you　have　the　X…rays？〃
　　　　〃Here。〃　Scott　held　up　a　manila　envelope　and　extracted　a　large　film。　He　held　it　up　in　front　of　a　lighting　panel。　〃We　took　this　prior　to　going　in。〃
　　　　〃Damn。〃　Cathy's　nose　wrinkled。　She　put　on　the　half…glasses　she　used　for　close　work；　the　ones　Jack　hated。　He　watched　her　head　move　slowly　from　side　to　side。　〃I　didn't　know　it　was　that　bad。〃　
　　　　Professor　Scott　nodded。　〃Indeed。　We　reckon　the　collarbone　was　broken　before　he　was　shot；　then　the　bullet　came　crashing　through　here　　just　missed　the　brachial　plexus；　so　we　expect　no　serious　nerve　damage　　and　did　all　this　damage。〃　He　traced　a　pencil　across　the　film。　Ryan　couldn't　see　any　of　it　from　the　bed。　〃Then　it　did　this　to　the　top　of　the　humerus　before　stopping　here；　just　inside　the　skin。　Bloody　powerful　thing；　the　nine　millimeter。　As　you　can　see；　the　damage　was　quite　extensive。　We　had　a　jolly　time　finding　all　these　fragments　and　jigsawing　them　back　into　proper　place；　but　　we　were　able　to　acplish　this。〃　Scott　held　a　second　film　up　next　to　the　first。　Cathy　was　quiet　for　several　seconds；　her　head　swiveling　back　and　forth。　
　　　　〃That　is　nice　work；　Doctor！〃
　　　　Sir　Charles'　smile　broadened　a　notch。　〃From　a　Johns　Hopkins　surgeon；　yes；　I　think　I'll　accept　that。　Both　these　pins　are　permanent；　this　screw　also；　I'm　afraid；　but　the　rest　should　heal　rather　nicely。　As　you　can　see；　all　the　large　fragments　are　back　where　they　belong；　and　we　have　every　reason　to　expect　a　full　recovery。〃　
　　　　〃How　much　impairment？〃　A　detached　question。　Cathy　could　be　maddeningly　unemotional　about　her　work。
　　　　〃We're　not　sure　yet；〃　Scott　said　slowly。　〃Probably　a　little；　but　it　should　not　be　overly　severe。　We　can't　guarantee　a　plete　restoration　of　function　　the　damage　was　far　too　extensive　for　that。〃
　　　　〃You　mind　telling　me　something？〃　Ryan　tried　to　sound　angry；　but　it　hadn't　e　out　right。
　　　　〃What　I　mean；　Mr。　Ryan；　is　that　you'll　probably　have　some　permanent　loss　of　use　of　your　arm　　precisely　how　much　we　cannot　determine　as　yet　　and　from　now　on　you'll　have　a　permanent　barometer。　Henceforth；　whenever　the　weather　is　about　to　change　for　the　worse；　you'll　know　it　before　anyone　else。〃　
　　　　〃How　long　in　this　cast？〃　Cathy　wanted　to　know。
　　　　〃At　least　a　month。〃　The　surgeon　seemed　apologetic。　〃It　is　awkward；　I　know；　but　the　shoulder　must　be　totally　immobilized　for　at　least　that　long。　After　that　we'll　have　to　reevaluate　the　injury　and　we　can　probably　revert　to　a　normal　cast　for　another　。　。　。　oh；　another　month　or　so；　I　expect。　I　presume　he　heals　well；　no　allergies。　Looks　to　be　in　good　health；　decent　physical　shape。〃
　　　　〃Jack's　in　good　physical　shape；　except　for　a　few　loose　marbles　in　his　head；〃　Cathy　nodded；　an　edge　on　her　weary　voice。　〃He　jogs。　No　allergies　except　ragweed；　and　he　heals　rapidly。〃　
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　Ryan　confirmed。　〃Her　teethmarks　go　away　in　under　a　week；　usually。〃　He　thought　this　uproariously　funny；　but　no　one　laughed。
　　　　〃Good；〃　Sir　Charles　said。　〃So；　Doctor；　you　can　see　that　your　husband　is　in　good　hands。　I　will　leave　the　two　of　you　together　for　five　minutes。　After　that；　I　wish　that　he　should　get　some　rest；　and　you　look　as　though　you　could　use　some　also。〃　The　surgeon　moved　off　with　Bette　Davis　in　his　wake。
　　　　Cathy　moved　closer　to　him；　changing　yet　again　from　cool　professional　to　concerned　wife。　Ryan　told　himself　for　perhaps　the　millionth　time　how　lucky　he　was　to　have　this　girl。　Caroline　Ryan　had　a　small；　round　face；　short　butter…blond　hair；　and　the　world's　prettiest　blue　eyes。　Behind　those　eyes　was　a　person　with　intelligence　at　least　the　equal　of　his　own；　someone　he　loved　as　much　as　a　man　could。　He　would　never　understand　how　he'd　won　her。　Ryan　was　painfully　aware　that　on　his　best　day　his　own　undistinguished　features；　a　heavy　beard　and　a　lantern　jaw；　made　him　look　like　a　dark…haired　Dudley　Do…Right　of　the　Mounties。　She　played　pussycat　to　his　crow。　Jack　tried　to　reach　out　for　her　hand；　but　was　foiled　by　straps。　Cathy　took　his。
　　　　〃Love　ya；　babe；〃　he　said　softly。
　　　　〃Oh；　Jack。〃　Cathy　tried　to　hug　him。　She　was　foiled　by　the　cast　that　he　couldn't　even　see。　〃Jack；　why　the　hell　did　you　do　that？〃
　　　　He　had　already　decided　how　to　answer　that。　〃It's　over　and　I'm　still　alive；　okay？　How's　Sally？〃
　　　　〃I　think　she's　finally　asleep。　She's　downstairs　with　a　policeman。〃　Cathy　did　look　tired。　〃How　do　you　think　she　is。　Jack？　Dear　God；　she　saw　you　killed　almost。　You　scared　us　both　to　death。〃　Her　china…blue　eyes　were　rimmed　in　red；　and　her　hair　looked　terrible。　Jack　saw。　Well；　she　never　was　able　to　do　much　of　anything　with　her　hair。　The　surgical　caps　always　ruined　it。
　　　　〃Yeah；　I　know。　Anyway；　it　doesn't　look　like　I'll　be　doing　much　more　of　that　for　a　while；〃　he　grunted。　〃Matter　of　fact；　it　doesn't　look　like　I'll　be　doing　much　of　anything　for　a　while。〃　That　drew　a　smile。　It　was　good　to　see　her　smile。
　　　　〃Fine。　You're　supposed　to　conserve　your　energy。　Maybe　this'll　teach　you　a　lesson　　and　don't　tell　me　about　all　those　strange　hotel　beds　going　to　waste。〃　She　squeezed　his　hand。　Her　smile　turned　impish。　〃We'll　probably　work　something　out　in　a　few　weeks。　How　do　I　look？〃
　　　　〃Like　hell。〃　Jack　laughed　quietly。　〃I　take　it　the　doc　was　a　somebody？〃
　　　　He　saw　his　wife　relax　a　little。　〃You　might　say　that。　Sir　Charles　Scott　is　one　of　the　best　orthopods　in　the　world。　He　trained　Professor　Knowles　　he　did　a　super　job　on　you。　You're　lucky　to　have　an　arm　at　all；　you　know　　my　God！〃　
　　　　〃Easy；　babe。　I'm　going　to　live；　remember？〃　
　　　　〃I　know；　I　know。〃　
　　　　〃It's　going　to　hurt；　isn't　it？〃
　　　　Another　smile。　〃Just　a　bit。　Well。　I've　got　to　put　Sally　down。　I'll　be　back　tomorrow。〃　She　bent　down　to　kiss　him。　Skin　full　of　drugs；　oxygen　tube；　dry　mouth；　and　all；　it　felt　good。　God；　he　thought；　God；　how　I　love　this　girl。　Cathy　squeezed　his　hand　one　more　time　and　left。
　　　　The　Bette　Davis　nurse　came　back。　It　was　not　a　satisfactory　trade。
　　　　〃I'm　'Doctor'　Ryan；　too；　you　know；〃　Jack　said　warily。
　　　　〃Very　good；　Doctor。　It　is　time　for　you　to　get　some　rest。　I'll　be　here　to　look　after　you　all　night。　Now　sleep。　Doctor　Ryan。〃　
　　　　On　this　happy　note　Jack　closed　his　eyes。　Tomorrow　would　be　a　real　bitch；　he　was　sure。　It　would　keep。

Chapter　2　Cops　and　Royals

　　　　Ryan　awoke　at　6：35　A。M。　He　knew　that　because　it　was　announced　by　a　radio　disc　jockey　whose　voice　faded　to　an　American　Country　&　Western　song　of　the　type　which　Ryan　avoided　at　home　by　listening　to　all…news　radio　stations。　The　singer　was　admonishing　mothers　not　to　allow　their　sons　to　bee　cowboys；　and　Ryan's　first　muddled　thought　of　the　day　was。　Surely　they　don't　have　that　problem　over　here　。　。　。　do　they？　His　mind　drifted　along　on　this　tangent　for　half　a　minute；　wondering　if　the　Brits　had　CAW　bars　with　sawdust　on　the　floors；　mechanical　bull　rides；　and　office　workers　who　strutted　around　with　pointy…toed　boots　and　five…pound　belt　buckles　。　。　。　Why　not？　he　concluded。　Yesterday　I　saw　something　right　out　of　a　Dodge　City　movie。
　　　　Jack　would　have　been　just　as　happy　to　slide　back　into　sleep。　He　tried　closing　his　eyes　and　willing　his　body　to　relax；　but　it　was　no　use。　The　flight　from　Dulles　had　left　early　in　the　morning；　barely　three　hours　after　he'd　awakened。　He　hadn't　slept　on　the　plane　　it　was　something　he　simply　could　not　do　　but　flying　always　exhausted　him；　and　he'd　gone　to　bed　soon　after　arriving　at　the　hotel。　Then　how　long　had　he　been　unconscious　in　the　hospital？　Too　long；　he　realized。　Ryan　was　all　slept　out。　He　would　have　to　begin　facing　the　day。
　　　　Someone　off　to　his　right　was　playing　a　radio　just　loudly　enough　to　hear。　Ryan　turned　his　head　and　was　able　to　see　his　shoulder　　
　　　　Shoulder；　he　thought；　that's　why　I'm　here。　But　where's　here？　It　was　a　different　room。　The　ceiling　was　smooth　plaster；　recently　painted。　It　was　dark；　the　only　illumination　ing　from　a　light　on　the　table　next　to　the　bed；　perhaps　enough　to　read　by。　There　seemed　to　be　a　painting　on　the　wall　　at　least　a　rectangle　darker　than　the　wall；　which　wasn't　white。　Ryan　took　this　in；　consciously　delaying　his　examination　of　his　left　arm　until　no　excuses　remained。　He　turned　his　head　slowly　to　the　left。　He　saw　his　arm　first　of　all。　It　was　sticking　up　at　an　angle；　wrapped　in　a　plaster　and　fiberglass　cast　that　went　all　the　way　to　his　hand。　His　fingers　stuck　out　like　an　afterthought；　about　the　same　shade　of　gray　as　the　plaster…gauze　wrappings。　There　was　a　metal　ring　at　the　back　of　the　wrist；　and　in　the　ring　was　a　hook　whose　chain　led　to　a　metal　frame　that　arced　over　the　bed　like　a　crane。
　　　　First　thin