ah.thefinaldiagnosis-第22节

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llnesses　did　the　same　thing；　there　was　a　level　maintained…nature's　level。　And　because　of　this　it　was　the　strong　who　perpetuated　themselves。　They　were　the　ones　who　sired　the　next　generation。〃
　〃Do　you　really　think；　Eustace；　that　mankind　is　so　degenerate　now？〃　Amelia　Brown　had　asked　the　question；　and　O'Donnell　saw　she　was　smiling。　She　knows　that　Swayne's　enjoying　this；　he　thought。
　〃We're　moving　toward　degeneracy；〃　the　old　man　answered　her；　〃at　least　in　the　Western　world。　We're　preserving　the　cripples；　the　weaklings；　and　the　disease…ridden。　We're　accumulating　burdens　on　society；　non…producers…the　unfit；　unable　to　contribute　anything　to　the　mon　good。　Tell　me…what　purpose　does　a　sanatorium　or　a　home　for　incurables　serve？　I　tell　you；　medicine　today　is　preserving　people　who　should　be　allowed　to　die。　But　we're　helping　them　to　live；　then　letting　them　spawn　and　multiply；　passing　along　their　uselessness　to　their　children　and　their　children's　children。〃
　O'Donnell　reminded　him；　〃The　relationship　between　disease　and　heredity　is　far　from　clear。〃
　〃Strength　is　of　the　mind　as　well　as　the　body；〃　Eustace　Swayne　snapped　back。　〃Don't　children　inherit　the　mental　characteristics　of　their　parents…and　their　weaknesses？〃
　〃Not　all　of　the　time。〃　This　was　between　the　old　tycoon　and　O'Donnell　now。　The　others　sat　back；　listening。
　〃But　a　lot　of　the　time　they　do。　Well；　don't　they？〃
　O'Donnell　smiled。　〃There's　some　evidence　that　way；　yes。〃
　Swayne　snorted。　〃It's　one　of　the　reasons　we've　so　many　mental　hospitals。　And　patients　in　them。　And　people　running　to　psychiatrists。〃
　〃It　could　also　be　that　we're　more　aware　of　mental　health。〃
　Swayne　mimicked　him。　〃It　could　also　be　that　we're　breeding　people　who　are　weak；　weak；　weak！〃
　The　old　man　had　almost　shouted　the　last　words。　Now　a　bout　of　coughing　seized　him。　I'd　better　go　easily；　O'Donnell　thought。　He　probably　has　high　blood　pressure。
　Just　as　if　O'Donnell　had　spoken；　Eustace　Swayne　glared　across　at　him。　The　old　man　took　a　sip　of　brandy。　Then；　almost　malevolently；　he　said；　〃Don't　try　to　spare　me；　my　young　medical　friend。　I　can　handle　all　your　arguments　and　more。〃
　O'Donnell　decided　he　would　go　on　but　more　moderately。　He　said；　quietly　and　reasonably；　〃I　think　there's　one　thing　you're　overlooking；　Mr。　Swayne。　You　say　that　illness　and　disease　are　nature's　levelers。　But　many　of　these　things　haven't　e　to　us　in　the　natural　course　of　nature。　They're　the　result　of　man's　own　environment；　conditions　he's　created　himself。　Bad　sanitation；　lack　of　hygiene；　slums；　air　pollution…those　aren't　natural　things；　they're　man's　creation。〃
　〃They're　part　of　evolution　and　evolution　is　a　part　of　nature。　It　all　adds　up　to　the　balancing　process。〃
　Admiringly　O'Donnell　thought：　You　can't　shake　the　old　son　of　a　gun　easily。　But　he　saw　the　chink　in　the　other's　argument。　He　said；　〃If　you're　right；　then　medicine　is　a　part　of　the　balancing　process　too。〃
　Swayne　snapped　back；　〃How　do　you　reason　that？〃
　〃Because　medicine　is　a　part　of　evolution。〃　Despite　his　good　resolution　O'Donnell　felt　his　voice　grow　more　intense。　〃Because　every　change　of　environment　that　man　has　had　produced　its　problems　for　medicine　to　face　and　to　try　to　solve。　We　never　solve　them　entirely。　Medicine　is　always　a　little　behind；　and　as　fast　as　we　meet　one　problem　there's　a　new　one　appearing　ahead。〃
　〃But　they're　problems　of　medicine；　not　nature。〃　Swayne's　eyes　had　a　malicious　gleam。　〃If　nature　were　left　alone　it　would　settle　its　problems　before　they　arose…by　natural　selection　of　the　fittest。〃
　〃You're　wrong　and　I'll　tell　you　why。〃　O'Donnell　had　ceased　to　care　about　the　effect　of　his　words。　He　felt　only　that　this　was　something　he　had　to　express；　to　himself　as　well　as　to　the　others。　〃Medicine　has　only　one　real　problem。　It's　always　been　the　same；　it　always　will。　It's　the　problem　of　individual　human　survival。〃　He　paused。　〃And　survival　is　the　oldest　law　of　nature。〃
　〃Bravo！〃　Impulsively　Amelia　Brown　clapped　her　palms　together。　But　O'Donnell　had　not　quite　finished。
　〃That's　why　we　fought　polio；　Mr。　Swayne；　and　the　black　plague；　and　smallpox；　and　typhus；　and　syphilis。　It's　why　we're　still　fighting　cancer　and　tuberculosis　and　all　the　rest。　It's　the　reason　we　have　those　places　you　talked　about…the　sanatoria；　the　homes　for　incurables。　It's　why　we　preserve　people…all　the　people　we　can；　the　weak　as　well　as　the　strong。　Because　it　adds　up　to　one　thing…survival。　It's　the　standard　of　medicine；　the　only　one　we　can　possibly　have。〃
　For　a　moment　he　expected　Swayne　to　lash　back　as　he　had　before。　But　the　old　man　was　silent。　Then　he　looked　over　at　his　daughter。　〃Pour　Dr。　O'Donnell　some　more　brandy；　Denise。〃
　O'Donnell　held　out　his　glass　as　she　approached　with　the　decanter。　There　was　a　soft　rustle　to　her　dress；　and　as　she　leaned　toward　him　he　caught　a　faint；　tantalizing　waft　of　perfume。　For　a　moment　he　had　an　absurd；　boyish　impulse　to　reach　out　and　touch　her　soft　dark　hair。　As　he　checked　it　she　moved　over　to　her　father。
　Replenishing　the　old　man's　glass；　she　asked；　〃If　you　really　feel　the　way　you　say；　Father；　what　are　you　doing　on　a　hospital　board？〃
　Eustace　Swayne　chuckled。　〃Mostly　I'm　there　because　Orden　and　some　others　are　hoping　I　won't　change　my　will。〃　He　looked　over　at　Orden　Brown。　〃They　reckon　there　can't　be　long　to　wait　in　any　case。〃
　〃You're　doing　your　friends　an　injustice；　Eustace；〃　Brown　said。　His　tone　contained　the　right　mixture　of　banter　and　seriousness。
　〃And　you're　a　liar。〃　The　old　man　was　enjoying　himself　again。　He　said；　〃You　asked　a　question；　Denise。　Well；　I'll　answer　it。　I'm　on　the　hospital　board　because　I'm　a　practical　man。　The　world's　the　way　it　is　and　I　can't　change　it；　even　though　I　see　what's　wrong。　But　what　someone　like　me　can　be　is　a　balancing　force。　Oh；　I　know　what　some　of　you　think…that　I'm　just　an　obstructionist。〃
　Orden　Brown　interjected　quickly；　〃Has　anyone　ever　said　that？〃
　〃You　don't　have　to。〃　Swayne　shot　a　half…amused；　malicious　glance　at　the　board　chairman。　〃But　every　activity　needs　a　brake　on　it　somewhere。　That's　what　I've　been…a　brake；　a　steadying　force。　And　when　I'm　gone　perhaps　you　and　your　friends　will　find　you　need　another。〃
　〃You're　talking　nonsense；　Eustace。　And　you're　doing　your　own　motives　an　injustice。〃　Orden　Brown　had　evidently　decided　to　be　equally　direct。　He　went　on；　〃You've　done　as　many　good　things　in　Burlington　as　any　man　I　know。〃
　The　old　man　seemed　to　shrink　back　into　his　chair。　He　grumbled；　〃How　do　any　of　us　really　know　our　own　motives？〃　Then；　looking　up；　〃I　suppose　you'll　expect　a　big　donation　from　me　for　this　new　extension。〃
　Orden　Brown　said　smoothly；　〃Frankly；　we　hope　you'll　see　fit　to　make　your　usual　generous　contribution。〃
　Softly；　unexpectedly；　Eustace　Swayne　said；　〃I　suppose　a　quarter　of　a　million　dollars　would　be　acceptable。〃
　O'Donnell　heard　Orden　Brown's　quickly　indrawn　breath。　Such　a　gift　would　be　munificent…far　more　than　they　had　expected；　even　in　their　most　sanguine　moments。
　Brown　said；　〃I　can't　pretend；　Eustace。　Frankly；　I'm　overwhelmed。〃
　〃No　need　to　be。〃　The　old　man　paused；　twirling　the　stem　of　his　brandy　glass。　〃I　haven't　decided　yet；　though　I've　been　considering　it。　I'll　tell　you　in　a　week　or　two。〃　Abruptly　he　turned　to　O'Donnell。　〃Do　you　play　chess？〃
　O'Donnell　shook　his　head。　〃Not　since　I　was　in　college。〃
　〃Dr。　Pearson　and　I　play　a　lot　of　chess。〃　He　was　looking　at　O'Donnell　directly。　〃You　know　Joe　Pearson；　of　course。〃
　〃Yes。　Very　well。〃
　〃I've　known　Dr。　Pearson　for　many　years；〃　Swayne　said；　〃in　Three　Counties　Hospital　and　out　of　it。〃　The　words　were　slow　and　deliberate。　Did　they　have　an　undertone　of　warning？　It　was　hard　to　be　sure。
　Swayne　went　on；　〃In　my　opinion　Dr。　Pearson　is　one　of　the　best…qualified　men　on　the　hospital　staff。　I　hope　that　he　stays　in　charge　of　his　department　for　many　years　to　e。　I　respect　his　ability　and　his　judgment…pletely。〃
　Well；　there　it　is；　O'Donnell　thought…out　in　the　open　and　in　plain　words：　an　ultimatum　to　the　chairman　of　the　hospital　board　and　the　president　of　the　medical　board。　In　as　many　words　Eustace　Swayne　had　said：　If　you　want　my　quarter　million　dollars；　hands　off　Joe　Pearson！
　
　Later　Orden　Brown；　Amelia；　and　O'Donnell…seated　together　in　the　front　seat　of　the　Browns'　Lincoln　convertible…had　driven　back　across　town。　They　had　been　silent　at　first；　then　Amelia　said；　〃Do　you　really　think…a　quarter　of　a　million？〃
　Her　husband　answered；　〃He's　quite　capable　of　giving　it…if　he　feels　inclined。〃
　O'Donnell　asked；　〃I　take　it　you　received　the　message？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Brown　said　it　calmly；　without　embellishment　and　without　seeking　to　pursue　the　subject。　O'Donnell　thought：　Thank　you　for　that。　He　knew　this　had　to　be　his　problem；　not　the　chairman's。
　They　dropped　him　at　the　entrance　to　his　apartment　hotel。　As　they　said　good　night　Amelia　added；　〃Oh；　by　the　way；　Kent；　Denise　is　separated　but　not　divorced。　I　think　there's　a　problem　there；　though　we've　never　discussed　it。　She　has　two　children　in　high　school。　And　she's　thirty…nine。〃
　Orden　Brown　asked　her；　〃Why　are　you　telling　him　all　that？〃
　Amelia　smiled。　〃Because　he　wanted　to　know。〃　She　touched　her　husband's　arm。　〃You　could　never　be　a　woman；　dear。　Not　even　with　surgery。〃
　Watching　the　Lincoln　move　away；　O'Donnell　wondered　how　she　had　known。　Perhaps　she　had　overheard　him　and　Denis