ah.thefinaldiagnosis-第45节

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refreshing；　possibly　because　it　was　a　change　to　be　with　someone　younger　after　being　around　Dr。　Pearson。　Answering　Elizabeth's　question；　he　said；　〃In　a　way　medicine　is　like　a　war。　And；　just　as　in　a　war；　sometimes　there's　a　spectacular　advance。　When　that　happens；　people…doctors…rush　to　the　new　front。　And　they　leave　a　lot　of　pockets　of　knowledge　to　be　filled　in　behind。〃
　Elizabeth　said；　〃And　that's　the　pathologist's　job…to　fill　them？〃
　〃It's　the　job　of　every　branch　of　medicine。　But　sometimes　in　pathology　there　are　more　opportunities。〃　Coleman　thought　a　moment；　then　continued；　〃There's　another　thing　too。　All　research　in　medicine　is　very　much　like　building　a　wall。　Someone　adds　a　piece　of　knowledge…puts　one　brick　on　another；　someone　else　adds　one　more；　and　gradually　the　wall　grows。　Finally　someone　es　along　and　puts　the　last　brick　on　top。〃　He　smiled。　〃It　isn't　given　to　many　to　do　spectacular　things…to　be　a　Fleming　or　a　Salk。　The　best　a　pathologist　can　do；　usually；　is　to　make　some　modest　contribution　to　medical　knowledge…something　within　his　own　reach；　within　his　own　time。　But　at　least　he　should　do　that。〃
　John　Alexander　had　been　listening　intently。　Now　he　asked　eagerly；　〃Will　you　be　doing　research　here？〃
　〃I　hope　so。〃
　〃On　what？〃
　Coleman　hesitated。　This　was　something　he　had　not　spoken　of　before。　But　he　had　said　so　much　now；　he　supposed　one　more　thing　would　not　make　any　difference。　〃Well；　for　one　thing；　on　lipomas…benign　tumors　of　fat　tissue。　We　know　very　little　about　them。〃　Unconsciously；　as　he　had　warmed　to　his　subject；　his　normal　coolness　and　reserve　had　fallen　away。　〃Do　you　know　there　have　been　cases　of　men　starving　to　death；　yet　having　tumors　thriving　inside　them？　What　I　hope　to　do　is〃　He　stopped　abruptly。　〃Mrs。　Alexander；　is　something　wrong？〃
　Elizabeth　had　gasped　suddenly　and　put　her　face　in　her　hands。　Now　she　took　her　hands　away。　She　shook　her　head；　as　if　to　clear　it。
　〃Elizabeth！　What　is　it？〃　Alarmed；　John　Alexander　jumped　up　from　his　chair。　He　moved　to　go　around　the　table。
　〃It's　。　。　。　it's　all　right。〃　Elizabeth　motioned　him　back。　She　closed　her　eyes　momentarily；　then　opened　them。　〃It　was　just　。　。　。　for　a　moment…a　pain；　then　dizziness。　It's　gone　now。〃
　She　drank　some　water。　Yes；　it　was　true　it　had　gone。　But　for　a　moment　it　had　been　like　sharp　hot　needles…inside　where　the　baby　moved…then　her　head　swimming；　the　cafeteria　spinning　around　her。
　〃Has　this　happened　before？〃　Coleman　asked。
　She　shook　her　head。　〃No。〃
　〃Are　you　sure；　honey？〃　It　was　John；　his　voice　anxious。
　Elizabeth　reached　across　the　table　and　put　a　hand　on　his。　〃Now　don't　begin　worrying。　It's　too　early　for　the　baby。　There's　at　least　another　four　months　to　go。〃
　〃All　the　same；〃　Coleman　said　seriously；　〃I　suggest　you　call　your　obstetrician　and　tell　him　what　happened。　He　might　want　to　see　you。〃
　〃I　will。〃　She　gave　him　a　warm　smile。　〃I　promise。〃
　At　the　time　Elizabeth　had　meant　what　she　said。　But　afterward；　away　from　the　hospital；　it　seemed　silly　to　bother　Dr。　Dornberger　about　a　single　pain　that　had　e　and　gone　so　quickly。　If　it　happened　again；　surely　then　would　be　the　time　to　tell　him…not　now。　She　decided　to　wait。
　
　Fifteen
　
　〃Is　there　any　news？〃
　From　the　wheel　chair　Vivian　looked　up　as　Dr。　Lucy　Grainger　came　into　the　hospital　room。　It　was　four　days　since　the　biopsy；　three　since　Pearson　had　sent　the　slides　to　New　York　and　Boston。
　Lucy　shook　her　head。　〃I'll　tell　you；　Vivian…just　as　soon　as　I　know。〃
　〃When　。　。　。　when　will　you　know　。　。　。　for　sure？〃
　〃Probably　today。〃　Lucy　answered　matter…of…factly。　She　did　not　want　to　reveal　that　she；　too；　was　troubled　by　the　waiting。　She　had　spoken　to　Joe　Pearson　again　last　night；　at　that　time　he　had　said　that　if　the　second　opinions　were　not　forthing　by　midday　today　he　would　phone　the　two　consultants　to　hurry　them　along。　Waiting　was　hard　on　everyone…including　Vivian's　parents；　who　had　arrived　in　Burlington　from　Oregon　the　previous　day。
　Lucy　removed　the　dressing　from　Vivian's　knee；　the　biopsy　scar　appeared　to　be　healing　well。　Replacing　the　dressing；　she　said；　〃It's　hard　to　do；　I　know；　but　try　to　think　of　other　things　as　much　as　you　can。〃
　The　girl　smiled　faintly。　〃It　isn't　easy。〃
　Lucy　was　at　the　door　now。　She　said；　〃Perhaps　a　visitor　will　help。　You　have　an　early　one。〃　She　opened　the　door　and　beckoned。　Mike　Seddons　came　in　as　Lucy　left。
　Seddons　was　wearing　his　hospital　whites。　He　said；　〃I　stole　ten　minutes。　You　can　have　them　all。〃
　He　crossed　to　the　chair　and　kissed　her。　For　a　moment　she　closed　her　eyes　and　held　on　to　him　tightly。　He　ran　his　hands　through　her　hair。　His　voice　in　her　ear　was　gentle。　〃It's　been　hard；　hasn't　it？…just　waiting。〃
　〃Oh；　Mike；　if　only　I　knew　what　was　going　to　happen！　I　don't　think　I'd　mind　so　much。　It's　。　。　。　wondering　。　。　。　not　knowing。〃
　He　drew　slightly　away；　looking　into　her　face。　〃Vivian　darling；　I　wish　there　were　something；　just　something　I　could　do。〃
　〃You've　done　a　lot　already。〃　Vivian　was　smiling　now。　〃Just　being　you…and　being　here。　I　don't　know　what　it　would　have　been　like　without　。　。　。〃　She　stopped　as　he　reached　out　and　put　a　finger　across　her　lips。
　〃Don't　say　it！　I　had　to　be　here。　It　was　preordained…all　worked　out　by　cosmic　coincidence。〃　He　gave　her　his　bright；　broad　grin。　Only　he　knew　there　was　a　sense　of　hollowness　behind　it。　Mike　Seddons；　like　Lucy；　was　aware　of　the　implications　of　the　delayed　report　from　Pathology。
　He　had　succeeded　in　making　Vivian　laugh　though。　〃Rubbish！〃　she　said。　〃If　I　hadn't　gone　to　that　old　autopsy；　and　if　some　other　student　nurse　had　got　to　you　first　。　。　。〃
　〃Uh；　uh！〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃It　might　look　that　way；　but　you　can't　escape　predestination。　Ever　since　our　great…great　ancestors　were　swinging　from　trees；　scratching　their　underarms；　our　genes　have　been　moving　together　across　the　dusty　sands　of　Time；　Life；　and　Fortune。〃　He　was　talking　now　for　the　sake　of　it；　using　the　first　words　which　came　into　his　head；　but　it　was　having　the　effect　he　wanted。
　Vivian　said；　〃Oh；　Mike；　you　talk　such　wonderful　nonsense。　And　I　do　love　you　very　much。〃
　〃I　can　understand　that。〃　He　kissed　her　again；　lightly。　〃I　think　your　mother　likes　me　too。〃
　She　put　a　hand　to　her　mouth。　〃You　see　what　you　do　to　me！　I　should　have　asked　first。　Was　everything　all　right…after　you　all　left　here　last　night？〃
　〃Sure　it　was。　I　went　back　with　them　to　the　hotel。　We　sat　around　and　talked　for　a　bit。　Your　mother　didn't　say　much；　but　I　could　see　your　father　summing　me　up；　thinking　to　himself：　What　kind　of　a　man　is　this　who　presumes　to　marry　my　beautiful　daughter？〃
　Vivian　said；　〃I'll　tell　him　today。〃
　〃What　will　you　say？〃
　〃Oh；　I　don't　know。〃　She　reached　out　and　held　Seddons　by　the　ears；　turning　his　head　from　side　to　side；　inspecting　it。　〃I　might　say；　'He　has　the　nicest　red　hair　which　is　always　untidy；　but　you　can　put　your　fingers　through　it　and　it's　very　soft。'　〃　She　matched　the　action　to　her　words。
　〃Well；　that　should　be　a　big　help。　No　marriage　is　plete　without　it。　What　else？〃
　〃I'll　say；　'Of　course；　he　isn't　much　to　look　at。　But　he　has　a　heart　of　gold　and　he's　going　to　be　a　brilliant　surgeon。'　〃
　Seddons　frowned。　〃Couldn't　you　make　it　'exceptionally　brilliant'？〃
　〃I　might；　if　。　。　。〃
　〃If　what？〃
　〃If　you　kiss　me　again…now。〃
　
　On　the　second　floor　of　the　hospital　Lucy　Grainger　knocked　lightly　on　the　chief　of　surgery's　office　door　and　went　inside。
　Looking　up　from　a　sheaf　of　reports；　Kent　O'Donnell　said；　〃Hullo；　Lucy…rest　your　weary　bones。〃
　〃Now　you　mention　it；　they　are　a　little　weary。〃　She　dropped　into　the　big　leather　chair　which　faced　O'Donnell's　desk。
　〃I　had　Mr。　Loburton　in　to　see　me　first　thing　this　morning。〃　O'Donnell　came　around　the　desk　and　perched　informally　on　the　corner　nearest　Lucy。　〃Cigarette？〃　He　held　out　an　embossed　gold　case。
　〃Thank　you。〃　She　took　a　cigarette。　〃Yes…Vivian's　father。〃　Lucy　accepted　the　light　which　O'Donnell　offered　and　inhaled　deeply；　the　smoke　was　cool；　relaxing。　She　said；　〃Both　parents　got　here　yesterday。　Naturally　they're　very　concerned；　and　they　know　nothing　about　me；　of　course。　I　suggested　Mr。　Loburton　have　a　talk　with　you。〃
　〃He　did。〃　O'Donnell　spoke　quietly。　〃I　told　him　that　in　my　opinion　his　daughter　couldn't　possibly　be　in　better　hands；　that　there　was　no　one　on　the　hospital's　staff　in　whom　I　would　have　greater　confidence。　I　may　tell　you　he　seemed　quite　reassured。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Lucy　found　herself　intensely　gratified　by　O'Donnell's　words。
　The　chief　of　surgery　smiled。　〃Don't　thank　me；　it's　an　honest　appraisal。〃　He　paused。　〃What　about　the　girl；　Lucy？　What's　the　story　so　far？〃
　In　a　few　words　she　summed　up　the　case　history；　her　tentative　diagnosis；　and　the　biopsy。
　O'Donnell　nodded。　He　asked；　〃Is　there　any　problem　with　Pathology？　Has　Joe　Pearson　e　through　promptly？〃
　Lucy　told　him　of　the　delay　and　the　reasons　for　it。　He　thought　briefly；　then　said；　〃Well；　I　guess　that's　reasonable。　I　don't　believe　we　can　plain　about　that。　But　keep　after　Joe；　I　don't　think　you　should　let　it　go　beyond　today。〃
　〃I　won't。〃　Lucy　glanced　at　her　watch。　〃I　plan　to　see　Joe　again　after　lunch。　He　expected　to　know　something　definite　by　then。〃
　O'Donnell　made　a　wry　face。　〃As　definite　as　anything　like　that　can　ever　be。〃　He　mused。　〃Poor　kid。　How　old　did　you　say　she　is？〃
　〃Nineteen。〃　Lucy　was　w