tc.patriotgames-第3章

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　　　　Cathy　looked　up　and　snapped　angrily：　〃Open　the　other　side；　dammit；　I　got　a　bleeder　here！〃
　　　　〃The　other　door's　jammed；　ma'am。　Let　me　help。〃　Ryan　heard　a　different　kind　of　siren　as　they　bent　down。　The　three　of　them　moved　him　aside　a　foot　or　so；　and　the　senior　officer　made　to　open　the　car　door。　They　hadn't　moved　him　far　enough。　When　the　door　swung　open；　its　edge　caught　Ryan's　shoulder。　The　last　thing　he　heard　before　passing　out　was　his　own　scream　of　pain。

　　　　Ryan's　eyes　focused　slowly；　his　consciousness　a　hazy；　variable　thing　that　reported　items　out　of　place　and　out　of　time。　For　a　moment　he　was　inside　a　vehicle　of　some　sort。　The　lateral　movements　of　its　passage　rippled　agony　through　his　chest；　and　there　was　an　awful　atonal　sound　in　the　distance；　though　not　all　that　far　away。　He　thought　he　saw　two　faces　he　vaguely　recognized。　Cathy　was　there；　too；　wasn't　she　　no；　there　were　some　people　in　green。　Everything　was　soft　and　vague　except　the　burning　pain　in　his　shoulder　and　chest；　but　when　he　blinked　his　eyes　all　were　gone。　He　was　someplace　else　again。
　　　　The　ceiling　was　white　and　nearly　featureless　at　first。　Ryan　knew　somehow　that　he　was　under　the　influence　of　drugs。　He　recognized　the　feelings；　but　could　not　remember　why。　It　required　several　minutes　of　lazy　concentration　for　him　to　determine　that　the　ceiling　was　made　of　white　acoustical　tiles　on　a　white　metal　framework。　Some　of　the　tiles　were　waterstained　and　served　to　give　him　a　reference。　Others　were　translucent　plastic　for　the　soft　fluorescent　lighting。　There　was　something　tied　under　his　nose；　and　after　a　moment　he　began　to　feel　a　cool　gas　tracing　into　his　nostrils　　oxygen？　His　other　senses　began　to　report　in　one　at　a　time。　Expanding　radially　down　from　his　head；　they　began　to　explore　his　body　and　reported　reluctantly　to　his　brain。　Some　unseen　things　were　taped　to　his　chest。　He　could　feel　them　pulling　at　the　hairs　that　Cathy　liked　to　play　with　when　she　was　drunk。　His　left　shoulder　felt　。　。　。　didn't　really　feel　at　all。　His　whole　body　was　far　too　heavy　to　move　even　an　inch。
　　　　A　hospital；　he　decided　after　several　minutes。　Why　am　I　in　a　hospital　。　。　。？　It　took　an　indeterminate　period　of　concentration　for　Jack　to　remember　why　he　was　here。　When　it　came　to　him；　it　was　just　as　well　that　he　could　contemplate　the　taking　of　a　human　life　from　within　the　protective　fog　of　drugs。
　　　　I　was　shot；　too；　wasn't　I？　Ryan　turned　his　head　slowly　to　the　right。　A　bottle　of　IV　fluids　was　hanging　on　a　metal　stand　next　to　the　bed；　its　rubber　hose　trailing　down　under　the　sheet　where　his　arm　was　tied　down。　He　tried　to　feel　the　prick　of　the　catheter　that　had　to　be　inside　the　right　elbow；　but　couldn't。　His　mouth　was　cottony　dry。　Well；　I　wasn't　shot　on　the　right　side　。　。　。　Next　he　tried　to　turn　his　head　to　the　left。　Something　soft　but　very　firm　prevented　it。　Ryan　wasn't　able　to　care　very　much　about　it。　Even　his　curiosity　for　his　condition　was　a　tenuous　thing。　For　some　reason　his　surroundings　seemed　much　more　interesting　than　his　own　body。　Looking　directly　up；　he　saw　a　TV…like　instrument；　along　with　some　other　electronic　stuff；　none　of　which　he　could　make　out　at　the　acute　angle。　EKG　readout？　Something　like　that；　he　decided。　It　all　figured。　He　was　in　a　surgical　recovery　room；　wired　up　like　an　astronaut　while　the　staff　decided　if　he'd　live　or　not。　The　drugs　helped　him　to　consider　the　question　with　marvelous　objectivity。
　　　　〃Ah；　we're　awake。〃　A　voice　other　than　the　distant；　muffled　tone　of　the　PA　system。　Ryan　dropped　his　chin　to　see　a　nurse　of　about　fifty。　She　had　a　Bette　Davis　face　crinkled　by　years　of　frowns。　He　tried　to　speak　to　her；　but　his　mouth　seemed　glued　shut。　What　came　out　was　a　cross　between　a　rasp　and　a　croak。　The　nurse　disappeared　while　he　tried　to　decide　what　exactly　the　sound　was。
　　　　A　man　appeared　a　minute　or　so　later。　He　was　also　in　his　fifties；　tall　and　spare；　dressed　in　surgical　greens。　There　was　a　Stethoscope　hanging　from　his　neck；　and　he　seemed　to　be　carrying　something　that　Ryan　couldn't　quite　see。　He　seemed　rather　tired；　but　wore　a　satisfied　smile。
　　　　〃So；〃　he　said；　〃we're　awake。　How　are　we　feeling？〃　Ryan　managed　a　full…fledged　croak　this　time。　The　doctor　　？　　gestured　to　the　nurse。　She　came　forward　to　give　Ryan　a　sip　of　water　through　a　glass　straw。
　　　　〃Thanks。〃　He　sloshed　the　water　around　his　mouth。　It　was　not　enough　to　swallow。　His　mouth　tissues　seemed　to　absorb　it　all　at　once。　〃Where　am　I？〃
　　　　〃You　are　in　the　surgical　recovery　unit　of　St。　Thomas's　Hospital。　You　are　recovering　from　surgery　on　your　upper　left　arm　and　shoulder。　I　am　your　surgeon。　My　team　and　I　have　been　working　on　you　for；　oh；　about　six　hours　now；　and　it　would　appear　that　you　will　probably　live；〃　he　added　judiciously。　He　seemed　to　regard　Ryan　as　a　successful　piece　of　work。
　　　　Rather　slowly　and　sluggishly　Ryan　thought　to　himself　that　the　English　sense　of　humor；　admirable　as　it　might　otherwise　be；　was　a　little　too　dry　for　this　sort　of　situation。　He　was　posing　a　reply　when　Cathy　came　into　view。　The　Bette　Davis　nurse　moved　to　head　her　off。
　　　　〃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。〃　
　　　　〃