Chameleon

'Thanks,' said Jamieson absently.

Jamieson walked over to Gynaecology at six thirty. The condition of the infected women in had worsened and there had been speculation that some of them might actually die before morning if the right antibiotic was not found. The choice of antibiotic treatment had already caused disharmony between Thelwell and his team. They were all agreed that penicillin was proving ineffectual. This was not too surprising because most hospital strains of Staphylococcus had become resistant to the drug over the years but Thelwell's insistence that Cephalosporin should continue to be used and Morton's insistence that it was having not having an effect either was causing tight lipped anger all round. Jamieson intervened to suggest that they treat the women with more than one antibiotic at the same time. After a brief discussion they agreed on a regime of three drugs with close monitoring of the patients' condition so that the regime could be altered if it was proving ineffectual.

Jamieson took the ward sister to one side and asked her about the infected patients. 'How many patients do you have in the ward Sister?'

'Seventeen.'

'And of these only eight have become infected?'

'So far,' said the sister.

'Do the eight have anything in common?' asked Jamieson.

'I don't understand.'

'I'm looking for the reason why eight of the seventeen patients have developed wound infections and the other nine didn't. Did they all have their operation on the same day? In the same theatre? Were the operations performed by the same surgeon? That sort of thing.'

'I'll check for you.'

Jamieson followed the woman to the ward duty room and waited while she checked the records. He became aware that his presence at her shoulder was making her uncomfortable so he turned away and looked at some post-cards pinned up on the wall until she had finished. Two were views of sun-splashed beaches in the Mediterranean; the rest were saucy sea-side cards almost invariably featuring large bosomed nurses and captions of the 'Blimey Nurse!' sort.

'Only two had their operations on the same day,' said the sister. 'Some operations were carried out by Mr Thelwell others by Mr Morton. Some were done in Gynae; three were done in the Orthopaedic theatre. No obvious common factor.'

'There must be one,' maintained Jamieson. 'If they all became infected at the same time there must be one.'

'I can't think,' said the sister.

'Nor can I at the moment,' agreed Jamieson, racking his brain. 'But there has to be a common link. There are just too many for it to be chance wound infection with an airborne bug.'

A nurse came into the duty room and apologised for interrupting before saying, 'Sister, it's Mrs Galbraith. She's very ill.'

The ward sister left the room. Jamieson could hear cries of pain coming from the ward. He left and returned to the residency.

As he climbed the stairs Jamieson thought he heard a slight sound on the first landing as if someone were standing there. He paused but now could hear nothing. Normally this would not have merited any consideration at all but his nerves were taut. There was something strange going on in this hospital, maybe even something evil. The knowledge brought fear and suspicion with it. He continued up to the head of the stairs but was cautious about turning the corner. The thought that someone was lurking there had become almost unbearably strong. He made noise with his feet to suggest that his next step would bring him round the corner and then drew back his right fist. An arm emerged from the shadow and Jamieson prepared to let fly. He only just managed to stop himself in time when he caught a glimpse of the wrist and realised that it was a woman's.

'What the hell!' he exclaimed grabbing the figure by both wrists and pulling her out of the shadows.

'Steady on!' said Sue. 'Why so jumpy?'

Jamieson was speechless with surprise and dismay at what had almost happened. 'What on earth!' he exclaimed. 'I nearly laid you out.'

'I can think of better welcomes,' said Sue. 'Why so nervous?'

'What are you doing here?' exclaimed Jamieson. 'I've been trying to contact you all day.'

'Do we have to speak on the stairs?'

Jamieson opened his door and they both went inside.

'I was feeling guilty about how I treated you on the phone yesterday so I thought I would come up and say I was sorry. The people in the gate-house told me where you were staying. I saw you start to cross the courtyard when I came in the front door so I thought I would give you a surprise.'

Jamieson shook his head and took her in his arms to hold her close. He was still upset at what had happened. 'You're crazy,' he murmured.

'Some welcome.'

'I'm sorry. It's lovely to see you but…'

'Relax. I don't intend interfering in anything. Daddy has arranged accommodation for me in the town so I won't be in your way.'

'Your father?' said Jamieson.

'Don't go all cold on me,' said Sue. 'He doesn't interfere a lot in our lives and you know it. He has money and he likes to see me happy so where's the harm? I wanted to be near you especially right now.'

'Why right now?' asked Jamieson.

'Because I'm pregnant,' replied Sue.

TEN

'That is absolutely marvellous!' exclaimed Jamieson enfolding Sue with both arms and holding her tightly. He rested his cheek on the top of her head.

'You're sure you're pleased?' asked Sue, her voice betraying evidence of doubt.

'Pleased? How could you think anything else? I'm absolutely delighted! I can't begin to tell you how glad I am,' said Jamieson, letting Sue go and spreading his hands as if appealing for divine assistance. The look on his face now left Sue in no doubt about how he felt and their eyes met in one of these moments when two people in love achieve almost perfect communication. It made Jamieson think momentarily on the last time it had happened. It had been near the end of his time in hospital after the accident. It had been on the day he had realised just what an insufferable fool he had been and he had apologised to Sue for his behaviour.

For Sue, it had been the moment when she knew she had got her man back. The change in Jamieson's personality had not been permanent as she had feared in her worst moments. The self-pitying, sarcastic monster she had been putting up with for months had vanished. After Jamieson's apology they had looked at each other without saying anything but understanding everything. Sue had cried for the first time since the accident but the tears had been of relief and happiness.

A knock came to the door and Jamieson opened it. He found Clive Evans standing there.

'I thought I heard voices,' said Evans.

'Come in,' said Jamieson. 'Meet my wife. I've just had some wonderful news.' Jamieson's face was creased in smiles. 'I'm going to be a father.'

'Congratulations,' said Evans warmly. 'Is this your first child Mrs Jamieson?' he asked shaking Sue's hand.

'Please call me Sue. Yes it is.'

'What are you hoping for? Boy or Girl?'

Sue looked at Jamieson and said, 'Well?'

'Don't care,' said Jamieson putting his arm round Sue again and squeezing her shoulder. 'Mind you, if it should be a boy and if he should play wing three-quarter for Scotland, I can't honestly say that I'd be terribly disappointed.'