as usual, attempted to act as peacemaker.
“Dr. Van Boeck,” she said in a not-quite-steady
192
Mary Daheim
voice, “please excuse my cousin. She really does feel
awful, and I don’t feel much better myself. The staff
here seems very chary with the pain medicine.”
Dr. Van Boeck scowled at Judith. “Are you questioning our medical expertise?” he asked in a gruff
tone.
“She’s questioning your common sense,” Renie
broke in, “of which you people seem to have very little. What the hell is the point of allowing patients to
feel miserable? How can we sleep? How can we assume the proper attitude toward recovery? If you want
to keep up your little charade about your concern for
patients, why don’t you just shoot us after we come out
of surgery and be done with it? Or,” Renie went on, her
eyes narrowing, “is that more or less what happened
with Somosa, Fremont, and Randall?”
Dr. Van Boeck’s face had turned purple. Apparently,
the commotion had attracted the attention of other staff
members. The silent orderly, a nurse Judith didn’t recognize, and Peter Garnett crowded in the doorway.
“You miserable creature!” Dr. Van Boeck shouted at
Renie, and then choked. He grabbed his throat and
staggered, bumping into Mr. Mummy in the visitor’s
chair.
“What is this?” Dr. Garnett demanded, rushing into
the room. “Jan, what’s wrong?”
Dr. Van Boeck turned to look at Garnett, tried to
speak, clutched his right arm, and crashed to the floor.
“Good lord!” Garnett cried, and kneeled beside his
colleague. “Quick, get help! I think he’s had a stroke!”
Heather and the other nurse ran off. Mr. Mummy,
looking pale, put a hand to his chest. The silent orderly
stood like a statue, watching the little scene on the
floor.
SUTURE SELF
193
“Oh, dear,” said Renie in dismay.
“Are you okay?” Judith whispered to Mr. Mummy.
He nodded. “Yes. Yes, but this is . . . terrible.” Clumsily, he got out of the chair. “I’d better leave.” He bustled out of the room.
Despite all the confusion, Judith noticed that Mr.
Mummy wasn’t limping.
Five minutes later, Jan Van Boeck had been removed
from the room. Judith hadn’t been able to tell exactly
what kind of emergency measures the frantic staff
members had applied, but another doctor, Father McConnaught, and Sister Jacqueline had also shown up.
Few words were exchanged, except for terse directions
from Dr. Garnett. Then everyone was gone and the
cousins were left staring at each other.
“I feel awful,” Renie said, shrinking back into the
