The Ages might have a certain eclectic appeal. Have I said something wrong, Principal?'
But the Principal was beyond speech. The V-P stepped into the breach.
'The first essential is to see that this regrettable affair doesn't become public knowledge.'
'Well, considering that it took place in Nott Road '
'Shut up, Board,' shouted the Principal, 'I have stood just about all I can stand of your infernal digressions. One more word out of you and I shall demand either your resignation or my own from the Education Committee. And if need be both. You can make your choice. Shut up or get out.'
Dr Board shut up.
At the Accident Centre Wilt was finding he had no choice at all. The doctor who finally arrived at his cubicle to attend to him was accompanied by a formidable Sister and two male nurses. Wilt regarded him balefully from the couch on which he had been told to lie.
'You've taken your time,' he grumbled. 'I've been lying here in agony for the last hour and...'
'Then we must get a move on,' said the doctor. 'We'll start with the poison first. A stomach wash-out will...'
'What?' said Wilt, sitting up on the couch in horror.
'It won't take more than a minute,' said the doctor. 'Just lie back while Sister inserts the tube.'
'Oh no! Nothing doing,' said Wilt, bolting from the couch into a corner of the cubicle as the nurse closed in with a length of rubber pipe. 'I haven't taken poison.'
'It says on your admittance sheet that you have,' said the doctor. 'You are Mr Henry Wilt, I take it?'
'Yes,' said Wilt, 'but you needn't take it that I have taken poison. I can assure you...' He dodged round the couch to avoid the Sister, only to find himself grabbed from behind by the two male nurses.
'I swear that ' Wilt's denial died on his lips as he was pushed back on to the couch. The pipe hovered over his mouth. Wilt stared villainously at the doctor. The man seemed to be smiling in a singularly sadistic manner. 'Now then, Mr Wilt, you will kindly cooperate.'
'Won't,' grunted Wilt through clenched teeth. Behind him the Sister held his head and waited.
'Mr Wilt,' said the doctor, 'you arrived here this morning and stated quite adamantly and of your own free will that you had swallowed poison, broken your arm and had suffered a wound that required immediate attention. Is that not so?'
Wilt debated how to answer. It seemed safest not to open his mouth. He nodded and then tried to shake his head.
'Thank you. Not only that but you were impolite, to put it mildly, to the lady at the desk.'
'Wasn't,' said Wilt only to regret both his rudeness and this attempt to state his case. Two hands attempted to insert the tube. Wilt bit the thing.
'Have to use the left nostril,' said the doctor.
'No you fucking don't,' yelled Wilt, but it was too late. As the pipe slid up his nose and, by the feel of it, expanded in his throat, Wilt's protests came to an unintelligible end. He writhed and gurgled.
'You may find the next part slightly uncomfortable,' said the doctor with evident pleasure. Wilt stared at the man murderously and would, had the infernal pipe not prevented him, have stated forcibly that he found the present part bloody terrible. He was just burbling his protest when the curtains parted and the admissions clerk came in.
'I thought you might want to see this, Mrs Clemence,' said the doctor. 'Go ahead, Sister.' The
