‘You call that success?’ I said. ‘She won’t walk again. She’ll have difficulty in talking and she won’t remember me? You call that success?’
‘It was a miracle that Dr. Goodyear saved her life,’ Dr. Weinborg said, turning from the window.
‘Her life? What kind of life? Wouldn’t she be better dead?’
I went out of the room and walked fast down the corridor.
Jack was standing in the doorway of the waiting-room. He caught hold of my arm, but I pulled free and kept on.
I walked out of the hospital into the dark night and kept walking.
I had some stupid idea that if I went on and on, I could walk away from this nightmare, out of the darkness, and into the light, and then come home and find Sarita there as she had always been there since our marriage, waiting for me.
Just a stupid idea.
II
During the next three days I lived in a vacuum. I remained at home, waiting for the telephone bell to ring.
Sarita hovered between unconscious life and death.
I was alone, not wanting anyone, scarcely bothering to eat, but smoking continuously, while I sat in an armchair and waited.
From time to time Jack looked in, but he only stayed a few minutes, realising I wanted to be alone.
No one telephoned, knowing that I waited for a call from the hospital and that a ring would be a knife stab if it wasn’t the hospital.
Around nine o’clock on the third night of waiting the telephone did ring.
I crossed the room and snatched up the receiver.
‘Yes? Halliday here.’
‘I want to talk to you.’
It was Rima: there was no mistaking her voice. I felt my heart give a lurch, then it began to beat violently.
‘Where are you?’
‘In the bar of the Aster Hotel. I’m waiting. How soon can you come over?’
‘Right away,’ I said, and hung up. I called the hospital and told the receptionist that I would be in the bar of the Aster Hotel, and if she had any news for me she would find me there.
It was raining.
I put on my raincoat, turned off the lights and went down to the street. I picked up a taxi and was driven across town to the Aster.
During the drive, a cold feeling of fear built up inside me. I was sure Rima wouldn’t have come all this way to see me unless she had something in mind, and that something would be of profit to her.
The Aster Hotel was the best hotel in Holland City. Already she was changing her way of life. She was making use of my money. I felt sure she had come to extract her pound of flesh.
I wouldn’t dare move beyond the reach of a telephone. She could dictate her terms and leave, and I couldn’t attempt to follow her: couldn’t track her down to some safe place where I could silence her.
Any moment I might get a call, telling me to come at once to the hospital. I was in a trap, and no doubt she guessed it, otherwise she wouldn’t have taken the risk of meeting me.
I walked into the Aster’s bar. At that hour it was nearly empty. There were three men leaning against the bar, talking in undertones and drinking Scotch. At a table in a corner, two middle-aged women were chatting over champagne cocktails. In another corner was a young, broad-shouldered, powerfully built man, wearing a cream- coloured sports coat, a red and white scarf knotted at his throat, a pair of bottle green slacks and nigger brown reverse calf shoes.
I noticed him because of his coarse, bovine handsomeness. He looked like a truck driver who has come into money. He was obviously ill at ease in the surroundings of a luxury hotel. He was holding a highball in a big, brown hand. His coarse featured face, handsome because of an animal sensuality, had a bewildered expression.
I glanced away from him, looking for Rima.
She sat in the middle of the bar, isolated by empty chairs and tables. I scarcely recognised her. She was wearing a black coat over a green dress and she had had her hair dyed the latest sable and grey style.
She looked as smart as paint, and as cold and as hard as polished granite.
She had certainly made use of my money.
I crossed the room, pulled up a chair and sat down opposite her.
As I did so, the big man, sitting in the corner, moved around slightly and stared fixedly at me. I knew then he was Rima’s bodyguard.
‘Hello,’ Rima said, and opening her lizard skin bag she took out my letter and tossed it across the table at me.
‘What’s this all about?’
I screwed up the letter and put it in my pocket.
‘You have had ten thousand. That will have to hold you. I can’t spare any more for the time being. I need all the money I have to save my wife’s life.’
She took out a flat, gold cigarette case from her bag, lifted out a cigarette and set it alight with a gold Dunhill lighter.
‘Looks like you and me are going to jail then,’ she said. ‘I told you: I don’t give a damn one way or the other. I should imagine you would want to be with your wife, but if you want to go to jail I can fix it for you.’
‘You can’t mean that,’ I said. ‘I need every dollar I have to take care of my wife. At the end of the month I’ll give you something. I don’t know how much, but it’ll be something. That’s the best I can do.’
She laughed.
‘You’ll do much better than that, Jeff. You’re going to give me a cheque for ten thousand right now, and on the first of the month another cheque for thirty thousand. Those are the terms. I need the money.
If I don’t get it, I’m ready to go to jail. If I go to jail, you’ll come with me. Please yourself.’
I stared at her. The burning desire that was in me to destroy her must have shown on my face, for she suddenly giggled.
‘Oh, I know. You would like to kill me, wouldn’t you? But don’t kid yourself,’ she said. ‘I’m much too smart. Do you see that poor ox, sitting over there in his finery? He’s in love with me. He doesn’t ask questions. He does what I tell him. He’s just a dumb, blind ox, but he’s tough. Don’t kid yourself you could tangle with him. He’s never more than ten feet away from me. You won’t be able to kill me even if you find me, and you won’t even be able to do that. So forget about it.’
‘You don’t seem to understand my position,’ I said, trying to speak calmly. ‘My wife has had a serious accident and she is dangerously ill. I have a lot of unexpected expenses coming up. All I’m asking is for time to pay you. I can’t give you any money now and still take care of the doctors’ bills.’
‘Can’t you?’ She leaned back in her chair, lifting her eyebrows. ‘Well, all right, then I must go to the police. I either get the money or you go to jail. Please yourself.’
‘Now, listen…’
‘You listen!’ She leaned forward and her expression was suddenly vicious. ‘You seem to have a short memory! A little scene like this took place eleven years ago! Maybe you’ve forgotten it, but I haven’t.
We sat side by side in a car. You said unless I gave you thirty dollars you would take me to the police.
Remember? You took my purse and everything I owned. You dictated to me! You told me I would have to work for you until the money was paid. I haven’t forgotten! I warned you I wouldn’t and I haven’t! I promised myself if ever I got you in the same spot, I’d have as much mercy on you as you had for me! I don’t give a damn about your wife! I don’t give a damn about you, so save your breath! I want ten thousand dollars from you right now, and if I don’t get it, I’m going to the police!’
