Plague Read Online Free Page B

out.’
    After Mrs.
Fairfaix, he saw three more patients. Mrs. Vicincki, with her
sprained ankle; old Mr. Dunlop, with his kidney complaint; and the younger of
the two elderly Miss Grays, who was suffering from sunburn. As usual, he
tried to be calm, comforting, and reassuringly efficient.
    Just before one
o’clock, he pressed the intercom for Esther. ‘Yes, doctor?’
    ‘Esther,’ he
said. ‘What are you doing for lunch?’
    ‘Nothing special. I was thinking of a diet cola and a cream
cheese on rye.’
    Dr. Petrie
coughed. ‘That sounds revolting. How about coming down to Mason’s Bar with me
and sinking a steak-and-lobster grill?’
    ‘But doctor, my
figure...’
    ‘Your figure,
Esther, is one of the natural wonders of the world. Now, do you want to come,
or don’t you?’
    There was a
bleep. Esther said, ‘Hold on a moment, doctor. It’s the outside phone.’
    He waited for a
few moments. Then Esther came back to him and said, ‘It’s Dr. Selmer, from the
hospital.’
    ‘Okay. First
tell me whether you’re coming to lunch, then put him
on.’
    ‘Dr. Selmer
says it’s urgent.’
    ‘Lunch is
urgent. Are you coming?’ Esther sighed. ‘All right. If you insist on twisting my arm like that.’
    Dr. Petrie picked
up the outside phone and leaned back in his chair, propping his feet on the
edge of his desk. He picked at a stray thread on his cotton slacks.
    ‘Anton?’
    ‘Oh, hi,
Leonard,’ said Dr. Selmer. ‘I was just calling you about that kid you brought
in this morning.’
    ‘Did you find
out what it was?’
    ‘Well, we’re
not too sure yet. The blood and sputum tests haven’t been completed, although
there’s obviously some kind of bacillus infection there. I had his parents in
for a check-up this morning, and they seem okay, but I’ve asked their
permission for a post-mortem.’
    Dr. Petrie
snapped the thread from his slacks. ‘Have you any ideas what you’re looking
for?’ he asked.
    Dr. Selmer
sounded uncertain. ‘It could be tularemia. Did you notice any pet rabbits
around the kid’s place?’
    ‘I don’t think
so. You really think it’s that?’
    ‘Dr. Bushart
thinks so. He had a couple of cases out in California.’
    ‘Sure, but
that’s California,’ Dr. Petrie said. ‘California has every weird bug and
bacillus going. This is healthy, swamp-infested Florida.’
    ‘We’re checking
up anyway.’ said Dr. Selmer. ‘Meanwhile, I shouldn’t worry too much. If it was
tularemia, the chances that you’ve picked it up are pretty remote. Just to be
safe, though, I should give yourself a couple of shots
of streptomycin.’
    ‘Are you
playing golf this weekend?’ asked Dr. Petrie. ‘I’m still short of a partner.’
    ‘Why don’t you
teach that assistant of yours – what’s her name – Esther. I’d sure like to see
her swing!’
    ‘Anton,’ said
Dr. Petrie, ‘you have a very impure mind.’
    There was a
laugh from the other end of the phone. ‘It’s only because I never get to do
anything impure with my body.’
    Esther came
into the room, signaling elaborately that she was ready for lunch.
    Dr. Petrie
said, ‘Okay, Anton – I have to leave now. But let me know what you find out
about the kid, will you? As soon as you know.’
    ‘Sure thing,’
said Dr. Selmer. ‘And don’t forget the shots. All I want right now is a golf
partner down with rabbit disease.’
    Dr. Petrie
laughed. ‘Who do you think I am? Bugs Bunny?’
    It was a cool,
cloudless evening. A fresh wind was blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean, and
ruffling the dark blue surface of Biscayne Bay. As they drove across the North
Bay Causeway over Treasure Island, a large red motor-launch furrowed the water,
and seagulls twisted and spun in its wake.
    Dr. Petrie was
wearing a sky-blue sports shirt and white slacks belted with rope. He was
feeling relaxed and calm, and he drove the Lincoln with one hand resting
lightly on the wheel.
    Beside him,
Adelaide Murry was trying to put on lipstick in the sun-vizor