Free Night of the Fox by Jack Higgins Page B

opened and Sister Maria Teresa came down the sloping concrete ramp to meet them. She wore a simple black habit, a small woman with calm eyes and not a wrinkle to be seen on her face though she was in her sixties.
     
     
"Dr. Hamilton." Her English was good, but with a pronounced French accent.
     
     
"This is General Gallagher. He manages de Ville Place where the patient is employed."
     
     
"We'll need a trolley," Gallagher said.
     
     
"There's one just inside the door."
     
     
He got it and brought it to the back of the van. He opened the doors, revealing Kelso lying on an old mattress, and they eased him out onto the trolley.
     
     
Sister Maria Teresa led the way inside, and as he pushed the trolley up the ramp, Gallagher whispered to Kelso, "Don't forget, keep your trap shut, and if you have to moan in pain, try not to sound American."
     
     
Hamilton stood in the operating theater examining the x-ray plates which young Sister Bernadette had brought in. "Three fractures," Sister Maria Teresa said. "Not good. He should be in hospital, Doctor, but I don't need to tell you that."
     
     
"All right, Sister. I'll tell you the truth," Hamilton said. "If he goes down to St. Helier they'll want to know how it happened. Our German friends insist on it. You know what sticklers for detail they are. Le Marquand was fishing illegally when the accident took place."
     
     
Gallagher cut in smoothly, "Which could earn him three months in jail."
     
     
"I see." She shook her head. "I wish I had a bed to offer, but we're quite full."
     
     
"Any Germans about?"
     
     
"Two of their girlfriends," she said calmly. "The usual thing. One of the army doctors handled that yesterday. Major Speer. Do you know him?"
     
     
"IVe worked with him on occasion at the hospital," Hamilton said. "I've known worse. Anyway, Sister, if you'd care to assist me, you and Sister Bernadette, we'll get started."
     
     
She eased him into a robe and he went to scrub up at the sink in the corner. As Sister Bernadette helped him on with rubber gloves, he said to Maria Teresa, "A short-term anesthetic only. Chloroform on the pad will do." He moved to the operating table and looked down at Kelso. "All right?"
     
     
Kelso, gritting his teeth, nodded and Hamilton said to Gallagher. "You'd better wait outside."
     
     
Gallagher turned to leave, and at that moment, the door opened and a German officer walked in.
     
     
"Ah, there you are, Sister," he said in French, then smiled and changed to English. "Professor Hamilton, you here?" "Major Speer," Hamilton said, gloved hands raised.
     
     
"IVe just looked in on my patients, Sister. Both are doing well."
     
     
Speer was a tall, handsome man with a good-humored, rather fleshy face. His greatcoat hung open, and Gallagher noticed an Iron Cross First Class on the left breast and the ribbon for the Russian Winter War. A man who had seen action.
     
     
"Anything interesting, Doctor?"
     
     
"Fractures of the tibia. An employee of General Gallagher here. Have you met?"
     
     
"No, but IVe heard of you many times, General." Spoor clicked his heels and saluted. "A pleasure." He moved to the x-rays and examined them. "Not good. Not good at all. Comminuted fracture of the tibia in three places."
     
     
"I know hospitalization and traction should be the norm," Hamilton said. "But a bed isn't available."
     
     
"Oh, I should think it perfectly acceptable to set the bones and then plaster." Speer smiled with great charm and took off his greatcoat. "But, Herr Professor, this is hardly your field. It would be a pleasure to take care of this small matter for you."
     
     
He was already taking a gown down from a peg on the wall and moved to the sink to scrub up. "If you insist," Hamilton said calmly. "There's little doubt this is more your sort of thing than mine."
     
     
A few minutes later, Speer was ready, leaning down to examine the leg. He looked up at Sister Maria Teresa. "Right, Sister, chloroform now, I