Free The Dragon and the Needle by Hugh Franks Page B

Western world had become perplexed by the sudden deaths – everywhere, the medical profession was baffled. It was no longer a question of money; Western governments had provided plenty of that commodity, particularly as politicians had suffered most. He asked her if she was aware of that.
    She nodded, saying, ‘Yes, I’m aware of that after what you have said.’
    ‘And you probably know that there has been total failure to find the cause, let alone the treatment.’
    He was waiting for her to comment. As a doctor she must want him to dig deeper. She obliged and said, ‘What exactly has been investigated?’
    ‘The victims’ tissues, blood and other fluids give no clues. Radioactive isotopes have been used as tracers, but nothing, absolutely nothing, has shown up as the cause of death. When the Governor of Hong Kong died, there was a possibility of a clue, but then, you may remember what happened to his body. In any case, those were early days.’
    She did not remember what had happened to the Hong Kong Governor’s body, but she replied, ‘I didn’t realise the depth of the problem.’
    She was beginning to realise the attractiveness of Mike more and more. Watching him, his directness, his medical knowledge, his enthusiasm … there was a magnetism about the man, pulling her towards him … Perhaps she could trust him. ‘More coffee?’ she asked.
    He nodded and said, ‘Is that your only comment?’ Hesmiled as she poured him out some more.
    He saw her relief in his smile. She looked more relaxed. Then suddenly the telephone rang. Was it Ah-Ming? She had no wish to speak to him in front of Mike. Instead of going to answer it, she stood facing him. She remained standing, guessing at his thoughts, until the ringing stopped. She sat down again.
    ‘Look,’ he said intently, ‘from now on I’m going to trust you to … Trust you,’ he repeated with emphasis, ‘in terms of my involvement in this trauma.’
    ‘Trauma?’
    ‘It’s traumatic for me.’
    ‘It must be, but I imagine you know that you can trust me. Surely you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t?’
    ‘Right,’ he smiled. ‘The truly puzzling features of ENDS are the different kinds of victims involved. The only similarity is that they are well-known people.’
    ‘She broke in, ‘Is that all? Surely there are other factors.’
    ‘Well, as I’ve already said, there are no indications as to the cause,’ he paused, but only for a moment, then he quickly added, ‘except for one other resemblance.’
    ‘What’s that?’
    Everything he had read in the folder at the Minister of Health’s office, and what he knew of the latest and last thoughts of Professor Dorman went into his answer. ‘At some stage of their lives they have all had treatment from practitioners of Oriental medicine. We know this for a fact.’
    Eleanor leaned back with a look of unconcealed astonishment. She passed her hands through her hair with a quick movement. She resented the implied slur on her profession. ‘What do you mean by knowing it for a fact?’
    ‘Investigations have got that far,’ Mike said. ‘What do you think?’
    ‘Well,’ she said. ‘Other than the misuse of the needles, possibly causing infection, Oriental medicine is concerned with the prolonging of life.’
    ‘But there has been no indication of infection relating to ENDS,’ Mike said, ‘so we’re not getting anywhere, are we?’ He smiled at her.
    ‘No,’ she said. ‘But isn’t it possible that the investigations have put the cart before the horse?’
    ‘What do you mean by that?’
    ‘Well, are they going up the wrong path? Isn’t it possible that all these victims have also been going to Western doctors, or even to dentists?’
    ‘Yes,’ Mike said.
    ‘And,’ she continued, ‘investigative research doesn’t always produce the right answers. You should know all about that.’
    ‘True,’ he said. ‘But you must admit that it’s curious that no one has been able to find out the