Man, woman, and child(49)

*'I don't know."

"I'd better take a closer look," she replied. "That wasn't a fist he hit you with—it was his matraque."

"His billy club? Jesus! What did I do?"

"Watch him feel us up without a ticket." She smiled. "Come into the cafe down there. Can you walk okay?"

"Yes."

Once inside, she led him to a fairly dark comer, took out an ophthalmoscope and began to peer into Bob's eyes, her forehead close to his.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Smelling your aftershave lotion," she replied. "It's sexy."

Bob gave a nervous laugh. They were standing head to head.

"No, seriously," he asked again.

"I'm checking your pupillary reflexes."

"I'm not a pupil, I'm a teacher," he joked.

"You're not a comedian, either," she replied.

"Am I okay?" he asked seriously.

"I'm pretty sure, but the light in here isn't terribly good. I suggest you go back to your hotel and lie down with a cold compress. And take two aspirins."

"Ah, aspirin—now I know you're a serious doctor."

The blue-jeaned physician threw back her dark hair and laughed.



"Do you want a ride?" she asked, still smiling.

'*No, thanks. I think a walk would do me good." He started out of the caf6. She called after him.

''Listen, if you don't feel better, be sure to come to the hospital before six."

"Why six?"

"Because that's when I get off. Ask for Dr. Guerin. Nicole Guerin."



B

ECKWITH, ARE YOU IN THERE?

Someone was pounding on Bob's head—or was it the door of his hotel room? Gradually he realized it was the latter. He stood up and started slowly towards the noisy door, and opened it.

'Tou missed my lecture, Beckwith." It was Harrison.

"Sorry, Herb. I ran into a little trouble."

He finally noticed Bob's bandage. ''What happened to your head?''

''Two cops . . ."

*'0h. Have you seen a doctor?"

"Yeah. In the street."

"Bob, you're not making any sense. We'd better get out of here. This country's in chaos and the streets are full of wretched students."

"Thanks for dropping by," said Bob woozily. "I've got to lie down now."

"Beckwith, you forget I'm delivering my paper again in Salzburg day after tomorrow. We've got to start driving immediately."

"Herbert, I've just been mugged. I'm in no shape to drive anywhere."

P. Herbert remained single-minded. "Bob, if we

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drive to Milan you could get a plane to Boston, and I could fly on to Salzburg. Come on. The hotel could be bombed at any moment/'

''Relax, Herb. Don't be paranoid. We'll get a good night's sleep and leave first thing in the morn-

"Impossible. Absolutely out of the question. I have a professional duty to discharge and I won't jeopardize my good name."

''Then you'll have to drive yomselL Herb" (That'll call your bluflf.)

u.iy^^ ^^^^^" ^^^^ ^^e colleague heroically. Where are the keys?"

Though a bit surprised, Bob was still willing to part with the car if it meant getring rid of Harrison. He reached into his pocket and handed over the keys.

"I feel bad leaving you like this," said P. Herbert not lookmg at all remorseful. "How will vou eet out?" ^ ^

^]When the strike ends, I'll fly through Paris."

'But how will you contact Sheila? They don't seem to be taking any calls. Not even overseas."

'Well, you might be kind enough to phone her from Austria, okay? Don't mendon my head. Just say the IBM guys asked me to stay a few more days and 111 call her as soon as the phones work "

"I'll be glad to."

;]Thanks."

"That's all right. And you can reimburse me when I see you in Cambridge."

Bob eyed this obnoxious pinhead and thought 1 a reimburse you with my foot. But he couldn't actually say it, since he needed this guy to call oheila. ^

saf'^^^^^' ^^rt). Just make sure she knows I'm



"See you around the campus, then/'

*Teah. Bon voyage/'

As Bob closed the door, he screamed inwardly, I hope you drive off a goddam cliff, you selfish bastard. And then he slumped back onto the bed and fell asleep again.

He awoke to the tolling of bells. Five o'clock. His head was throbbing. He decided he ought to go to the hospital, after all.

The taxi rattled down Boulevard Henri Quatre and let him off just outside the emergency entrance of the H6pital General. Inside it was extremely crowded. Bob's name was taken and he was told to sit and wait. Which he did. On a hard wooden bench. After forty minutes he began to run out of patience. Maybe he should ask for that young doctor. What was her name—Gu^rin?

"We do have a Dr. Guerin," said the nurse in charge. "But she is in Pathology. Monsieur will kindly be seated and await the appropriate physi-