cb.coldheart canyon-第14部分

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　 Todd　went　to　sit　on　the　examination　table　to　cradle　Dempsey；　which　put　him　right　in　the　doctor's　line　of　sight。
　 〃Look；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃I'm　sorry　if　I'm　not　being　quite　as　appreciative　of。。。your　support　of　my　pictures　as　I　would　normally　be；　Doc。　It's　nothing　personal。　I'm　sure　we　could　have　a　great　conversation　about　it　under　different　circumstances。　But　I'd　like　Dempsey　fortable　first。　He's　sick　and　I　want　him　better。〃
　 Finally　the　doctor　managed　a　little　smile；　and　when　he　spoke　his　voice　had　also　quieted；　matching　Todd's。　〃I'm　going　to　put　Dempsey　on　a　saline　drip；　because　he's　obviously　lost　a　lot　of　fluids　in　the　last　twelve　to　twenty…four　hours。　That　should　make　him　feel　a　whole　lot　happier。　Meanwhile；　you　said　Dr。　Spencer　over　at　Robertson　VGA　was　doing　stool　checks？〃　〃She　said　it　could　be　a　virus。〃
　 〃Well。。。maybe。　But　looking　at　his　eyes；　it　seems　more　systemic　to　me。　If　he　were　a　younger　dog　I'd　say　parvo　or　heartworm；　which　is　a　parasite。　But　again；　we　monly　see　toxo　in　pound　dogs　or　strays；　and　I'm　sure　he's　had　his　heartworm　medications。　Anyway；　we'll　see　from　the　stool　results　tomorrow。〃
　 〃Wait；　wait。　You're　saying　it　could　be　parvo　or　heartworm；　but　you　don't　really　think　it's　either　of　these？〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃So　what　do　you　think　it　is？〃
　 The　doctor　shook　his　head。　〃I'd　say　there's　a　better　than　fifty…fifty　chance　he's　got　some　kind　of　tumor。　On　the　brain　or　on　the　brain…stem。〃
　 〃And　if　he　has？〃
　
　 〃Well；　it's　like　a　human　being。　You　can　sometimes　fix　these　things…〃
　 At　this　juncture；　as　though　to　demonstrate　that　things　were　not　in　a　very　fixable　state　right　now；　Dempsey　started　to　shudder　in　Todd's　arms；　his　claws　scrabbling　against　the　metal　table　as　he　tried　to　stay　upright。
　 〃It's　okay；　boy！　It's　okay！〃
　 The　doctor　went　for　a　nurse；　and　came　back　with　an　injection。
　 〃What's　that　for？〃
　 〃Just　to　calm　him　down　a　little；　so　he　can　get　some　sleep。〃
　 〃Are　you　sure？〃
　 〃Yes；　I'm　sure。　It's　a　mild　tranquilizer。　If　you　don't　want　me　to　give　it　to　the　dog；　Mr。　Pickett。。。〃
　 〃Yes。　Yes；　give　it　to　him。〃
　 The　injection　did　indeed　subdue　Dempsey's　little　fit。　They　wheeled　him　away　into　another　room　to　be　given　an　intravenous　infusion；　leaving　Todd　with　the　quilt。
　 〃Damn　dog；〃　he　said；　now　Dempsey　was　out　of　earshot；　〃More　trouble　than　he's　worth。〃　Tears　very　close。
　 〃Why　don't　we　get　a　cup　of　coffee？〃　Marco　suggested；　〃And　we　can　talk　to　the　doctor　more　when　we　get　back？〃
　
　 There　was　a　little　donut　shop　in　the　mini…mall　at　the　top　of　Sepulveda；　and　it　had　just　opened。　They　were　the　first　customers　of　the　day。　Todd　knew　the　instant　he　walked　in　that　both　the　women　serving　recognized　him；　so　he　turned　round　and　walked　out　again　rather　than　risking　getting　caught　in　a　conversation：　Marco　brought　out　two　coffees　and　two　Bear　Claws　in　greaseproof　paper；　still　warm　from　the　oven。　Though　he　hadn't　thought　he　had　an　appetite；　the　pastry　was　too　good　not　to　be　eaten；　so　he　ate。　Then；　coffee　in　hand；　they　walked　down　to　the　hospital；　the　eyes　of　the　women　in　the　donut　shop　glued　to　Todd　until　he　had　disappeared　from　sight。
　 They　said　nothing　as　they　walked。　The　day　was　getting　underway；　the　traffic　on　Sepulveda　backing　up　as　it　waited　to　take　its　turn　to　get　onto　the　freeway。　These　were　people　with　two…hour　mutes　ahead　of　them　before　they　got　to　their　place　of　work；　people　with　jobs　they　hated；　houses　they　hated；　and　a　paycheck　at　the　end　of　the　month　that　wouldn't　even　cover　the　cost　of　the　mortgage；　the　car　payments；　the　insurance。
　 〃Right　now；〃　Todd　said；　〃I'd　give　my　eye　teeth　to　be　one　of　them；　instead　of　having　to　go　back　in　there。〃
　 〃I　can　go　in　for　you。〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃Dempsey　trusts　me；〃　Marco　said。
　 〃I　know。　But　he's　my　dog。〃
　
　
　FIVE
　 Again；　there　was　no　news。　Dempsey　had　been　hooked　up　to　a　saline　drip；　and　looked　as　though　the　tranquilizer　had　taken　its　effect。　He　wasn't　quite　asleep；　but　he　was　dazy。
　 〃We'll　do　an　X…ray　today；　and　see　how　he　looks。〃　The　doctor　said；　〃We　should　have　the　results　back　by　the　end　of　the　day。　So　why　don't　you　two　go　home；　we'll　keep　Dempsey　here　and　see　what　we　can　do　to　get　him　well？〃
　 〃I　want　to　stay。〃
　 〃Well　that's　going　to　be　very　unfortable　for　you；　Mr。　Pickett。　We　don't　have　a　room　we　can　put　you　in；　and　frankly　you　both　look　as　though　you　didn't　get　a　full　night's　sleep。　Dempsey's　mildly　sedated；　and　we'll　probably　keep　him　that　way。　But　it's　going　to　be　six　or　seven　hours　before　we　get　any　answers　for　you。　We　share　our　X…ray　technician　with　our　hospital　in　Santa　Monica；　so　she　won't　even　be　in　to　look　at　Dempsey　until　eleven　at　the　earliest。〃
　 〃I　still　want　to　stay。　You've　got　a　bench　out　there。　You're　not　going　to　throw　me　out　if　I　sit　on　that　are　you？〃
　 〃No。　Of　course　not。〃
　 〃Then　that's　where　I'll　be。〃
　 The　doctor　looked　at　his　watch。　〃I'll　be　out　of　here　in　half　an　hour　and　the　day…doctor；　Doctor　Otis；　will　be　taking　over　Dempsey's　case。　I　will　of　course　bring　him　up　to　speed　with　everything　we've　done　so　far　and　if　she　feels　there's　something　else　she　wants　to　try…〃
　 〃She'll　know　where　to　find　me。〃
　 〃Right。〃
　 The　doctor　gave　up　a　wan　smile；　his　second　and　last　of　the　night。　〃Well；　I　sincerely　hope　you　have　good　news　with　Dempsey；　and　that　by　the　time　I　e　in　again　tonight　you've　both　gone　home　happy。〃
　
　 Todd　would　not　be　dissuaded　from　staying　on　the　bench；　even　though　it　was　situated　a　few　steps　away　from　the　front　counter；　next　to　the　soda　machine；　and　would　leave　him　in　full　view　of　everyone　who　came　through　the　next　few　hours。　Marco　said　that　he　would　e　back　with　a　Thermos　of　good　coffee　and　something　to　eat；　and　left　Todd　there。
　
　 The　parade　of　the　needy　began　early。　About　two　minutes　after　Marco　had　gone　a　distraught　woman　came　in　saying　that　she'd　struck　a　cat　with　her　car；　and　the　victim　was　now　in　her　car；　alive；　but　terrified　and　badly　hurt。　Two　nurses　went　out　with　well…used　pairs　of　leather　gloves　and　a　syringe　of　tranquilizer　to　subdue　the　victim。　They　came　back　with　a　weeping　woman　and　a　corpse。　The　animal's　panicked　self…defenses　had　apparently　used　up　what　little　energies　its　broken　body　had　possessed。　The　woman　was　inconsolable。　She　tried　to　thank　the　nurses　for　their　help　but　all　she　could　do　was　cry。　There　were　six　more　accidents　that　rush　hour；　two　of　them　fatalities。　Todd　watched　all　this　in　a　dazed　state。　Lack　of　sleep　was　beginning　to　catch　up　with　him。　Every　now　and　then　his　eyes　would　flicker　closed　for　a　few　seconds；　and　the　scene　in　front　of　him　would　jump；　like　a　piece　of　film　which　had　had　a　few　seconds'　worth　of　action　removed　and　then　been　spliced　back　together　again。　People　moved　abruptly　from　one　place　to　another。　One　moment　somebody　was　ing　in；　the　next　they　were　engaged　in　conversation　（often　tearful；　sometimes　accusatory；　always　intense）；　with　one　of　the　nurses；　the　next　they'd　gone；　or　they　were　on　their　way　out。
　 Much　to　his　surprise；　nobody　gave　him　more　than　a　cursory　glance。　Perhaps；　they　thought；　that　can't　possibly　be　Todd　Pickett；　sitting　on　a　broken…down　old　bench　next　to　a　broken　down　old　soda　machine　in　a　twenty…four…hour　animal　hospital。　Or　perhaps　it　was　just　that　they　saw　him；　recognized　him；　and　didn't　care。　They　had　other　things　to　think　about　right　now；　more　pressing　than　the　peculiar　presence　of　a　weary…looking　movie　star　on　a　broken　down　bench。　They　had　a　rat　with　an　abscess；　a　cat　that　had　had　six　kittens　but　had　got　the　seventh　stuck；　a　guinea　pig　in　a　shoe　box　that　was　dead　when　the　box　was　opened；　a　poodle　that　kept　biting　itself；　a　problem　with　fleas；　a　problem　with　mange；　two　canaries　that　hated　one　another；　and　so　on　and　so　forth。
　 Marco　came　back　with　coffee　and　sandwiches。　Todd　drank　some　coffee；　which　perked　him　up。
　 He　went　to　the　front　desk　and　asked；　not　for　the　first　time；　to　see　the　day…doctor。　This　time；　he　got　lucky。　Doctor　Otis；　a　pale　and　slight　young　woman　who　looked　no　more　than　eighteen；　and　refused　to　look　Todd　in　the　face　（though　this；　he　realized　was　her　general　practice：　she　was　the　same　with　Marco　and　with　the　nurses；　eyes　constantly　averted）；　appeared　and　said　that　there　was　nothing　to　report　except　that　Dempsey　would　be　going　for　x…rays　in　about　half　an　hour；　and　they　would　be　available　for　viewing　tomorrow。　At　this　point；　Todd　lost　his　temper。　It　happened　rarely；　but　when　it　did　it　was　an　impressive　spectacle。　His　neck　became　blotchy…red；　and　the　muscles　of　his　face　churned；　his　eyes　went　to　ice…water。
　 〃I　brought　my　dog　in　here　at　five　o'clock　this　morning。　I've　been　waiting　here…sitting　on　that　bench…that　bench　right　there；　you　see　it？　Do　you　see　that　bench？〃
　 〃Yes；　I…〃
　 〃That's　where　I've　been　since　six　o'clock。　It　is　now　almost　eleven　o'clock。　I've　asked　on　several　occasions　for　you　to　have　the　mon　decency　to　e　out　and　tell　me　what's　happening　to　my　dog。　Always　politely。　And　I've　been　told；　over　and　over　again；　that　you're　very　busy。〃
　 〃It's　been　a　crazy　morning；　Mr…？〃
　 〃Pickett　is　my　name。〃
　 〃Well；　Mr。　Pickett；　I'm　afraid　I　can't…〃
　 〃Stop　right　there。　Don't　say　you　can't　get　the　X…rays　until　tomorrow　because　you　can。　You　will。　I　want　my　dog　looked　after　and　if　you　won't　do　it　I'll　take　him　some　place　where　he　can　be　taken　care　of　and　I'll　make　sure　every　damn　newspaper　in　the　State　of　California…〃
　 At　this　moment　an　older　woman；　obviously　the　hospital　manager；　stepped　into　view　and　took　Todd's　hand；　shaking　it。　〃Mr。　Pickett。　My　name's　Cordelia　Simpson。　It's　all　right；　Andrea；　I'll　take　care　of　Mr。　Pickett　from　here。〃
　 The　young　woman　doctor　retreated。　She　was　two　shades　whiter　than　she'd　been　at　the　beginning　of　the　conversation。
　 〃I　heard　most　of　what　you　were　telling　Andrea…〃
　 〃Look；　I'm　sorry。　That's　not　my　style。　I　don't　like　losing　my　temper；　but…〃
　 〃No；　it's　okay。　I　understand。　You're　tired　and　you're　concerned　about…？〃
　 〃Dempsey。〃
　 〃Dempsey。　Right。〃
　 〃I　was　told　he'd　be　X…rayed　today　and　we'd　have　the　results　back　this　afternoon。〃
　 〃Well；　the　speed　of　these　things　all　depends　on　the　volume　of　work；　Mr。　Pickett；〃　Cordelia　said。　She　was　English；　and　had　the　face　and　manner　of　a　woman　who　would　not　be　pleasant　if　she　were　riled；　but　was　doing　her　best　right　now　to　put　on　a　gentler　face。　〃I　read　a　piece　about　you　in　the　LA　Times　last　year。　You　were　on　the　cover　with　Dempsey；　as　I　remember。　Clearly　you're　very　close　to　your　dog。　Here's　what　I'm　going　to　do。〃　She　consulted　her　watch。　〃Dempsey　is　being　seen　by　the　radiographer　right　now；　and　I　guarantee　that　we'll　have　the　results　back　by。。。six。　It　might　be　earlier　but　I　think　six　we　can　guarantee。〃
　 〃So　how　long　before　I　can　take　him　home？〃
　 〃You　want　to　take　him　now？〃
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃You'll　find　him　rather　dopey。　I'm　not　sure　he　could　walk。〃
　 〃I　can　carry　him。〃
　 Cordelia　nodded。　She　knew　an　immovable　object　when　she　saw　one。　〃Well　I'll　have　one　of　the　nurses　e　fetch　you　when　he's　ready。　Is　that　his？〃
　 She　pointed　to　the　quilt　on　the　bench。　Quite　unconsciously；　Todd　had　been　nursing　it　while　he　waited。　No　wonder　people　had　kept　their　distance。
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃Do　you　want　me　to　have　him　wrapped　up　in　it？〃
　 〃Thank　you。〃
　 Cordelia　picked　up　the　quilt。　〃And　my　apologies；　Mr。　Pickett；　for　any　difficulties　you　may　have　had。　Our　doctors　are　horribly　overworke