ah.thefinaldiagnosis-第43部分

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　〃We　won't　need　it　now。　Tear　it　up。〃　Pearson　was　scrutinizing　the　label　of　a　small　bottle　containing　Rh…positive　cells。　Prepared　by　a　drug　house；　the　solution　was　used　as　a　reagent　in　testing　Rh…negative　blood。
　Bannister　hesitated。　Much　as　he　objected　to　Coleman；　he　knew　there　was　a　question　of　medical　protocol　involved。　〃You　ought　to　let　Dr。　Coleman　know；〃　he　said　doubtfully。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　tell　him？〃
　Pearson　was　having　trouble　with　the　cork　of　the　bottle。　He　said　impatiently；　〃No；　I'll　tell　him　myself。〃
　Bannister　shrugged。　He　had　pointed　something　out；　if　there　were　any　trouble　now；　it　would　not　be　his　responsibility。　He　took　the　purchase　requisition　and　tore　it　up；　allowing　the　pieces　to　flutter　down　into　a　wastebasket　below。
　
　Roger　McNeil；　the　pathology　resident；　suspected　that　no　matter　how　many　years　he　stayed　in　medicine　he　would　never　bee　hardened　to　performing　autopsies　on　children。　He　had　just　pleted　one；　and　now；　in　the　autopsy　room；　the　red…gaping　body　of　the　four…year…old　boy　lay　open；　pathetically；　before　him。　The　sight　disturbed　McNeil　as　much　as　ever。　He　knew；　as　always；　there　would　be　little　sleep　for　him　tonight。　This　scene　would　keep　recurring　in　his　mind…particularly　when　he　remembered；　as　inevitably　he　would；　how　unnecessary　and　futile　this　particular　death　had　been。
　Looking　up；　he　saw　Mike　Seddons　watching　him。　The　surgical　resident　said；　〃Poor　little　bastard。〃　Then；　bitterly；　〃How　stupid　can　people　get！〃
　McNeil　asked；　〃Are　the　police　still　waiting？〃
　Seddons　nodded。　〃Yes…and　the　others。〃
　〃You'd　better　call　Pearson。〃
　〃All　right。〃　There　was　a　telephone　in　the　autopsy…room　annex；　and　Seddons　went　to　it。
　McNeil　wondered　if　he　were　being　cowardly　in　avoiding　this　responsibility。　But　this　was　a　case　the　old　man　should　be　told　of　anyway。　Then　he　could　make　the　decision　on　who　would　break　the　news　outside　this　room。
　Seddons　had　returned　from　the　phone。　〃Pearson　was　in　Serology；〃　he　said。　〃He's　ing　across　now。〃
　The　two　men　waited　silently。　Then　they　heard　Pearson's　shuffling　footsteps；　and　the　old　man　came　in。　He　glanced　at　the　body　as　McNeil　recited　the　details　of　the　case。　An　hour　or　two　earlier　the　child　had　been　struck　by　an　automobile　outside　his　own　home。　He　had　been　brought　to　the　hospital　by　ambulance　but　was　dead　on　arrival。　Notified；　the　coroner　had　ordered　an　autopsy。　McNeil　told　Pearson　what　they　had　discovered。
　The　old　man　said；　〃You　mean　that's　all？〃　He　seemed　incredulous。
　McNeil　answered；　〃That's　all　that　killed　him。　Nothing　else。〃
　Pearson　moved　toward　the　body；　then　stopped。　He　knew　McNeil　well　enough　to　be　aware　that　the　resident　would　have　made　no　mistake。　He　said；　〃Then　they　must　have　just　stood　there　。　。　。　and　watched。〃
　Seddons　put　in；　〃Most　likely　nobody　knew　what　was　happening。〃
　Pearson　nodded　slowly。　Seddons　wondered　what　the　old　man　was　thinking。　Then　Pearson　asked；　〃How　old　was　the　child？〃
　〃Four；〃　McNeil　answered。　〃Nice…looking　kid　too。〃
　All　of　them　glanced　at　the　autopsy　table　and　the　still；　small　figure。　The　eyes　were　closed；　the　fair；　tousled　hair　pulled　back　in　place　now　that　the　brain　had　been　removed。　Pearson　shook　his　head；　then　turned　toward　the　door。　Over　his　shoulder　he　said；　〃All　right；　I'll　go　up　and　tell　them。〃
　The　three　occupants　of　the　hospital　anteroom　looked　up　as　Pearson　entered。　One　was　a　uniformed　patrolman　of　the　city　police；　and　near　him　was　a　tall　man　whose　eyes　were　red…rimmed。　The　third　occupant…dejected　and　sitting　alone　in　the　far　corner…was　a　mousy　little　man　with　a　straggling　mustache。
　Pearson　introduced　himself。　The　patrolman　said；　〃I'm　Stevens；　sir。　Fifth　Precinct。〃　He　produced　a　notebook　and　pencil。
　Pearson　asked　him；　〃Were　you　at　the　scene　of　the　accident？〃
　〃I　arrived　just　after　it　happened。〃　He　indicated　the　tall　man。　〃This　is　the　father　of　the　boy。　The　other　gentleman　was　the　driver　of　the　car。〃
　The　mousy　man　looked　up。　Appealing　to　Pearson；　he　said；　〃He　ran　straight　out…straight　out　from　the　side　of　the　house。　I'm　not　a　careless　driver。　I've　got　kids　of　my　own。　I　wasn't　going　fast。　I　was　almost　stopped　when　it　happened。〃
　〃And　I　say　you're　a　lousy　liar。〃　It　was　the　father；　his　voice　choked　with　emotion　and　bitterness。　〃You　killed　him；　and　I　hope　you　go　to　jail　for　it。〃
　Pearson　said　quietly；　〃Just　a　moment；　please。〃　There　was　silence；　the　others　watching　him。　He　motioned　to　the　policeman's　notebook。　〃There'll　be　a　full　report　for　the　coroner；　but　I　can　tell　you　the　preliminary　findings　now。〃　He　paused。　〃The　autopsy　has　shown　it　was　not　the　car　that　killed　the　boy。〃
　The　patrolman　looked　puzzled。　The　father　said；　〃But　I　was　there！　I　tell　you　。　。　。〃
　〃I　wish　there　were　some　other　way　to　tell　you　this；〃　Pearson　said；　〃but　I'm　afraid　there　isn't。〃　He　addressed　the　father。　〃The　blow　your　boy　received　knocked　him　to　the　road；　and　there　was　a　mild　concussion　which　rendered　him　unconscious。　He　also　sustained　a　small　fracture　of　the　nose…quite　minor；　but　unfortunately　it　caused　his　nose　to　bleed　profusely。〃　Pearson　turned　to　the　patrolman。　〃The　boy　was　left　lying　on　his　back；　I　believe…where　he　fell。〃
　The　officer　said；　〃Yes；　sir；　that's　right。　We　didn't　want　to　move　him　until　the　ambulance　came。〃
　〃And　how　long　was　that？〃
　〃I'd　say　about　ten　minutes。〃
　Pearson　nodded　slowly。　It　was　more　than　enough　time；　five　minutes　would　have　been　sufficient。　He　said；　〃I'm　afraid　that　that　was　the　cause　of　death。　The　blood　from　the　nosebleed　ran　back　into　the　boy's　throat。　He　was　unable　to　breathe　and　he　aspirated　blood　into　the　lungs。　He　died　of　asphyxiation。〃
　The　father's　face　revealed　horror；　incredulity。　He　said；　〃You　mean　。　。　。　if　we'd　only　turned　him　over　。　。　。〃
　Pearson　raised　his　hands　expressively。　〃I　meant　what　I　said…I　wish　there　were　some　other　way　to　tell　you　this。　But　I　can　only　report　the　truth：　the　original　injuries　to　your　boy　were　minor。〃
　The　patrolman　said；　〃Then　the　blow　from　the　car　。　。　。　？〃
　〃One　can't　be　sure；　of　course；　but　my　own　opinion　is　that　it　was　glancing　and　paratively　light。〃　Pearson　gestured　to　the　mousy　man；　now　standing　close　beside　them。　〃I　imagine　this　man　is　telling　the　truth　when　he　says　the　car　was　moving　slowly。〃
　〃Mother　of　God！〃　It　came　from　the　father…a　despairing；　tortured　wail。　He　was　sobbing；　his　hands　to　his　face。　After　a　moment　the　mousy　man　led　him　to　a　settee；　his　arm　around　the　other's　shoulders；　his　own　eyes　glistening。
　The　patrolman's　face　was　white。　He　said；　〃Doctor；　I　was　there　all　the　time。　I　could　have　moved　the　boy　。　。　。　but　I　didn't　know。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you　should　blame　yourself。〃
　The　man　appeared　not　to　have　heard。　He　went　on　as　if　in　a　daze。　〃I　took　a　first…aid　course。　I　got　a　badge　for　it。　All　the　time　they　taught　us…don't　move　anybody；　whatever　you　do；　don't　move　them！〃
　〃I　know。〃　Pearson　touched　the　patrolman's　arm　gently。　He　said　slowly；　〃Unfortunately　there　are　some　exceptions　to　the　rule…one　of　them　is　when　someone　is　bleeding　in　the　mouth。〃
　
　In　the　main…floor　corridor　on　his　way　to　lunch　David　Coleman　saw　Pearson　emerge　from　the　anteroom。　At　first　Coleman　wondered　if　the　senior　pathologist　were　ill。　He　seemed　distracted；　unaware　of　his　surroundings。　Then　he　caught　sight　of　Coleman　and　moved　toward　him。　The　younger　man　halted。
　〃Oh　yes　。　。　。　Dr。　Coleman　。　。　。　There　was　something　I　had　to　tell　you。〃　Coleman　sensed　that　for　some　reason　Pearson　was　having　trouble　marshaling　his　thoughts。　Now　he　reached　out　absently　and　grasped　the　lapel　of　Coleman's　white　lab　coat。　Coleman　noticed　that　the　old　man's　hands　were　nervous　and　fumbling。　He　disengaged　his　coat。
　〃What　was　it；　Dr。　Pearson？〃
　〃There　was　。　。　。　something　to　do　with　the　lab。〃　Pearson　shook　his　head。　〃Well；　it's　gone　now　。　。　。　I'll　remember　later。〃　He　seemed　about　to　turn　away　when　another　thought　came　to　him。　〃I　think　you'd　better　take　over　the　autopsy　room。　Starting　tomorrow。　Keep　your　eye　on　things。　See　they　do　a　good　job。〃
　〃Very　well。　I'll　be　glad　to　do　that。〃　David　Coleman　had　some　clear…cut　ideas　about　the　performance　of　autopsies；　and　this　would　be　an　opportunity　to　put　them　into　effect。　It　occurred　to　him　that　while　they　were　talking　he　might　as　well　bring　up　something　else。　He　said；　〃I　wonder　if　I　could　speak　to　you…about　the　laboratories。〃
　〃The　laboratories？〃　The　old　man's　mind　still　seemed　to　be　elsewhere。
　〃You'll　remember　in　my　letter　I　suggested　you　might　consider　giving　me　charge　of　some　part　of　the　laboratories。〃　It　seemed　a　little　odd　to　be　discussing　this　here　and　now；　but　Coleman　sensed　the　opportunity　might　not　occur　again。
　〃Yes　。　。　。　yes；　I　remember　something　being　said。〃　Pearson　appeared　to　be　watching　a　group　of　three　moving　down　the　corridor　away　from　them…a　policeman　and　a　little　man；　supporting　a　bigger　man　in　the　middle。
　〃I　wonder　if　I　might　start　in　Serology；〃　Coleman　said。　〃I'd　like　to　do　some　checks　on　the　procedures…standard　lab　checks；　that　is。〃
　〃Um？　What　was　that？〃
　It　was　annoying　to　have　to　keep　repeating　things。　〃I　said　I　would　like　to　make　some　lab　checks　in　Serology。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　。　。　。　that's　all　right。〃　Pearson　said　it　absently。　He　was　still　looking　away；　down　the　corridor；　when　Coleman　left。
　
　Elizabeth　Alexander　was　feeling　good。　About　to　begin　lunch　in　Three　Counties　Hos