按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
or。
Knowing it to be a losing argument； Alexander still went on。 〃It isn't much more work。 I'd be glad to do it myself。 All that's needed is Coombs serum。 It's true it makes the testing a little more expensive 。 。 。〃
This was familiar ground。 Now Bannister could understand better what the two of them were talking about。 〃Oh； yeah！〃 he said sarcastically。 〃That would go great with Pearson。 Anything that's more expensive is sure to be a big hit。〃
〃But don't you understand？…the other way isn't foolproof。〃 Alexander spoke tensely； without realizing it he had raised his voice。 〃With the two tests we're doing here you can get a negative test result； and yet a mother's blood may still be sensitized and dangerous to the baby。 You could kill a newborn child that way。〃
〃Well； it isn't your job to worry about it。〃 This was Bannister at his crudest； the words almost snarled。
〃But〃
〃But nothing！ Pearson isn't keen on new ways of doing things…especially when they cost more money。〃 Bannister hesitated； and his manner became less aggressive。 He was aware that it was one minute to five and he was anxious to wind this up and get away。 〃Look； kid； I'll give you some advice。 We're not doctors； and you'd be smart to quit trying to sound like one。 We're lab assistants and we work in here the way we're told。〃
〃That doesn't mean to say I can't think； does it？〃 It was Alexander's turn to be aroused。 〃All I know is； I'd like to see my wife's test done in saline； and in protein； and in Coombs serum。 You may not be interested； but this baby happens to be important to us。〃
At the door the older man surveyed Alexander。 He could see clearly now what he had not realized before…this kid was a troublemaker。 What was more； troublemakers had a habit of involving other people in unfortable situations。 Maybe this smart…aleck college graduate should be allowed to hang himself right now。 Bannister said； 〃I've told you what I think。 If you don't like it you'd better go see Pearson。 Tell him you're not satisfied with the way things are being run around here。〃
Alexander looked directly at the senior technician。 Then he said quietly； 〃Maybe I will。〃
Bannister's lip curled。 〃Suit yourself。 But remember…I warned you。〃
With a final glance at the clock he went out； leaving John Alexander in the laboratory alone。
Twelve
Outside the main entrance to Three Counties Hospital Dr。 David Coleman paused to look around him。 It was a few minutes after eight on a warm； mid…August morning； with promise already of a hot and sultry day ahead。 At this moment there was little activity outside the hospital。 Beside himself； the only other people in sight were a janitor； hosing some of yesterday's dust from a section of the forecourt； and a middle…aged nurse who had just alighted from a bus on the opposite side of the street。 The main stream of hospital business； he supposed； would not begin to flow for another hour or so。
David Coleman surveyed the block of buildings which prised Three Counties。 Certainly； he decided； the hospital's builders could never be accused of having wasted money on aesthetic frills。 The architecture was strictly utilitarian； the facings of plain brick unadorned by any other masonry。 The effect was a succession of conventional rectangles： walls； doors； and windows。 Only near the main doorway did the pattern vary； and here a single foundation stone announced； 〃Laid by His Honor Mayor Hugo Stouting； April 1918。〃 As he walked up the entry steps David Coleman found himself wondering what kind of a man that long…forgotten dignitary had been。
Carl Bannister was sorting papers on Dr。 Pearson's desk when Coleman knocked and entered the pathologist's office。
〃Good morning。〃
Surprised； the senior lab technician looked up。 It was unusual to have visitors this early。 Most people around the hospital knew that Joe Pearson seldom arrived before ten o'clock； sometimes later。
〃Good morning。〃 He returned the greeting； not too affably。 Bannister was never at his best in the early morning。 He asked； 〃Are you looking for Dr。 Pearson？〃
〃In a way； yes。 I'm starting work here today。〃 Seeing the other start； he added； 〃I'm Dr。 Coleman。〃
The effect； Coleman thought； was somewhat like letting off firecrackers under a hen。 Bannister put down his papers hurriedly and came around the desk； almost at a run； his bald head gleaming。 〃Oh； excuse me； Doctor。 I didn't realize。 I'd heard you were ing； but we had no idea it would be this soon。〃
Coleman said calmly； 〃Dr。 Pearson is expecting me。 Is he in； by the way？〃
Bannister seemed shocked。 〃You're too early for him。 He won't be here for another two hours。〃 His face creased in a confidential man…to…man smile。 It seemed to say： I expect you'll keep the same kind of hours yourself as soon as the newness wears off。
〃I see。〃
As Coleman glanced around him Bannister remembered an omission。 He said； 〃Oh； by the way； Doctor； I'm Carl Bannister…senior lab technician。〃 With careful geniality he added； 〃I expect we'll be seeing a lot of each other。〃 Bannister made a habit of taking no chances with anybody senior to himself。
〃Yes； I expect we will。〃 Coleman was not sure how much the idea appealed to him。 But he shook hands with Bannister； then looked around for a place to hang the light raincoat he had brought； the morning forecast predicted thunder showers later in the day。 Once again Bannister was alert to serve and please。
〃Let me take your coat。〃 He found a wire hanger and carefully put coat and hanger on a rack near the door。
〃Thank you；〃 Coleman said。
〃That's perfectly all right； Doctor。 Now； would you like me to show you around the labs？〃
Coleman hesitated。 Perhaps he ought to wait for Dr。 Pearson。 On the other hand； two hours was a long time to sit around and he might as well be doing something in the meantime。 The labs would be his domain anyway。 What was the difference？ He said； 〃I saw part of the labs with Dr。 Pearson when I was here a few weeks ago。 But I'll take another look if you're not too busy。〃
〃Well； of course； we're always busy around here； Doctor。 But I'll be glad to take the time for you。 In fact； it'll be a pleasure。〃 The working of Bannister's mind was incredibly transparent。
〃This way； please。〃 Bannister had opened the door of the serology lab and stood back for Coleman to enter。 John Alexander； who had not seen Bannister since their argument the night before； looked up from the centrifuge in which he had just placed a blood sample。
〃Doctor； this is John Alexander。 He just started work here。〃 Carl Bannister was warming to his role of showman。 He added facetiously； 〃Still wet behind the ears from technology school； eh； John？〃
〃If you say so。〃 Alexander answered unfortably； resenting the condescension but not wanting to be rude。
Coleman moved forward； offering his hand。 〃I'm Dr。 Coleman。〃
As they shook hands Alexander said interestedly； 〃You mean you're the new pathologist； Doctor？〃
〃That's right。〃 Coleman glanced around him。 As he had on the previous visit； he could see that a lot of changes would need to be made in here。
Bannister said expansively； 〃You just look around； Doctor…at anything you want。〃
〃Thank you。〃 Turning bac