‘It's here,’ one of the cabin crew said, ‘but there's no one on board who's been trained to use it. The girl who was trained had her shift changed.’
‘Remarkable,’ Jonathan said. ‘Put it in front of me anyway. Tania, describe what you see. And then check the man's chest again, see if there's a scar suggesting he might have been fitted with a pacemaker.’
There was no pacemaker scar. She had assisted with defibrillation before, but had never even seen one of these new portable machines. It was an SAD – a semiautomatic defibrillator. She told Jonathan what she saw, followed his instructions and attached two electrodes to the patient's chest. They moved back, waited for the machine to assess the patient. Then a suitable shock size flashed into the screen. ‘Let's try it,’ said Jonathan after she had read out what was there.
They – or the patient – were in luck. The heart restarted at once. Jonathan told her to draw up morphine and inject it, told the stewards to fit the man with an oxygen mask and give him as much as was possible.
Then they remained watching for another ten minutes.
‘The nearest airport is still Orlando,’ a steward told them. ‘We've radioed for clearance and the ambulance.’
‘Then all we can do is hope. We'll go back to our seats. Fetch us if there's any change.’
They sat back in their seats together and agreed that, yes, they would both like another drink. Jonathan asked for a brandy and Tania decided to join him. She had found the past half-hour more stressful than anything in a long time.
‘You know, I think you enjoyed that,’ she whispered to him after they had accepted their drinks. ‘You were sorry for the man, of course, but you enjoyed it.’
‘I'm afraid I did a little. Didn't you enjoy it as well?’
She couldn't understand how he could be so calm. ‘I was terrified! I don't care if I did train as a nurse for two years, I was still terrified.’
‘We both did some good,’ he said, ‘and it made me feel useful for a change. How does it feel to know that you just probably saved someone's life?’
‘I didn't!’
‘You did. You know very well that I couldn't have managed without you. Now, how does it feel?’
She thought for a minute. What he'd said was true – he probably couldn't have managed without her. So how did she feel? ‘It feels good,’ she said.
They were now flying in sight of the coast of America. Tania stared, entranced, out of the window.
The coastline was so vast, there were so few signs of civilisation compared with England. Then there was the brilliant greenness of Florida, with its scattering of tiny lakes. And then they landed.
An ambulance was waiting. Paramedics hustled on board and carried off their patient. 'He stands a chance now,' said Jonathan. 'Hope he makes it.' Then the passengers were allowed to disembark.
Once again they were escorted through customs and immigration. Their bags were retrieved for them, placed on a trolley. And as they moved into the open concourse, there waiting for them was an enormous, earnest-looking young man. He held a sign saying DR. KNIGHT, but he recognised them at once.
‘Good afternoon, Miss Richardson, Dr. Knight. I'm Pierce Hardy. I've been assigned to you during your stay. May I show you my identity?’
On a chain round his neck was a card holding his name and photograph, with a stamped statement saying that he was an accredited member of the conference.
After Tania had inspected it he solemnly shook hands with them both and then took charge of the luggage trolley. ‘I have a car waiting outside. Please, ask me anything, I'll help if I can. Our aim is to make sure your stay is useful, profitable and comfortable. Now, shall we go to your hotel first?’
Tania had her first taste of Florida weather as she walked from the airport to the car. It was worse than she had expected – hot and sticky, as Jonathan had said. But the car had its engine running and was cool inside.
‘Normally secretaries are in a separate block, but I understand that you have adjoining rooms so you can be of extra assistance to Dr. Knight?’ Pierce asked her.
‘That's right,’ Tania said, trying not to giggle.
‘It must be a terrible thing, sir, an accident such as yours,’ Pierce said to Jonathan. ‘When I heard about it I read up on it at once. Terrible but fascinating.’
‘You're a medical student, Pierce?’
‘In my third year, sir. I hope to learn a lot from this conference.’
‘I hope you do, too.’ Jonathan seemed to accept Pierce's presence as entirely normal. ‘What's the programme for the rest of the day, Pierce?’
‘Well, I'm at your disposal if you want to go anywhere, see anything. Or if you need anything I'll try to get it for you. But the first official function is the reception at the conference centre at 7.30 this evening. Usually black tie, sir.’
‘You can pick us up at seven, then. We won't be going out again this afternoon.’
The hotel was white-painted, luxurious. Pierce arranged the transfer of the luggage, took Tania to the desk to sign in and accompanied them to the fifth floor to make sure all was well. Then, when he was absolutely sure that there was nothing more he could possibly do, he left them. He would meet them in the foyer at seven that night.
‘Sit there while I have a quick look round,’ she said to Jonathan, ‘then I'll come back and tell you about the place.’ They had adjoining rooms – adjoining, suites, in effect. Each suite had a bedroom with a bathroom opening off it, and a slightly larger living room.
The two living rooms had the connecting door. It couldn't have been better arranged. His case was in one bedroom, hers was in the other. She came back into his sitting room, sat opposite him and giggled.
‘I like it when you laugh like that,’ he said. ‘What especially are you thinking of?’
‘I was thinking of Pierce. A very proper, very earnest young man. He went to such trouble to indicate that he knew we had adjoining rooms because I needed to help you. We mustn't think that he thought that we were –’
‘Of course not,’ said Jonathan. ‘The very idea! And we're not, are we? Not yet anyway. But when – and if – I get my sight back, we'll pay the place a return visit.’
She noticed that, as ever, he hadn't said when he regained his sight. The “if” was always there. As if he was preparing himself for possible disappointment.
‘Tell me about the room,’ Jonathan said. ‘Is there any chance of me falling off the balcony?’ There was a balcony and they were on the fifth floor.
Instantly she was alarmed. ‘Jonathan! You do not go on that balcony unless I'm with you. Understand? There's a high railing, of course, but you do not go out there.’
‘OK, I won't,’ he murmured. ‘Especially if I have large amounts to drink.’
She knew there was no danger of that. But there had been cases of newly blind people drinking to excess, perhaps to drown their sorrows, and then having the most appalling accidents. Especially falls. It didn't bear thinking about.
‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn't mean to shout. Come on, we'll learn to trail the place.’He needed to be as independent as possible. He learned to navigate the bathroom, the bed, found the telephone, managed to master the control panel that turned on the television and radio channels. ‘Shan't be paying much attention to those,’ he said. He learned to cope with the air-conditioning unit. Then he wandered round the sitting room, touching the chairs and the rest of the furniture.
‘There's a packet of information here,’ she said. ‘Let me read odd bits to you.’ Then she unpacked for him, even though she knew he didn't want her to.
‘Now, go to your own room for a while,’ he ordered when she'd finished. ‘Come back in, say, an hour. Have a shower or a bath, but I suggest you don't sleep. You're to enjoy this, too. I won't have you running round after me all the time.’
‘It's not running round after you. It's what I'm here for and I like it!’
‘Just do as you're told.’ He grinned.
&nbs
p; In fact, it was a good idea to leave him alone for a while. He had to acclimatise to things in his own way.
This was the first time he had ever stayed anywhere but in his own flat since he'd been blinded. He needed to get used to the strangeness of it.
When Tania went back to Jonathan's room later – carefully knocking first – she found that he had also showered and had changed into fresh T-shirt and chinos. His hair was still damp, his eyes bright. He looked healthy and fit and … he just looked wonderful.
‘There's a mini-bar somewhere,’ he told her. ‘Why don't you find it then look to see if there's any freshly squeezed orange juice? There usually is in these places and it's always wonderful.’
She found the bar and the juice, poured them a glass each. Yes, it was wonderful. Then, again at his suggestion, she led him very carefully out onto the balcony. She settled him in one of the two chairs before seating herself. ‘It's warm,’ she said. But there was a bit of a breeze, and it was pleasant to sit in the sun.
‘I'm enjoying myself,’ he said, ‘and that's entirely due to you.’
‘No. It's due to the conference organisers and to Pierce. They're the ones who are looking after you.’
He shook his head. ‘They make this trip possible. You make it pleasant. I could cope without you –possibly. But with you I can have a good time. I like your company, Tania.’
‘I'm enjoying myself, too,’ she pointed out. But his compliment had warmed her.
He suggested that they order something light to eat from room service. ‘Pick something out of the menu,’ he suggested. So she found the menu – long and fascinating – and read it out to him. Then at his insistence, she picked something first. Something typically American. A swordfish steak sandwich with a side order of salad and shrimps with Marie-Rose sauce?
‘Sounds good,’ he said, ‘and I'll ask for coffee for two as well.’
‘But what do you want?’
‘I'm going to share yours. Don't worry, I've had sandwiches from here before. There'll be enough for two.’
She didn't believe him until the waiter turned up with his little trolley and laid the sandwich out on the table on the balcony. ‘I guess you're right,’ she said.
After a while she insisted that Jonathan listen while she read the speech to him again. By now she almost knew most of it, and he could tell her which passages to read more slowly, which sections to emphasize.
‘You've got a good reading voice,’ he said eventually. ‘Have you ever thought of volunteering to record things? You could start with non-fiction, then perhaps move on to short stories and novels.’ She had told him about the variety of reading material that was recorded for blind people.
‘No, I've never thought of recording myself,’ she said. ‘I'm glad that you think I could do it.’
‘You know that I think that you're beautiful? People have told me so, but I knew it anyway. Well, your voice is part of your beauty.’
Tania didn't know what to say. When he talked about her being beautiful, she always felt like a cheat. ‘Perhaps it's time we went to get changed,’ she said. But she knew he had noticed how she hadn't replied to his compliment.
The reception that evening was to be formal.
Jonathan said he'd take no time to put on his dinner jacket, but she would need far longer. So she went back to her room to change. She had brought her new wonderful dress with her – but she was saving it for the big ball on the last night. Tonight she would wear a pink cotton dress she'd borrowed from Marianne. It was just sufficiently formal. She brushed her hair, saw to her make-up. Perhaps Jonathan wouldn't see her but his friends would, and she didn't want to let him down.
When she knocked and went back into his room she found him considerably irritated. He was in shirtsleeves and trousers, his jacket lying on the bed. And in his hand was his black bow-tie.
‘Can you tie this?’ he asked. ‘Usually I'm an expert, but I now realise I must have a mirror to help me. Joe did it for me last time.’
‘You could send down for a ready-tied one,’ she suggested.
He looked horrified. ‘Never! I'd be known ever after as the consultant with the made-up tie. I've got to do this somehow.’
‘Well, I've never done one before,’ she said, ‘but I'll try. Tell me how to do it.’ She stood facing him and tried to follow his instructions. It was no good.
‘We're facing different ways,’ she said, ‘and you can't get your mind round it. I'm going to stand behind you. But you'll have to sit down.’ So Jonathan sat on the dressing-table stool, she knelt behind him, reached over his shoulders and followed his instructions. That was much easier. She could see the tie coming together in the mirror.
But it was an odd position. She had to press close to him. In the very flimsy bra that Marianne had made her buy, her breasts were obvious. She could feel the warmth of his body through the thin cotton of her dress.
She wondered – and it made the situation worse – if he could feel her nipples coming erect because of the pressure. But he said nothing.
Finally the tie was tied, and Tania sighed with relief. ‘It's done,’ she said. ‘Perhaps not as well as you'd do it, but there's no reason to be ashamed of it.’
He touched the bow-tie, nodded approvingly. ‘I'm glad you've finished. Having your body so close to mine was … having an effect on me.’
‘Put your jacket on,’ she said, blushing.
She checked his hair, tugged at the jacket, brushed it down. Both of them put on the rather large badges they had been issued, giving their names, titles, hospitals and so on. ‘You're going to be a credit to me,’ she said.
‘I hope I will but I think all eyes will be on you. I need something to dream about. What are you wearing?’
She told him, describing his mother's dress. ‘May I … feel?’ he asked.
‘Yes, you may if you wish, but don't mess my makeup.’ She tried to keep the tremor from her voice.
As he had done before, he touched her face, very delicately. He ran his fingers down her neck, her arms, across to her waist. Then he hesitated. ‘Go on,’ she said. ‘I don't mind. I told you before, I rather like it.’
So he let his fingers stray gently over her breasts, and she thought she found it as exciting as he obviously did. Unable to stop herself, she bent forward and gave him a quick kiss. ‘Soon be time to meet Pierce,’ she said. ‘Just one more thing – you're to wear dark glasses.’ She handed them to him.
‘I'll feel like an American gangster in these,’ he grumbled.
‘It's a courtesy to other people as much as anything,’ she said.
Reluctantly, he had to agree. He wore the glasses as a sign that he was blind. If people didn't realise this, he might unwittingly offend someone.
Pierce was on time to the second. ‘I took a liberty, Dr. Knight,’ he said. ‘I understand that your … ocular deficiency is quite recent, so I asked the chef to prepare suitable food.’
‘I'm impressed,’ Jonathan said gravely. ‘Any student with such an attention to detail will make an excellent doctor.’
Pierce blushed. ‘Thank you, sir,’ he said. ‘If you'll just wait here, I'll fetch the car.’
‘Aren't you impressed, Tania?’ Jonathan asked when he was sure Pierce was out of earshot.
‘I'm impressed with anyone who can say "ocular deficiency" and not smile,’ she said.
They drove through busy streets in the air-conditioned car. When they stopped at the lights Tania was amused by the voices she could hear. Most of them were British. Still, this was obviously a foreign country. The iced-cake architecture suggested this.
The conference centre was enormous! She had been to one or two conferences when she'd been training, but never to anywhere like this. It was a set of domes in white concrete, surrounded by acres of bright green grass.
Pierce drove them to the entrance, saw them out of the car and handed them over to someone else who was waiting for them. When they wished to leave, they were to say so at the ma
in desk, and three minutes later Pierce would pick them up.
‘I've never been treated as efficiently as this before,’ she muttered to Jonathan.
‘The American way,’ he said. ‘They're brilliant at detail.’
They were led to the foyer, Tania describing what they were passing. Jonathan had been here before and knew what to expect. The room was large and people stood around in small groups, talking. A waiter hovered with a tray, offering them a choice of water, orange juice or California champagne. She took champagne for them both.
‘I hope I haven't ignored someone I know,’ he whispered to her. ‘I guess I'll just have to beam at the world in general.’
‘You're not a generally beaming type. I think you're -’
‘Jonathan!’ A tall, broad man with a Texan accent and a bootlace tie, instead of the normal black bow-tie, stood smiling in front of them. ‘Jonathan, it's good to see you. Sorry to hear about your accident. Matt McKie here.’
‘No one could mistake that accent, Matt. Good to … say hello again.’ They shook hands and Jonathan went on, ‘I'd like to introduce my good friend, Tania Richardson, who's acting as my eyes.’
‘Good to see you, too, Tania.’ Her hand was taken and gently squeezed. ‘And this is my wife, Glenys.’ Matt went on, ‘I've asked for us to be together at dinner, Jonathan. Now, I want you to tell me all about the prognosis for your oncoming operation. And while we have a minute, I've got a couple of fellows very interested in your theories on treating TB in Africa.’
He turned again to Tania. ‘You don't mind if I borrow him a minute, do you, Tania?’
Glenys said, ‘I'll look after Tania for a while.’ When the two men had gone, she went on, ‘You've heard of golf widows? Well, conference widows are worse off. Is this your first time here?’
‘I'm afraid it is,’ said Tania, ‘I'm just getting used to things.’
‘Then let me tell you all about the shops,’ Glenys said.
‘How do you feel?’ Jonathan asked. ‘You've had a long day. And looking after me must make you even more tired.’
The Consultant's Recovery Page 14