「trysomebodyelsethen.」

「ohhe’scoming,」shesaid.「hedidn’twantto.buthe’scomingassoonashecanmanage.」

「where’scandy?」

「thisishisdayoff.thursday.thecookandcandyhavethursdaysoff.it’stheusualthingaroundhere.canyougethimuptobed?」

「notwithouthelp.bettergetarugorblanket.it’sawarmnight,butcaseslikethisgetpneumoniaveryeasily.」

shesaidshewouldgetarug.ithoughtitwasdamnniceofher.butiwasn’tthinkingveryintelligently.iwastoobushedfromcarryinghim.

wespreadasteamerrugoverhimandinfifteenminutesdr.loringcame,completewithstarchedcollarandrimlesscheatersandtheexpressionofamanwhohasbeenaskedtocleanupafterthedoggotsick.

heexaminedwade’shead.「asuperficialcutandbruise,」hesaid.「nochanceofconcussion.ishouldsayhisbreathwouldindicatehisconditionratherobviously.」

hereachedforhishat.hepickeduphisbag.

「keephimwarm,」hesaid.「youmightbathehisheadgentlyandgetridoftheblood.he’llsleepitoff.」

「ican’tgethimupstairsalone,doctor,」isaid.

「thenleavehimwhereheis,」helookedatmewithoutinterest.「goodnight,mrs.wade.asyouknowidon’ttreatalcoholics.evenifidid,yourhusbandwouldnotbeoneofmypatients.i’msureyouunderstandthat.」

「nobody’saskingyoutotreathim,」isaid.「i’maskingforsomehelptogethimintohisbedroomsothaticanundresshim.」

「andjustwhoareyou?」dr.loringaskedmefreezingly.

「myname’smarlowe.iwashereaweekago.yourwifeintroducedme.」

「interesting,」hesaid.「inwhatconnectiondoyouknowmywife?」

「whatthehelldoesthatmatter?alliwantis—」

「i’mnotinterestedinwhatyouwant,」hecutinonme.heturnedtoeileen,noddedbriefly,andstartedout.igotbetweenhimandthedoorandputmybacktoit.

「justaminute,doc.mustbealongtimesinceyouglancedatthatlittlepieceofprosecalledthehippocraticoath.thismancalledmeonthephoneandilivesomewayoff.hesoundedbadandibrokeeverytrafficlawinthestategettingoverhere.ifoundhimlyingonthegroundandicarriedhiminhereandbelievemeheisn’tanybunchoffeathers.thehouseboyisawayandthere’snobodyheretohelpmeupstairswithwade.howdoesitlooktoyou?」

「getoutofmyway,」hesaidbetweenhisteeth.「orishallcallthesheriff’ssubstationandhavethemsendoveradeputy.asaprofessionalman—」

「asaprofessionalmanyou’reahandfuloffleadirt,」isaid,andmovedoutofhisway.

heturnedred—slowlybutdistinctly.hechokedonhisownbile.thenheopenedthedoorandwentout.heshutitcarefully.ashepulleditshuthelookedinatme.itwasasnastyalookasievergotandonasnastyafaceasieversaw.

wheniturnedawayfromthedooreileenwassmiling.

「what’sfunny?」isnarled.

「you.youdon’tcarewhatyousaytopeople,doyou?don’tyouknowwhodr.loringis?」

「yeah—andiknowwhatheis.」

sheglancedatherwristwatch.「candyoughttobehomebynow,」shesaid.「i’llgosee.hehasaroombehindthegarage.」

shewentoutthroughanarchwayandisatdownandlookedatwade.thegreatbigwritermanwentonsnoring.hisfacewassweatybutilefttherugoverhim.inaminuteortwoeileencamebackandshehadcandywithher.