An Irish Country Doctor by PATRICK TAYLOR

Author:PATRICK TAYLOR
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-01-14T04:45:42+00:00

Barry flinched. Oh, no. Friday was to be his night off. "We'll be running on," said Donal, tugging at the rope. "Got to get you fit, girl."

"Fingal," said Barry. All his questions about the recent strange conversation had been driven away by the thought that he might not be able to see Patricia after all. "Fingal, you said I could have Friday night off."

"Did I?"

"Yes."

"Must have forgotten."

Barry steeled himself. "Look, Fingal--"

"Don't worry. We'll both get away. You just hold the fort 'til it's time for you to go."

"But who'll look after things when we're both out?"

"Kinky. I don't do it very often, but if no one's baby's due and the shop seems reasonably quiet, Kinky takes the calls. Either she asks the customer to wait until the morning, or if she thinks it is urgent, she arranges for an ambulance to take the patient up to the Royal."

"Oh."

"So you can see the light of your life, and I can have a bit of fun myself." O'Reilly chuckled. "The Lord might just move in a mysterious way his wonders to perform."

"You've utterly lost me."

"I do that sometimes," said O'Reilly, "and I've no time to explain now. We're running behind. Come on and we'll get Declan Finnegan looked at."

Declan Finnegan was a man in his fifties. He was sorely afflicted with Parkinson's disease. The diagnosis was instantly apparent the moment Barry walked into the small flat above the grocer's shop. The man's face was a mask, expressionless, immobile. A string of spittle hung from the corner of his mouth. His eyes held no questions for the doctors. Any hope he might have treasured of a cure must have been long gone. He held out one hand in greeting, and Barry saw the telltale rubbing of thumb against fingers, the uncontrollable pill-rolling movements.

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