Kaeti & Company by Keith Roberts

Author:Keith Roberts [Roberts, Keith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780575104310
Publisher: Gateway
Published: 2013-04-22T23:00:00+00:00

When she could see again she was sitting on the edge of the bunk. The doctor was there, and a nurse holding a bowl. He wiped with a tissue, flung it away and took another. He rolled her lip back, angled her head and wiped again. ‘All right,’ he said. ‘It’s OK, take it easy.’ Then over his shoulder, ‘Would you ask Mr. MacDonald to attend? At once, if you please.’ He pulled a wodge of cotton wool from a roll. ‘Here,’ he said. ‘Hold that there a moment.’ He straightened up. His face was like granite too. ‘How did this happen?’ he said.

Stimpson spread her hands. ‘She went potty, all of a sudden,’ she said. ‘Started bangin’ ’er ’ead against the wall. I had to restrain ’er’.

His lips were set into a line. ‘You had to restrain her,’ he said. ‘I see. Is this true, Kaeti?’ His hand was still on her shoulder.

She nodded, dumbly. He pulled the cotton wool away, and clicked his tongue. ‘It’s all right,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry, it’s not too bad.’ She pressed it back in place.

The cell was getting quite full now. The dentist had brought an assistant too, even the Deputy Warden has turned up. She was looking annoyed; maybe she’d been having dinner or something. She stood hands on hips and stared down at her. ‘What exactly happened here?’ she said.

The dentist turned her head as well. He shone a little pocket torch, probed gently with his finger. ‘A couple of teeth loosened mebbe,’ he said. ‘No actual damage, as far as I can see.’ He stood up, wiping his hands. ‘Be right as rain in a few days’ time,’ he said. He looked anguished at once.

‘I’m still waiting,’ said the Deputy.

Kaeti looked across the cell. The other followed her glance. The hundred pack lay where Rod had left it, in plain view. Stimpson wouldn’t dare touch it, not now; she’d steal her lighters though, instead. ‘It’s like she reckoned,’ she said. ‘Sorry, I dunno what come over me. It won’t ’appen again.’

The doctor swung her legs onto the bunk, pressed gently on her shoulder. He stared down once more, gravely. ‘Kaeti, are you sure?’ he said. ‘Are you quite, quite sure?’

She nodded, tiredly. ‘Yes, honest,’ she said. ‘I’ll be all right now.’ He shook his head, opened the little bag he carried; and she began to struggle at once. ‘No,’ she said. ‘No, please …’

‘Nurse,’ he said. He took her wrist, swabbed at the inside of her forearm. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘It’s just something to make you sleep.’

‘I don’t want ter sleep,’ she said desperately ‘Would you …’ But he paid no attention. ‘You don’t leave me any choice,’ he said. ‘Keep still.’ She felt the little prick of the hypodermic, watched the plunger move slowly down the barrel. He pressed with a dab of cotton wool, withdrew the needle. ‘Start counting now,’ he said. ‘Good girl …’

She tried to resist, but it was useless; she could feel it working already.

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