Soon by Morris Gleitzman

Author:Morris Gleitzman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781760141332
Publisher: Penguin Group Australia

, I hope, that man’s face will heal.

It must be very badly injured to be completely wrapped in bandages like that. I’m amazed he can see through such tiny eyeholes.

He must be able to, because as we pass each other in Doctor Lipzyk’s front garden he doesn’t bump into me or trip over a paving stone.

Just hurries away.

Poor man. But at least he’s got a really good doctor. If anybody can cure a face that’s suffering from shrapnel or other bomb damage, Doctor Lipzyk can.

I knock on the front door of the orphanage.

After a few moments, Doctor Lipzyk opens it. He’s reading a piece of paper and doesn’t look up.

‘If you’ve forgotten something,’ he says crossly, ‘make it quick. Those bandages need to be out of sight.’

I pull the hanky off my face so Doctor Lipzyk can see it’s me. He looks up with a cross expression, then blinks, startled.

I’m a bit startled too. Doctor Lipzyk is wearing a white medical gown with quite a few smears of blood on it.

‘Forgive me, Felix,’ says Doctor Lipzyk. ‘I assumed you were someone else. Come in.’

I go in.

‘I hope this isn’t a bad time,’ I say.

Doctor Lipzyk can probably remember when all his neighbours had telephones as well as houses and people rang first before they dropped in.

‘Not at all, Felix,’ says Doctor Lipzyk. ‘Though unfortunately Anya isn’t here.’

‘That’s OK,’ I say. ‘I’ve come to see you.’

‘Always a pleasure,’ says Doctor Lipzyk. ‘In fact I’ve been expecting you.’

I think I know why.

I explain to him how grateful me and Gabriek are for the powdered milk and how we wouldn’t dream of accepting any more without paying for it. And how we hope he’s OK about that because we’ll need quite a lot.

‘Which we’ll definitely pay for,’ I say. ‘Sometimes with actual money, but also with things you need. We can get really good parts for wardrobes and buckets and all kinds of security equipment. And if anything ever goes wrong here in the house, Gabriek can come and fix it.’

Doctor Lipzyk nods thoughtfully.

‘Thank you, Felix,’ he says. ‘I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.’

He looks like he means it, which gives me the courage to move on.

‘There is one other thing, sir,’ I say.

‘What’s that?’ says Doctor Lipzyk.

‘I was wondering,’ I say, ‘if I could have another look at your library? I promise I’ll be very careful.’

Doctor Lipzyk smiles.

‘Of course you can, Felix,’ he says. ‘Here, let me take your coat.’

I slip my coat off and Doctor Lipzyk hangs it up. Then leads me into the book room.

‘I’m very fortunate to have such a fine medical library,’ says Doctor Lipzyk. ‘When the university was bombed, many rare volumes came into my possession. It seems only fair that I should share my good fortune. So Felix, from now on I want you to regard this library as yours, to use whenever you like.’

I stare at him.

‘Thank you,’ I squeak.

It’s hard to stay calm when your medical library has just increased from two books to about a thousand.

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