The Evening News by Arthur Hailey

Author:Arthur Hailey
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Fiction - Espionage, General, Thriller, Fiction, Intrigue, Espionage
ISBN: 9780385504249
Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 2001-07-09T03:00:00+00:00

the American scene had diluted her Colombian and Peruvian loyalties.

The question was one Socorro herself would have had trouble answering.

On the one hand, she had always been a revolutionary, initially finding an

outlet for her fervor with the Colombian M-19 guerrillas, then more

recently-and profitably-with the Medellin cartel and Sendero Luminoso. Her

conviction about the Colombian and Peruvian governments was that she wanted

the villainous ruling class killed and would happily join the slaughter.

At the same time she had been indoctrinated to consider the U.S. power

structure as equally evil. Yet after three years of living in the United

States and receiving friendly fairness where hostility and oppression would

have been easier to handle, she found it difficult to continue despising

and regarding as enemies America and its people.

Right now she was doing her best to hate these three captives-rico

bourgeois scum, she assured herself-but not wholly succeeding . . .

damnably not succeeding . . . because pity, in a revolutionary, was a

contemptible emotionI

But once out of this perplexing country, as all of them would be very soon,

Socorro was sure she could do better and be stronger, more consistent in

her hatreds.

From a tilted-back chair on the far side of the room, Miguel said to

Baudelio, "Tell me what it is you are doing." His tone made clear it was

an order.

"I am working quickly because the midazolam I administered will very soon

wear off. When it does, I shall begin injections of propofol, an

intravenous anesthetic, a longer-acting drug than the earlier one and more

suitable for what is ahead."

As he moved and spoke, Baudelio seemed transformed from his normal gaunt

and ghostlike self to the teacher and practicing anesthesiologist he had

once been. The same effect, a stirring of long-discarded dignity, had

occurred shortly before the kidnap. But he showed no concern, then or now,

that his skills were being criminally debased or that the circumstances he

was sharing were despicable.

He continued, "Propofol is a tricky drug to use. The opti- The Evening News 155

mum dose for each individual varies, and if too much accumulates in the

bloodstream death can result. So initially there must be experimental

doses, closely monitored."

Miguel asked, "Are you sure you can handle it?"

"If you have doubts," Baudelio said sarcastically, "you are free to get

someone else."

When Miguel failed to answer, the ex-doctor went on, "Because these

people will be unconscious when we transport them, we must be certain

there is no vomiting and aspiration into the lungs. Therefore while we

are waiting there will be a period of enforced starvation. However, they

must not become dehydrated, so I shall give them fluids intravenously.

Then at the end of two days, which you tell me is the time I have, we

shall be ready to put them into those." With his head, Baudelio gestured

to the wall behind him.

Propped upright against the wall were two open funeral caskets, solidly

constructed and silk-lined. One was smaller than the other. The

ornamented hinged lids for both had been removed and stood alongside.

The caskets reminded Baudelio of a question. Pointing to Angus Sloane,

he asked, "Do you want him prepared, or not?"

"If we take him, do you have the medical supplies to handle it?"

-Yes.

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