Touchfeather, Too by Jimmy Sangster

Author:Jimmy Sangster [Sangster, Jimmy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

When I emerged, it was to see a rather pleasant face bending over me, the face of a blond young man with blue eyes and a nice smile.

“Hi!” he said.

I tried to reciprocate, but nothing came out. I tried again.

“Hi yourself,” I managed.

“Feeling OK?” he asked. I shook my head, then grabbed it before it fell off and rolled under the bed.

“Take it easy,” he said. “Drink this.” He held me partially upright while I swallowed some vile tasting concoction which surprised me by muffling the bells that were ringing in my head.

“What happened?” I asked, when he had lowered me back onto the pillow.

“You passed out and you were brought here.”

“Where’s here?”

“The hospital.”

“What hospital?”

“Manboola Mining.”

“Oh,” I said. “Where’s Captain Chalmers?”

“He and his party left hours ago. You’ve been out for quite a time.”

“Galipolodopolo, too?”

“I believe so.” At least that was relief. “I’m Doctor Petrie,” he went on. “You’re Katy Touchfeather.”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” I said, still feeling like absolute death.

He grinned pleasantly. “You’re a real treat for me,” he said. “All I usually get here are VD cases and broken arms.”

“Shouldn’t there be a nurse in the room or something,” I said, recognising a far off gleam in his blue eyes.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “You’re far too sick for me to take advantage of you. Not that I wouldn’t like to.”

“What’s wrong with me?” I asked, trying to change the line of the conversation.

He shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said. “I thought you might be pregnant, but you’re not.”

“I know it,” I said. “How do you?”

“I looked.” Fair enough, I thought. After all, he was a doctor. “Food poisoning probably,” he went on. But he didn’t sound to happy about that either.

“So what happens now?” I asked.

“As soon as you’re well enough, I call Captain Chalmers and he’ll come and fetch you.”

“How about calling him now?” I didn’t fancy staying in Manboola any longer than was absolutely necessary.

“Let’s leave it until tomorrow,” he said. “Is there anything you want?” I shook my head again, and this time it stayed in place. “I’ll send a nurse in to give you something to help you sleep. See you in the morning.”

“Are we actually at the mine?” I asked, game to the end.

“We’re in the compound,” he said. “There’s no hospital at Manboola proper.”

“I thought this place was off limits to outsiders.”

He looked puzzled. “Who told you that?”

“Well, isn’t it?”

He shrugged, “We don’t get many outsiders here I admit, but that doesn’t mean they’re not welcome. You’re very welcome.”

“I must have misunderstood,” I said.

He smiled, rather sweetly. “If I played my cards right I could keep you here for a couple of weeks,” he said. “Doctor’s orders.”

I managed a smile in return. “I’m a pretty generous type girl,” I said. “But never when pushed.”

He looked at me from the door for a moment, a speculative gleam in his eye. Then he smiled again.

“See you tomorrow,” he said, and left.

I looked around my room. It was sterile, functional and completely without any warmth or charm whatsoever.

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