Drug of Choice by Michael Crichton

Author:Michael Crichton [Crichton, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-4532-9927-2
Publisher: Open Road Media

14. GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT

HE DRESSED QUICKLY, SLIPPING into a pair of slacks, sneakers, and a sweater. He had brought only one sweater, and now he was glad; it was cold.

When he had dressed, he looked again at the tray and the gruel set out by his bed.

Then he left the room. The hallway was quiet, he moved slowly down toward the stairs at the far end, avoiding the elevator. Around him, the hotel was silent except for the rising sound of the storm.

He reached the head of the stairs and paused. On the ground floor below, he could hear quiet voices, and shuffling sounds. As he waited, he heard footsteps approaching, and then coming up the stairs.

He had a moment of panic, backing away. Then he saw a closet marked “Utility”; the door was not locked, and he slipped in among mops and buckets. He left the door slightly ajar and waited.

After several moments, two people appeared at the top of the stairs. One was a lovely young woman in a bikini; the other was a red-jacketed waiter. They walked slowly, arm in arm, down the hallway. The girl seemed a little unsteady, and often leaned against her companion for support. Once or twice, she giggled.

Eventually, they came to her room, and stopped. The waiter unlocked the girl’s door, choosing the key from a large ring at his belt. The girl put her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.

“Thank you for a lovely evening, darling,” she said. And then, “Shall we…”

“By all means,” the waiter said. He held the door open, and the girl went into her room.

“You make such thrilling love,” the girl said.

“Yes, my dear,” the waiter said, and closed the door. After a few moments, he reappeared in the hallway, walked down two doors, and unlocked another door. He disappeared inside, and came out with a stocky middle-aged man at his side.

“Ah,” said the man. “Charming morning, eh, Linda?”

“Oh yes,” the waiter said.

“All this sunlight… makes a man feel marvelous!”

“It certainly does,” the waiter said.

“After breakfast, we’ll play a little tennis, shall we?”

“That would be nice,” the waiter said.

“Good girl, Linda,” the man said.

They passed Clark, and headed down the stairs. He waited until he could no longer hear their footsteps, then came out of the closet.

Slowly, he made his way downstairs.

When he reached the bottom, he could peer around the corner and look at the lobby. He remembered it as a charming place with a simple desk and polished marble floors; lots of flowers everywhere. But now it was completely transformed. A broad, thick plastic mat of silver foil had been set out on the floor. It was very large, perhaps twenty yards square, and on it a dozen guests sprawled in bathing suits. Overhead was a bank of sunlamps, blazing down on the mat and the guests.

Five or six waiters were in attendance. At intervals an alarm would buzz softly, and the waiter would go up to the guests, and gently help them to turn over.

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