“trysomebodyelsethen.”

“ohhe’scoming,”shesaid.“hedidn’twantto.buthe’scomingassoonashecanmanage.”

“where’scandy?”

“thisishisdayoff.thursday.thecookandcandyhavethursdaysoff.it’stheusualthingaroundhere.canyougethimuptobed?”

“notwithouthelp.bettergetarugorblanket.it’sawarmnight,butcaseslikethisgetpneumoniaveryeasily.”

shesaidshewouldgetarug.ithoughtitwasdamnniceofher.butiwasn’tthinkingveryintelligently.iwastoobushedfromcarryinghim.

wespreadasteamerrugoverhimandinfifteenminutesdr.loringcame,completewithstarchedcollarandrimlesscheatersandtheexpressionofamanwhohasbeenaskedtocleanupafterthedoggotsick.

heexaminedwade’shead.“asuperficialcutandbruise,”hesaid.“nochanceofconcussion.ishouldsayhisbreathwouldindicatehisconditionratherobviously.”

hereachedforhishat.hepickeduphisbag.

“keephimwarm,”hesaid.“youmightbathehisheadgentlyandgetridoftheblood.he’llsleepitoff.”

“ican’tgethimupstairsalone,doctor,”isaid.

“thenleavehimwhereheis,”helookedatmewithoutinterest.“goodnight,mrs.wade.asyouknowidon’ttreatalcoholics.evenifidid,yourhusbandwouldnotbeoneofmypatients.i’msureyouunderstandthat.”

“nobody’saskingyoutotreathim,”isaid.“i’maskingforsomehelptogethimintohisbedroomsothaticanundresshim.”

“andjustwhoareyou?”dr.loringaskedmefreezingly.

“myname’smarlowe.iwashereaweekago.yourwifeintroducedme.”

“interesting,”hesaid.“inwhatconnectiondoyouknowmywife?”

“whatthehelldoesthatmatter?alliwantis—”

“i’mnotinterestedinwhatyouwant,”hecutinonme.heturnedtoeileen,noddedbriefly,andstartedout.igotbetweenhimandthedoorandputmybacktoit.

“justaminute,doc.mustbealongtimesinceyouglancedatthatlittlepieceofprosecalledthehippocraticoath.thismancalledmeonthephoneandilivesomewayoff.hesoundedbadandibrokeeverytrafficlawinthestategettingoverhere.ifoundhimlyingonthegroundandicarriedhiminhereandbelievemeheisn’tanybunchoffeathers.thehouseboyisawayandthere’snobodyheretohelpmeupstairswithwade.howdoesitlooktoyou?”

“getoutofmyway,”hesaidbetweenhisteeth.“orishallcallthesheriff’ssubstationandhavethemsendoveradeputy.asaprofessionalman—”

“asaprofessionalmanyou’reahandfuloffleadirt,”isaid,andmovedoutofhisway.

heturnedred—slowlybutdistinctly.hechokedonhisownbile.thenheopenedthedoorandwentout.heshutitcarefully.ashepulleditshuthelookedinatme.itwasasnastyalookasievergotandonasnastyafaceasieversaw.

wheniturnedawayfromthedooreileenwassmiling.

“what’sfunny?”isnarled.

“you.youdon’tcarewhatyousaytopeople,doyou?don’tyouknowwhodr.loringis?”

“yeah—andiknowwhatheis.”

sheglancedatherwristwatch.“candyoughttobehomebynow,”shesaid.“i’llgosee.hehasaroombehindthegarage.”

shewentoutthroughanarchwayandisatdownandlookedatwade.thegreatbigwritermanwentonsnoring.hisfacewassweatybutilefttherugoverhim.inaminuteortwoeileencamebackandshehadcandywithher.