Читать книгу Ten Days - John Sheppard - Страница 21

The rapping on his office door took Carl by surprise; he had been lost in his thoughts. “Please come in,” he called out. Dr. Jason Greenwood entered the room, and Carl rose to greet him.

“I hope it’s okay that I’m early, Dr. Whitman?” inquired Jason, as they shook hands. In his early forties, Dr. Greenwood was slightly overweight, and looked a little disheveled. Carl thought the good doctor should take his own advice on diet and exercise. But, Carl also knew that what was missing in appearance was more than made up for in skill and compassion.

“No problem, Dr. Greenwood, I appreciate your coming by. Please sit down.” As Jason slid into the chair across from him, Carl continued, “I’ve got some tough questions to ask you.”

“Okay.” responded the younger doctor, a little hesitantly.

“You don’t have any family, or anyone you’re close to, do you?”

“I grew up as an orphan, raised by my grandparents, both of whom are now deceased. And, if you’re asking if I have a girlfriend, or anything like that—no, I’m married to my job.”

“Yeah, I used to be married to my career, too” Carl said. “But we don’t have time to go into all that, and now that I’ve asked that question, I’ve got to ask you another.”

Jason leaned forward in his chair, wondering what in the world he was going to be asked to do. Carl waited a moment, and leaned forward too.

“I need a person I can fully trust to take care of those in the hospital when the capital is overrun.”

Silence filled the room for what felt like hours to both men, and then he continued. “We should have a day or two’s notice before that happens, and at that time, I want to be home with my family. If at all possible, I’d like you, and a team of the hospital staff, to be here, to do whatever’s needed.”

Jason wasn’t sure how to respond. He tried to read Dr. Whitman’s face, for some sense of what to say next, but all he could see in the man’s face was pain.

Carl decided he should say more. “Some already know they want the Option, and we need to ensure they get it in time. Others may decide, once they know the Enemy is at the doors, that they too prefer the Option to what’s coming. The military staff is going to take care of the South wing. I’m also thinking that once the rest of us have gone home, those remaining should do things like block the doors to slow the Enemy from entering the hospital for as long as possible.”

With his mind a jumble of conflicting thoughts, Jason finally said, “Can I have a day or two to let you know? You’re asking something I haven’t even thought of, but I know it has to be done.”

“Of course, Doctor,” Carl managed. “I said it would be a tough question. It will need to be ASAP, we’ve got to pull together other volunteers.”