whitewashed, drugs, medicines and equipment neatly arranged on white-painted shelves giving an overall impression of cleanliness and efficiency.
'This is where most of the work is done and as I'm the only qualified doctor in Balpur the pace is usually fast and furious.' He glanced at his watch. 'You'll see for yourself in precisely fifteen minutes.'
'What about my patient?' Janet asked.
'Kerim?. the old man sighed. 'Frankly, he's aot been too marvellous. He's been staying here, of course, so that I can give him constant supervision. The Elian wanted me to take up residence at the palace, but naturally, I had to refuse. As I pointed out, I do have-other patients.'
'And how is Kerim now?
'Rather better. He's been very feverish, but we seem to be over the worst of that now. In any event, I think we should wait for a few days before contemplating such a long journey.'
'So Janet stays here?' Drummond said.
'If she can put up with a crotchety old fool.' Father Kerrigan smiled. 'Would you like to take a peep at Kerim?'
He led the way through into a narrow whitewashed
€0 passage and opened a door on the left. The boy looked very frail as he slept, head turned to one side on the white pillow, a heavy bandage crossing his left eye and they withdrew softly.
The priest opened the opposite door and ushered her into a small room, simply furnished with a narrow bed and wooden locker. The one touch of luxury was a large sheepskin rag on the floor. A french window opened on to a verandah overlooking an overgrown and neglected garden.
"The best I can do, I'm afraid,' he said apologetically.
'A palace compared to what I was used to in, Vietnam.'
They returned to the dispensary and found Drum-mond standing at the door looking outside. The courtyard had filled with people, all squatting together in the dust, waiting patiently for the old priest to begin.
He took out his watch again and pursed his lips. 'Five minutes late. This will never do. I'll have to say goodbye for now, Jack. We'll be seeing you tonight at the palace, I imagine.'
'I expect so.'
Drummond turned to Janet, but she was touching Father Kerrigan on the arm as he moved away. 'Could I help, Father?'
The old man looked down at her searchingly and then a slow smile broke across his face. Td be glad to have you, my dear. I'll find you a robe.'
She nodded briefly to Drummond. 'See you tonight, Jack.'
She turned away, different now, holding herself straighter, competent, assured. She and the old man stood at the back of the dispensary, talking as she pulled on the white robe he had found for her, a strange intimacy between them.
Drummond turned abruptly, pushed his way through flie crowd, climbed into the jeep and drove quickly away.
Dinner at the Palace
THROUGH the French windows, the white balustrade of the terrace shimmered palely and the tall cypress trees were silhouetted against the evening sky. From the garden came the timeless, incessant chirping of the crickets.
Inside, the soft lamplight gleamed oa delicate crystal decanters and silver and gold tableware, and the great ruby in the centre of the Khan's turban glowed dimly like an ember stirred by a soft wind.
He was seventy years of age, but carried himself well In his London tailored mohair and silk dinner jacket, and the face beneath the turban was still that of a warrior, proud and strong wife the touch of arrogance of one bom to rule.
He sat at the head of the table, Janet Tate on Ms left, and he turned to her with a smile, speaking in careful, precise English. 'More brandy, Miss Tate?'
'I don't think so, thank you.'
"A little more coffee, then?.
He snapped a finger and a servant came forward quickly. There were five of them at the table besides tiie Khan, Janet, supremely beautiful in her
'This is where most of the work is done and as I'm the only qualified doctor in Balpur the pace is usually fast and furious.' He glanced at his watch. 'You'll see for yourself in precisely fifteen minutes.'
'What about my patient?' Janet asked.
'Kerim?. the old man sighed. 'Frankly, he's aot been too marvellous. He's been staying here, of course, so that I can give him constant supervision. The Elian wanted me to take up residence at the palace, but naturally, I had to refuse. As I pointed out, I do have-other patients.'
'And how is Kerim now?
'Rather better. He's been very feverish, but we seem to be over the worst of that now. In any event, I think we should wait for a few days before contemplating such a long journey.'
'So Janet stays here?' Drummond said.
'If she can put up with a crotchety old fool.' Father Kerrigan smiled. 'Would you like to take a peep at Kerim?'
He led the way through into a narrow whitewashed
€0 passage and opened a door on the left. The boy looked very frail as he slept, head turned to one side on the white pillow, a heavy bandage crossing his left eye and they withdrew softly.
The priest opened the opposite door and ushered her into a small room, simply furnished with a narrow bed and wooden locker. The one touch of luxury was a large sheepskin rag on the floor. A french window opened on to a verandah overlooking an overgrown and neglected garden.
"The best I can do, I'm afraid,' he said apologetically.
'A palace compared to what I was used to in, Vietnam.'
They returned to the dispensary and found Drum-mond standing at the door looking outside. The courtyard had filled with people, all squatting together in the dust, waiting patiently for the old priest to begin.
He took out his watch again and pursed his lips. 'Five minutes late. This will never do. I'll have to say goodbye for now, Jack. We'll be seeing you tonight at the palace, I imagine.'
'I expect so.'
Drummond turned to Janet, but she was touching Father Kerrigan on the arm as he moved away. 'Could I help, Father?'
The old man looked down at her searchingly and then a slow smile broke across his face. Td be glad to have you, my dear. I'll find you a robe.'
She nodded briefly to Drummond. 'See you tonight, Jack.'
She turned away, different now, holding herself straighter, competent, assured. She and the old man stood at the back of the dispensary, talking as she pulled on the white robe he had found for her, a strange intimacy between them.
Drummond turned abruptly, pushed his way through flie crowd, climbed into the jeep and drove quickly away.
Dinner at the Palace
THROUGH the French windows, the white balustrade of the terrace shimmered palely and the tall cypress trees were silhouetted against the evening sky. From the garden came the timeless, incessant chirping of the crickets.
Inside, the soft lamplight gleamed oa delicate crystal decanters and silver and gold tableware, and the great ruby in the centre of the Khan's turban glowed dimly like an ember stirred by a soft wind.
He was seventy years of age, but carried himself well In his London tailored mohair and silk dinner jacket, and the face beneath the turban was still that of a warrior, proud and strong wife the touch of arrogance of one bom to rule.
He sat at the head of the table, Janet Tate on Ms left, and he turned to her with a smile, speaking in careful, precise English. 'More brandy, Miss Tate?'
'I don't think so, thank you.'
"A little more coffee, then?.
He snapped a finger and a servant came forward quickly. There were five of them at the table besides tiie Khan, Janet, supremely beautiful in her
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