Coincidence - Alan May [51]
But what was this? Reaching into the far back of the meds cabinet, he pulled out a bottle of Diprivan, a fairly new anesthetic often used in outpatient procedures because of its tendency to wear off quickly. According to the instructions, he’d need to supplement it with an intravenous analgesic agent. He rummaged through the cabinet and finally came up with a container of Etomidate. That would do. It would have to.
Normally, at least three people would be involved in this kind of operation: a surgeon, a nurse, and an anesthetist. Dr. Williams was going to have to do everything himself, with Phillip as his only assistant. Phillip had insisted on staying in the room the entire time, and would allow no one else in, even though both the captain and Henry had at least some medical training and Phillip had none. If he was assisting, he’d have to put the gun down, and that would be a plus.
“All right, let’s get started,” Dr. Williams said. He spoke directly to Stefano, although he hadn’t much hope the man could understand what he was saying. At least he was quieter now.
“I’m going to put a butterfly valve in your wrist so that I can start a saline drip. I’ll also use it to administer an anesthetic called Diprivan. That will put you to sleep.”
The doctor set up the IV pole. He scrubbed his hands, pulled on pair of latex gloves, then nodded to Phillip to do the same.
“While you’re out, I’ll use a small pair of forceps to remove the bullet and then flush out the wound with a saline solution to try and remove any debris left behind. When that’s done, I’ll insert a small catheter to allow the wound to drain, apply a dressing, and that’s it, we’re done. Within a couple of hours you should be awake and on the way to recovery.”
He glanced over at Phillip, then continued.
“That’s assuming that everything goes well. You’ve got to remember I’ve never done this before. I’m not trained to do it, but I’ll do my best for you.”
While the doctor was operating, the captain called all of the staff and students to a meeting in the mess hall. Polo and Severo stood silently on two sides of the room, their eyes roaming over the crowd, looking for the slightest hint of trouble. Esteban was keeping watch near the first aid room.
Captain Marzynski looked out at his crew and his students and listened as words he had never imagined having to utter came, somehow, from his mouth.
The men onboard, he said, were armed. Every command they made was to be carried out. Without question. The injured man was undergoing an operation. When it was over, they would, he hoped, return to their own boat and let the Inspiration resume its course to Easter Island. In the meantime, he was asking for—no, he was commanding—everyone’s complete cooperation. Under no circumstances was anyone to try to be a hero.
There was stunned silence for a few seconds, then a buzz of voices as they all struggled to come to grips with what was happening. Armed men? Operation? So there was no deadly tropical contagion, then, after all, to put their lives in danger. Oh—but their lives were still very much in danger.
They lined up, the students first, then the teachers, then the crew, as Polo took their names and cabin numbers. From that point on, everyone onboard ship was to be accounted for at all times.
Everyone onboard ship, that is. Dave Cameron looked at the crew as they stood at the end of the line, waiting to give Polo their information. And again, just in case he had miscounted. No. Everyone onboard was supposed to be at the meeting; the captain’s orders had been clear. But someone was not there.
Where was Mac?
18
Dave Cameron’s mind was racing. If Mac wasn’t with the rest of them in the mess, where was he? Did he