Passage by Night - Jack Higgins [64]
She was a stout motherly person with a pleasant face and large capable hands. She moved forward quickly and eased him back on the pillow.
'You mustn't do that. You mustn't even move.'
A stranger answered her, someone who had no connection with himself at all. 'Where am I?'
'You're in hospital in Nassau. You've been here for three days. Just rest quietly. I'll get the doctor.'
She went out of the room and he lay there trying to put the pieces together in the right order, but it was impossible. His whole body ached and there was a strange persistent buzzing in his ears that refused to go away.
A few minutes later, the door opened again and someone approached the bed. He opened his eyes and saw a brown, kindly face topped by iron-grey hair.
'My name's Flynn. I've been looking after you. How do you feel?'
'Bloody awful.'
He produced an ophthalmoscope and examined Manning's eyes carefully. After a while he grunted and put it back in his pocket. 'I don't think there's likely to be any permanent damage.'
'What's been the trouble?'
'Nitrogen poisoning. The bends. When they brought you in here three days ago I wouldn't have given much for your chances. You'd lost a hell of a lot of blood. On top of that, you'd gone down too deep.'
And then things clicked into place and for a moment, Manning was back there reaching out vainly towards the slim figure as it moved deeper into the dusky water.
'Can't you remember?'
'Only vaguely. At the time, it seemed to be happening to someone else.'
Flynn nodded. 'Nitrogen narcosis, the so-called drunkenness of the deep. The effect varies with the individual. In your weakened state, you didn't stand much chance of fighting it off. Good thing you had your friend Smith along.'
'Smith?' Manning said blankly.
'The man who brought you up. We had to put him in the pressure tank as well when they got you here, but not for as long. It took ten hours' hard work to clear your system.'
Orlov. It was the only possible explanation. Probably Morrison had decided it would be politic for the Russian to keep quiet about his real identity for the time being.
'When do I get out of here?'
'Good heavens man, not for a fortnight at the very least.' Flynn chuckled. 'Don't look so put out. I'll give your friend Morrison a ring as soon as I've finished my rounds. He's been haunting the place for the past few days.
After he'd gone, Manning lay staring up at the ceiling thinking about Maria Salas. She had chosen the manner of her going, turning from life quite deliberately because her own dark purpose had failed. In the quiet, he seemed to hear her voice, high-pitched and full of bravura, echoing a final flamenco as she vanished into the mist. But for the moment, he was conscious of nothing. Only of an emptiness, a coldness that moved inside him and couldn't be explained.
The door opened and Papa Melos came in. He was wearing pajamas and a blue dressing gown and his right arm was in a sling. He sat on the edge of the bed and grinned with pleasure.
'I couldn't wait, boy. When the doctor told me you'd finally come round, I waited my chance and skipped out when the nurse wasn't looking. Anna said she'd let Seth know when she gets back to the boat. He'll probably be up later.'
'Anna?' Manning said. 'She's been here this morning?'
The old man looked immediately uncomfortable. 'She's been here every day, Harry. She was visiting me when the doctor came in and told us you'd come round.' He seemed to search for the right words. 'Look, it ain't none of my business, but maybe you two had a row or something. Anna's got a lot of pride. She wouldn't go where she thought she wasn't wanted.'
There was a short, awkward silence and Manning deliberately changed the subject. 'How's your arm?'
'Fine, Harry, just fine.' The old man grinned. 'In fact everything is. They're going to give me a new boat. The best money can buy. Mr Morrison said the Secretary of State insisted.'
Manning reached out and clasped his hand. 'I'm glad about that, Papa. Truly glad.'
The door swung open and the large, middle-aged nurse swept in. Papa