Read Online Affection by Ian Townsend - Free Book Online Page B

that?’
    ‘Well, because the man’s recovered. Dr Routh’s our man on the island and he thinks it was just a bout of typhoid.’
    ‘Rot,’ said Humphry.
    McCreedy glared. ‘Well, it was Dr Humphry who diagnosed plague in the first place so I suppose he has every right to defend his position.’
    ‘I’m not taking a position ,’ said Humphry. ‘The man has plague. It’s a fact, not a matter of opinion.’
    Turner looked to McCreedy, who rolled his eyes.
    Turner said, ‘I can only go on the advice of the district medical officer over this, but I’ll keep an open mind. Until I see all the facts for myself.’
    ‘Of course,’ said McCreedy. ‘Only right, I’m not saying otherwise. Just saying what the West Point medical superintendent reports.’
    ‘West Point?’
    ‘That’s the quarantine station they’re at. Magnetic Island.’
    ‘An island? And how far is that?’
    ‘About six miles,’ said Humphry. ‘Across the bay.’
    ‘And is this the preferred place for a plague hospital?’ said Turner.
    Dr Bacot leaned forward from his seat behind McCreedy and Willmett. ‘It hasn’t come to that yet. We won’t be needing a plague hospital.’ He nodded to himself and sat back, folding his arms.
    ‘Well,’ said Turner, ‘I can’t imagine an island’s the best place to put people who are sick.’
    The Mayor grinned and leaned forward. ‘My thoughts exactly. Exactly.’ He slapped Turner on the knee and sat back, nodding. ‘Completely inappropriate.That’s what I told the Premier. You just can’t incarcerate people on an island willy-nilly. Thank you, Dr Turner.’
    The train rolled slowly into the station and shuddered.
    ‘Well,’ said Turner. ‘The most important thing now I think is for me to examine the patient as soon as possible.’
    Humphry stood and said, ‘Whenever you’re ready.’
    ‘This afternoon,’ said Turner.
    ‘Not sure I can arrange the launch by then.’
    ‘Tomorrow morning.’
    ‘Difficult.’
    ‘I see. How do you get to the island in an emergency?’
    ‘There’s never been an emergency.’
    Turner stared at Humphry for a while. ‘I’m sure someone can arrange transport.’
    ‘All right,’ said Humphry. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’
    ‘Tomorrow morning,’ said Turner, firmly.
    Humphry nodded.
    ‘Jolly good,’ said Turner, and he stood. We all filed out of the carriage on to the platform.
    As I collected my bicycle, Humphry whispered to me, ‘You know what they call him in Brisbane, don’t you?’ Actually, I did. ‘Gentle Annie. I thought it might have been a joke, like calling a big man Tiny.’
    Humphry then started whistling the tune ‘Gentle Annie’. He stopped.
    ‘McCreedy thinks he’ll have this fop of an English doctor around his finger soon. I’m not so sure.’
    I didn’t say anything.
    Outside in the full sun, small eddies of dust and paper played across the drive at the railway station’s entrance. McCreedy was bustling Turner into his own buggy, almost grabbing the doctor by the arm. Dr Bacot and Alderman Willmett found a hansom cab and were negotiating who should get in first. I left Humphry standing at the bottom of the station steps and walked my bicycle around the traffic.
    It was Turner who called out. ‘Where are you off to now, Dr Row?’
    ‘Back to my office.’
    ‘Good. I’ll meet you there. There are matters I’d like to discuss.’
    ‘But we have a lunch organised for you now,’ said McCreedy.
    ‘Even better. A good chance for Dr Row, Dr Humphry and me to brief each other,’ said Turner.
    I saw behind him the cab roll by, the faces of Willmett and Bacot looking out at us.
    McCreedy said, ‘I believe Dr Humphry might have other matters to attend to.’
    ‘My lunch date cancelled.’
    ‘Oh, all right then.’
    I followed the dust from McCreedy’s buggy. It was only a short distance down the main street to the Town Hall. Humphry, who found himself without a lift, said he’d walk. His tuneful whistling faded behind