Read Online Blackbirds by Garry Ryan - Free Book Online Page A

door. Sharon followed and helped manoeuver Linda inside.
    The flight took too long. But then, five minutes would have been too long. It’s better than going by road, Sharon thought. Linda’s teeth were chattering by the time they were halfway there, and her body was shivering uncontrollably when they landed in a field near the hospital.
    After the engines shut down, Sharon said, “Thank you,” to the pilot who had radioed ahead to advise the hospital of their arrival. An ambulance was waiting, and the attendants helped her get a delirious Linda off the plane.
    The younger of the two attendants said, “I suppose someone put tannic acid on her burns.”
    â€œThere’s no tannic acid on her burns! Just get her to the hospital,”
    Sharon said.
    The ride to the hospital was brief. A woman — who weighed more than two hundred pounds and wore a uniform that made her look like a nun — greeted them. “Women are not treated in this hospital!”
    Sharon jumped down out of the back of the ambulance. “She’s a pilot, she’s badly burned, she’s going into shock, and this is a hospital for burn victims!”
    â€œNo bloody whelp of a Yank is going to tell me how to run my hospital!” The nurse’s entire face turned the colour of her rouged cheeks.
    â€œIt’s okay, Margaret.” A man put his arm around the nurse’s shoulder.
    â€œBut Lewis, she’s a girl,” Margaret said.
    Lewis turned Margaret around until they both faced Sharon. His head was turned to one side. A column of flesh connected his nose to his shoulder.
    There was a sharp intake of breath. Sharon realized it was her.
    Lewis’ eyes smiled through a face being reconstructed after the fire. “How did you know to bring her here? Are we getting recommendations already?”
    Sharon said, “I listened to a Lysander pilot. He’d been burned, and he said this was the hospital to come to.”
    Lewis said, “She’s lucky. If you’d taken her anywhere else, they likely wouldn’t have known what to do. We can make one exception, can’t we, Margaret?”
    â€œMake it quick, before I change my mind.” Margaret looked around as if she expected someone in uniform to appear and contradict her.
    Linda and the stretcher were carried down the hall behind Margaret, who issued orders and seemed to be pointing in all directions at once.
    Sharon said, “By the way, I’m not a Yank. I’m a Canadian.”
    â€œCare for a walk?” Lewis asked.
    Sharon looked at her hands. They hadn’t stopped shaking since Linda was pulled from the wreck. She clasped them together, hoping to still them.
    â€œShe’s a friend of yours?” Lewis asked.
    Sharon nodded.
    â€œYou saw her burn?”
    â€œYes,” Sharon said.
    â€œI still smell my own burning skin when I’m having a nightmare.”
    He’d said it with such frank honesty that Sharon looked closer at his new face. The smile seemed permanent, and she saw that he had one ear. She said, “Her legs. They’re black.”
    â€œThat’s what happens. The good news is they use salt baths here instead of that God-awful tannic acid, and they know how to prevent infection. Are you going to hang about? It could take a day or two before the doctors have anything to tell you. Does your friend have anyone else who would want to know she’s here?”
    Sharon stopped and looked around her at the stark, antiseptic hallways. “Oh, Christ! I need a telephone!”
    â€œCome on, then.” Lewis turned and walked down a hallway to the open door of a small office. He poked his head inside. “Quick, nobody’s about. Make it fast, before Margaret shows up. In case you hadn’t noticed, she’s a stickler for regulations.” He closed the door. Sharon sat down and tried to think of what to say. She dialed the number.
    After five rings, Honeysuckle said,