Read Online Recessional: A Novel by James A. Michener - Free Book Online

our advertising stressing complete health care—”
    “Is false.”
    Again Zorn fell into silent thought: “Ironclad rules?”
    “Yes. To protect the local medical men.” Having said this, Krenek quickly added: “And also to protect us from lawsuits if our personnel were to give improper diagnosis or medication. The law safeguards us as much as it aids the local doctors.”
    “Why don’t we make that clear in our advertising?”
    “Because people coming in like to feel they’re safe for the remainder of their lives. They are, of course, but under a rather different set of rules from what they imagined.”
    “But isn’t that a fraud?”
    “An amiable one—does no harm to anyone.”
    “Except in the pocketbook.”
    “Nothing in this life that’s worth a damn is inexpensive. Especially the American health system.” Before Andy could break in, Krenek added: “Living in the Palms is not cheap, Doctor. Our residents can afford medical care, and we assure them the best.”
    “On our terms?”
    “The state’s. Health services for older people are big business in Florida, and everyone is careful to protect his share of the economic pie.”
    When Krenek was called away to handle a phone call, Andy contemplated his surprising situation: “Here I sit, a certified doctor with these handsome facilities at hand, and I’m forbidden to use either my own skills or these wonderful lifesaving machines. I’ve thrown myself into a weird world.”
    But when Ken returned to resume their trip through the Assisted Living facilities, Andy noted with growing approval the neatness of the place, the attractiveness of the individual rooms, the warmth of the public areas and the exceptional congeniality of the small, well-decorateddining room. It was, he judged, a part of the larger building in which one could reside in comfort and care as one recovered from an operation or a broken limb. “It’s not a permanent residence, you understand,” Krenek said. “In and out’s the motto here, with an emphasis on rehabilitation. But we spend great effort to make patients comfortable and happy while they’re on the mend.”
    The conviction in these words was somewhat dampened when one of the doors leading to a private room on the second floor was banged open by a handsome woman in her seventies who rushed out into the hall. Her slim, well-groomed appearance bespoke years of careful attention to good health habits and the free expenditure of money for clothes. But dominating all else was a face of exquisite porcelain beauty, with the classic lines of some Greek sculpture and framed by silvery hair. Slightly taller than the average woman but much slimmer, she looked as if she should always be dressed in flowing garments of a romantic past and sitting beside a glowing fireplace in the great hall of some castle as evening shadows settled. She looked to be the kind of woman Zorn had not often encountered while performing his medical duties in Chicago.
    Incongruously, this delicate beauty began to assault Krenek with the utmost fury. In the shrill voice of a streetcorner harridan she accused him of snooping on her, of incessantly abusing her, and of trying in every devious way to steal her money. These were devastating charges to lodge against a man whose job it was to make life easy and safe for her, and Zorn was amazed that such charges had been allowed to accumulate without attracting the attention of someone with enough authority to correct them. Before he could intervene to ask the distraught woman for details, especially about the theft of the money, he was surprised to see Krenek face his accuser calmly and say in a quiet voice: “I know, Mrs. Duggan, these things must distress you, but I’m having a meeting this afternoon with Scotland Yard, and they’ve promised to look into this sorry affair. Now, if you’ll wait in your room till after lunch—”
    “Thank you, Dr. Penobscott. I can always rely on you for help.” Then suddenly