A Taste for Blood
Page 19
‘It’s madness,’ moaned Benny.
I agreed with him, but I also knew of Peter’s one-track determination. I wasn’t sure whether it would be wise to take him in under my umbrella rather than risk him doing something foolish and trying out on his own. He was headstrong enough to do that. Whatever, now was not the time or place to consider such possibilities.
Thankfully, Benny read my mind and changed the subject. ‘When will you be going home?’
‘Today, I hope.’
‘Today! But you are seriously injured.’
I grinned. ‘I’ve got a very nasty cut, that’s all. It’s deep and painful but no damage has been done, although I’ll never play the violin again.’
‘Really… I never knew… Ah, a joke.’ He smiled with that strange disapproving grin that was peculiar to him.
* * *
Some hours later, I was standing in the room alone. We, the fellow members of the damaged shoulder club had both been discharged with appointments in the outpatients in seven days’ time. David had been whisked off by Sheila, who had given me a gentle hug, while whispering the words, ‘Thank you,’ in my ear.
My arm was in a neat sling and the nurse had very kindly draped my jacket and overcoat over my shoulders like a cloak before hurrying off for more important duties. Well, there was a war on.
I needed a smoke. Some stimulation before I faced the outside world once more. A smoke was such a normal comforting thing. But now it wasn’t going to be easy to organise. I sat on the bed and with great difficulty extracted a cigarette from my jacket pocket and slipped it in my mouth. Now, I thought, how on earth am I going to light the beggar, when a match flared near me and was held close to the end of my cigarette.
I looked up at my helpmate and gazed into the face of Ivana. She smiled.
‘Light it quickly, or I’ll get my fingers burned.’
I obeyed, inhaling the smoke with gusto.
‘Benny told me you were here. You have a habit of ending up on hospital beds.’
‘It’s my only opportunity to meet pretty women.’
Her eyes twinkled with amusement and then darkened suddenly. ‘You don’t mind me coming here, do you?’ she said hesitantly.
‘Mind! Of course not. You are a gorgeous sight for this sore eye.’ I leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.
‘In that case, Mr Hawke, I suggest that I take you home and cook you a very nice meal to help build up your strength. What do you say?’
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