Silence for the Dead(25)

I slowly came out of my woolgathering to discover that they were discussing Patient Sixteen. Dr. Thornton was frowning.

“I don’t like this,” he said. “Can he not be dissuaded?”

“I don’t believe so, Doctor,” Matron replied. “I spoke to him this morning, and he was quite insistent that he wanted to join this afternoon’s sessions.”

“But he’s never done so before.” Dr. Oliver was amazed. “He’s always seen us privately. Why join the group sessions? Why now?”

“I can’t say,” said Matron. “He told me only he thought he was ready.”

“I don’t like this,” Dr. Thornton said again. “It will disrupt the other patients. And he’ll be seen by orderlies and other staff without clearance. This is expressly against Mr. Deighton’s orders. The situation with Patient Sixteen is supposed to be contained.”

He glared at Matron as he said this, as if this were her doing. I glanced at the other nurses. They were sitting silently, as if taking in a tennis match. Nina, of course, was eating her lunch.

“That isn’t all, I’m afraid,” Matron said. “He’s also asking permission to exercise out of doors.”

“With the others?” Dr. Thornton was horrified.

“No,” Matron replied. “He says he would like to go running alone at dawn every day. He says he’s beginning to feel the lack of activity in his room. He says he thinks the exercise may be beneficial to him.”

What are you playing at, Jack Yates? It was the first thought through my mind, and immediately I silenced it. Perhaps the request was a sincere one. Why did I doubt it?

Dr. Thornton’s eyes narrowed. “Patients taking excursions alone is expressly discouraged by Mr. Deighton.”

“He should be refused,” Dr. Oliver agreed. “On both requests.”

“I don’t believe he means to be disruptive,” Matron said. “His isolation, up until now, has been a voluntary one.”

Dr. Oliver nodded. “That’s true. But if his changing his mind is going to disrupt the others, I wonder if enforced isolation may be of benefit. I believe we’re equipped for it. What do you think, Dr. Thornton?”

Enforced isolation? What did that mean? Locking up Jack Yates? I tried to keep my alarm from showing on my face.

“Wait, now. Wait.” Dr. Thornton held up a hand. “Dr. Oliver, in the case of any other patient, you would be correct. But this is—” He glanced around the table at us, and suddenly I was certain he had no idea which of us had clearance. “This is Patient Sixteen. His are special circumstances.”

Dr. Oliver looked helpless.

“Patient Sixteen’s voluntary isolation has worked well for us,” Dr. Thornton said. “But enforced isolation may not work as well with his particular neurosis. He is, as we know, a special risk.” He paused, thinking. “I do wish Mr. Deighton were here to advise. As he is not, we may have to rethink. Matron, how sane would you say the other patients are?”

She blinked at him slowly. “They are all quite ill, Doctor.”

He nodded. “Yes, yes. That may work. Their letters are censored before they leave the building, are they not?”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“Quite so. Really, the risk comes if one of these patients was to recover. And even if he did, he would have to tell of what he saw in a believable way. I don’t think such a scenario is likely.” He nodded again, satisfied that he had solved the puzzle. “Patient Sixteen will be seen with the first group, and only orderlies with clearance can attend. I do think we can manage it.”

I glanced around the table again. Was he actually counting on the others being mad enough not to be believed? On none of the patients ever getting well? Had their entire policy been based on the hope that Jack Yates would never be well enough to leave his room, even for a minute?

Everyone had lowered their eyes to their lunch plates, even Matron. But Dr. Oliver saw the look on my face, and his expression sharpened.

“Matron,” he said, “you seem to have a new nurse on staff?”

Dr. Thornton looked up from his chop in surprise.

“Yes, Doctor.” Matron seemed as wary of this subject as the last. “This is Nurse Weekes.”

“How long have you been here, Nurse Weekes?” Dr. Thornton asked me.

It took me a moment to calculate. “This is my fifth day, sir.”

“Your fifth day!” He turned to Dr. Oliver, almost peevish now that another problem had come up. “Did you notice this change on the staffing roster?”

“It isn’t there, sir,” Dr. Oliver replied, mashing some peas onto his fork. “A Nurse Ravell is listed on the staffing roster.”

“Nurse Ravell left quite suddenly,” Matron said.

“But her replacement has been here for five days!” Dr. Thornton seemed distressed. “The staffing roster must be kept current, Matron. You know it is an important part of your duties.”

Matron said nothing, but Boney was going red. She was as easy to read as a book. The staffing roster must obviously have been one of the jobs Matron had assigned her.

“Now all the paperwork is suspect,” Dr. Thornton complained. “Matron, please tell me that at least the patient roster is up-to-date?”