第33部分(第5/7 頁)

for　the　headlights　to　pick　out。

He　parked　in　front　of　a　tiny　clinic；　ran　around　the　car；　and　hoisted　her

up。　He　had　had　the　driver　of　the　plow　call　ahead。　A　doctor　was　waiting

inside。

Thirty　minutes　later　he　carried　her　back　to　the　car。　〃Bronchial

pneumonia。　Good　show；　Annie；〃　he　teased　gently　as　he　tucked　her　into　the

passenger's　seat　again。

Weary；　she　caught　his　eye。　〃Do　you　have　my　pills？〃

He　patted　the　spot　where　the　upper…left　breast　pocket　of　his　shirt　would

be。　〃Right　here。　Are　you　fortable？〃

〃fortable？〃　she　shot　back　hoarsely。　〃I've　been　poked；　X…rayed；　stuck

with　needles；　and　carted　around　like　I　had　no　feelings　at　all。〃　She

scowled。　〃I　feel　hot　and　cold　and　achy。　And　you　ask　if　I'm　fortable？〃

She　looked　away。　〃Don't　ask。〃

Mitch　chuckled。　Slamming　the　door；　he　circled　the　car　to　the　driver's

side　and　slid　behind　the　wheel　with　remarkable　ease；　given　his　length。

〃At　least　your　good　humor　is　intact；〃　he　teased。　〃Let's　go　home。　The

doctor　ordered　warmth；　rest；　and　lots　of　hot　liquid。　We'd　better　get　to

it。〃

For　the　next　three　days　they　followed　the　doctor's　orders　to　a　tee；　with

Mitch　in　mand；　dictating　when　each　pill　was　to　be　taken；　when　she　was

to　eat　and　sleep。　She　felt　miserable　for　another　full　day　before　the

medication　began　to　take　effect。　Only　then　did　she　dare　to　balk　at　the

strict　regimen。

〃I'm　going　to　turn　into　a　chicken　if　I　drink　one　more　drop　of　this　soup。

It's　awful；〃　she　plained　when　he　appeared　on　Tuesday　morning　with

another　mug　of　broth。　〃I　feel　better　today。　Honestly　I　do。〃　She　was

sitting　up　against　the　headboard　of　the　bed；　dressed　in　her　own　flanne