The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-20
CHAPTER XXI

CHAPTER XXI
The next thing Tim Baker heard
was still more noise--a babbling,
a swishing. a bustling, a chatter
ing. II couldn't be the sea un-
less possibly 1t was that he had
gone under the sea deep. deep,
down To the bottom. But then
there were other sounds which
didn't properly belong to the bot
tom of the sea or perhaps, again,
they did: voices women's
voices a mutter and ripple
of words uttered by young wom-
en-. Yet they were not the songs
of sirens. but plain, short, echoing
words many of them together.
Tim Baker woke up. He rub
bed his eyes. He was out Of the
water. and he was in an enormous
room. He took 1t In very slowly,
bit by bit. There was an endless
white ceiling. endless white wall
space. and high, gaunt windows;
and now he understood. There
were endless rows of white bed
steads. And there were women
many of them. quickly passing
busily talking and all CARRIED in
white.
He sat up. One of the white
women was passing the foot OF
his bed. Say" he called out
where the hell Is this ?"
She was a very pretty red-head
ed English girl. 1T was the ma
ternity ward"
He rubbed his eyes. Maternity
ward"
The nurse turned away. Here"
he called after her. Come here
She approached him. trim, neat
very crisp. What am | doins
here ?" he demanded. whats tn,
matter with me ,"
She looked him over moment
and then popped a thermometer
into his mouth. Nothing but ex
posture. Just put this under you
tongue M / can see II you hav'
any temperature.
He had tried to dodge the glas
tube. but she had thrust II firmly
in place. He gazed at her like |
dumb animal. But - but - nov
how long have l been here :" h
asked, lsboriously forming hi
words around the glass.
The ward was filled. Yet NOR
cots. bedclothes, blankets wer'
constantly being brought in. Doc
tors and attendants pRsses
through. There was subdued
busy hum. Tim gazed at the nurs'
helplessly.
you've been asleep almost forty
hours" she said. taking his pulse
Keep 1t under your tongue
please"
He threatened to chew the glass
She shifted il sdroitly. YOUR
kinda cute" he managed to say
as soon as he could move hi
tongue.
She let go his wrist. She wa
hiding a smile. Here are you
clothes. You can dress now" Sh
fetched them from a hospital car
at the foot of his bed.
Listen" he said. Was. Their
another fellow with me when
came in here :"
Eyes. He was operated on ds
before yesterday"
Operated on" he sat up stiff,
What for -
She laid the clothes on his bee
They took q bullet out Of hir
the size OF an egg"
What kind Of an egg n
, "A plovers egg"
What's that - ne asked snx
ously. "I.srger'n hens? 70
mean We got bombed too -
Its a good deal smaller tina
a hens" She took the thermom'
ter away. But it'n do"
How Is he he demanded
Doing very nicely" She wei
into the aisle and called the whit
shocked orderly. This bed
availsble-reSdy 10 change" ST
turned back 10 Tim. Hurry al
( dress. please Then she wei
o away through the ward.
d Tim looked around him al
d yawned. What's ali the IA,
d about - he called after her. 81
= was already out OF esrshot. II
hospital hummed.
i card the cad lady say
'ow they're hexpecting a lot
new ones the man in the ne.
cot said. "Evscuees. she CALI
IS EN-"
a Tim, yswning. paid no sttenti'
g TO him. He threw hack the ban
CT and slid out Of bed. Then