The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1954-02-06
A Short Story. Il.
ACCIDENT.
q BY ROGER SPLINTER

Whitehead lntefneS and nurses the |
doctor was tired, his slight stoop
was accentuated and there we're
WEAKNESS lines in his face His
smile was mechanical a habitual
gesture that came even when the
motivation wasn't there
Sawada wasted no time DIR. Ia
zawa," he said his glistening face
serious II take responsibility for
calling you" He looked at the SD
pine figure. the face bandaged on
the operating table shes burned
slightly and has multiple cuts and
abrasions The cuts are deep and
that's why I had to call you. we
can't staunch the blood c. we're
transfusing of course
DR.. Tazawa silently donned the
clean white smock and washed his
hands methodically, then he splash
ed cold water in his face 1t was 3
am and a man is at low ebb at
that hour. He felt sluggish and
bumbling as if his mind were mired
in thick molasses Engagement
parties are pleasant he thought as
he dried his hands but they aren't
preludes to being called TO an ope-
rating room when internes get pa
nicky He sighed and went to the
operating table. Sawada lowered at
his elbow and pointed out the ugly
gashes on the Woman's body. Her
face was bandaged as was great
deal of her body.
How" DIR. Tazawa said quietly
SaWada shook his head. "Automo-
bile smash-up Three others were
killed. mangled badly This wo'
man was asleep in the back seat.
evidently never knew what hit bel
hasn't regained consciousness.
A deep melancholy filled DR.. Ia
zawa as he found the faulty sutur
ing and carefully began working
Was it the hour? He didn't know
He watched his fingers with fasci
nation. These were nimble fingers
quick precise. skilled. They nigh
draw this woman back from tn
depths Or was it the depths? May
be it was a refuge that she crave6
really. What did he know OF he
life and possible travail? Mayh
~,
these adroit fingers that wei
thwarting the Dark and whatevt
emissaries of the Dark that lai
claim to her life
Young SaWada stood by DR.. Ia
zawa anxiously. following the qult
movements of the doctors hand
He watched the woman being lt
back, slowly to the land of the IL
ing; led by the sensitive hands OF
stopped scholarly man with ha
shot with gray. And then he sa
the doctor culver. Culver percept
bly, as if an icy chill had struck hi
here in this room with the he
from the glaring lights beatil
down
DIR Tazawa had frozen in an q
titude of incredulity, or of sho
and Sawada leaned over the pate
worriedly. The doctor slowly STIR
ghtened but his eyes were on t
woman's hand her right hand, a
Sawada followed his eyes. He v
looking at ring. but now he h
looked away and was working aga
The doctor fought the buzzing
his brain, fought it fiercely W
the almost numb detachment o.
man who had faced crashing sh'
and catastrophe before. He Wo
not look at her hand again.
would not He would finish qul
". She was almost out OF it.
was almost safe now.
His mind settled into a slow
whirl slowed from the wild gy
lions He saw his hands mis-
and then clearly They we're de
the right things. his will was II
ing them.
Why did she have to wear
ring? This was her cruelty ag
her mockery again. her sadism
why why had she worn
ring to tear him apart? she
unconscious but there must be
part of her in this room Watcl
him with those hooking eyes.
shade of her would be mout
mocking words See. l
come back to you. this way
have chosen this way You Il
thought my dear ex-husband,
would come back after III y
Well ] have. I took your m
and left your heart and the
and left you. It's odd that 81
come back tonight, isn't it-yo
nounced your engagement to-
to that female doctor"
He felt the nether-worid
whispering through his oram
would say something ike that
and like this: 81 caused you