Page 20 of Prognosis So Done

CHAPTER EIGHT - 1400 HOURS

Lunch was a sombreaffair. Gill joined them just as they were sitting down to sandwiches and airline fruit juice. Harriet sought his face immediately, searching it for something positive but there was nothing. He shook his head.

‘He’s still hanging on. Kelly got an IV in but it’s palliative only.’

‘What about choppering him out?’ she asked.

There was silence in the room as everyone looked at their plates and tried to pretend they weren’t there. They had all seen Nimuk and known how futile any intervention would be.

They also understood that some patients just got to you.

They clouded your judgment.

‘He’s in multi-organ failure,’ Gill said gently. ‘He has acidosis not compatible with life. His lactate is through the roof.’ He sat down beside her and stroked a finger down her cheek and cupped her face. ‘It’s too late, Harry.’

She swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut as she nodded. ‘I know.’ Her voice was husky with emotion. ‘I’m sorry...I know.’

She placed her hand over his and gently pulled it away. ‘I’m okay.’

Clearing her throat, Harriet waved her hand dismissively. ‘Sorry, guys, ignore me. I’ve always been too emotional.’

‘This is true,’ said Helmut.

Everyone laughed - including Harriet – and, just like that Gill felt the mood lighten and lunch proceeded. There was general conversation about what everyone was going to do in London and how they were going to spend their two months off.

‘Have you heard any more about your grandfather?’ Siobhan asked.

‘No.’ Gill shook his head. ‘If I don’t hear anything in the next couple of hours, I’ll ring my father.’

There was a return to a more sombre mood again until Joan spoke up. ‘Come on, guys. Best and worst. It’s our last day. We always play it on our last day.’

‘Best and worst?’ asked Benedetto, who was the only one remaining at the table from the other surgical team, much to

Katya’s chagrin.

‘It’s a game our team plays at the end of a mission,’ said

Katya, her voice leaving him in no doubt that he wasn’t welcome to join in.

Gill laughed at Katya’s rudeness. ‘Don’t mind Katya. She has no manners. Of course you must join us. In fact, you should go first. You have to tell us what’s been the best part of the mission for you and the worst.’

Ben smiled. ‘Hah! That is easy. Katya. Dear, sweet Katya with the beautiful face and the shrewish tongue. She has been the best and worst of my time here.’

People laughed and Katya blushed.

‘I shall miss her when I go back to my home on the Amalfi coast...unless she wishes to join me for a little holiday in Positano?’

‘I would rather drink bad vodka.’

There was more general laughter and they moved on. ‘My best has been having Harry back,’ said Joan, and there was a general murmur of agreement.

‘Why, thank you, kind lady,’ said Harriet with a smile that touched her eyes and mouth but didn’t linger.

Gill wondered if she was thinking that this was the last time she’d see these people again?

‘Worst...hmm,’ Joan continued, ‘let me see. The food?’

‘Oh, hell, yes,’ Helmut agreed, as he ripped the lid off his second juice tub. ‘I’d kill for a beer. A nice cold German beer. That’s my worst — no beer. And my best, well, Harry, of course, but also that pneumonectomy we did right at the beginning. That was a fine piece of work, Guillaume.’

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