法兰克福的耳环Word格式文档下载.docx

法兰克福的耳环Word格式文档下载.docx

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1AnightoutatMaxim’s

Jenniferlookedattheclockonthewaiting-roomwall.Nearlyhalf-pasteight.ThelightwasstilloninDoctorGibon’sroom.I’mgoingtobelate,shesaidtoherself,whydoesn’thehurryup?

TheeveningsurgerywasalwaysbusyonThursdaysbuttonightwasworsethanusual.

Shequicklyputthenewspapersinacupboard.Thenshetookoffherwhitecoatandlockedininthecupboardtoo.Shewasturningoffthelightswhensomeonerangthefrontdoorbell.Ohno,notanotherpatient,notatthishour.Sherantothedoorandopenedit.Outsideitwasdarkbutshecouldseeaman,hishandsdeepinhidpockets.Hemovedhisheadandthelightfellonhisface.

‘Richard!

’shecriedinsurprise.‘Whatareyoudoinghere?

’

‘CanIcomeinforaminute?

Hedidnotwaitforananswerbutpushedpastherandwentinside.Jenniferturnedtohim.ShewasusuallypleasedwhenRichardcalled,butthiswasthewrongtime.‘I’msorry,butyoucan’tstay.imusthurry.i’mmeetingmyfriedClairefordinnerand…’Shestopped.ItwasRichard’seyes—theylookedtiredandworried.

‘What’sthematter?

’sheasked.

JustthenDrGibsoncalledfromhisroom.‘DidIhearthedoorbell,Nurse?

Wasitanotherpatient?

‘No,it’sonlymybrotherRichard,’shecalledback.

SheturnedbacktoRichard.‘Issomethingwrong?

’sheaskedagain.

Heshookhishead.‘I’mfine,’hesaid.‘It’sjust…well,Ihadsomeroubleatwork.’

‘Trouble?

‘Itwasnothing,really.Isaidsomethingtomybossandhedidn’tlikeit.Hegotangrywithmeand…andintheendhetoldmetogo.SoI’velostmyjob.’

‘OhRichard,notagain!

Whydoyoudothesethings?

’Jenniferwasbeginningtofellcrosswithhim.‘Andnowyouhavenomoney,isthatit?

‘Takeiteasy,Jenny.Idon’tneedverymuch.Onlytwentypounds.I’llpayyoubacknextweek—reallyIwill.’Heputhishandonherarm.‘Youcandothatforme,can’tyou?

Justtwentypounds.It’sforapresent.’

‘Yes,Iknow,Iknow.Apresentforaveryspecialgirl–likethelastone.Andtheonebefore.’Jenniferknewheryoungbrotherwellandshewasoftenangrywithhim,butshecouldneversaynotohim.Sheoenedherbag,tookoutsomemoneyandgaveittohim.‘Butremember,Iwantitbacknextweek.’

Richardsmiledanddputhisarmaroundhissister.‘Thanks,Jenny.Thisisdifferrent.Really!

She’sveryveryspecial.Butyou’reinahurrysoI’llgonow.’

‘Don’tforge,’shecalledafterhim.‘Nextweek.Twentypounds.’

Maxim’srestaurantwasbusy—youngmenandwomenfromoffices,severalolderpeople,agroupofstudents,andafewtheatrepeople.Jenniferlookedaroudforherfriend.Claireusuallysatnearthewindowbuttonightshewasnotthere.Somebodywashavingapartyandallthetablesonthatsidewerefull.ThenJenniferheardClaire’svoicebehindher.‘Didyougetlost?

I’vebeenhereforhours.’

‘IknowI’mlate,’Jennifersaid,‘andIamsorry.kTodayhasbeenreallybusy.Thelastpatientdidn’tleaveuntileight-thirty.AndthenIhadavisitfromRichard.Hewantedtoborrowsomemoney.Healwayswantstoborrowmoney.’

Theywenttoanemptytable.Awaitercameuptothemandtooktheirorders.Atthemomenttherewasacheerfromthepartybesidethewindow.Anoldermaninalightgreysuitwasstandingup.Hespokeforafewminutesandthehelduphisglass.Alltheothersstoodup,andlookedatayounggirlwithlargegoldear-rings,whowassittinginthechairnexttohim.Everyonewaslaughing,andthentheybegantosing‘Happybirthdaytoyou’.Theywerealllookingatthegirl,butsheherselfjustsattherewithoutasmileonherface.Thesongcametoandend,andtherewasanotherloudcheerandmorelaughingandshouting.Someonecalledout‘Twenty—onetoday,twentyonetoday…’,andthistimeeveryoneintherestaurantsangtoo.

Suddenlytherewasaloudcrash.Thensomeonescreamedandawoiceshouted,‘Bringatowel—quickly.’Themaninthegreysuitwaslyingacrossthetable.Hewasholdinghisface,whichwasredwithblood.Onthetabletherewasbrokenglass.

Someonesaidinaloudvoice,‘Whathappened—Didhefall?

’Severalpeoplewerespeakingatthesametime.’It’shisheart,youknow…’‘Joe’sbeeninandoutofhospitalforyears…’‘…hisheadhitthoseglasses’.

Themanwasstilllyingacrossthetable.Jenniferjumpedup,andbothsheandClaireranovertohim.

‘We’renurses,’saidJennifer.‘Canwehelp?

Therewasacutonthesideoftheman’sface.Itwasdeepandhewaslosingalotofblood.Awaiterranupwithatowel.Jennifertookitandheldittothecut.Theman’smouthwasopenandhewasmakingstrangenoises.

‘Heneedsadoctor.We’lltakehim,’Clairereplied.

TheyhelpedthemanoutsideandputhiminClaire’scar.Jenniferjumpedinbesidehimandtheydroveoff.Shewasstillholdingthetoweltotheman’sface.Thebloodwasnotcomingsofastnowandhewasbeginnigtofeelalittlebetter.

‘Where…wherearewegoing?

’heasked.‘Areyoutakingmehome?

‘Juststaythereanddon’tspeak,’Jennifertoldhim.‘Youfellandhurtyourself.You’llbeallright,butyoumustseeadoctor.We’llbeatthehospitalinafewminutes.’

Attheword‘hospital’themanimmediatelytriedtositup.‘No,no,’hesaidangrily,‘Idon’tneedtogotohospital.I’mfeelingbetternow.Justtakemehome.Andwhoareyou?

‘I’manurse,’Jennifertoldhim,‘Andyouneedtoseeadoctor.we’renearlytherenow.Justsitstill–andstoptalking.’

Butthemanwasfeelingstrongernowandhewouldnotbequiet.HepulledatJennifer’sarmandsaidloudly,‘Idon’tneedadoctor.It’sjustasmallcutonmyface.I’mallrightnow.Takemehome!

’WhenJenniferdidnotanswerhim,hesaidinaquietervoice.‘Comeonnow—listentome.I’mfeelingfine,reallyIam.There’snoneedtotakemetohospital.They’llwanttokeepmethere—theyalwaysdo,becauseofmybadheart.Yousee,Ihavetomeetsomebusinesspeoplethedayaftertomorrow—it’sveryimportant.SojuststopthecarandIcangetataxihome.’

Bynowthecarwasatthedoorofthehospital.AnursecametomeetthemandwhileClairetoldherabouttheaccident,Jenniferhelpedthemanoutofthecar.Hesaidsomethingangrilytothenurse,butafterafewsecondshewentwithherintothehospital.JenniferandClairedroveaway.

‘Whatadifficultman!

’saidClairecrossly.‘No“Thankyouforyourhelp”or“you’reverykind”.’

‘Somepeopleneversaythankyou,’Jennifersaid.‘Don’tworryaboutit.’

WhentheygotbacktoMaxim’s,apolicecarwasstandingoutside,withitsbluelighton.Therewasasmallgroupofpeoplearoundthedoor.Jenniferpushedthroughthem,Clairebehindher.Theytriedtogoinside.Apolicemanmovedforwardandputuphisarm.‘You’llhavetowaithere,’hetoldthem.

‘Butweordereddinner…andwehaven’teatenyet,’saidClaire.

Butthepolicemanwasnotlisteningtothem.Hewaslookingthroughtheglassdoor.Somethingwashappeninginsideandpeopleweremovingabout.ThenoneofMaxim’swaitersopenedthedoorandtwopolicemencameout.theywereholdingayounggirlbetweenthem.Itwasthegirlfromthebirthdayparty,thegirlwiththeunhappyfaceandtheexpensivegoldear—rings.Thepolicepushedherintothebackoftheiracranddroveawayquickly.

JenniferandClairelookedateachother.Whatanevening!

Theywaitedtwoorthreeminutes,buttherestaurantdoorwasclosednowandthepolicemanwasstandinginfrontofitagain.

Neitherofthemfelthungryanymore.Theywalkedslowlytowardsthecar.Clairewasthefirsttospeak.‘Comeon,Jenny,let’senjoyourselves—we’rehavinganightout.’Jenniferdidnotspeak.

Clairewenton,‘DoyourememberMaxim’slittlesongonTv?

’Shebegantosing:

Comewherethemusic’swonderful,

Comewherethefoodisfine.

Let’sallmeetatMaxim’s,

We’llhaveawonderfultime.

Shestopped.Jenniferwasnotpleased.‘Allthisisnotreallymyideaofawonderfultime,’shesaid.‘I’mtiredandIwantedanicequietevening,agoodmeal,andanearlynight.’

‘Comeon,’Clairereplied.‘Let’sgotoanotherrestaurant.’

‘No,let’sleaveittillnextweek.I’lljustwalkhomenow.’

Theysaidgoodbye.Clairegotintohercarandcalled,Seeyounextweek,then.’

Jenniferwalkedslowlyhome.Shefeltunhappyandworried—worriedaboutheryoungbrother,richard.Sherememberedhisvisittothesugeryearlierthatevening.Hewasalwaysinandoutofjobs,andneverhadanymoney.Ayearagohehadalittletroublewiththepolice,butRicharddidnotworryaboutit.Heneverworriedaboutanything!

Hejustlaughed,andcametoJennifertoaskformoremoney.boththeirparentsweredead,andtherewerenootherbrothersorsisters.SoJennifer,fifteenyearsolderthanRichard,worriedaboutherbrotheralot.

Shewentpastajewelleryshopwithitslightson,andstoppedtolookinthewindowforaminute.Shesawsomeear-ringsandthenrememberedthegoldear—ringsonthegirlatMaxim’s.Theywerelargeandlookedveryexpensive—andtheylookedallwrongnexttothatsmallunhappyface.Wheredidshegetthem?

Jennifersmiledtoherself.Perhapsthepolicewereaskingthatquestionnow。

Avisitfromthepolice

Jenniferdidnotsleepwellthatnight.Shewo