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readjusting?’
    ‘So long as I don’t lift anything heavy, bend over, or stand on my head, then I can work normally.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Yes, sir. Of course, it puts the mockers on my sex life.’
    He became engrossed in a report – about light bulb consumption as far as I could see from reading upside down. After a while, he looked up. ‘Still here, Dr Maxwell?’
    ‘Not any longer, sir,’ and whisked myself out. It was so good to be back.
    It took me ages to get to Sick Bay. I stopped in the hall, greeted the members of my department working there, and caught up on recent jumps, who was where and when, and listened to all the ‘face like a football’ jokes. I looked in on Mrs Mack in the kitchen and took a couple of chocolate brownies for Kal and me. Various people stuck their heads out of various doors as I passed, and I could feel St Mary’s opening up around me and welcoming me home.
    The warmth and excitement stayed with me all the way down the corridor, but I found climbing Sick Bay stairs more of an effort than it should have been. My legs felt heavy. My heart felt heavy. Everything looked the same but there was something … The drive must have tired me more than I thought.
    Dr Foster was waiting. She showed no signs of being pleased to see me. Patients ranked slightly below earwax in her scheme of things. I did get a hug from Hunter and some ‘hamster face’ jokes. If ever you have something life-threatening or embarrassing happen to you, you can always be sure St Mary’s will treat you with sympathy, sensitivity, and support.
    ‘Let’s have a look at you,’ they said, shoving me into a treatment room.
    ‘Beautiful,’ said Helen, her face about two inches from mine.
    ‘Thank you,’ I said, beaming.
    ‘Not you, cloth-head. I was referring to the work. You, alas, look much the same as ever.’
    ‘Well, it’s not easy to improve on perfection. Certainly, no doctor could ever do so. Where’s Kal?’
    ‘In your usual room. We’re renaming it The Black and Maxwell Wing. You’ll be sleeping here tonight. In case your face drops off in the night.’
    ‘OK,’ I said, having expected that.
    ‘A word, before you go.’
    ‘What?’
    She seemed unsure what to say. ‘Kal has not – made the same progress as you.’
    ‘Well, she was more seriously injured than me.’
    ‘On the face of it, yes. I’m not saying her injuries were superficial – they certainly weren’t, but her clothing and that corset did give her a certain amount of protection.’
    I felt a sudden chill of unease. I looked around – for what, I’m not sure. She put her hand on my shoulder. ‘It’s all right, everything’s fine. She’s just not making her usual sparkling recovery. She’ll probably be fine once she’s seen you. She’s been asking all day. The Chief dropped your bag off here. Let’s go.’
    It was a shock. I was glad she had warned me. Kal hunched against her pillows, grey-faced and heavy-eyed. Her fingers worked constantly at the covers and her eyes were never still.
    ‘Hey, buggerlugs,’ I said, sensitively. ‘You look like shit.’
    She made a huge effort. ‘Well, shit is better than stupid. Why are you wearing a red snake?’
    ‘Why, what colour should it be?’
    She made no reply.
    I tried again. ‘You’re in my bed. I always have the one by the door.’
    ‘Well, I’ve got it now. You’ll just have to slum it in the corner. Just keep the noise down and let me sleep.’
    Helen interrupted. ‘Max, stop annoying everyone and get into bed. Lunch will be along in a minute.’
    ‘I’m starving.’ I laid Pythagoras carefully across the window seat and said to Kal, ‘If you’re not hungry, can I have yours?’
    ‘No. What’s in the bag?’
    ‘Brownies from Mrs Mack. For me.’
    ‘Why you? What about me?’
    ‘I’m recuperating. You’re just lying around.’
    I chucked the bag over and she took one. Helen watched her without seeming to. Kal looked at it, and then put it aside,