‘ ‘ ‘  The driver’™s first guess was that she may be dumb. Then, perhaps just shy, for in answer to his offer of a lift to the village she simply stared, saying nothing. As an old resident to these parts, he was sure that she was either new or just passing through for he knew all those of the estate.
‘ ‘ ‘  In the twilight of the country lane her pale face appeared through the car window like a rising moon. Her blouse, wet from the summer drizzle, clung to her slim body contouring her early womanhood.
‘ ‘ ‘  On her part she was endeavoring to sum up the man behind the wheel of the pale blue car. Often enough warned about strangers she had become wary of even a kindly face. But in her desperation to reach the village quickly she was prepared to take a risk ‘“ if the odds seemed right.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWant a lift,’ the man repeated. ‘œYou’™re wet and might catch a nasty cold.’
‘ ‘ ‘  Her expression, appealing as if for help from some guardian angel, slowly became resigned. The man’™s kindly smile which reached his eyes did look genuine.’  She nodded.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œOkay, then,’ holding the door open. ‘œGet in.’
‘ ‘ ‘  Closing the door she sat gingerly, looking straight ahead.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œLost your tongue, eh?’, the man asked, his voice still kindly as the car began moving.
‘ ‘ ‘  She shook her head by way of reply.
‘ ‘ ‘  He put her silence down to to shyness and resolved not to press the point further.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œTo the village,’ I suppose? ‘œMust be pretty important by the look of things.’
‘ ‘ ‘  A smile like a passing light softened her face for an instant then was gone.
‘ ‘ ‘  In silence they continued he pondering on what might be taking the child to the village in these conditions. The forested, sparsely traveled country lane was hardly a place where a young girl would be found walking in the late evening. As they neared the outskirts of the small town he addressed her again:
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œJust tell me when you wish to be let off, wont you?’ The man voice was still kind and gentle.
‘ ‘ ‘  She returned his words with a smile a little broarder than the first.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œHere, please. Thank you,’ she said quietly.
‘ ‘ ‘  Her first words surprised him. ‘œSo you can talk, after all. Well, I wish you well. And if we should meet again I hope we’™ll be able to communicate just a little more than we did the first time. Good bye ‘“ and good luck.’
‘ ‘ ‘  She crossed the road to a door upon which was a brightly polished brass sign, Dr. Crabtree. She rang shivering a little as she entered.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œHello, Julia. Please take a seat. I’™ll tell Dr. Crabtree you’™re here.’
‘ ‘ ‘  There were many in the well lit waiting room and she wondered how long she may have to wait. She reached for a magazine but even before she had opened it the nurse reappeared holding a small bottle.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œI’™ve been asked to tell you it’™s extremely urgent you start giving the medicine immediately to your father according to the instructions on the label.
‘ ‘ ‘  The girl accepted the bottle in silence the anxious look on her face deepening.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  *
‘ ‘ ‘  The sky, a little darker now, greeted her as she re-crossed the road to a bus that would take her to the junction of the country lane. She glance down to a puddle in which was reflected the entrance to Dr. Crabtree’™s clinic. She shivered both because of the chill from her wet blouse and the worrying thought of her sick father. A passing car slowed to a stop. In the puddle was reflected the same pale blue colour. She looked up.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œHello. I didn’™t think that I second meeting would come so soon. Like a lift?’
‘ ‘ ‘  Nodding her consent she stepped to the open door.
‘ ‘ ‘  After a while the man spoke. ‘œI see you have some medicine. I,too, am a doctor. May I have a look?’
‘ ‘ ‘  She hesitated just a moment then handed him the bottle.
‘ ‘ ‘  This is an anti-malarial. Malaria is so uncommon here. Who has this?’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œMy father.’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œAh, so you can really speak. How did he come to get malaria?’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWe’™ve just arrived from West Africa ‘“ just a few days ago.’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œAh. That accounts for me never having seen you in these parts before. You see, I’™ve lived on the estate for a good many years. Tell me a little more about your father’™s illness.’  Some years back I was doctoring in Mombasa and I learned quite a lot about tropical diseases. How’™s your father’™s condition?’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œHe’™s very weak, sweating terribly and keeps mumbling to himself.’ Then, as if coming to a sudden decision: ‘œWould you see my father?’  Dr Crabtree is so busy his nurse said he was unable to leave his clinic that day.’
‘ ‘ ‘  To his surprise she now turned towards him in great earnest,’  her eyes pleading the question.
‘ ‘ ‘  Such a long speech from she who had been ‘˜till then so silent, indicated the girl’™s deep concern and fear.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œSince we are neighbours, I suppose I could take a look. I’™ll fix it with Crabtree whom I know well, of course.
‘ ‘ ‘  The girl’™s eyes showed instant relief.
‘ ‘ ‘  The had been traveling the gravel road some four miles when the girl indicated a gate to the left. Some twenty paces beyond stood a wood and stone cottage; the garden weed- strewn. He knew that the place had been vacant some time.
‘ ‘ ‘  The door opened with a push and she led the way upstairs. There was a depressed air about the place. The large man, sweating and tossing on the bed was obviously delirious.
‘ ‘ ‘  The doctor felt for his pulse, while taking his temperature. Raising the man’™s eyelids he examined his eyes.
‘ ‘ ‘  He turned to the girl. ‘œhow long has he been in such a state?’, he asked aloud, suddenly alert.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œAbout two days. He’™s been in bed now some ten days,’ she answered. ‘œThree days ago it became suddenly much worse. Then I called Dr. Crabtree.’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œIt looks as if I got here just in time. I’™m almost sure your father’™s malaria has become cerebral. His condition is extremely serious. What’™s your name?’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œJulia,’ she answered simply.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWhere is your mother?’ The doctor’™s voice was now, though still kindly, also professional and firm.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œMy mother lives in London. My brother’™s in boarding school.’ She paused as if changing her mind about what she was about to say, then suddenly pleaded: ‘œPlease try to save my father!’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œI shall certainly do my best. I will need your help and we must work fast.. Take a towel, wet it with cold water and bring it to me quickly.’
‘ ‘ ‘  In the meantime extracting from his bag a syringe and small phial, he prepared the injection. The wet towel he bound firmly around the patient’™s head, fastening it with a strong safety-pin.
‘ ‘ ‘  He then kneeled beside the bed preparing the patient’™s arm for the injection. The girl noticed his lips moving as if in a silent prayer. Finally ready, his tension apparent to her, he injected the preparation intravenously into the artery. The doctor relaxed, wiped the perspiration from his brow and turned to the girl.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘Julia, if I’™m right and our luck holds, in four or five hours he should be awake and be much more peaceful. Then begin to give him the medicine you got from Dr. Crabtree. Give him as much water as he can drink and keep the towel cool on his head. There is no more I can do. I shall return in the morning to see how he’™s getting on. My name is Leshem. Here, take my card. I’™m just down the road from here if you need me.’
‘ ‘ ‘  He examined the girl’™s face kindly. I was drawn with anxiety. She, as usual kept her silence her gratitude and thanks clear in her eyes. He began down the stairs she watching after him in silence. He shut the door behind him.
‘ ‘ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘  Leshem’™s car drew up at their house punctually at nine. The smell of frying eggs and freshly made tea that greeted him’  indicated that things had indeed gone well. His diagnosis’  correct. Julia opened the door. Her greeting and thanks was upon her face. They went together upstairs.
‘ ‘ ‘  The change in the sick man was remarkable. He even managed a feeble smile. ‘œI owe you my life he managed in only a little more than a whisper.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œNow don’™t go straining yourself, I took a guess that your malaria had gone cerebral and it turned out correct. I just had no time to check nor to lose. You have a very sweet daughter. She shall be your nurse ‘˜till you get well enough to be on your feet. In the meantime, you must remain in bed another four days. Take your medicine regularly.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œI don’™t know how to thank you, doctor . . .’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWe’™ll talk about that when you are well.’
‘ ‘ ‘  She opened the door for him and as he passed looked up into his face her eyes glistening’  – her silence more expressive than words.
‘ ‘ ‘  He kissed her upon her forehead and took her hand for a moment.
‘ ‘ ‘  He turned and pensively began walking towards the gate.