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After Pearson's outburst that morning about the poor…quality surgical slides； Bannister had e back to the serology lab where John Alexander was working and had told him the whole story。 By this time Bannister was seething； and later he had taken out some of his own bad humor on the two girl technicians and their male helper who worked in the histology lab next door。 Alexander had heard what was said through the doorway which Bannister had left open behind him。
Alexander； though； knew that not all the blame for the bad slides lay with the histology technicians。 Even in the short time he had been at the hospital he had sensed the real problem； and afterward he had told Bannister； 〃You know； Carl； I don't believe it's all their fault。 I think they have too much to do。〃
Bannister had answered sourly； 〃We've all got too much to do。〃 Then with clumsy sarcasm he had added； 〃Maybe if you know so much about it you can do your own work and part of theirs as well。〃
Alexander had declined to be provoked。 〃I don't think so。 But I do think they'd be a lot better off with a tissue…processing machine instead of having to do everything by hand…the old…fashioned way。〃
〃Forget it； kid。 It isn't your problem。〃 Bannister had been loftily condescending。 〃And； besides； anything that means spending money around here is a dead duck before it starts。〃
Alexander had not argued。 But he resolved to raise the subject； the first chance he got； with Dr。 Pearson。
He had had to go into Pearson's office that afternoon to leave some lab reports for signature； and he had found the pathologist going through a pile of mail with obvious impatience。 Glancing up at Alexander； Pearson had motioned him to put the papers on the desk and had gone on with his reading。 Alexander had hesitated； and the old man had barked； 〃What is it？ What is it？〃
〃Dr。 Pearson； I was wondering if I could make a suggestion。〃
〃Now？〃
A more experienced hand would have known the tone of voice meant： Leave me alone。 Alexander answered； 〃Yes； sir。〃
Resignedly Pearson said； 〃Well？〃
A little nervously Alexander began； 〃It's about speeding up the surgical reports； Doctor。〃 As he mentioned surgical reports； Pearson had put down his letter and looked up sharply。 Alexander went on； 〃I was wondering if you'd ever thought of getting a tissue…processing machine。〃
〃What do you know about tissue processors？〃 There was an ominous note in Pearson's voice。 〃And anyway； I thought we put you to work in Serology。〃
Alexander reminded him； 〃I did a full course in histology at technologists' school； Doctor。〃 There was a pause。 Pearson said nothing； so Alexander went on。 〃I've used a tissue processor and it's a good machine； sir。 It would save us at least a day in preparing slides。 Instead of processing tissue by hand through all the solutions； you set the machine overnight and automatically by morning〃
Abruptly Pearson cut in。 〃I know how it works。 I've seen them。〃
Alexander said； 〃I see； sir。 Then don't you think〃
〃I said I've seen these so…called tissue processors and I'm not impressed。〃 Pearson's Voice was harsh and grating。 〃There's not the quality in the slides that there is with the old hand method。 What's more； the machines are expensive。 You see these？〃 He riffled through a stack of typed yellow forms in a tray on his desk。
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃They're purchase requisitions。 For things I need in this department。 And every time I put a bunch through I have a fight with the administrator。 He says we're spending too much money。〃
Alexander had made his first mistake in broaching the suggestion when Pearson had not wanted to hear。 Now he made a second error。 He mistook Pearson's statement as an invitation to continue the discussion。
He said placatingly； 〃But surely； if it would save a whole day； maybe two 。 。 。〃 He became more earnest。 〃Dr。 Pearson； I've seen slides made with a processor and they're good。 Perhaps the one you saw wasn't being used properly。〃
Now the older man had risen from his chair。 Whatever the provocation； Alexander had overstepped the bounds between physician and technologist。 Head forward； Pearson shouted； 〃That'll do！ I said I'm not interested in a tissue processor； and that's what I meant； and I don't want any argument about it。〃 He came around the desk until he was directly in front of Alexander； his face close to the younger man's。 〃And there's something else I want you to remember： I'm the pathologist here and I'm running this department。 I don't mind suggestions if they're reasonable。 But don't get stepping out of line。 Understand？〃
〃Yes； sir。 I understand。〃 Crestfallen and miserable； not really understanding at all； John Alexander went back to his work in the lab。
Mike Seddons had been preoccupied all day； several times he had had to check himself and make a conscious effort to pull back his mind to the work he happened to be doing。 Once； during an autopsy； McNeil had been forced to warn him； 〃There's a piece of your hand under that section you're about to slice。 We like people to leave here with all the fingers they came with。〃 Seddons had changed his grip hastily； it would not have been the first time that some inexperienced learner had lopped off a gloved finger with one of the razor…edged knives of pathology。
All the same his attention still kept wandering； the question recurring： What was it about Vivian that disturbed him so？ She was attractive and desirable； and he was anxious to take her to bed as quickly as possible…Mike Seddons was under no illusions about that。 She seemed amenable； too； assuming the pain in her knee the night before had been genuine； and he now believed it was。 He hoped she would still feel the same way； though there was no guarantee she would； of course。 Some girls were inconsistent like that…you could have the most exotic intimacies with them one day； then the next time round they would reject even the most basic advance； pretending that the earlier incident had never even happened。
But was there something more to Vivian and himself than merely sex？ Mike Seddons was beginning to wonder。 Certainly none of the earlier episodes…and there had been several…had caused him to do half so much thinking as he was doing right now。 A new thought occurred to him： Perhaps if he could get the sex bit out of his system other things might bee clearer。 He decided to ask Vivian to meet him again； and tonight…assuming she would be free…was as good a time as any。
Vivian had found the note from Mike Seddons when she finished her last class of the day and went back to the student nurses' residence。 It had been delivered by hand and was waiting for her in the mail rack under 〃L。〃 It asked her to be on the hospital's fourth floor near Pediatrics at 9：45 that night。 At first she had not intended to go； knowing she would have no reason officially to be in the hospital and she might be in trouble if she ran into any of the nursing supervisors。 But she found herself wanting to go； and at 9：40 she crossed the wooden boardwalk between the nurses' home and the main hospital buildings。
Mike was waiting； strolling in the corridor； apparently preoccupied。 But as soon as he saw her he motioned to a door and they went inside。 It led to an interior stair well； with a metal stairway leading up and down。 At this time of night it was quiet and deserted and there would be plenty of warning of anyone's approach。 Mike went down half a flight onto the next landing； leading her by the hand。 Then he turned； and it seemed the most natural thing in the world that she should go into his arms。
As they kissed she felt Mike's arms tightening and the magic of the night before came sweeping back。 At this moment she knew why she had wanted so much to e here。 This man with the wild red hair had suddenly bee indispensable to her。 She wanted him in every way…to be close to him； talk with him； make love with him。 It was an electric； exciting feeling she had never known before。 He was kissing her cheeks now； her eyes； her ears。 His face in her hair； he whispered； 〃Vivian darling； I've been thinking about you all day。 I haven't been able to stop。〃 With both hands he took her face and looked into it。 〃Do you know what you're doing？〃 She shook her head。 〃You're undermining me。〃
She reached out for him again。 〃Oh； Mike darling！〃
It was hot on the stairway。 Vivian felt the warmth of his body against the fire of her own。 Now his hands were questing； seeking。 She whispered； trembling； 〃Mike； isn't there somewhere else？〃
She felt his hands pause and knew he was considering。 He said； 〃I share a room with Frank Worth。 But he's out tonight； won't be back till late。 Do you want to take a chance and e to the residents' quarters？〃
She hesitated。 〃What would happen？ If we got caught。〃
〃We'd both get thrown out of the hospital。〃 He kissed her again。 〃At this moment I couldn't care。〃 He took her hand。 〃e on。〃
They went down one flight of stairs and along a corridor。 They passed another resident who grinned as he saw them but made no ment。 Then more stairs； another corridor。 This time a white figure turned out of a doorway just ahead。 Vivian's heart leaped as she recognized the night nursing supervisor。 But the supervisor did not turn around a