Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
soothingly to me in her deep, American voice, and I drifted off to sleep as she softly stroked
my arm.
She remained with me for several hours, and when I awoke, she sat there with some water
and a couple of pills. “Here are some aspirin, Jon; they might help your headache and fever.
I've got to get going but I will came back tomorrow with something a little stronger. We've
got to get our new carpenter well again,” she smiled sweetly down at me.
“Thank you, Susan, you have been more than an angel. I hardly know you, yet you have
been so kind, thank you,” I said weakly.
She patted my hand and quietly saw herself out. I had another awful night. I ate some of the
food that Susan had brought and tried to fall asleep. I eventually fell into a deep, troubled,
nightmare-laden sleep.
Susan and Dee arrived the next morning and, when I said I was not feeling any better, they
insisted I was to accompany them back to see the doctor. I was in no fit state to argue but
insisted on having a shower first. There was no way I was going to see any doctor after
being in bed for several days. I knew I must look a sight and probably smelled like an old,
wet dog.
When I returned to the boat after my cold shower (which had been a painful ordeal), I saw
that Dee had taken off, but Susan had her car ready next to the boat with the passenger
door open. She was most considerate. She drove me to the little clinic on the side of the
town where I had seen the bank and post office. It was a fairly modern building, and the
young receptionist greeted Susan as an old friend. They had been expecting me. I almost
whimpered in self pity. These strangers were being so kind to me. How was I ever to repay
them?
The doctor was young but very professional. He asked me several questions, including
some which alluded to my sexual practices. I was shocked to think that he suspected I had
the first signs of AIDS. I soon put his thoughts right. He examined my throat and eyes and
ears, and then spied the numerous angry, red scratches on my wrists that I had received
from Murphy.
Pointing to them he said, “Do you have a young cat on-board your boat?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I do. How did you know?”
“You've got cat scratch fever,” he said evenly.
“Cat scratch fever?” I asked incredulously. “What's that?”
