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"You can go out in the day again, play ball, go to school, wear T-shirts." |
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Well, what could you expect, Tojian thought. For weeks the boy's blood had buzzed with adrenalin, gonadotropins and other visceral stimulants. |
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"I'm afraid we'll have to keep you on the medicines for a few weeks more," Tojian said. "Just until your body's defenses take over." He added, "You'll feel better, Matty, once you get back into the swing of things. Believe me.'' |
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They continued down the corridor toward the elevators when Mitch heard his name on the PA system and left Matty with his parents. "I'll be right with you," he told them, and took the call at the nurse's station across from where they waited for him. |
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The duty nurse handed him the receiver. "Dr. Rosenblum." |
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On Mitch's urging a few months earlier, Larry Rosenblum had taken up golf and was now fanatical about the game. Whenever he saw a four-hour window in his schedule, he would call Mitch to join him for a game. It made no difference whether he was at home, in the office or making rounds. He was a golf junkie. |
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"Only if we can quit at a hundred or nine holes, whichever comes first," Mitch said into the receiver. |
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But now there was no equivalent tone of banter in Larry's voice. "Mitch, we've got us a problem." |
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"It's related to the Hazzard case." |
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"He's being released as we speak." Mitch gave Matty a wink. |
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Matty looked back and smiled. |
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"I know," Dr. Rosenblum said. "He's not alone . . ." |
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"I just got a call from epidemiology. Another case has been reported." |
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"Explosive behavior. A young male, eleven years old, went berserk and mauled some people. One died from bites on the neck and face." |
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"Oh, God," whispered Tojian. He had to concentrate on keeping |
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