“All my felicitations,” said the first captain. He shook my hand. “I can only say that to be on the safe side you should wait at least six months before opening such a knee. You are welcome of course to another opinion.”
“Thank you very much,” I said. “I value your opinion.”
The first captain looked at his watch.
“We must go,” he said. “All my best wishes.”
“All my best wishes and many thanks,” I said. I shook hands with the third doctor, “Capitano Varini—Tenente Enry,” and they all three went out of the room.
“Miss Gage,” I called. She came in. “Please ask the house doctor to come back a minute.”
He came in holding his cap and stood by the bed. “Did you wish to see me?”
“Yes. I can’t wait six months to be operated on. My God, doctor, did you ever stay in bed six months?”
“You won’t be in bed all the time. You must first have the wounds exposed to the sun. Then afterward you can be on crutches.”
“For six months and then have an operation?”