‘Yes, but—’
‘All right. I’ll get you a doctor.’ I poured myself another drink, knocked it straight back and then I turned to the door. ‘I’ll get you one of the best surgeons in the country.’
‘I don’t understand. Where are you going, Dick?’
‘I’m going to find Dr. Sansevino.’
‘No. Please.’
‘Do you want a doctor or don’t you?’ I asked her.
She hesitated.
‘Sansevino’s a damn’ good surgeon. I should know.’
‘Please, Dick — don’t be bitter. I would rather anything than that.’ Then as she realised that I was waiting for the answer to my question, she nodded. ‘Yes. Get him if you can.’
I got George out of the outhouse, clambered on to his back and we trotted off down the track to the road.I’d had nothing to eat that morning and I felt very light-headed. I think I sang part of the way. Then I reached the road and glanced along it towards Santo Francisco. The sight that met my eyes sobered me up. Santo Francisco was gone, all except a few houses on the outskirts. Where the village had been was nothing but a long wall of black lava. It seemed to be fanning out, filling the whole gap between the two streams that had swung down to join at Avin. I suddenly realised there wasn’t much point in getting Sansevino.