"Nobody but you and John, as far as I know," she gasped between spasms of pain.
It was probably true. We three were working on the secret problems in isolation during the day. Polly and Harry helped us with the procedures that had to be done in the main lab and so were not in direct physical contact with us. We seldom stopped work until long after the day workers had left the Lab and were there in the morning before them. We didn't go out for meals during the day as we had all we needed on the top floor. I could see Hallam was concerned about the disease getting loose. If the vaccine we had was no protection from this new mutation, and if Pat had a case of flu it obviously wasn't, then this new disease could raise hell among the people and maybe finish what the Reds had started.
"We can't stay here, and we can't take her to a hospital," the Chief decided. "We mustn't let this new virus get out. I'll have to take care of her myself in the Research Lab. There are some instruments there and we can get more if we need them." He looked down at Pat. "I'm no obstetrician, my dear, but I think we can see you through this if you agree."
Pat smiled tiredly. "You're a doctor, and a good one. Do what you think best."
I had to agree even though it frightened me. I'd seen dozens of similar cases in my earlier days as a young interne but my imagination was too active where my own loved ones were concerned. The main danger was sudden hemorrhage but we could easily get blood sent up to us. Otherwise nature would probably take care of things in its own way. By now it was after rush hour and the Lab would be empty. Once more we let ourselves into the building and went up to the top floor, using the elevator for Pat's sake. She could hardly walk by now, even with our help, and it was a struggle to get her to her room. Once there we stripped the bed down. I prepped her and draped her for delivery and the Chief gave her intravenous demerol and a capsule of seconal. Then we waited.
An hour later it was over. She had aborted spontaneously, and, as far as we could tell, completely. With the assistance of a small dose of ergot we had controlled the bleeding and the uterus was small and firm. I checked her pulse and blood pressure. There was no sign of shock. She lay there quietly after I had changed the linen and, as I pulled the covers over her, she took my hand.