Affection Read Online Free PDF Page A

cloud.
    Dawson was telling Humphry, ‘You and your apprentice forget who you’re speaking to.’
    ‘No, I don’t.’ Humphry pretended to be aggrieved. ‘You’re most definitely Anderson Dawson, one of a pair of Honourable Members for Charters Towers. Or at least you’re a fair impression of him. And this is Dr Row and he’s not an apprentice. He’s the Townsville municipal medical officer and he deserves your respect. He has as much authority as I to carry out whatever is necessary to protect this town from plagues and rats. Isn’t that right, Dr Row?’ Humphry looked over to me and winked, before turning back to Dawson. ‘Dr Row is from Brisbane and a champion pugilist so I wouldn’t upset him if I were you.’
    Dawson was staring at me now. ‘Does McCreedy approve of this interrogation, this abuse of ratepayers?’
    ‘I’m actually here on behalf of the Townsville Joint Epidemic Board,’ I said.
    Dawson considered this and turned back to Humphry. ‘You seem to think this is amusing.’
    ‘No, I don’t, but you seem to be in your usual robust health, Mr Dawson. Congratulations. Next.’
    Humphry had to look around Dawson to call the next passenger and the MP turned slowly and walked off to join Dunsford and the captain.
    ‘They’re plotting something,’ Humphry said to me. ‘I hope you’ve been practising on that punching bag lately.’
    I wiped the sweat from my forehead and dipped the thermometer in alcohol for the next person.
    After the parade, the captain took us below to see the sick steward, Storm, whose cabin was near the stern. Captain Thompson opened the door and stood by it. Storm lay on his bunk with a blanket about him looking wary and feverish.
    ‘After you, Dr Row,’ said Humphry.
    There was a strong smell of sweat and onions. I looked over my shoulder before entering and saw that Dawson had followed us and was now standing behind Humphry in the hallway. Behind him smoke and passengers were filling the narrow corridor.
    The cabin was small, hot, dank and airless and I couldn’t stand straight without knocking my head on something. One wall, which I assumed was the hull of the ship, had a large suppurating brown sore. A single lamp hung from the ceiling and spread a sickly yellow light.
    I wondered how the man had stayed alive in there for the three or four days he’d been laid up. His eyes hadwithdrawn into two black pits, but his face turned towards me as I stepped into the cabin. I reached for the blanket.
    ‘Not here,’ I heard Humphry behind me say. ‘Captain? Can we move this man to a larger cabin?’
    ‘There are no larger cabins that aren’t occupied.’
    ‘What about Mr Dawson’s suite?’ said Humphry. ‘He’s for the working man. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.’
    Captain Thompson hesitated and looked back down the corridor, perhaps wondering if Dawson had heard. He asked, ‘How long is this going to take? Can’t you tell what’s the matter with him here?’
    Humphry poked his head further inside the cabin. ‘I don’t know about this gentleman, but I’d suffocate if I had to spend a minute in here.’
    ‘Yes. All right. I’ll make the smoking saloon available then.’
    ‘Thank you,’ said Humphry, stepping backwards into the captain and then vanishing down the corridor. I heard him say ‘Make way, damn you,’ and some other men swearing. The captain shot me a sour look and followed him.
    I was suddenly alone in the cabin with Storm. The poor man was gasping as he tried to raise his head to see what the commotion was about.
    ‘Can you walk?’ I said.
    He nodded and made a weak effort to rise, but couldn’t get himself up on an elbow. I grabbed himunder the arm and pain flashed across his face. I let him fall back.
    ‘Here,’ said a voice behind me.
    I turned and saw a man in the white linen uniform of a steward. His face was an assortment of odd angles, as were his teeth.
    ‘Captain said you’d need a hand.’ He held up a large and calloused