Coma

by Robin Cook

‘Nancy Greenly,’ began Cartwright in a mechanical fashion, ‘twenty-three-year-old female, entered the Memorial approximately one week ago for a D&C. Past medical history entirely benign and noncontributory. Routine pre-op workup normal, including negative pregnancy test. During surgery she suffered an anaesthetic complication and she has been comatose and unresponsive since that time. EEG two days ago was essentially flat. Current status is stable: weight holding; urine output good; BP, pulse, electrolytes, etcetera, all OK. There was a slight temperature elevation yesterday afternoon but breath sounds are normal. All in all, she seems to be holding her own.’ ‘Holding her own with a good deal of help from us,’ corrected Bellows. ‘Twenty-three?’ asked Susan suddenly while

The stairs were made of metal with an embossed surface like beaten silver. The colour had been orange but now had become something approaching a dirty tan except in the centre of each step, which was worn shiny by multitudinous footsteps.