‘So we concentrate on staying alive and look for a chance to escape,’ said Macandrew. ‘You were brilliant through there.’
‘Do you think they’ll go along with it?’
‘It’s my guess they’re trying to contact Ignatius right now,’ said Macandrew.
‘But maybe two vials of protease are all he needs,’ said Simone. ‘If he only has the one subject...’
‘I don’t think he can afford to take that chance,’ said Macandrew. ‘With half the police forces of Europe looking for him, he can hardly go around recruiting biochemists if he hits a snag. He’ll want you to make some more; I’m sure of it.’
‘Let’s hope you’re right.’
‘Where exactly did you send the stuff to?’ asked Macandrew.
‘The main post office, here in Marseilles. I sent it post restante. I have to pick it up in person.’
‘If you get a chance to escape,’ said Macandrew. ‘You must take it.’
‘We are in this together.’
Macandrew squeezed her hand and insisted, ‘We must be practical. If you get the opportunity you have to take it. It makes much more sense to tell the police what’s happened.’
Simone nodded.
Several hours elapsed before Stroud returned. The effects of Macandrew’s earlier painkillers had worn off and he was starting to run a fever. There was a persistent thin film of sweat on his face. The pain had largely put a stop to conversation with Simone and he was staring up at the ceiling, trying not to think about it when Stroud came into the room.
‘My colleague has agreed to your coming with us,’ said Stroud.
‘Where?’ asked Simone.
‘That needn’t concern you. You will pick up the package and then we can be on our way. When you’ve synthesised the chemical, both of you will be released. Let’s get started.’
Macandrew and Simone knew that any talk of release was nonsense but they had achieved their immediate objective. They were to be kept alive for the time being. For the moment they were satisfied with that.
‘Come,’ said Stroud, holding the door for Simone.
Simone did not move. ‘I will do nothing until my friend has had his dressing changed. He also needs antibiotics and something for the pain.’ She said it with her back to Stroud so that he couldn’t see that she was biting her lip with nerves.
‘You are in no position to...’
‘That’s the deal,’ said Simone. She sounded calm but Macandrew could see that her hands were trembling.
‘I don’t have any dressings,’ said Stroud.
Simone turned to face him. ‘There must be something,’ she insisted. ‘Clean sheets, a pillowslip?’
‘If you are so concerned, you can do it,’ said Stroud. ‘And I don’t have any antibiotics.’
‘Then get some!’
There was silence as Stroud and Simone stared each other out.
‘We’ll call in at a pharmacy after we have picked up your package,’ said Stroud.
Simone felt a flood of relief. It threatened to make her a little unsteady on her feet but her gamble had paid off. Macandrew squeezed her hand in acknowledgement.
‘He needs painkillers now,’ said Simone as Stroud turned away.
Without looking round Stroud said simply, ‘I’ll get him something.’
Macandrew looked at Simone and nodded his thanks. The pain was too bad to permit a smile.
‘Try to take it easy, Mac,’ whispered Simone. ‘You’re going to be all right.’
The fat man brought through a clean cotton pillowslip and a bottle of green disinfectant solution.
‘I’ll need hot water and soap too,’ said Simone. The man left and came back with a bowl of warm water, a towel and a bar of carbolic soap. He put them down on the floor. Stroud followed, holding a syringe up in front of him as he expelled residual air. Without saying anything, he pushed up the sleeve on Macandrew’s right arm and injected the contents of the syringe.
Macandrew felt an immediate warm glow spread throughout his body, releasing him from the pain that had been building up an ever-tightening web around him. He felt as if the sun had come out from behind a dark cloud on a cold day to bathe him in warm sunshine. ‘Christ!’ he murmured softly as his tensed-up muscles started to relax in unison.
Simone smoothed his damp hair back from his forehead and smiled as she saw his drawn expression relax. Stroud left the room and she started to unwind the dirty bandage. ‘This may still hurt,’ she said.
‘I didn’t ask. Are you a medical doctor?’ murmured Macandrew.
‘PhD in molecular biology, you’ll have to help me.’
‘It’s not going to be a pretty sight.’
‘Mmm, it could well be a question of which one of us passes out first,’ said Simone as she removed the final layer of the old dressing — slowly because it had stuck to the wound. She stopped in the middle and said to the fat man, who was watching the proceedings with a look of revulsion on his face, ‘Get me a sponge will you?’ He did and then left the room, looking pale.
Simone started cleaning the wound gently. Macandrew put back his head and looked up at the ceiling. He had to grit his teeth against the pain when the antiseptic was applied but Simone kept her cool throughout. She continued until the site had been thoroughly cleaned and then applied strips of bandage torn from the pillowslip.
‘All done,’ she announced.
‘Well done,’ said Macandrew. ‘You were great.’
Simone pressed his hand and said, ‘It’s a woman thing.’
Macandrew managed a smile.
‘Now we’ll see about getting you these antibiotics.’
Simone left with Stroud for the post office, leaving Macandrew to enjoy what respite he could from the pain before the effects of the injection wore off. He didn’t know when he might get another one. He closed his eyes but couldn’t manage anything more than a light doze. He was aware of distant traffic noise as Marseilles went about its business. A police siren wailed every so often and there was the constant murmur of conversation from the two men in the room next door. He could smell French cigarettes and somewhere in the distance a child was crying — not in pain, but in frustration at not getting its own way. Although recovering from the infection was a priority he recognised that being unable to walk was going to be a distinct drawback in any escape bid. This was not a happy thought.
Macandrew continued to doze fitfully until the sound of Simone’s voice broke through his jumbled thoughts and restored him to full alertness. She came into the room and announced, ‘Got them.’ She handed over a small package.
Macandrew read the label. Tetracycline Hydrochloride. He opened the plastic bottle and threw two capsules into his mouth. ‘Thanks.’
‘I hope they work, Mac.’
‘You and me both.’
‘I think we are leaving tonight,’ said Simone quietly. ‘I overheard Stroud say something to the other two about the boat being ready.’
‘Boat?’
‘That’s all I heard. Nothing about where we are going.’
Macandrew rested his head back on the pillow and thought about the implications of a boat trip. Being cut off from land was not such a wonderful prospect from the point of view of escape but on the other hand, any kind of sea voyage might afford them a bit more time — time to let his foot recover.
Stroud and the fat man were out for most of the remainder of the day, leaving Macandrew and Simone in the sole custody of Parvelli. Macandrew hoped that this might give Simone the chance to escape at some point but Parvelli was no fool. He kept them locked up in the room and acted with caution at all times. They were only allowed out of the room one at a time and only once during the course of the afternoon, to visit the lavatory. Any other requests, for food, drinks, washing facilities etc were denied with a curt, ‘Later.’