All Chapters of The Master's Child: Chapter 181 - Chapter 190

James"So, what's his condition?"The doctor blows air, puffing out her cheeks. "You reached your friend only just in time. A few more days and he would have been beyond saving. As it is, the signs are that you rescued him before his vital organs began to shut down. However, as you would imagine, he's suffering from massive loss of weight, including muscle mass. And he's severely dehydrated. We'll bring him back to normal levels using a drip..."... We'll keep Mr Smith sedated for a day or so, until his signs are more normal. After that, he's going to have to take it slowly before eating and drinking normally again, while his stomach readjusts..."There is also the damage to his leg from the shackle. While unpleasant and undoubtedly painful, the wound is not infected and should heal normally. However he has several bites, we think from rats. Some of these are infected and require treatment. Again, keeping him unconscious will assist in the healing process."We are treating hi

Charlotte's eyes widen. Michael throws up his hands. "What on earth does he have to be ashamed about? Most people would never have made it as far as Brazil. He followed Juliana, found her and now she's dead. He sacrificed himself. He almost sacrificed everything. Mitch is safe. Charlotte's safe. And we can all get on with our lives. I think even Hickman will be glad of a change of assignment. Or a holiday.""His physical appearance maybe. The depths to which he was reduced perhaps? Eating rats...""To stay alive for Christ's sake. Besides, if the rats hadn't learned to sideline him, it might have been them eating him. As it is, he's being treated for some infected bites. If he could bring himself to do it, then I'll applaud him.""And I agree. So... What?"Michael rubs the side of his nose. Sniffs. "He's a stubborn bastard. If he doesn't want to tell us, we'll not drag it out of him."Charlotte breaks in. "So put him on the spot. Make it so he has to respond."As one, Micha

KlempnerAt last, I get some privacy with her. James ushers out Jenny, protesting all the way. Michael leaves too, turning as he exits to give me a kind of approving nod.Haswell poured glasses of champagne, passing them around at their side of the screen, although I did notice that he poured for Mitch from a different bottle. The top of the flute is just in view, spitting the odd bubble over the rim."Are you alone now?"She looks sidelong, off-screen. "Yes, they've gone.""What's Kirstie doing there?""I'm fitting her for her wedding dress. They've set the date for Christmas, remember.""I didn't know that.""Oh... no... Of course you wouldn't." She takes a sip of her bubbly, looking away. "It's been so long. They said you were dead. The police said there was a body.""There was, but not mine."She peers into the screen, searching my face. "How are you? What happened?""I'll tell you sometime, but not now. What's important, is how you are and..." I nod down, bel

JamesAn orderly tries to block the way, arms outstretched in front of the door. "Sir, you can't..."Klempner simply brushes by him.From beyond, Mitch's voice. "Let him in..."The orderly spins, mouth open. "What? All of them?""Yes!!!! Ah... Fuccckkkk...."The monk's feet skid uselessly over the polished floor as he tries to resist his inexorable forward journey into the delivery room. His voice rises to a wail. "But I'm not a priest. I can't do this." Klempner growls, "I don't care if you're a priest, a rabbi, an imam, or if you ran the Bring-and-Buy at the church garden party. The lady here wants our child born in wedlock. You're going to marry us."Klempner turns his attention to Mitch, lying on her back on the delivery table, yelling her way through another contraction. She flings out an arm, grabbing at his wrist. He winces, but lays his other hand on top. "We'll just let this one pass..."The midwife, checking a bleeping monitor, flashes a look at Mitch. "Yo

Two coffeepots later, we've run out of croissants and moved onto toasted muffins. James slices one in two, dropping the halves into the toaster. He pauses, "Another one, Beth?"She's sitting up against the headboard, next to Charlotte, the two propped up against each other, eating from a shared plate. Beth slathers butter and blackberry jam onto what she has. "Thanks, but I'm fine with this, James. I'll not eat again 'til suppertime.""Charlotte?""Mmmm..." She nods, mumbling through a mouthful, wiping a smear of melted butter from the corner of her mouth. She swallows, then holds up half a muffin - minus two bites. "What is it about muffins and bad weather? I always want more of them."James rolls a look at her, then to me, shaking his head...A wise man says nothing...Richard sucks jam from his fingers, lips smacking. "On a complete change of subject... Elizabeth and I were talking..." Beth falls still, her shoulders slumping... "... Please don't take this the wrong way,