Michael Malone - Weebly

In the Bredforets' air-conditioned summer porch,
Dr. Deeds was listening to Dr. Scaper describe his
dilemma with a plodding voice and quick, irascible
gestures. His dilemma was a similar peculiarity of
symptoms among an increasing number of his Dingleyan
patients.
He told her first of the cluster of unconnected
people, beginning with Vincent Canopy, who had died
of some odd virulent strain of brucellosis. And how that
series of deaths had been followed after a few years by
periodic groups of other equally unsatisfactory terminal
illnesses.
"All terminal illnesses are unsatisfactory," Ruth said.
"All deaths are unnatural."
"You're young," he told her. "You'll feel different
fifty years from now."
"I don't think so."
"I know you don't." But by unnatural deaths Dr.
Scaper meant a growing list of heart attack victims who
were developing endocarditis much too rapidly to suit
him. The town had lost more than twenty people in the