A Baby for the Flying Doctor (4 page)

Phemie unwrapped the foot from the clean towel she’d draped over it and angled it slightly so Gil could see. He was, after all, Professor Gilbert Fitzwilliam, the British surgeon who had basically written the manual for emergency medical procedures. Whilst he perused Kiefer’s foot, Phemie perused him. To say he wasn’t at all what she’d expected was a bit of an understatement. He was more down to earth, more…natural than she’d thought, but, then, she’d never really thought about him as a person in his own right.

‘You’ve done well at debriding. Bandage away. The healthier we keep the area, the better the chance of successful reattachment.’ At that, he turned to Harlan, remembering to check on the status. The steward was the lynchpin in this whole retrieval operation and he’d done a good job. Whilst Gil and Phemie had been tending to the patient, Harlan’s communication radio had been working overtime. Staff were out searching for the digit, other stewards were attempting to keep passengers as calm as possible and Gil knew it was Harlan who had given the train manager the right words to say over the loudspeaker to inform the passengers of the situation.

‘Ice-packs are on their way,’ Harlan informed them. ‘Sorry it’s taken so long.’

‘No need to apologise,’ Gil replied. ‘We wholeheartedly appreciate the assistance you’ve provided and thank you. You’ve been most obliging.’

‘Very good, sir.’ Harlan almost made a little bow.

Phemie couldn’t help but smile as she expertly finished off Kiefer’s bandage. Gil really sounded like the professor when he spoke like that, all British with pomp and ceremony. She liked it and hoped it would serve as a reminder of who he really was. That way, she at least had a hope of keeping herself under better control.

Gil checked on Paolo and found him to be improving and more in possession of his faculties. Phemie began asking Kiefer the same basic questions again and whilst she knew he hadn’t hit his head, the amount of shock his body was experiencing was extreme.

She pulled off her gloves and put them into a small rubbish bag Harlan handed her. ‘I might give my people another call. See where they’re up to.’ She pulled her phone from her pocket.

‘The bat phone again?’

Phemie’s lips twitched at Gil’s words. ‘It’s more effective than shining a big bright light in the sky.’ The professor was not only gorgeous, affecting her in ways she didn’t want to contemplate, but also had a wonderful sense of humour. He was just the type of man she should keep her distance from, starting with not agreeing to have tea with him in Sydney. She dialled the number of the Didja RFDS base and thankfully, Ben answered immediately.

‘It’s me. The emergency is a spontaneous amputation of the big toe. Right foot. We have people out looking for the toe. Patient is stable but requires analgesics. If you could contact Perth hospital, I think it’s best if Sardi takes the patient directly rather than going through Didja.’ She paused. ‘Three hours. That’s our window and we’ve already used half an hour.’ Phemie listened. ‘I’m fine. I have help. No, another doctor. Yes.’ She turned her head, her gaze encompassing Gil. ‘It was rather fortunate. Right, that’s about it for now. Thanks, Ben.’

She finished the call and put her phone away. ‘They should be here in about an hour, maybe less.’

‘We’re going to need more people searching for the toe.’ Harlan had heard what she’d said and he called through to the train manager to inform him of the situation.

‘The most obvious place would actually be on the tracks themselves,’ Phemie said then shrugged. ‘But who really knows. I’ve never had to look for a missing digit before.’

‘First time for everything?’ Gil asked as he started to perform Kiefer’s observations.

‘Have you had anything like this happen to you before?’

‘On a train travelling across Australia?’ he asked with a hint of mischief. ‘No.’

Phemie simply smiled and checked on Paolo. The other man didn’t want to leave his friend but Phemie managed to convince him to go and pack their things and get ready to leave the train. ‘Kiefer’s going to need your help. Your reassurance. Your support. Are you from Perth?’ Paolo nodded and she continued, trying to get Paolo’s thoughts into a position where he’d be more of a help than a hindrance. ‘Then at least you’ll have somewhere to stay.’

‘So I need to pack our things?’

‘The better prepared we are when the plane arrives, the better it will be for Kiefer,’ she encouraged. Thankfully, Paolo now had a lot more colour in his face and was able to stand and walk quite easily back to his carriage to get things organised.

When he’d gone, Phemie looked at Gil. ‘How’s Kiefer doing?’

‘Stable. Tell me, will the plane be able to land close to the train? I mean, there’s no airstrip nearby, is there?’

Phemie smiled. ‘For a start, we’re on the tip of the Nullarbor Plains. There’s
nothing
but the odd shrub here and there, and, secondly, we’re alongside the main road. I was just about to ask Harlan to arrange for any traffic to be stopped so the plane can land.’

‘That would be beneficial.’ Gil nodded.

‘Oh, you’d better believe it. There’s nothing like making an emergency landing on a road when there are cars heading straight towards you, neither of you knowing which way to swerve.’

‘Really?’ Gil’s eyes widened and Phemie’s smile increased. ‘Are you being serious, Dr Grainger?’

Harlan chuckled at her words and again lifted his radio to
issue more orders. He certainly was ‘point-man’ and Phemie was exceptionally pleased they’d managed to get someone who was as good at his job as Harlan had proved to be.

‘Excuse me, Doctors,’ the steward said a few moments later. ‘I’m receiving lots of reports of other people with injuries and problems due to the train stopping. I was wondering if—’

‘Set up the lounge carriage as a treatment area.’ Gil’s tone was firm. ‘Dr Grainger and I will see whoever has a complaint. If it’s possible to find any other medical personnel on the train, their assistance would be invaluable.’ Gil then pointed to their patient. ‘Kiefer will need to be moved as well so we can continue to monitor him until the RFDS arrive.’

‘Very good, Doctor,’ Harlan replied, and again turned to talk into his radio, issuing orders.

‘Ready for the next round of injuries?’ Gil asked.

Phemie nodded, a smile in her voice as she spoke. ‘Nothing like doing an emergency clinic on a stationary train in the middle of the outback.’

‘I’d have thought you would be used to it. Doing clinics and providing treatment to people who are too far away from medical care.’ Gil was intrigued, not only with her job but with the woman herself. He was looking forward to really seeing her in action, doing what she did best.

‘I am, but I usually have a team I know and trust as well as quite a few more medical supplies than we have here.’

‘Up for the challenge?’ His dark eyes were alive with excitement.

Phemie watched him closely. ‘You’re enjoying this.’

‘Not the fact that people are hurt,’ Gil quickly pointed out. ‘Never that, but the chance to do some real outback medicine? Yes.’

‘You like new challenges,’ she stated, pleased with her insight.

‘What doctor doesn’t?’ he quipped, but she had the feeling he was playing down his delight at doing something different.
As Kiefer was transferred to the stretcher and an announcement made asking for any trained medical personnel to report to the lounge carriage, Phemie continued to think about Gil and his excitement. She guessed that after travelling the world for a year, giving lectures and demonstrations, this sort of medicine
would
be different and challenging for him.

When they arrived at the lounge carriage, she once more performed Kiefer’s observations and was pleased the man was still stable. There had been no report yet that they’d found the toe and she hoped sincerely it was indeed found before the plane was ready to transfer Kiefer to Perth.

‘I have some medical helpers for you,’ Harlan announced, and indicated the three people standing behind him. First, he introduced Gil and Phemie then pointed to a man in his forties. ‘This is Julian, he’s a registered nurse.’ Julian shook hands with both Gil and Phemie.

‘I usually work in geriatrics,’ he informed them, ‘but whatever you need, I’m more than willing to provide.’

‘And I’m Wilma,’ said a woman in her late sixties. ‘I’ve been a retired triage sister for quite some time but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten anything.’

‘I don’t doubt it.’ Gil smiled at her.

‘And this is my granddaughter Debbie.’ Wilma indicated the young twenty-year-old next to her. ‘She’s a dental assistant and I thought she might be useful to help with any administration and minor bandaging.’

‘I’m first-aid trained as well,’ Debbie spoke up.

‘Thank you for your offer of help.’ Gil’s smile was warm at all three. ‘I’ve no idea how this is going to play out but we no doubt have a very long train filled with confused and scared people. Debbie, as your grandmother has suggested, if you’re happy to organise the files and keep everyone happy, that would be very helpful. Wilma, you do triage? Anyone requiring immediate attention goes either directly to Phemie or myself. Julian,
you take care of the patching-up jobs, Wilma helping you as and when you need it. If anyone has any concerns, please don’t be afraid to ask. We’re all strangers but we need to work as a team, to put people’s minds at ease and to ensure their needs are met. I’ve asked Harlan to have his stewards bring those passengers who are asking for medical attention right to us rather than announcing we have a makeshift A and E set up.’

‘That would just cause panic,’ Phemie agreed. ‘Debbie, you’re going to have your hands full but everyone’s details must be recorded before they’re seen by any of us. I also believe a tea trolley is being organised in case people need fluids.’

‘Remember,’ Gil said as the door to the carriage opened, ‘if you’re not sure, ask questions. That way, we can attempt to avoid any unnecessary errors.’ Three elderly patients were ushered through the door and Gil nodded. ‘Let’s get to work.’

For the next few minutes, the lounge car seemed to fill up quite quickly. Now that there was somewhere to bring people who were complaining of injury or stress, the stewards seemed to be sending the entire passenger manifest. Phemie made sure she kept a close eye on Kiefer, but his observations remained stable.

As they all treated patients, some with minor injuries, some requiring suturing, Phemie couldn’t help but watch Gil, watch his techniques, the way his clever hands seemed to heal his patients simply by touch. He also had a wonderful bedside manner, making people of all ages feel completely at ease. He really was quite a man and it was an absolute honour to have the opportunity to really see him in action.

The other volunteer helpers, Julian, Wilma and Debbie, were doing a marvellous job. The majority of people presented with cuts and bruises, most needing bandaging and reassurance.

Phemie was treating a heavily pregnant woman who had confessed she was travelling on the train because she was not permitted to fly.

‘I just want you to check the baby. I fell quite hard when the train stopped and I don’t know if everything—’ She broke off, unable to finish her sentence. Phemie’s heart went out to her. ‘I know it’s probably nothing but I just need to know the baby’s all right.’

‘Of course I’ll check the baby. Besides, knowing the baby is fine may actually help you get some rest and that’s what you really need to be doing. Off your feet, and resting. You have relaxing scenery to watch and you may find that you even doze off.’

Gil listened nearby as Phemie talked reassuringly to the pregnant mother. She certainly exhibited a natural caring ability, not only for this woman but for all the patients he’d seen her treat.

He wondered what the RFDS set-up was like, what situations and scenarios they dealt with on a regular basis. He was completely intrigued by it all.

Phemie was busy treating an elderly man for bruises and abrasions when she tilted her head to one side and listened, before calling to Gil, ‘Here they are.’

‘What?’ Gil strained, listening so hard he thought his eardrums might burst. ‘I can’t hear anything.’

‘The drone of the plane.’

He listened again. ‘No. No drone.’

She shrugged. ‘Guess I’m used to it.’

It was a whole two minutes later that he was able to hear the plane. ‘I’ll go greet the guys. You stay here,’ she said as she stood, then stopped and put her hand across her mouth. ‘Oh. Sorry. I keep forgetting who you are. Is that all right? Do you mind—?’

Gil smiled at her, a smile which had the ability to turn her legs to mush, and she instinctively put a hand to the wall to support her. ‘It’s fine, Phemie. I understand. This is your job. Just go.’ The way she’d confessed to treating him like any other colleague was great. She wasn’t fawning over him, she wasn’t bowing and scraping to his every whim, as had happened during the past year that he’d been travelling.

He had his own support staff, including a secretary, events manager and personal aide. They all made sure he was where he was supposed to be and on time. Thankfully, they hadn’t accompanied him on this train ride, instead preferring to fly across to Sydney to ensure everything was set up and ready for his arrival on Saturday.

Gil had no idea what this long delay would do to their overall timing but an emergency was an emergency. He would contact his staff when they stopped in Adelaide—the next city on their route. Until then, he was more than content to simply be a colleague of the delightful Euphemia Grainger. In fact, he wondered if he could somehow wangle an invitation to come and visit her Flying Doctor base once the conference was over.

He had a whole week set aside as ‘vacation’ time. His staff wanted to lounge about on Australia’s famous golden beaches with little umbrella drinks in their hands. That wasn’t for him. Going to a Flying Doctor base, doing something completely different, sounded like heaven. The more he dwelt on the idea, the more he liked it. Now all he had to do was get Phemie to agree.

When she eventually returned, it was with her colleagues and they were able to give Kiefer stronger analgesics, before they transferred him to the stretcher and prepared him for the plane.