Читать книгу The Grand Dark онлайн | страница 56

Hanna looked at him. “Has this ever happened before?”

“Once or twice,” he said, “but never this badly.”

“Was she taking drugs those other times?”

Largo shook his head. “No. We were perfectly sober.”

“Does she take medication for it?”

“Not that I know of.”

After subsiding for a few seconds, Remy’s convulsions came back stronger than ever. “Oh my god,” Bianca whispered over and over like she was praying.

A moment later, Baumann returned in the company of a bald, bearded man in a tuxedo. Dr. Venohr gently pushed Hanna away from Remy so that he could look into her eyes. “How long have the convulsions been going on?” he said.

“A few minutes,” said Largo. “They’ve never been this bad before.”

“I’m afraid they have, but she didn’t want you to know about them,” said Dr. Venohr.

Largo stared at the man. “You’ve treated her?”

“I’ve known Remy her whole life. I’m an old friend of the family.”

Largo wondered what else Remy hadn’t told him. But all he could think about right now was whether she was truly ill.

What if she’s dying?

“Can you help her?”

Dr. Venohr opened a small black leather bag he had with him. “I believe so,” he said, and filled a syringe with a clear liquid from a small bottle. Tilting Remy’s head to the side, he injected the fluid directly into her jugular vein. Bianca continued repeating “Oh my god.” It was annoying, but no one bothered to stop her.

With the shot, it took only a few seconds for Remy’s convulsions to subside. Her arms and hands relaxed. Her legs stopped shaking. The grimace faded from her face. It looked almost as if she were asleep.

Largo said, “Is that it? Is she all right now?”

“For the moment,” said Dr. Venohr.

“Should we take her to a hospital?”

“That shouldn’t be necessary. But we should get her home. And she mustn’t be alone tonight. I assume you can stay and watch her?”

“Of course. For as long as it takes.”

“Good,” said Dr. Venohr. He packed the bottle and syringe in his bag. “I’ll call for my car. Can someone help you bring her to the door?”