Arthur Hailey - Strong Medicine

Celia and Andrew's reception and party at the Dorchester Hotel in honor of Sir Martin and Lady Peat-Smith was a great success. It began at teatime, went on until early evening, and during that time nearly a hundred people came, including most of the Harlow institute's senior staff. Rao Sastri was there; be was escorting Lilian, and they seemed to be having fun. Twice, however, Celia saw them with their heads together, apparently engaged in serious talk. Rao, Celia knew, was unattached; according to Martin, he had never married. Yvonne was looking lovely and radiant. She had lost weight and confided to Celia that Martin had at last allowed her to take Peptide 7. For Yvonne, as for others, the drug's anti--obesity factor worked. During the party Celia told Martin quietly, "Andrew and I are leaving tomorrow, early. When this is over, I'd like the four of us to have a few minutes by ourselves.”

At last the celebration ended. With happy leave-takings, the guests dispersed.

It was already dark when Celia, Andrew, Martin and Yvonne walked the short distance from the Dorchester to Forty-seven Park. The February day had been cold, but clear and invigorating. The clearness was persisting into night. Now they were relaxed in the pleasant living room of the Jordans' apartment.

”Martin," Celia said, "I'll come to the point because it's been a day and I think we're all a little tired. As you know, Felding-Roth is building a genetic engineering facility. It will be in New Jersey, not far from what will be our new Morristown headquarters, and we're taking care that the labs will have everything in them to gladden a genetic scientist's heart.”

"I'd heard some of that," Martin said.”The quality of what you're doing is already being talked about.”

"What I'm leading up to," Celia continued, "is a question. Will you and Yvonne come to live in the United States, and will you head our genetic research as vice president and director of the new labs? I'd promise you a free hand to follow whatever scientific direction you believe we should.”

There was a silence. Then Martin said, "It's a fine offer, Celia, and I'm truly grateful. But the answer is no.”

She urged, "You don't have to give an answer now. Why not take time to think about it, and talk it over with Yvonne?" "I'm afraid the answer's definite," Martin said.”It has to be because I need to tell you something else. I wish I could have picked another time, but here it is. I'm resigning from Felding-Roth.”

The news shocked Celia.”Oh, no! That can't be true.”

Then she looked at him sharply.”Are you going to another pharmaceutical company? Has someone made a better offer? Because, if so-" He shook his head.”I wouldn't do that to you. At least, not without discussing it first. What I'm doing is returning to an old love.”

"He means Cambridge, not another woman," Yvonne said.”We're going to live there. The university is where his heart is.”

And where I plucked him from before you knew him, Celia thought. She had been unprepared for the news, but instinct told her there would be no dissuading Martin, so she wouldn't try. Cambridge had called; he had responded like a homing pigeon. Well, on a sunlit Sunday thirteen years earlier, she had won a victory against the university. It had proved a worthwhile victory all around. But time's wheel had spun; now it was Cambridge's turn, and Celia and Felding-Roth had lost. Andrew spoke, addressing Martin.”I always thought that academia might call you back one day. Will you be master of a college? I read somewhere that there are vacancies.”

"There are," Martin answered, "but not for me. At forty-six I'm still young for a mastership. Maybe when I'm older, grayer, more illustrious...”

"Goodness!" Celia exclaimed.”How illustrious do you have to be? You've had a major scientific breakthrough, accolades worldwide, a knighthood.”

Martin smiled.”Cambridge has seen all those things many times. The university is not easily impressed. No, I'm going in under something called the 'New Blood Scheme.'" It was a government-sponsored program, he explained, through which he would become an assistant director of research in one of several new, frontier areas of science. The salary in the new post, as was so often the case in academia, would not be large-to begin, less than ten thousand pounds a year. However, the Peat-Smiths would be comfortable because of Martin's substantial Peptide 7 income, and he would undoubtedly use some of it, he said, to supplement his department's research funds. Several months earlier a settlement for Martin had been worked out by Felding-Roth's financial officers and lawyers in New Jersey. The arrangement had received Celia's approval and, later, the board's. Under British law-the Patents Act of 1977-Martin could have applied for a court award of compensation for his Peptide 7 discovery. But he hadn't wanted to go to court, even amicably, nor had Felding-Roth. Therefore, by agreement, an offshore trust fund of two million pounds had been set up in the Bahamas from where money would flow to Martin regularly. The fund was hedged around with legal moats and barriers so that Britain's confiscatory taxation system would not, as Celia expressed it, "rob Martin of his just reward.”

That just reward, she now thought ruefully, had helped open the way back to Cambridge. She suspected, though, that Martin would have made the same decision whether the Peptide 7 money were available or not. Before Martin and Yvonne left to drive home, Celia said, "Felding-Roth will miss you both, but I hope the four of us will always stay close friends.”

They agreed they would.

Prior to Celia and Andrew's departure from Britain, one final matter was arranged. Several hours after Martin and Yvonne had gone, and close to the Jordans' bedtime, there was a knock at the apartment door. It was Lilian Hawthorne. Sensing that Lilian wanted to be alone with Celia, Andrew discreetly disappeared. "I'm glad you talked me into coming to England," Lilian said.”You may have noticed that I've had a good time.”

"Yes, I have," Celia said. She smiled.”I was pleased to see Rao enjoy himself too.”

"Rao and I have discovered that we like each other-and it may be even more than that.”

The older woman hesitated.”I suppose you'll think, because all of it has happened so quickly, and at my age, I'm being foolish...”

"I think nothing of the sort. What I do think is that it's time you had fun again, Lilian, that you should enjoy life any way you want, and if that includes Rao Sastri-fine!" "I'm pleased you feel that way because it's about that I came to see you. I want to ask a favor.”

"If I can do it," Celia said, "I will.”

"Well, Rao would like to come to America. He says he's wanted to for a long time. I'd like it too, and if it were possible for him to work at Felding-Roth...”

The sentence was left unfinished- Celia completed it.”It would be convenient for you both.”

Lilian smiled.”Something like that.”

"I'm certain," Celia said, "that a place can be found in the new genetic labs. In fact you can tell Rao I guarantee it.”

Lilian's face lit up.”Thank you, Celia. He'll be delighted. He was hoping for that. He knows he doesn't have the leadership qualities of someone like Martin; he told me so. But he's a good support scientist-" "I'm aware of that, which makes it easier," Celia said.”But even if he'd been less than he is, I'd still have done it. You did me a big favor many years ago, Lilian, my dear. This is a small one in return," The older woman laughed.”You're talking about that first morning we met? When you came to the house-so young, so brash, hoping I'd help you become a detail woman, by influencing Sam?" Then she stopped, a catch in her voice as, for both of them, so many memories flooded back.