A Dead Man in Malta Read Free Page B

suddenly appear from nowhere.’
    ‘Perhaps they were busy, so they didn’t notice me.’
    ‘Perhaps.’
    ‘Perhaps I should cough a little as I go around,’ said Dr Malia, considering. ‘Or sing. Just to let them know.’
    ‘I wouldn’t worry about it too much,’ said the Maltese doctor. ‘But, you know, Mathias, it can come as a bit of a surprise to come across you unexpectedly at all hours of the day or night.’
    ‘I don’t sleep that well these nights. You often don’t when you get old.’
    ‘There’s no reason why you shouldn’t get up, Mathias. But perhaps you shouldn’t go around places like the hospital when you do.’
    ‘I would have thought that was just the sort of place I could go around. It’s a bit of a timeless place, the hospital. People are always going around. Even in the night. But I will bear in mind what you say.’
    ‘It might make people feel happier. But, Mathias, how are you keeping in general? Apart from sleeplessness?’
    ‘Oh, pretty well, thank you. I feel as fit as I’ve ever been. The important thing is to keep active.’
    ‘Yes, I’m sure. But—it does depend a little on what you keep active doing.’
    ‘Yes. You must keep active mentally as well as physically. I always try to do that. That’s why the work I’m doing is just right.’
    ‘The survey you’re making?’
    ‘Yes. It’s physical as well as mental. I try to inspect everything in person, you see. A trained eye can tell at once if accommodation is suitable.’
    ‘Ye-e-s.’
    ‘And there’s a social point, too. What I’m doing could prove very important if a war comes.’
    ‘ If it comes.’
    Dr Malia laughed. ‘And if it doesn’t, people will just say I’m a silly old fool.’
    ‘Well, you said it,’ muttered Dr Bartlett under his breath. ‘But, Malia,’ said the other doctor, ‘what I can’t understand is what you’re doing here . I mean, this is the one place, surely, that you don’t need to come. It is a hospital already!’
    ‘Of course! You’re quite right. I don’t really need to come here. But, you know, I’ve always wondered if the configuration of the wards is quite right. I’m sure it could be improved. I’ve been thinking about this a lot and I think I’ve worked out a configuration which would allow us to take in more patients. In fact, I’ve drawn up some plans. Would you like to—?’
    ‘Thank you. Yes. I’d love to see them. Perhaps another time?’
    ‘And I’ve got some other suggestions. We could switch round some of the units, for example. If we put Ophthalmology—’
    ‘Oh, no!’ groaned Dr Bartlett.
    ‘It sounds very interesting,’ said the Maltese doctor, deftly shepherding Dr Malia away. ‘Certainly, the ideas need airing. We’ll have to find a suitable time.’
    ‘You see what I mean?’ said the Inspector.
    They took a dghajsa back to Valletta and climbed up again to the Upper Barraca Gardens. The main part of the town was on the plateau—the top of a great promontory—and from the Gardens it spread out before them. They went across to the Triq ir-Repubblika, the main street, at one end of which was the City Gate. A delicious aroma spread up all around him. The Inspector saw him sniffing.
    ‘ Mquaret ,’ he said.
    The aroma came from small carts carrying shallow, bubbling oil fryers on which vendors were cooking little diamond-shaped pastry cakes filled with dates and flavoured with aniseed. It was the latter which gave the distinctive smell.
    ‘A favourite here,’ explained the Inspector.
    ‘ Mquaret ,’ repeated Seymour.
    ‘And also you must try kannoli . And kwarezimal . And quaghaq tal-ghasel . It’s a sort of sweet pastry made with dark treacle, semolina and candied peel.’
    ‘Sounds—’
    ‘—delicious,’ said the Inspector. ‘My wife says I have a sweet tooth. “If I do, so does everyone else!” I say.’
    ‘ Mquaret ,’ said Seymour again. And kwarezimal . And quaghaq tal-ghasel .
    What sort of language was