Olivia went over to comfort Lucy, who was already wiping away her tears, but she was interrupted by another doctor who swung open the door, knocking on it as it started to close behind her. She wore black slacks and a sleeveless sweater. A big lumpy bag hanging from one of her shoulders forced her into a posture that cried out for medical intervention.

‘Hi. I’m Lucy,’ she said. ‘No, sorry! I mean, you’re Lucy; I’m Victoria,’ she laughed, as if this kind of confusion was just one of the unavoidable hazards of working in a neurological hospital. ‘I’m part of Mr McEwan’s team. We’ll be performing the surgery on you tomorrow.’

‘I’m Lucy,’ said Lucy lucidly. ‘Pleased to meet you.’

‘You will have several options to discuss tomorrow with Mr McEwan,’ Lucy-Victoria began.

‘Will I?’ asked Lucy. ‘What do you mean exactly?’

‘Mr McEwan will explain everything to you tomorrow. But we might want to open up a bigger piece of your skull to give us more options.’

Lucy-Victoria made a gesture reminiscent of an obsequious extra in a costume drama doffing his cap at a passing coach.

‘More options? For what?’ said Lucy, ‘I thought I was having a needle biopsy.’

Another doctor, a young man in scrubs, swung into the room and said that he was also part of the team.

‘Well,’ Lucy-Victoria persisted, ‘we might want to test some functional areas. It’s good to map the brain, you know.’

‘Also, it might mean that we can take more samples of the tumour; some may be higher grade than others,’ said the newcomer.

‘But isn’t that associated with a much higher risk?’ asked Lucy. ‘Mr McEwan has been emphatic about what a sensitive area he has to navigate in order to get to the tumour.’

‘As I said, Mr McEwan will be able to go through all the details with you in the morning.’

‘You mean right before I’m being wheeled into surgery? Will I still be able to be awake during the procedure?’

‘Yes. You will have all the options available to you.’

‘Actually, the Awake Team isn’t available on Saturdays,’ said the other doctor.

‘You’re absolutely right,’ said Lucy-Victoria, ‘thank you for reminding me. But, apart from that, all other options are available.’

And with that enormous and disconcerting promise, the two team members left the room, eager to get home through the thickening Friday traffic.

‘Jesus,’ said Lucy, staring at Olivia incredulously.

Olivia shook her head sympathetically. ‘I’m sure McEwan will clarify everything tomorrow.’

She hurried towards the consolations of gossip.

‘I meant to tell you that Charlie has got permission to see you,’ said Olivia, ‘so that should cheer you up.’