Milton saw that Edwin had a carrier bag in his hand. It was bright orange with a distinctive red-and-white chequered logo emblazoned on the side beneath the word GUARDIAN in large white letters.

The doctor took a deep breath, and some of his anger seemed to dissipate. “You need to take this seriously,” he said, but this time his voice was calmer. “I’m sorry—I shouldn’t snap at you. But you need help. Otherwise?” He shrugged. “Otherwise, I promise you that you will die.”

“Think of Yamato,” Milton suggested.

“Who do you think I’m thinking of?” Sakura snapped, then dipped her head and began to sob.

“Edwin?” Milton said. The doctor turned to look at him, his eyebrows raised. “What can I do to help?”

“Nothing,” Edwin replied, his face creasing into a weary smile. “I have a nurse on the way. She works with me sometimes, and we’ll leave them to it.” He raised his hand with the carrier bag in it. “I’ve just cleared out their entire laxative supply.” He gave a wry nod of his head. “I’m afraid this is not going to be pretty.”

25

Milton took a deep breath as he walked out into the parking lot at the rear of the hotel. He was pleased to be out of the room, pleased to be away from Edwin and the nurse who had arrived ten minutes after the doctor had frog-marched Sakura back into the room. The nurse was a hard-faced Filipina, all business from the minute she had arrived and saw what needed to be done. She had a deep frown and an inscrutable face, and she had shooed both Milton and Edwin out of the door.

Declining Edwin’s invitation for a quick drink—the look on the medic’s face clear evidence that he wouldn’t be having just one—Milton had excused himself. Edwin told him to come back to the hotel at midnight, so he had a few hours to kill. He texted Victoria to see if she was free for him to visit, and quickly received a response.

Of course, the text said. Come to the Hilton in Nusa Dua. I’ll meet you at the restaurant.

Milton went to the parking lot and walked over to the Skyline that had brought them here. He doubted that it would have been reported as stolen, but he couldn’t be sure. He decided to move the car somewhere a little way away from where Sakura was being treated; ten minutes later, the Nissan was stowed in an otherwise deserted lot to the rear of another even more anonymous hotel.