Laura Waltson's hospital ward.
Back after climbing the stairs.
She had been lying on the bed pretending to be dead, her complexion pale and unwell.
Inside, she was seething with rage.
Just now, she had climbed more than 20 flights of stairs in one go, exhausted like a dog.
Meanwhile, Cherline Lindsey seemed completely unaffected, her face unchanged, not even panting.
Could it be that, all these years, the kung fu she had practiced was really no match for Cherline's?
Laura naturally couldn't accept this. She came up with an excuse for herself, reasoning that she was still a patient and hadn't fully regained her strength.
So, she felt justified in politely asking Cherline, "Sister Lindsey, could you help me massage my knees? I didn't feel it while climbing, but now that I've sat down, they really hurt..."
Cherline was sitting upright at a small desk, a handheld computer by her side, appearing to be absorbed in some serious research.
