Chapter 1 Summary

January 12, 1955, was a gray day, and twilight found Dr. Paul Markwell drinking heavily, though he was on call at County General. He is barely aware of his surroundings but does rouse himself to note that there's an incredible thunderstorm going on outside. He is very drunk by the time he's called to County General because his patient, Janet Shane, is in labor and is in trouble. Markwell notes that he's too drunk to respond but will anyway. He knows that sooner or later he will make a serious medical mistake, and he waits for that day with a "perverse" pleasure. Lightning strikes just feet from his house as he gets into his car and he cringes, thinking it an omen. Then, a man knocks on the car window and Markwell rolls down the glass, prepared to tell the man to move away from...