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Even after an hour Burke remained struck by the suddenness of it. One moment Robert had been quiescent, breathing shallowly while the monitors surrounding his bed showed his continuing efforts to remain alive, the next he was fighting for air and writhing and convulsing like he was in the grip of a demon that needed to be exorcised.
Doctors and nurses had converged from all directions in response to the alarms, which had filled the room with noise. They had fought valiantly, doing everything possible to try to save Robert, to no avail. After a battle that lasted for a little more than half an hour, they were forced to admit defeat and accept that they could do nothing to keep Robert alive.
The pronouncement, when it came, was a crushing blow for Nathan, who collapsed at the news that
