但我已经是那个威风凛凛发号施令的人了。
But I was calling the shots:

“嘿，老大，”我说，“我刚刚在看明天的病例。第一个病例预备从大脑两半球之间动手术。但我觉得经过颅顶骨从皮质入刀会安全很多，也容易很多。”
“Hey, boss,” I said, “I was just reviewing cases for tomorrow, and I know the first case is booked interhemispheric, but I think it will be much safer and easier if we come parietal transcortical.”

“是吗？”主治医生说，“我看看片子啊……嗯，你说得对。你能改一下方案吗？”
“Really?” the attending said. “Let me look at the films. . . You know what? You’re right. Can you change the booking?”

第二天：“嗨，先生，我是保罗。刚刚在重症监护室见了F先生和他的家属，我觉得明天应该给他做个融合手术。我现在预约可以吗？您什么时候有空？”
The next day: “Hi, sir, it’s Paul. I just saw Mr. F and his family in the ICU—I think we’ll need to take him tomorrow for an ACDF. Okay if I book it? When are you free?”

手术室里，我也重新变得雷厉风行：
And I was back to full speed in the OR:

“护士，呼一下S医生好吗？他进来之前我这儿就可以结束了。”
“Nurse, can you page Dr. S? I’m going to be done with this case before he gets here.”

“我打电话了。他说你肯定不可能做完。”
“I’ve got him on the phone. He says you can’t possibly be done yet.”T

主治医生是跑着来的，上气不接下气。刷手消毒后，他透过显微镜看着手术的地方。
he attending came running in, out of breath, scrubbed, and peered through the microscope.

“我稍微切了个锐角，避开静脉窦，”我说，“但是整个肿瘤都切除了。”
“I took a slightly acute angle to avoid the sinus,” I said, “but the whole tumor’s out.”

“你避开了静脉窦？”
“You avoided the sinus?”

“是的，先生。”
“Yes, sir.”

“你整个一次切除的？”
“You got it out in one piece?”

“是的，先生，就在台子上摆着呢，您可以看看。”
“Yes, sir, it’s on the table so you can have a look.”

“看上去不错，真的很不错。你什么时候变这么快的。不好意思，我没能早点到。”
“Looks good. Really good. When did you get to be so fast? Sorry I wasn’t here earlier.”

“没关系。”
“No trouble.”