Nann Dunne The War Between the Hearts

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

carefully finished undressing her patient, sliding both the wide trouser
leg and drawers leg past the splints. She pulled the cover back over
the woman and went after the buckets of water.
Faith finished bathing and dressing Bren before Benjamin
returned. Thinking it might be better if Benjamin continued to believe
the soldier was a man, she left the beard on and washed around it. She
folded the clean trousers and stockings and laid them on the bureau,
having decided the drawers by themselves would be more
comfortable, and the shirt was long enough to act as a tunic. On the
injured leg, she had to cut the drawers leg to allow access to the
wound and the splints. Now, she reminded herself, my soldier has one
pair of trousers and two pairs of drawers that need mended. I can do
this, she thought, and smiled, knowing she had repeated Bren s
words. She wasn t trivializing them. She was giving the words her
blessing. Indeed, she admired the woman s strength of purpose.
She put clean linens on the bed and covered Bren with an extra
quilt while she opened the windows wide to air out the sweaty odor.
She debated whether to rewrap Bren s torso and pretend the
masquerade hadn t been discovered. On one hand, Bren would be
more comfortable without the wrapping, and if the infection was
stopped, she would be recuperating for weeks. She couldn t expect
Faith to be kept in the dark for that length of time. On the other hand,
it might be better for Bren if she were unmasked slowly. With her
mind made up, Faith retrieved the clean cotton wrapping from the
saddlebag. She put the bindings back on and pulled the clean shirt
over them. As she settled in the rocking chair, she pushed the
discovery of Bren s gender from her mind and contemplated the most
serious aspect of the situation the wound.
Bren s wounded limb would need the bandage changed every
twelve hours. After thinking about that reality for a while, Faith got
87
NANN DUNNE
up and exchanged the wraparound bandage for one straight up-and-
down, allowing better access to the wound without the necessity of
removing the splints. Since yesterday, the infection in Bren s leg had
spread and festered until the swollen limb looked like an overripe
melon ready to burst. A dark brown, heart-shaped mole on the skin
adjoining the wound had originally been the size of a pea and now
was as wide as a coat button.
Faith had to admit she needed help. As soon as Benjamin got
home from church, she sent him to see if Doc Schafer had returned
from the field hospital.
The surgeon came and brought a pair of crutches with him.
Keep these crutches, Faith, and let s hope our patient lives long
enough to use them. He handed them to her, and she set them in a
corner of the bedroom. When he examined the wound, however, he
raised his hands in resignation. We can t save this leg.
Faith saw Bren s eyelids move and heard her groan. The
soldier s good leg flailed out and caught her in the stomach, bringing
an Oof as the breath spurted from her body.
Damn your hide, soldier! Doc Schafer bellowed. She s trying
to help you.
Bren took some heavy breaths and gasped, Sorry. It pains. It
pains.
Don t worry. Faith s firm hand touched for a moment to
Bren s forehead. You didn t hurt me. Here, I have something that
will help ease the pain. She drew two opium tablets from the pocket
of her apron and reached for the jug on the side table. She poured
some water into the earthenware cup. Bren grimaced and reached for
the cup handle, but her arm dropped weakly back to the bed.
Faith put an arm under Bren s neck and shoulders to support her
head. Holding the cup to her lips, Faith watched the patient attempt to
gulp the whole cupful. Quickly, she pulled it back. Take the pills
first, then you can have more water. She poked the tablets one at a
time between Bren s shaking lips and allowed her to finish off the
water. They should start working in a few moments, she said
encouragingly. She refilled the cup several times until Bren was
satisfied, then called to Benjamin to fetch more water. He brought the
jug in and set it on the bedside table. Faith sympathized when she saw
his nose wrinkle, probably from the sickening-sweet odor of the
wound. She assumed he would leave and didn t notice when he
stayed, hovering quietly in the background.
88
THE WAR BETWEEN THE HEARTS
She tried not to show she was terribly worried about the
condition of Bren s leg as well as the fever burning through her. Her
heart had sunk when Doc Schafer removed the bandage and she saw
how much worse the infection had become.
Flies buzzed annoyingly around her face, and she brushed at
them. When her hand came in contact with one of the insects, the
touch sent an exciting message to her brain. Doc! she said with
such force that he turned to her with a look of surprise. Do you
remember that strange theory another doctor told Father a couple of
years ago? The one about maggots cleaning out wounds?
Dr. Schafer wrinkled his brow. I can t say as I do. Can you
explain it to me?
Faith flushed, partly from tension and partly from excitement.
About a month before he died, Father told me he met with a
colleague who professed that some surgeons were using live maggots
to clean infected tissue out of wounds. Father laughed about it and
said he wondered how you trained maggots to eat the bad parts and
leave the good. But he did say he might investigate it some day.
Faith waved a hand at Bren s leg. What better time to investigate it?
We can put some maggots in this wound and see what happens.
Bren s eyes went wide. Now wait a minute
Look, soldier, Doc Schafer interrupted, you re out of choices.
I told you before that the chances of saving your leg were not good.
Now the infection is even worse, and unless something stops the
poison from spreading, you ll lose the leg for sure and your life,
too. The creases in the doctor s forehead deepened, and his voice
roughened. We don t have any cure. Do you want to give this
maggot idea one last try, or should I just cut off your leg right now?
That s pretty damn blunt, Bren said in a hoarse drawl. Her
hands trembled and her face blanched, and neither the doctor nor
Faith said another word. They waited for the answer as they watched
Bren collect her control. Finally, she nodded. All right, let s try it.
Faith headed for the door. Benjamin and I will get some
maggots from the compost pile out back. Her eyebrows raised in
surprise when she saw her son was still in the room, and she motioned
to him to accompany her.
Fine, the doctor said. I ll get this bandage off. He bent to his
task.
Bren watched Faith and Benjamin leave. She struggled to keep [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Wątki