Darkness

Gregor

We swing by the stables, leading Issoba by the reins, where I pat his head and thank him before handing him over to the groom. Then we head Under-the-Hill. I drop Sarah off at the main boarding house, and carry on to the extension.

The half dozen crew members who stayed behind are here, along with some kitchen staff, and it looks like they are serving dinner to any of the patients who feel well enough to eat. A couple of the men are carrying trays with bowls of broth towards the hallway where the patient rooms are located. “Hey Gregor,” David says when he sees me come in the door. “I’m bringing this in to Ben, he’s here,” he tells me.

“Yes, I heard,” I tell him. “Lead on.”

I take the tray from him as we are entering Ben’s room, and Ben looks surprised to see who is bringing him supper. He also looks sweaty and weak and very sick. Poor guy.

“Hey, Gregor,” he croaks, and tries to sit up.

I hand the tray back to David quickly, and reach down partially to help Ben sit, but mostly to just get my hands on him. I’m going to have to take any excuse I can get. I feel Wolk sending the healing energy through me as I help him lean back against the headboard, fluff his pillows, straighten his blankets, feel the temperature of his forehead, and lay my hand against his shoulder. There, that must have been a good three minutes of continuous contact. “Did it help?” I ask Wolk.

“Yes, a bit,” he confirms.

Ben looks over at David, and says, “So, is that soup for me or for you?”

Ha! He must be feeling better if he is able to tease his friend.

David says, “Pfsh! I’m not the sicko here, I get to go have real food.” He arranges the tray for Ben, who looks at the bowl of broth and sighs. But he digs in with his spoon, and I am relieved to see that at least he has enough of an appetite for that.

“He would not have before you arrived,” Wolk tells me. Well, good, I’m glad I’m helping.

Samuel Duncan

I’m pleased to see Gregor when I enter Ben’s room. I have been wanting to thank him for the use of this building, and especially for the use of his crew. This is all unbelievably helpful.

But I’m even more pleased to see Ben sitting up and spooning broth into his mouth. When I was last in here, half an hour ago, he didn’t look like he was going to be able to manage getting anything down, but he seems better. Yellow fever symptoms can change so rapidly.

David’s in here too, probably delivering the tray. He nods his head at me and goes back out to make room. Gregor stands up from where he is sitting next to Ben on his bed, and steps aside so I can reach down to feel Ben’s forehead.

“You don’t feel as hot,” I tell him, evaluating his appearance. Still sweaty and a little off color, dark circles under his eyes. But sitting up and eating is a positive sign. “Are you feeling better?”

“I am, yeah. Hungry even.” He smiles up at me, his warm brown eyes full of unspoken love, and the exhaustion of this long day leaves me. “You’re a pretty good doctor, it seems,” he says teasingly.

Gregor chuckles. I look over to him. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for us. Having all the patients in one place is making this so much easier, and your men have all been just fabulous.”

“I’m very pleased to help,” he says, and for some reason I notice his European accent. I usually don’t even hear it any more. “Tell me how things have been here today.”

As I am explaining the number of patients, and the situation here at the infirmary, Ben finishes his soup, and is clearly feeling very tired. I stand back up from his bed, and take the tray away from him. Gregor moves over to help him lay down again and get settled.

“Get some sleep,” I say to Ben, smoothing my hand over his warm forehead one more time. “I’ll come to check on you again a little later.”

Gregor follows me out of the room, and pulls the door mostly closed, leaving it open a crack so it will be easy to peek in, and to hear Ben if he needs anything.

I put the tray on a nearby table, knowing that someone from the kitchen will come by to retrieve it, and prepare to move on to the next patient.

Gregor lays his hand on my arm. “Hold on, Samuel,” he says, gazing at me with concern. “You look exhausted. Have you had your supper yet?”

It makes me stop and think. Have I? “Um, no,” I shrug.

“Well, you won’t do any good to your patients if you’re faint with hunger,” he points out. “Or fatigue. I tell you what. Why don’t you go on, have some supper at the club. I’m sure your uncles will want to hear all the gossip about what is happening down here.”

I have to chuckle. That’s certainly true. But I can’t leave the patients untended, and I’m sure that Gregor’s crew is about ready to go home for the day.

“Listen,” Gregor says, “I’ll stay right here. I have some experience tending patients. After they all get their dinner, I’ll send this crew home, but if I need any help it’ll be easy to send to the boarding house for backup. Just go, have a meal, take a rest.”

My stomach makes its opinion known, choosing that moment to growl audibly. He grins. “All right, thank you,” I concede, “I’ll go get a quick meal and come right back.”

He shakes his head. “No, please. Afterwards go home and take a nap at least, you need some rest to be an effective doctor.” I hesitate, and he says, “Please, Samuel, I assure you that I will take care of everything here. Go.”

I glance over at Ben’s door, and through the opening I can hear his steady, even breathing, not labored, as though he is simply sleeping peacefully.

I nod. “Yes, thank you, Gregor. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

He smiles, and is turning to go into another room when I walk away from him.