Darkness

Samuel Duncan

Captain Baker and the rest of his men head out, leaving me to examine my patients. Gregor remains, probably to see if I need any assistance.

“Well,” I smile at the men, setting down my bag, “what is going on?” At least it isn’t head injuries this time. Gregor always used to show up with head injury patients for me to treat. He suppresses a little chuckle, and I look over at him. Oh, yeah. I remember him telling me, back when he was recovering, that sometimes he might be able to know what I’m thinking. Another one of his peculiar secrets that I am bound to keep, without even really understanding them. He shrugs at me with a glimmer of a smile. Hm. I can’t let myself get distracted with Gregor’s oddities.

I begin my examination, questioning the men, checking their temperature, evaluating their symptoms. It doesn’t take long to conclude what is happening.

“Well, fellows,” I say, starting to pull some supplies out of my bag, “this looks like it could be yellow fever.” Albert looks alarmed. Everyone has heard of this scourge. “I’ll do everything I can to keep you comfortable,” I try to reassure them, “and hopefully you’ll both be feeling better in three or four days.”

I look up at Gregor, who is standing quietly, hands in pockets, observing. “Do you think they could just stay here until they are recovered?” I ask him.

“Of course,” he says, then adds to them, “assuming you don’t mind some hammering and banging around here. We are finishing up the construction.”

When I have done what I can for them, giving them some willow bark tea for the pain, making sure that they have water, blankets, basins if they need to be sick, and wet cloths for their foreheads, I tell them, “All right, get some rest, and I’ll come back again to check on you in a couple of hours.”

Gregor adds, “If you need anything, just call out, someone will hear you and come in.”

We go out together, and he says, “Would you like to come and talk in my office for a few minutes?”

I nod. I do need to talk to him.

When we sit down, I ask him, “Are you familiar with yellow fever?”

“Yes,” he says shortly.

“Then you know that it can be serious. Normally the first few days are uncomfortable, but the patients get through it all right. It is if they have a relapse that it can be dangerous.”

He nods. “I’ll have someone keeping an eye on them. Thank you, Samuel.”

Before I go, I add “We don’t know how this disease spreads. It may or may not be likely to expand to other members of the crew. Have everyone keep an eye out for any developing symptoms.”

“All right, Samuel. We will be watchful.”

I walk quickly back up the hill, planning to pull out all the medical texts in my possession, and look for any information I can about yellow fever. I’ve never had to manage an outbreak before, but I did learn about it in school, and I want to try to be prepared if I can.

Gregor

“Wolk, keep an eye out, let me know if anyone else seems to be getting sick.”

“Of course. At this point I do not detect any other people who seem to have yellow fever symptoms.”

I go to the main boarding house to talk to Polly there, and ask her to send someone over to wait in the other building, so that there is always somebody available to help out with Caleb and Albert. They are both feeling a bit better after I laid hands on them, and I plan to come by every few hours to do it again.

“I agree that this should be sufficient to combat the illness. Their symptoms are already diminished. Presumably the yellow fever will continue to unfold but with milder consequences than normal. Your touch has become increasingly effective, and if you continue administering it the course of their illness should be eased.”

With that taken care of, I don’t think I will be needed down here for the rest of the day, and it will be all right for me to proceed with my plan. I cross back over the gangplank to the steamboat to update Baker.

It looks like they are finished pumping out the bilge, and the crew is having some refreshments in the dining area. They look tired, idly waving away some gnats that are harassing them. Baker ducks his head out from around the engine as I am about to walk past.

“How are they?” he asks.

“Doctor Duncan says it’s probably yellow fever, but he thinks we can get them through it. He’ll come and check on them again in a couple of hours. They’ll stay in the boarding house extension until they’re feeling better. I’ve got someone assigned to watch over them. They seem as comfortable as they can be for now.

“Thanks Gregor,” he says.

“Do you have everything you need here?” I ask. “Bilge all sorted and everything?”

He nods.

“All right, I’m taking off then. I think Rosalind and I will go pay a visit to the Duncans at Homochitto. See you back at my house?”

“Sure, have a nice visit,” he says. “Um, tell my wife I miss her.”

I grin. “I’d be willing to bet she’ll come back down here to spend the rest of the day with you when we leave. Well, unless she wants to come. Actually, do you want to come?” It occurs to me that it was abominably rude not to invite them in the first place.

He shakes his head with a smile. “Nah, I want to stick with the boat today, take care of some other maintenance. See you tonight.”

I wave behind me as I walk back up the stairs to the deck, my mind already focusing on my next plan. I have to go to Homochitto and “learn” about Moses and Dalila’s engagement, so that I can offer my wedding gift.

Stephen

The sound of a carriage draws Thomas and Margaret and I out from the dining room where we have just finished enjoying our luncheon. I am surprised to see that it is the Slavsons, Ben driving up on top. He nods at me as he pulls the horse to a stop.

“Woosh!” is the inevitable greeting as the little girl realizes he is here and comes charging out the front door past us. Margaret laughs as she watches this, seeming more and more fond of the child every day. She is absolutely glowing in her pregnancy, entering the last few months, her cheeks flushed with the glow of good health and happiness. I feel more in love with her every day, watching her form rounding as she grows our own child within.

Moses is coming up from the garden, brushing off the dirt from his hands, as Gregor and his wife are getting out of the carriage. As they approach the porch, Gregor is holding Ayola, of course, and Rosy is holding their baby.

“Hello, Gregor,” I say, smiling, “I wasn’t expecting a visit today. Nice to see you, though.”

“Yeah,” Thomas adds, “didn’t you just see us yesterday? Can’t get enough of us, I see!”

Gregor chuckles. “I just wanted to see how everyone is doing out here.” He looks back at me, and says, “I didn’t invite Samuel to come, he is taking care of some patients from the steamboat crew.”

“Oh?” I ask, “what’s going on?”

“It looks like a couple of the fellows have yellow fever,” he says, “but they’re doing all right. We have them set up in the boarding house extension, and they are receiving every possible attention.”

Hm. That’s unfortunate, but not unexpected. The weather is warming, and yellow fever normally follows. I’m hoping that out here it isn’t as bad. It seems that most years it is concentrated more in towns than back in the country.

“Well, come on in,” I tell them. I look over at Moses, who is smiling at Dalila as she stands behind Margaret. “Come on, Moses, I think you might have some news to share,” I say, smiling. I can hardly wait to see Gregor’s reaction to this!

I realize that Ben is standing rather forlornly out in front still, the horse and carriage having already been led into the stable by the groom, and I beckon to him with my hand. “You too Ben, come on in.” His eyebrows lift with some surprise and relief. I suppose I really need to make more of an effort to be friendly to him. Samuel has made it perfectly clear that he and Ben intend to remain together forever, just as Margaret and I have vowed to do. He is basically my brother-in-law. Although, of course, there is nothing legal about it. He can’t be my in-law. More like my out-law, I think, amused at my own pun. I hear Gregor sputter out a little sound of humor, and glance at him, wondering if Ayola has done something funny, but he is looking at me with a smile.

We get ourselves all seated in the parlor to have a visit, and Dalila starts to move into the kitchen presumably to help Hester put together some refreshments for our guests. Margaret says with a smile, “Wait, Dalila, stay in here for a bit, please.”

“So,” Gregor says, holding Ayola on his lap, “did you just say something about Moses having news? What news?” With a slightly teasing tone, he adds, “A new vegetable is growing, perhaps?”

Moses walks over to stand next to Dalila, and I gesture to him to proceed. An enormous grin splits his face as he takes her hand, and announces, “Dalila and I are getting married!”

There is of course a clamor of delighted congratulations. Rosy jumps up and gives Dalila a hug, Vernon squashed between them. Gregor puts Ayola down for a minute to stand and shake Moses’ hand, then pulls him in for a hug as well. Ben offers a handshake also, looking as pleased as everyone else.

Interesting, to see all the joy, all the love, just as much as was engendered when Margaret and I became engaged. It seems like it should feel different somehow, with such different people involved, but it truly doesn’t. I think Gregor and Margaret were right all along. Love is love, isn’t it, regardless of who is engaging in it. I am inspired to take Margaret’s hand and lift her fingers to my lips for a kiss, and notice while I am doing so that Gregor is serenely smiling over at me.

“So, when is it happening?” Rosy asks Dalila, enthralled. “Where will it be?” She looks over at Margaret, and adds, “Oh! What will she wear?” Margaret starts talking with her animatedly, Dalila looking back and forth between them with some bemusement. Margaret summons Hester from the kitchen to join in the discussion.

We men look at each other and laugh. The women are unquestionably going to take over the planning.

“Well,” I say to them, “we clearly aren’t going to be of any further use in here. Want to go take a walk through the grounds? Moses can show you some new ideas he has had for the garden.”

I honestly don’t think that the women even notice when the five men get up and leave the room, Gregor carrying Ayola as usual.