The Allies by Jack Cavanaugh

Author:Jack Cavanaugh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, bible, world war 1, christian historical fiction, history american, christian family, army nurses, airplane historical, history ww i, lusitania
Publisher: Jack Cavanaugh

Chapter 20

Due to the inclement weather, the return trip to the hospital took more than twice as long as it did under drier conditions. Add to that the amount of time that had been spent retrieving Captain Quigley from his aeroplane, and Katy wasn’t surprised that a large contingent of workers rushed out to them when they arrived.

The trip had been the most difficult journey Katy had ever made. To begin with, her nerves were on edge and her attention was heightened to a wearying degree simply in her attempt to keep the ambulance out of the ditch. Lives were depending upon her. One slip might mean hours of delay and possible death for any one of their patients.

Laura, normally a refreshing breeze in any situation, was a burden. For the entire journey she sat hunched over with her hands folded and clenched between her knees. Shivering. Her eyes were downcast and locked. She spoke not a word, not even in answer to a direct question. A castle gargoyle would have been more lively company.

Despite Katy’s best efforts, the ambulance jolted and rocked Mercilessly. Katy flinched with every unexpected lurch, knowing that each jolt meant agony for her patients. Their cries and moans tormented her.

The doors to the ambulance flew open the instant it came to a stop. Attendants she expected. Armed soldiers surprised her. Two contrasting choruses hit her.

“Where is the German sniper?”

“Where is Captain Quigley?”

In any other situation, Katy might have reproved them for their lack of professionalism. In accordance with procedure, each of the patients had been tagged at the cathedral. Each tag bore the patient’s name and listed the patient’s wound. Name Unknown, German had been written on the sniper’s tag. However, considering the frenzied nature of the reception, she merely pointed to each one.

Quigley was whisked away first. The German was second to be pulled out.

“Morgue,” the attendant said. “This one’s dead.”

The other two patients were removed and processed according to their wounds. Then, everyone rushed off. Other than the heightened frenzy, this was a typical hospital reception. A few moments of breathless action followed by a calm as everyone disappeared into the hospital leaving Katy and Laura with the ambulance.

Katy closed the back doors and walked to the passenger side. There, she saw Laura in the arms of Mrs. Graham Jones. The supervisor was whispering something in Laura’s ear. The young girl nodded and thanked her with a weak voice.

Mrs. Jones looked up at Katy. She glanced at the bullet holes in the side of the ambulance, then said, “I understand you’ve had quite an adventure today, Miss Morgan.”

“Yes, ma’am, we have,” Katy replied.

“Has the ambulance sustained any damage other than these holes?”

“The radiator has been smelling hot all day. It probably needs to be serviced.”

Mrs. Jones nodded. “Clean the vehicle as usual, then take it to maintenance. Take a few minutes to clean up yourself,” she glanced at the blood stains on Laura. “Then come to my office. I want to talk to you.

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