The Good Luck Stone by Heather Bell Adams

Author:Heather Bell Adams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Haywire Books
Published: 2020-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Daylight on Bataan revealed an entire community hacked out of the jungle: electric lights strung on palm trees, dangling Lister bags holding purified water, rough roads, a Signal Corps company for communications, a Quartermaster for supplies.

With her injured ankle, Penny struggled to keep up as the chief nurse pointed out the operating room in a portable Quonsett hut flanked by smaller tents for x-ray and laboratory work and dispensary and pharmacy.

The surgical instruments had been packed in petroleum jelly for safekeeping on the trip to Bataan and on their first morning every piece had to be scrubbed with ether, a task which fell to Kat, Penny, and Sue.

Kat picked up a metal case and squinted to read its label. Audrey had noticed the squinting before, but guessed she might be too vain to wear glasses.

Moments later, Kat swayed on her feet.

Audrey nudged her aside. “Let me help. You get some rest.”

Kat shook her head. “I’m not tired, honestly. It’s the smell that’s getting to me, making me a little lightheaded.” She tried to bat away a greenish black fly darting around her face.

Audrey picked up a rag and pair of clamps. The ether had a strong smell, something like gasoline. “You’ll faint if you’re not careful. Let me take your spot.”

“Only if we take turns. I’m not letting you do all of it.”

Penny found a stack of surgical gowns and pulled it over for Kat to sit on. “First sign of you fainting and we’re sending you out of here.”

“You’re the one with a hurt ankle. You should sit down, not me.”

Sue flicked her hair out of her eyes. “For goodness sake, can’t you both fit?”

“I’m too big—” Penny started to say, but Kat was already scooting over to make room.

“Now you can stop your gabbing and get back to work,” Sue said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Penny gave a mock salute and rolled her eyes in Audrey’s and Kat’s direction.

Sue sighed. “I’ve gotta go to the latrine. Back in a minute.”

“Never mind her, she’s just jealous,” Audrey said once she’d moved out of sight.

“Jealous of what? This?” Penny pointed at her swollen ankle. “Or this fine manicure?” She flicked off her glove to show her torn fingernails.

“Of us. She’s jealous of what the three of us have,” Kat said. She leaned her head against Penny’s shoulder for a brief moment, took a deep breath, and got back to work.

The first patients arrived two days later, and a steady stream followed over the coming weeks. After mobile units near the combat zone performed triage, the hospitals provided follow-up specialized procedures. Their patients needed wounds sutured, broken bones set, limbs amputated, perforated organs repaired.

Audrey began to worry about Kat. The unrelenting sun had turned Penny’s and Audrey’s skin the same toasty brown as the shell of a pili nut. But Kat, with her ivory complexion, reddened, blistered, and reddened again. She refused to bathe in the Real River with the rest of them. During the night, she woke constantly, squirming—and sometimes crying—at the lizards darting across her chest.

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