Читать книгу Captured by Moonlight - Christine Lindsay - Страница 7

Jai Kaur looked up from examining Chandra, when Eshana burst into the clinic at the mission. She nodded to him while a wavering lamp of a smile lit her eyes. Yet something in her manner disturbed him. She breathed hard as if she had been running, and her gaze darted to the window.

He put up a hand to stroke his beard. “Is there someone you are expecting?”

“No.” He had never before seen her so flustered, but she left the window and stood beside him. “Please, Doctor, tell me what you think of our patient.”

He turned to view the girl from the temple who in a sleepy state paid them little attention. “You were wise to keep her on the intravenous fluid. As I have said before, you would make a fine physician, Eshana.”

“As we have discussed many times, there is no opportunity for me to study to be a doctor.” Though her answer came quietly, her eyes shone.

“Why not? I have heard there are several Christian hospitals training women to be doctors. Women practitioners are needed in our land when most women refuse to be treated by a male doctor.”

“I am already knowing this. But with Miriam’s dying words she meant for me to take her place in this mission. It is not only love for Miriam that is spurring me on, but love for my Lord.”

Her eyes clouded, and he had no wish to bring back the sorrow of Miriam’s death. He too remembered the horror of the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre.

Together he and Eshana examined the girl’s sutures. He softened his voice for both the drowsy patient as well as Eshana’s emotions. “I am familiar with your religion. I have read many of Sundar Singh’s writings about this Christian god, Yeshu.”

“I too have read much of Sundar’s work.” Her voice brightened. “He is a great, holy man of India, a Christian sadhu. What did you think of Sundar’s experience when he was praying as a young Sikh man, ‘if there be a God, reveal Thyself’?”

Jai had been about to answer, relishing the idea of discussing the differences of his Sikh theology versus her Christianity when Laine Harkness rushed into the room and strode toward Eshana.

Eshana’s expression mirrored the strain on her English friend’s face. “Something has happened.”

“Didn’t Geoff come by last night to talk to you?” The English nurse did not speak in her usual jocular manner.

“There was no need for Geoff to be concerned. No one knows Chandra is here, and as soon as she—”

“The police will most likely know any time now. I’ve been given the bad news. The authorities visited my matron at the hospital. Someone recognized me, but she’s been good enough to send me away. I’ve got tickets for the train, but it won’t be long before the police work out that I’m often here at the mission.”

Jai pushed forward. “Are you saying they are looking for Eshana? Why have you put her in such a dangerous predicament? This is another instance of your British Raj mentality, do as you please and leave Indians to suffer the consequences.”

Eshana placed her palms together and beseeched him. “Please, my friend. It was I who urged Laine to help me rescue the girl.”

With effort he calmed his voice. “You must get the girl away. Better still take her back to the temple. If they find her here, your life will be forfeit.”

The nurse spoke in that tone she no doubt used in the hospital wards. “Dr. Kaur, I assure you, I am not leaving Eshana.”

The flame of anger within him lowered, though it still flickered. “Then you must hurry, before it is discovered Eshana was involved.”

“Wait.”

He turned at Eshana’s cry.

“Wait,” she repeated on a small breath. “I cannot be leaving this mission.”

“You must go with the nursing matron. If it is discovered that you took the girl, they will be killing you.”

Laine moved to the door and called out to the other girls who lived in the house. “Put together a quick bag with Eshana’s belongings. She is leaving with me straightaway.”

But Eshana stiffened. “I will not be leaving. On the night she died, Miriam told me to bring healing. It was me who Miriam trained to be midwife.”

At her stricken look he softened his voice with reverence. “Eshana, you cannot bring healing to others if you are dead. Perhaps one day when it is safe you may return.”

Laine spoke across the clinic room. “He’s right, Eshana. We’d gotten away with it once, but the second time we were noticed. Come with me. The train leaves in an hour.”

Comprehension made war with discontent on Eshana’s face. “I cannot go. If Chandra is discovered here, the rest of this house will be in danger. Those who are frightened Hindu fanatics may easily decide it was Mala or Harmindar who stole the girl.”

Laine met his eyes. “She’s right.”

He stroked his beard. “I will see that the patient is taken back to the Hindu temple—”

“No!” Eshana’s voice rang out like the tolling of a temple bell. “She will suffer in their care. If she does survive, she will live a life of degradation.” Her eyes pleaded. “Can you not take her to your clinic? You keep a handful of patients overnight.”

Her voice rippled over him like the flutter of leaves in the breeze. Like India herself, a virtuous and nurturing female to be respected and revered.

“Eshana, the girl cannot stay at my clinic. My father would not be allowing this, and I have no dwelling of my own to care for her. I live with my family.” But the fear in her eyes tore at his pious sounding words. “Surely you had a plan for Chandra when she became well. Tell me where you took the girl you rescued several months ago, and I will take our patient there.”

“To Poona, the Ramabai Mukti Mission.”

“But that is not far from Bombay. You must go by train with your friend. It is meant to be.”

Eshana’s brow wrinkled. “How can I take Chandra in her present condition?”

Laine cut in. “We’ll take her with us, you and I, and care for her.”

“In second class? How would that be possible?” But like the light of a small lamp, renewed hope shone from Eshana’s eyes.

“There’s a fellow I know with the railway,” the English nurse added, though doubt lined her brow. “He’s been begging to take me dancing for a year or more. I’m sure I can convince him to help us.”

Jai released the full urgency in his voice. “Go. You must not be delaying.”

Eshana’s gaze latched on to his with a fierceness one would never expect in so gentle a woman, but she nodded and raced from the surgery.

While Eshana and the mission girls gathered a few belongings together, he and Laine prepared the patient for transport. He unhooked the intravenous drip, and Laine packed the instruments and medicines she would need. Thanks to the wisdom of the God without form, Laine had kept a tonga waiting outside. He took the patient in his arms and carried her outside as Eshana hurried down the stairs with the other girls following. The tonga provided enough room to lay the girl down on a mat.

He and Laine settled the patient and turned to Eshana. Long farewells would increase the danger to her, but still she embraced the three women who would remain at the mission. Mala and Harmindar had lived in this house for as long as he could remember. The Muslim woman, Tikah, wept in Eshana’s arms as if she were saying good-bye to her own flesh and blood.

Eshana climbed into the conveyance, her gaze clinging to the women standing on the stoop of the tall, four-story house. When she had looked her fill, her gentle eyes turned to him.

He was a fool, but at the last minute he jumped to the seat at the front with the driver. It might be many months, perhaps never again, that he would see Eshana. He would at least make sure they arrived safely at the train station.

He looked around them at a few hostile glances in the crowded bazaar. If they arrived safely at the train station.