For Captain von Trapp all time stood still and all his actions in the next
moments were purely of instinct not intellect. While Liesl and Frederick
grabbed Marta an Gretel so they couldn't see what had happened the Captain
ran full speed to where Maria was lying on the ground. When he reached her
he fell to his knees.
"Fraulein? Maria, can you hear me?" the Captain whispered softly. Maria made no sound nor did she stir, she just lay there. When the Captain lifted her up off the ground to check her for serious injury his hand came in contact with a sticky wet substance. Blood. Her blood.
Fear gripped the Captain's heart but he forced his mind to remain clear and his voice to remain steady, "Liesl, Frederick, take Marta and Gretel home and send Uncle Max up here with the car. Louisa, Kurt, and Brigitta go down into town and fetch Dr. Schwartz and bring his directly to the villa. Go! All of you! Now!" he ordered.
Seconds later the children mobilized and went to do their father's bidding. Maria was pale and still as he sat on the ground beside her, keeping his handkerchief pressed firmly to the wound on her head.
"Come on, Fraulein," he urged, "come on back. Captain von Trapp smoothed the hair off her forehead and was rewarded when Maria's eyes fluttered opened. She looked at the Captain's worried eye and tried to smile. She was lying on the ground and her head hurt.
"Captain?" she asked confused, "what.?"
"Ssh," he said, "don't try to move or speak."
Seeing of course as it was Maria, she moved and tried to sit up, "Ooh," she moaned at the pain in her head, chest, back and wrist. It seemed like one whole side of her body was being assaulted with fire tongs.
"Ssh," the Captain soothed, "that's why I told you not to move. Just be very still and try and tell me where it hurts."
"The children?" she whispered, weary, pain filled eyes darting around, "Are they."
"No need to worry about the children, Fraulein. Liesl and Frederick took the littlest ones back to the house. They'll send Max up with the car. Louisa and the others went to town to get the doctor. You just relax," he told her with a gentle, steady voice, not wanting to startle or scare her.
After he'd accounted for all of her charges, Maria visibly relaxed. She found breathing quite painful and tears swan in her eyes. One look at the Captain's worried gaze and she had to smile, "It doesn't hurt that much."
The Captain chuckled in spite of himself, "I imagine it hurts quite a bit. Tell me where it hurts," he instructed again.
"My side. My left side. Where are the children?" she looked around again, her eyes getting a glassy haze to them.
"I told you, Fraulein," the Captain said very gently, "the oldest ones took the youngest ones home and are sending Max with the car. The middle three went into Salzburg for the doctor."
Maria was getting very sleepy. She was also very cold. She gave a small shiver and the movement awakened more pain in response to which she moaned, "Fraulein, are you cold?" the Captain asked.
"Captain?" Maria was growing more confused, "I thought you were in Vienna."
Captain von Trapp smiled softly and touched Maria's cheek, "I've returned, Fraulein. Remember, the drapes." Gently, he laid the picnic blanket over her and lifted her so she was leaning against his chest. If her ribs were broken, it would be easier for her to breath this way.
She didn't say anything for a long while. It seemed forever since the children left. Finally Maria spoke again, "I'm getting tired, Captain," she said softly.
"You can't go to sleep, Fraulein. Keep awake and keep talking."
Maria gave a small laugh and another moan, "No one has ever wanted me to do that before."
She fell silent but her eyes remained opened so she fought sleep and pain. Finally after what felt like a day but was merely two hours, even less, Franz arrived with Liesl and his carriage.
"Liesl, where's Max and the car?" the Captain barked, "I trusted you to be able to follow my instructions."
"I'm sorry, father. Uncle Max is still at St. Thomas'. I brought extra blankets so we can wrap her tighter. Maybe the bouncing won't be too bad then." Liesl looked guiltily at her father, and his hard gaze softened. He patted her cheek, "I'm sorry, Liesl. I know you did your best."
"How is she?" Liesl tried to be calm, her father's daughter, buther teenage eyes revealed her fear.
"She was awake and talking, but she's gone out again now. I think she has some broken bones, be very careful on the road, Franz," the Captain ordered, wrapping his charge carefully in the blankets and lifting her securely in his arms.
Maria was so light, so petite, the Captain surprised himself. Liesl joined Franz in the front seat, while the Captain held Maria across his lap in the coach. He was thankful for her unconsciousness because the bouncing of the journey would have been agony for her.
Finally, they reached the villa, along with Max and the other three children.
"We couldn't find Dr. Schwartz so we brought Dr. Woss," Louisa informed her father, knowing how the Captain felt about the American female doctor who worked on Salzburg's poorer people, but in this case, he'd take what he could get.
The Captain brought Maria to her bedroom and Dr. Woss unwrapped Maria's blankets and thoroughly examined her. She requested the Captain, Max and the children remain outside. She only retained Frau Schmidt as a help mate for her exam.
Half an hour passed and no true sound other than Dr. Woss' softly accented speech could be heard through the closed door. Meanwhile the children sang or prayed together while the Captain and Max nervously paced outside the doorway waiting for the doctor to finish.
Before long the Baroness joined the two men, "Georg, Max, perhaps you should go and sit in the study. I've had cook bring strudel and tea in there for you. It's not doing any good standing around out here."
"Elsa, if you don't mind, I'd like to remain here until Dr. Woss is finished with Ma.Fraulein Maria," the Captain replied.
"Dr. Woss? Isn't that the American woman?" the Baroness' eyebrows lifted.
The Captain only nodded.
"A wise choice, Georg. Dr. Schwartz has more important things to do that to patch up tom boyish governesses."
The cold steely look in Captain von Trapp's eyes warned her to cease and desist immediately and wisely the Baroness took the unspoken advice and silently waited with the men in the hallway until Dr. Woss finally emerged.
"Captain von Trapp," she looked directly at the man, her blue eyes, holding no room for any possible argument, "I'd like to speak with you privately. Is there someplace we might go?"
Uneasily the Captain nodded and led the young doctor to his study and shut the door so no one could overhear what the doctor was about to tell him.
When both the Captain and the doctor were seated in his study, he behind his desk and she in the leather high backed chair before it. "I'll get right to the point, Captain. Fraulein Rainer is very lucky. You were able to stop the bleeding from the cut on her head and the head injury is not very serious, although she'll have to take it easy for a few days on that and she may become confused at times until the swelling subsides. She also has two broken ribs on her left side, but neither punctured her lung which is a blessing. I've taped and wrapped them, but she'll have considerable pain from them. She also has severe bruising on her left side. What I'm most concerned about is her wrist. She has a fracture in two places on her left wrist. I've also detected that she has several old healed fractures of both her left wrist, left elbow, and left femur. She had not broken her leg this time, but it my deep concern as to where she has contracted those fractures. May I ask how long she's has worked here?"
The Captain rose from his seat, "Are you implying, Dr. Woss."
"No, Captain. I'm asking you, how long has Fraulein Rainer worked here?"
"Just under two months," he responded, "She was a postulant at Nonnberg Abbey before she came to us, but before she came to us."
Dr. Woss nodded, "I've seen this before Captain. There could be may causes for this kind of damage, a clumsy child for instance, but I think there's more to it than that, for instance almost all of the breaks were on the same side in the same pattern."
"What are you trying to say, Dr. Woss?" the Captain asked, an unsettling feeling rising in his stomach.
"Captain, I fear that your Fraulein Rainer may never have full use of her hand again. The bones and nerves are damaged. She'll need a lot of help trying to get the usage back. I've left with your housekeeper some things she can use to strengthen the muscles and bones, but it could be quite painful and she might need some encouragement."
The Captain nodded again, "Can I see her now, Dr. Woss. Are we finished for now?"
"Yes, Captain. I'll see myself out and check back with you tomorrow. That is, if you don't wish to have her treatment taken over by Dr. Schwartz." Dr. Woss studied the Captain's floor.
"No, I think you'll be quite sufficient, Dr. Woss. Please see Frau Schmidt and leave your bill. I'll see you are paid for your trouble."
Dr. Woss smiled, "Thank you, Captain."
Dr. Woss made her arrangements with Frau Schmidt and the Captain went upstairs to be with Maria. She was bruising now but she seemed to be out of pain for the time being. He settled himself in the chair beside her bed and watched as she slept. He knew he had to go tell the children what was going on, so without true thought, he leaned over and gently kissed the bruise forming on her temple.
"Sleep well, Fraulein," he whispered, leaving her to slumber as he went to tell his frightened children about their governess.
"Fraulein? Maria, can you hear me?" the Captain whispered softly. Maria made no sound nor did she stir, she just lay there. When the Captain lifted her up off the ground to check her for serious injury his hand came in contact with a sticky wet substance. Blood. Her blood.
Fear gripped the Captain's heart but he forced his mind to remain clear and his voice to remain steady, "Liesl, Frederick, take Marta and Gretel home and send Uncle Max up here with the car. Louisa, Kurt, and Brigitta go down into town and fetch Dr. Schwartz and bring his directly to the villa. Go! All of you! Now!" he ordered.
Seconds later the children mobilized and went to do their father's bidding. Maria was pale and still as he sat on the ground beside her, keeping his handkerchief pressed firmly to the wound on her head.
"Come on, Fraulein," he urged, "come on back. Captain von Trapp smoothed the hair off her forehead and was rewarded when Maria's eyes fluttered opened. She looked at the Captain's worried eye and tried to smile. She was lying on the ground and her head hurt.
"Captain?" she asked confused, "what.?"
"Ssh," he said, "don't try to move or speak."
Seeing of course as it was Maria, she moved and tried to sit up, "Ooh," she moaned at the pain in her head, chest, back and wrist. It seemed like one whole side of her body was being assaulted with fire tongs.
"Ssh," the Captain soothed, "that's why I told you not to move. Just be very still and try and tell me where it hurts."
"The children?" she whispered, weary, pain filled eyes darting around, "Are they."
"No need to worry about the children, Fraulein. Liesl and Frederick took the littlest ones back to the house. They'll send Max up with the car. Louisa and the others went to town to get the doctor. You just relax," he told her with a gentle, steady voice, not wanting to startle or scare her.
After he'd accounted for all of her charges, Maria visibly relaxed. She found breathing quite painful and tears swan in her eyes. One look at the Captain's worried gaze and she had to smile, "It doesn't hurt that much."
The Captain chuckled in spite of himself, "I imagine it hurts quite a bit. Tell me where it hurts," he instructed again.
"My side. My left side. Where are the children?" she looked around again, her eyes getting a glassy haze to them.
"I told you, Fraulein," the Captain said very gently, "the oldest ones took the youngest ones home and are sending Max with the car. The middle three went into Salzburg for the doctor."
Maria was getting very sleepy. She was also very cold. She gave a small shiver and the movement awakened more pain in response to which she moaned, "Fraulein, are you cold?" the Captain asked.
"Captain?" Maria was growing more confused, "I thought you were in Vienna."
Captain von Trapp smiled softly and touched Maria's cheek, "I've returned, Fraulein. Remember, the drapes." Gently, he laid the picnic blanket over her and lifted her so she was leaning against his chest. If her ribs were broken, it would be easier for her to breath this way.
She didn't say anything for a long while. It seemed forever since the children left. Finally Maria spoke again, "I'm getting tired, Captain," she said softly.
"You can't go to sleep, Fraulein. Keep awake and keep talking."
Maria gave a small laugh and another moan, "No one has ever wanted me to do that before."
She fell silent but her eyes remained opened so she fought sleep and pain. Finally after what felt like a day but was merely two hours, even less, Franz arrived with Liesl and his carriage.
"Liesl, where's Max and the car?" the Captain barked, "I trusted you to be able to follow my instructions."
"I'm sorry, father. Uncle Max is still at St. Thomas'. I brought extra blankets so we can wrap her tighter. Maybe the bouncing won't be too bad then." Liesl looked guiltily at her father, and his hard gaze softened. He patted her cheek, "I'm sorry, Liesl. I know you did your best."
"How is she?" Liesl tried to be calm, her father's daughter, buther teenage eyes revealed her fear.
"She was awake and talking, but she's gone out again now. I think she has some broken bones, be very careful on the road, Franz," the Captain ordered, wrapping his charge carefully in the blankets and lifting her securely in his arms.
Maria was so light, so petite, the Captain surprised himself. Liesl joined Franz in the front seat, while the Captain held Maria across his lap in the coach. He was thankful for her unconsciousness because the bouncing of the journey would have been agony for her.
Finally, they reached the villa, along with Max and the other three children.
"We couldn't find Dr. Schwartz so we brought Dr. Woss," Louisa informed her father, knowing how the Captain felt about the American female doctor who worked on Salzburg's poorer people, but in this case, he'd take what he could get.
The Captain brought Maria to her bedroom and Dr. Woss unwrapped Maria's blankets and thoroughly examined her. She requested the Captain, Max and the children remain outside. She only retained Frau Schmidt as a help mate for her exam.
Half an hour passed and no true sound other than Dr. Woss' softly accented speech could be heard through the closed door. Meanwhile the children sang or prayed together while the Captain and Max nervously paced outside the doorway waiting for the doctor to finish.
Before long the Baroness joined the two men, "Georg, Max, perhaps you should go and sit in the study. I've had cook bring strudel and tea in there for you. It's not doing any good standing around out here."
"Elsa, if you don't mind, I'd like to remain here until Dr. Woss is finished with Ma.Fraulein Maria," the Captain replied.
"Dr. Woss? Isn't that the American woman?" the Baroness' eyebrows lifted.
The Captain only nodded.
"A wise choice, Georg. Dr. Schwartz has more important things to do that to patch up tom boyish governesses."
The cold steely look in Captain von Trapp's eyes warned her to cease and desist immediately and wisely the Baroness took the unspoken advice and silently waited with the men in the hallway until Dr. Woss finally emerged.
"Captain von Trapp," she looked directly at the man, her blue eyes, holding no room for any possible argument, "I'd like to speak with you privately. Is there someplace we might go?"
Uneasily the Captain nodded and led the young doctor to his study and shut the door so no one could overhear what the doctor was about to tell him.
When both the Captain and the doctor were seated in his study, he behind his desk and she in the leather high backed chair before it. "I'll get right to the point, Captain. Fraulein Rainer is very lucky. You were able to stop the bleeding from the cut on her head and the head injury is not very serious, although she'll have to take it easy for a few days on that and she may become confused at times until the swelling subsides. She also has two broken ribs on her left side, but neither punctured her lung which is a blessing. I've taped and wrapped them, but she'll have considerable pain from them. She also has severe bruising on her left side. What I'm most concerned about is her wrist. She has a fracture in two places on her left wrist. I've also detected that she has several old healed fractures of both her left wrist, left elbow, and left femur. She had not broken her leg this time, but it my deep concern as to where she has contracted those fractures. May I ask how long she's has worked here?"
The Captain rose from his seat, "Are you implying, Dr. Woss."
"No, Captain. I'm asking you, how long has Fraulein Rainer worked here?"
"Just under two months," he responded, "She was a postulant at Nonnberg Abbey before she came to us, but before she came to us."
Dr. Woss nodded, "I've seen this before Captain. There could be may causes for this kind of damage, a clumsy child for instance, but I think there's more to it than that, for instance almost all of the breaks were on the same side in the same pattern."
"What are you trying to say, Dr. Woss?" the Captain asked, an unsettling feeling rising in his stomach.
"Captain, I fear that your Fraulein Rainer may never have full use of her hand again. The bones and nerves are damaged. She'll need a lot of help trying to get the usage back. I've left with your housekeeper some things she can use to strengthen the muscles and bones, but it could be quite painful and she might need some encouragement."
The Captain nodded again, "Can I see her now, Dr. Woss. Are we finished for now?"
"Yes, Captain. I'll see myself out and check back with you tomorrow. That is, if you don't wish to have her treatment taken over by Dr. Schwartz." Dr. Woss studied the Captain's floor.
"No, I think you'll be quite sufficient, Dr. Woss. Please see Frau Schmidt and leave your bill. I'll see you are paid for your trouble."
Dr. Woss smiled, "Thank you, Captain."
Dr. Woss made her arrangements with Frau Schmidt and the Captain went upstairs to be with Maria. She was bruising now but she seemed to be out of pain for the time being. He settled himself in the chair beside her bed and watched as she slept. He knew he had to go tell the children what was going on, so without true thought, he leaned over and gently kissed the bruise forming on her temple.
"Sleep well, Fraulein," he whispered, leaving her to slumber as he went to tell his frightened children about their governess.
