2. Try not to render

"I said sow!"

Emie shook her head once again.

They had been in that argument for long minutes now. The patient was lying on the operation table, his leg bleeding like hell, his femur showing through the skin. The poor lad had made a serious encounter with a horse's legs.

"Emie, I said sow, for Heaven's sake!" Henry yelled again.

She shook her head one last time. "This man could live. We could save his leg. We could-"

"You've said that how many times now? He need antibiotics, Henry, he needs penicillin and morphine, Henry! I can put his bone back in, Henry!" He mimicked her squeaking voice to perfection after three months working together. "I said no. These are expensive. These are only found in places they can afford it. Now sow, or I'll do it myself."

She chuckled darkly. "Yeah? And, with your magical drunken hands, you could sow his heart off all the same! Give me that, you pathetic monster!" She took the hand sow, braced herself, and turned to the patient, still unconscious after having been given a high dose of chloroform. "Hold him still." And she started her sombre office.

"I can't believe I did that." Emie sat on the porch's way, wiping her bloodied hands on her doctor's apron.

Henry sat beside her, his brown hair moving along with the wind. He handed her a flask. She took it without comment, and sipped the whiskey.

"You know, I didn't imagine it like that."

He sighed. "I know. You poor city girls, begging to have a work, when you come to the countryside, everything's different." He took back the flask and took a long sip of alcohol.

"Thanks for the dress, by the way. It's beautiful." Emie said, thinking about the brand new working dress Henry had ordered in her state after this one ran old.

"You're welcome. Can't afford to have my nurse work naked as a worm, can I?" He smirked at her. "Though I'm sure you're not that bad when you don't wear a thing."

She chuckled. "Yeah. Whereas you..."

He laughed briefly.

Emie looked closely at Henry.

He was barely thirty, only three years older than her, and already looking so old in his grey eyes. He was also the funniest person she encountered, on both worlds.

She now knew she had landed in 1914, in south England. Still didn't how, and why, she had been added to this storyline. She just tried not to mess things up.

Henry and her were living together. He had lent her a room, she was cooking, and operating for him when he shaking hands could do no good to the patient.

Henry was alcoholic. He had fought. In Africa. He hadn't told her, but she had seen. How it had destroyed him.

So Emie had a friend. Forgotten, the time where she wondered if she could trust her fellow residents. She had a teacher barely older than her, and he was already being more precious than anyone else she had met in the hospital, back in London.

"We should get back in. The man's gonna wake up anytime. We should brace ourselves."

Emie nodded but took a small time more to breathe. She still couldn't get used to cutting humans' parts off when, in the 21st century, it was so easy to makes things better.

Now, the man who was lying in Henry's office could be of no use to his family. He would not bring money back to feed his brothers and sisters, and they would starve.

She shook her head. No, it wouldn't happen like this. Of course it wouldn't. She was just too sensitive.

"Good morning, Dr Tate." The Sergeant Martins took his cap off and bowed to Emie.

She smiled back. "Good morning, Sergeant." She continued walking towards the supply shop.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Miss Tate, but I had something to ask to you."

Emie stopped and turned to the small man.

He was the village's militia chief, and she had operated many of his men, wounded in action.

"Ask."

His moustache shivered above his mouth, and he seemed to be very uncomfortable. "It's the war, Miss. Some of our men will be requisitioned."

Emie's eyes widened. What did it have to do with her?

"And?"

"Doctors are wanted too, Miss. I've already asked him, you know, but I'm sure Dr Lennings will listen to you better."

She shook her head. "Why should I ask him that? He's already served in a war. See what good it's done to him?"

He seemed sorry. "I know, Miss, but he has been asked by Major Stewart himself, Miss. The chief of cavalry. They will be here within the week. I know for sure they have met. But Dr Lennings is deaf to every argument I sent."

She nodded. "I'll try. As much as it pains me, I'll try. But if refuses even me, your Major will have to find another doctor."

The Sergeant nodded. "Thanks Miss." He bowed again and hurried back towards a square of men, wearing the blue uniform, who were waiting for their leader.

Emie looked up at the sky. How on Earth was she supposed to convince someone as stubborn as Henry?

Revieeeew! :D