Part One, Chapter Eighteen
The Wounded
...
Courtney wandered throught Atlanta, trying to find Dave. Threre were men, wounded and dying, and they were everywhrere.
"Have you seen Dr. Meade?" Courtney asked.
Instead of an answer to her question, she got, "One side, lady, please."
"Dr. Meade!" she called desperately.
She ha finally found Dave attending to some soldiers.
"Dr. Meade!" she said with relief. "Dr. Meade! At last!"
"Oh, thank heavens you're here," said Dave. "I need every pair of hands."
Courtney just stood there, her eyes wide.
"Come, child," said Dave. "Wake up! We've got work to do."
"But Zoey's having a baby," said Courtney urgently. "You've got to come with me!"
"Are you crazy?" Dave asked. "I can't leave these men for a baby! They're dyin' hudreds of them! Get some woman to help you."
"But there isn't anybody," said Courtney. "And, Dr. Meade, she might die!"
"Die!" Dave gasped. "Look at them! Bleeding to death in from of my eyes! No chloroform! No bandages! Nothing! Nothing to even ease their pain! Now run along and don't bother me." He noticed the look of desperation on Courtney's face, then added, "Now don't worry, child. There's nothing to bringing a baby." He turned his head and called, "Now bring those stretchers here!"
"Dr. Meade!" somebody called.
"Here, I'm coming!" Dave called back.
With the same look of desperation on her face, Courtney left.
...
Courtney got back to Aunt Dawn's house and took off her hat. Katie was walking down the stairs.
"Is the doctor come?" Katie asked.
"No, he can't come," Courtney said helplessly.
"Oh, Miss Courtney, Miss Zoey's bad off," said Katie worriedly.
"He can't come," said Courtney. "There's nobody to come. Katie, you've got to manage without the doctor. I'll help you."
Courtney started going upstairs.
"Oh, Miss Courtney," Katie gasped.
"Well, what is it?" Courtney asked anxiously.
"We've got to have a doctor," said Katie. "I don't know nothin' about birthin' babies.
"What do you mean?" Courtney asked dangerously.
"I don't know-" Katie started.
"You told me you knew everything about," said Courtney cutting Katie off.
"I don't know how come I tell such a lie," said Katie. "Ma ain't never let me around when folks was having them."
Courtney raised her arm and struck the back of Katie's head.
"Courtney!" Courtney heard Zoey call. "Courtney!"
Courtney started to drag Katie, who was whining and screaming and crying up the stairs.
"Oh, Miss Courtney," cried Katie.
"Stop it!" Courtney snapped. "Go light a fire in the stove! Keep boiing water in the kettle, get me a ball of twine and, and all the clean towels you can find, and the scissors. Don't come telling me you can't find them. Go get them and get them quick!"
"Courtney!" Zoey called again in a weak voice.
"Coming Zoey," said Courtney. "Coming."
...
Courtney and Katie were in Zoey's room. Zoey was about to give birth.
"Go, Courtney, before the Yankees get here," said Zoey.
"I'm not afraid," said Courtney. "You know I won't leave you."
"It's no use," said Zoey. "I'm going to die."
"Don't be a goose, Zoey," said Courtney. "Hold on to me. Hold on to me."
"Talk to me, Courtney," said Zoey. "Please talk to me."
"Don't try to be brave, Zoey," said Courtney. "Yell all you want to, there's nobody to hear."
"Ma says that if you puts a knife under the bed it cuts the pain in two," Katie said.