Adam and Thomas

Chapter 30

They stayed in the infirmary tent for five days, constantly waiting in fear for the doctor’s announcements. The medic didn’t neglect them. He brought them soup, bread, and hard-boiled eggs. On the fifth day the doctor told them, “The girl is talking, asking questions and responding. She’s a girl from out of this world. You’ll have to keep bandaging her wounds. I’ll give you antiseptic and salve. The wounds are healing, but you mustn’t neglect treatment. The medical staff is impressed by Mina and wishes her a full recovery. You should know that she’s a miracle in every way. And you, where are you going?”

“We don’t know yet,” answered one of the mothers.

“We’ll give you some food to last for a few days.”

“Thank you, doctor. I can’t thank you enough.”

“We’re doing our duty as human beings. Tomorrow we’re moving from here. We’ve broken through the front. The German army is retreating in panic, but the way to victory is still long. I’ll give you a stretcher so you can carry Mina. She conquered all of our hearts.”

“How can we thank you, doctor?” Adam’s mother said, trying to restrain her tears.

“There’s no need to thank us. We’re here to do our duty.”

“You treated us with mercy. It’s been a long time since we saw mercy.”

“I’m just a doctor. You mustn’t attribute qualities to people that we attribute to God.”

“I’m sorry if I insulted you. I didn’t mean to,” she said, covering her face with both hands.

Thus they parted from the doctor who had saved them.

The sun came out from behind the clouds and lit up the snow. The snow absorbed the sun from above and glowed with thousands of points of light.

A military band played marches in the middle of the snowy forest. Thomas’s mother burst into tears, and Adam’s mother hugged her, saying, “Dear, thank God we found the boys. Now we have to take care of Mina. She needs a lot of attention.”

“Excuse me,” Thomas’s mother murmured and wiped her face.

The band continued to inspire joy.

Adam’s mother said, “Who watched over our children in this hard winter?”

“Our boys are smart. They took care of themselves,” said Thomas’s mother.

Adam wanted to ask how his father was, and how his grandparents were, but he blocked the words in his mouth. In his heart he knew it wasn’t the right time to ask. His mother sensed what was stirring in her son’s heart and said, “Let’s pray that Dad and your grandparents will return to us.”

Mina fell asleep on the stretcher, and the mothers wrapped her in the blanket.