Max
wiped the sweat off her brow as some of the items she requested were brought
over. I could tell she was very uneasy about this. Her eyes kept scanning the
ground as if for some kind of help while she tracked the woman’s pulse. She
spoke to several of the refugees before they went about searching for more
things. Speaking to the woman slow, it seemed Max was explaining what needed to
happen in order to help her birth the baby. One man started to panic, who I
assumed was the father. Each time his wife cried out he knelt down and
carefully rubbed her lower back before getting up once more and pace.
A few women spoke to Max and agreed
to help. It seemed things were not going my sister’s way at all. She punched
her fist into the ground after hearing some news she wasn’t pleased with. Out
here, she didn’t have textbooks to refer to, or even other medics. This was all
from things she had heard via stories and the little amount of experience.
Running her hand through her hair, Max quickly took a knife and sterilized it
with fire from their fire pit. Setting it carefully on a small cloth she began
to work diligently on checking the baby.
As the woman cried out in pain
again, the husband returned to check on his wife. Max yelled something at the
other women who quickly urged the man to step back or even leave the area. He
glared at Max briefly before being ushered away by the other men. They all went
off farther down the catacombs to retire until the baby had been born. Speaking
to the woman again, Max continued to talk her through the current situation. I
remember her studying birth, but never had she talked of having to help someone
give birth on the field. That was something that was assumed to not happen
because of all the fraternization rules.
Max must have gotten into a the
habit of running her hand through her hair, as I observed her she did it three
more times before returning to the task at hand. Carefully feeling the woman’s
belly, Max looked to the other women and asked them several questions before
one of them started to keep track of the pregnant lady’s pulse. Already the
woman started to push, causing Max to panic even more as she was not ready for
such a thing. Her lips moved quickly as she explained what she needed to still
do and what was going to happen after that. She was gesturing to help the woman
understand what was going on.
Labor pains must have really been
bothering the woman as her mouth opened really large, probably close to
screaming. Max slid the belt off her uniform pants and carefully folded it so
that it was rather thick. Speaking to the woman, she had her bite down on the
leather so that she wouldn’t break a tooth or bite into her tongue.
Max took some blankets from one of
the midwives and started talking the mother to be through the labor. I watched
hopeful that everything was going to go all right. After observing the woman
push for almost an hour, my sister carefully lifted out a small child in the
blankets. She handed it off to one midwife while she skillfully took the knife
and cut the umbilical cord.
Examining the baby I could see it
was crying by the movement of its mouth. Wrapping it gently in a blanket after
cleaning the child off, Max moved to the mother’s side and passed the baby to
her. A smile was on her face as she watched the new mother and child. Accepting
a rag from one of the midwives Max wiped off her hands and stood up. She was
patted on the back for a job well done. After talking with the mother, Max
started to pack her things and get ready to leave.
The men had walked over by now after
being informed by the observers of the others that had heard the baby cry. As
my sister adjusted her jacket, she looked to the happy family and friends
gathered around the mommy and baby in congratulations. Turning to leave them in
peace, Max stopped as one of the men called out to her. He pulled away from the
group and approached her with his hand held out. Observing Max stare at it for
several moments she finally shook it, the two exchanging a grin and some words
between them. It looked like he was thanking her. Immediately after he had done
so, several others approached and shook her hand.
She nodded, very embarrassed that
she was being shown such gratitude—especially at a task she had never quite
done. They gave Max some trinkets, small items that had plenty of sentimental
value. Seeing her blush made me laugh as she was escorted towards the exit. A
few of the men helped her climb out before returning to the others. Lifting the
grate back over the opening of the floor, Max headed for the truck she had left
behind earlier.
Max stopped and stared at the where
her vehicle was. Tire tracks were left in its space. Her eyes traced the trail
as far as she could see, leading to as far ahead as she could see. Watching her
sigh, I saw as my sister started for another typical pick up spot for medics
and other soldiers. Several soldiers were sitting in a half circle in the shade
of a make shift tent. Waving to them, she ducked under the edge and took a
seat. They passed her a flask which I observed her sniff before handing it
back. She requested something else instead as a canteen was thrown to her in
which she took a large drink from upon receiving it.
It seemed the soldiers were filling
her in on the goings on as she had probably asked them the whereabouts of her
truck. A few of them seemed to laugh at her before returning to the
conversation before. As each of them talked of their day, Max sat and listened.
I knew it was rare for her to contribute, as often times she could not
participate in their daily storytelling. If her comrades found out that she was
helping these rebels hide, she could have a lot more problems coming her way
than just being shot at.
Some noise must have roused them as
one of the soldiers leaned out from under the tent and peered in the direction
of the base. A few more heads joined the first in looking at what must have
been a truck. I stuck my head through the tent, seeing it was indeed a
transport coming to pick them up. Max grabbed the bag she had set down and got
up to leave. As the truck parked, many of the soldiers currently there started
to climb in. Already the sun was going to set within a few hours and I could
sense they wanted to get out of there before they were left in darkness.
Either way, Max didn’t seem
bothered. To her it must have felt like a normal routine now. Each day she
awoke and traveled to the city where she saved lives or mourned the dead.
Afterwards she would then return to the base after a long day of bloodshed and
exhaustion. The soldiers remained silent now as they looked upon the city as
the truck rumbled beneath them. It pulled away with a shudder and slowly
started gaining speed.
I looked upon the city, seeing the
smoke starting to rise as the fighting must have started up again. A few small
black streaks shot across the sky into the city. Huge explosions erupted from
the city, large columns of smoke rising into the already hazy sunset. Glancing
at Max I watched as she ran a hand through her hair.
It was going to be a long day
tomorrow.
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