The Justice of a Body Snatcher
– a love story by renan goksin –
Episode Seventeen: “It’s a miracle Gustav”
He galloped his horse in abandon and jubilation, not in the least concerned about being observed by peasants working the fields in the morning light, which now submerged the entire landscape. He galloped his horse, holding the most precious person on earth as firmly as he could, shouting in his heart: “I have killed one man but saved a mother and a child!” He could not ride fast enough. All his life, he had put God on trial, testing to see how far he could exalt the human spirit and free will, unbounded by irrational social norms, and all the while secretly yearning for a response, for a sign, and now it had come. ‘O God, preserve her,’ he pleaded, ‘you cannot let her go now, I shall be your meekest slave for as long as I live.’ He galloped into Dr. Augustus’s courtyard. “I brought a patient,” he shouted, summoning the servants. “Get Augustus quickly. This time I brought him a patient.”
Dr. Augustus, already alarmed by Herman’s delay, was pacing up and down the verandah. When he saw Herman’s agitation as he stormed into the house in full view of everyone, his fears were confirmed that something had gone wrong. Herman continued to utter incomprehensible words like a madman. “The heavens extorted justice through me,” he kept on shouting. As soon as Augustus discovered that Alphonsina was indeed still alive, he postponed all his queries and immediately dedicated himself to the patient’s recovery. He laid her on the marble slab that had been previously prepared for dissection; however, now he was punching Alphonsina’s chest vigorously with his fists. It seemed somewhat ironical to Herman that preservation of life required no less violence than its termination. He paced around the marble slab like a trapped beast; staring, sniffing, waiting, uttering sounds, and twitching his facial muscles. “Save her, please save her,” he begged repeatedly. “I will return to you all the money you have given me! I will give you more! Please, Augustus, save her!” He snuggled like a dog between Alphonsina’s naked body and the doctor, resting his head on the marble and watching Augustus’s every movement. It was only when Augustus managed a smile that Herman turned his imploring gaze away from the doctor and kissed Alphonsina’s arm, which lay close to his lips. “She will live,” said Augustus quietly but firmly, and added: “So will the baby.”
Herman, as a child, used to fantasise about saving people. He imagined himself rushing into a tremendous fire and carrying people out in his arms one by one. This would ease his anxiety and help him fall asleep. He had never told anyone about it, but God must have known, and now God had granted his wish. On Augustus’s orders, Alphonsina was rubbed with a hot sponge and then settled into a bed in the guest room. The heavy winter quilt was fetched to keep her warm. Herman’s excitement was contagious. Augustus himself was quite moved by the extraordinary turn of events. Although he had been hoping to obtain invaluable new insight into the development of the foetal brain, he realised that a pregnant woman’s recovery, after having spent almost 20 hours in a grave with severe poisoning, deserved study on its own merit. The poison had slowed down her heart rate, and she had prevailed on little air, closer to dead than alive. Perhaps the foetus had acted like a sponge against the toxins and had helped preserve the mother’s life; but then how had the baby survived? Augustus did not know. “It is remarkable,” he kept on saying in a matter-of-fact way to reassure Herman, who seemed to have become a man possessed. The servants were light on their feet; seeing to Augustus’s orders with a serenity and heartiness which was more in keeping with times of festivities.
Herman sat in a chair next to Alphonsina’s bed. The windows of the room opened onto the courtyard, beyond where the gentle roll of the wide countryside poured onto its steps. Spring was everywhere. It was the 21st of April. Herman heard excited voices. Outside, he saw a man with two large rabbits slung over his shoulder returning from the traps. “It is a miracle, Gustav!” exclaimed a woman. “Vanhausen’s daughter and her baby are resurrected!” It was almost Easter.
to be continued…
next episode: 18- Justice
