Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Gael shows up at my room early in the morning. I’m barely out of bed and dressed when she arrives, her eyes wide and filled with tears.

“Oh, Alex,” she cries, “I couldn’t sleep a wink, thinking about what I said last night.” She rushes into my arms. “You have to forget what I said, Alex.”

I gently stroke her hair and plant a kiss on her forehead. “Gael, I can’t. Here, sit down and have some water.”

I hand her a glass of water and guide her to sit on my bed. She stares out the window while I dress Beth, who’s busy playing with my ribbons. Gael remains silent, and I give her the space. Eventually, she turns to me.

“It’s treason, Alex,” she says, taking a deep breath.

“I think it’s treason to Albion to have another child before the last one is even a year old,” I respond calmly.

She presses her lips together and looks at me with her big brown eyes. “I couldn’t help it,” she replies.

“I know.”

“I love Albion. I want to give Albion all my children.”

“Of course.”

“But I don’t want to die.”

“Albion wouldn’t want you to die either.”

“So what are you suggesting, Alex?”

“I’m suggesting we get help,” I answer.

When there’s a knock on my door, Gael gasps and jumps up.

“Don’t worry,” I reassure her as I open the door. Defective Abby is there with her daughter. She’s smiling, but it quickly fades when she sees Gael. She looks at me, wide-eyed and silent.

“Come in, Abby,” I whisper, reaching out and pulling her inside. I close the door securely behind her. Our daughters toddle over to each other happily, and I lead Defective Abby to Gael.

“Gael, this is Abby. Abby, this is Gael. She’s pregnant with her eighth, and she won’t survive carrying it to term.”

Defective Abby’s eyes widen. Gael bows her head.

“She wants to—no, needs to—terminate this pregnancy,” I add.

Defective Abby’s eyes grow even wider. Gael sobs, keeping her head low.

“The doctors here won’t allow it, and Gael has already tried. Abby, I need to know: in your village, are there people who can perform the procedure without hurting Gael?”

There’s a long silence while Defective Abby stares at Gael’s stomach. Slowly, she shakes her head.

“Are you sure?” I press. “Is that the truth?”

“Yes,” her voice is stronger than I expected. She lifts her head slightly. “I live with other women and children. None of us can do that. We never received medical training.”

“But there are doctors there. Soldiers. Foreign soldiers always have doctors with them. There must be at least one there,” I insist.

Her head snaps up, and her eyes widen for a moment. “No, there are no doctors with us.”

“All we need is someone skilled with a knife. Someone who can make the right incision without fatally injuring Gael. She needs a cesarean. Abby, please.”

“No one has that kind of skill with a knife.”

“That’s not true,” I push. Her eyes narrow and a scowl forms. “I know that’s not true. To carve wood, you need skill with a knife. Anyone who can carve wood can help Gael. Abby, she will die,” I say.

Defective Abby stares at me in horror. “Wood carving…” she whispers. “How?” Then she looks down at her daughter’s bare wrist. “Oh no!” She reaches for Crippled Abby, swooping down and picking her up.

“Wait!” I grab her shoulder to stop her from fleeing my room. “It’s okay! I don’t know who’s there. I know there are Foreigners taking care of you all!

“Your daughter is just as healthy as mine, and your cheeks are rosy and healthy too! They weren’t when I first met you. Abby, I promise I won’t hurt you or your daughter. I could never do that.

“Please, please help Gael. Take her to your home, terminate her pregnancy, and take care of her. Please.”

Abby staggers. She slowly puts Crippled Abby down and turns to Gael. “You would give up this house for your life?”

“I don’t want this life,” Gael replies, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.

Defective Abby turns to me. “There’s one person…maybe he can help. Come to the back door. The Masters never go near there. I’ll take you to him.”

“A man?” Gael whispers.

“A Foreigner soldier. A prisoner of war, of course.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

Abby stares at me, then nods back and hurries out of the room. Gael bursts into tears and rushes into my arms.

“A Foreigner is going to cut me open!” she wails.

“Hush, Gael. We don’t know that. I’m sorry this is the only way. But it’s for the best.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I know it is,” I tell her. “Trust me.”

“I do,” she whispers, then continues crying in my arms while I stroke her hair gently.

***

The next morning, I leave Eric’s bed early and sneak toward the back entrance. Gael is already there, a blanket wrapped around her frail shoulders.

I know her Master drinks heavily most nights, so he sleeps most of the day. He probably won’t notice her absence, and when he does, she’ll be long gone and under the protection of Foreigner soldiers.

The door swings open before the sun has even risen, and Defective Abby appears with a gas mask. She pulls it off her head proudly and looks at us.

“Wear this and this.” She hands Gael a ragged dress and a gas mask. Gael looks at me, then takes the items and puts them on.

“Have you spoken to him? Do you think he’s capable?”

“He’s uncertain,” she confesses. “But he’s willing to give it a shot. He claims he has no issues with Perfect women. He’ll attempt to save her.”

I let out a small sigh of relief. “Destroy it. The fetus,” I murmur. “Send it back to Albion. Do it for Gael, please.” Defective Abby looks doubtful. “And if she doesn’t make it, burn her too. Please.”

Defective Abby gives a single nod. “I will.”

“Thank you. Master Hector sleeps most of the day. He won’t notice her missing until sunset, when he’ll start looking for her again. Can it be done by then?”

“I’m not sure. She’ll need time to recover after the surgery. Being with him for the night would only reopen her wound. She should stay with us.”

“You’re right. Will she be safe there? No one will harm her?”

“I’ll ensure her safety.” Defective Abby presses her lips together.

“I’ll make up excuses and ply him with more alcohol. Hopefully, he won’t notice, or he’ll be passed out before he can get angry. You too—I’ll cover for your work. No one will notice you’re missing either,” I assure her.

Defective Abby nods. “You know, I’m not doing this for nothing,” she murmurs.

I nod. “I figured as much. What do you want?”

“You’re quite knowledgeable, aren’t you? You know more than you should.”

“I do.”

“But you have a daughter to protect.”

“Just like you.”

“I’ll tell you what I need when she returns healthy and without the baby. If that’s not the case, I won’t ask anything of you.”

“That’s honorable, Abby. Thank you.”

“I didn’t see the flaws until I lost my status. You’ve been aware of them for a long time, and now you’re living in the most dangerous place for someone with such knowledge.”

“I’ll be here tomorrow morning at the same time,” I tell her.

Defective Abby nods and reaches out for Gael’s hand. Gael grabs it with a sob.

“You’ll be back and everything will be okay,” I assure her.

She nods, then pulls the gas mask over her face. Defective Abby gives me a nod and then leads Gael out of the door.

I watch them vanish into the darkness. Their footsteps leave marks in the ash, but the wind sweeps them away just as quickly.

Once they’re out of sight, I hurry back up to Eric’s room and crawl back into bed so he won’t notice I was gone.