Page 34 of Damnation
“It is time,” I say through a pained moan.
“For truth?” she asks.
I nod my head as a cry escapes me. Elizabeth jumps to her feet.
“Guard! Guard! Help!”
As slowly as he is able, an older jailer comes up to the cell, sneering at Elizabeth as he speaks.
“What is the ruckus for?”
“Sarah is enduring childbirth! The baby is coming. We need a doctor,” she begs.
“We do not have one. Since Toothaker croaked, we have yet to have one around these parts.”
“Then fetch one if you must!” she snaps. “Or at the least provide me with towels and warm water.”
The young jailer who treats me well, thanks to Thomas, comes over, his hair a mess as if he has just awoken from his sleep, as he takes in the scene.
“Is she having the baby?” he asks.
“Appears so.” The other jailer shrugs.
As if a bucket of water has been dumped upon his head, the sleep leaves the young jailer’s eyes as he takes off in a run.
“Where art thou off to?” the older jailer shouts.
“To notify Putnam!”
“What business does he have?” he calls back but does not earn a response before the guard is through the doors and outside.
“Oh nooooo!” I moan as another painful contraction rips through me.
“Water and towels, make haste!” Elizabeth snaps once more before facing me. “‘Tis okay, Sarah. I will assist you.”
I wince as I shake my head.
“I am not your burden to bear.”
“Nonsense,” she says, effectively hushing me. “Get onto your hands and knees, that will allow the baby to come easier. Stand if you are able.”
I shake my head, unable to speak, let alone stand. Something is wrong. Labor did not feel such a way when I had my Dorothy. Perhaps it’s that I’m so very hungry, so very thirsty, that my body has been aching and in pain for months now. I know not the source, only that I can hardly stand it.
Another sharp pain rips through my body that has me howling like an animal. I feel Elizabeth rub soothing circles against my back, but her touch provides no comfort as my body breaks out into cold sweats.
When the pain eases momentarily, she praises me, brushing my hair away from my sweat dotted forehead. She looks to another beside us as she speaks.
“Begin counting! Now!”
I hear the sounds of someone counting the seconds that pass and allow myself to drift in a delirious haze before the next pain comes.
“Two minutes apart. Your baby is coming soon. You can do this, Sarah.”
I shake my head and whimper. Why is labor quickening so? It felt like hours, days even, last time. Something is wrong. This is all wrong.
I do my best to stay upon my hands and knees, but a wave of pain knocks me down, curling into myself as the old jailor brings a single towel and a small cup of water.
Elizabeth looks to him in shock as he sets the items down and walks away. She scoffs, muttering beneath her breath as she dips her hands into the warm water, washing them before feeling between my legs.
