فصل 76

alfred

The fates of fortune had found me. I had stumbled upon a qualified nurse just minutes before the trains carrying mutilated men would arrive.

I grabbed the young woman by the sleeve and dragged her through the crowd. “Dr. Richter!” I shouted through the hordes of people. “Dr. Richter! I have your nurse.” I shoved the girl in front of the doctor. She nearly toppled over him.

“Stop right there. What are you doing?” asked the doctor. He offered a hand to steady the nurse.

“I’m sorry, sir,” said the girl. “This sailor thought you might need assistance.” She pulled out her papers and handed them to the doctor. “I was a surgeon’s assistant in Insterburg. There’s a recommendation among my papers.”

“A surgeon’s assistant.” I grinned. “Outstanding qualifications.”

The doctor quickly scanned through her papers. “Are you registered yet?” he asked.

“Not yet, sir,” she replied.

“I have a convoy of wounded on the way. We don’t have room for all of them. We need to quickly evaluate their condition. Those who are strong enough to make the voyage will be boarded onto ships.”

“I’m traveling with priority patients,” said the nurse, “including an expectant mother who—”

“Do you have maternity experience?” interrupted the doctor.

“Yes, I do.”

He handed back her papers. “Help me here. We’ll register you for the Gustloff after we sort the wounded.”

“And my patients, sir?” she asked.

The doctor became annoyed. “I don’t have time.” He then looked to me. “You. The one who brought the nurse. What’s your name?”

“Frick, sir.”

“Take her people to registration. Maybe one of the ships has space.”

The nurse removed a stethoscope from her bag and put it around her neck.

The doctor nodded at me. “Thank you, Frick.”

“Happy to be of service.”

I stood tall, pleased. When given the opportunity, Alfred Frick rose to the occasion and seized the path of the hero’s journey.