All I Have to Give Read Online Free PDF Page A

day.’
    ‘I’ll try, Ma’am, but those we have here are an overflow from that hospital, as it is. I think they thought we were ready.’
    ‘Well, tell them we are not; and if they cannot take any patients back, ask them to at least spare us a surgeon, as we are desperate!’
    Assessing patient after patient, Edith methodically labelled each according to what they would need, mentally working out an order of priority. The nurses working alongside her
were putting her requests into action as best they could.
    ‘Connie, have you come across an operating table yet?’
    ‘Yes, and much more for a theatre, Doc, and I have them all sorted.’
    Edith set Connie the task of grabbing one of the helpers to get the wooden-floored tent ready for that purpose, while shouting, ‘Nurses, get all the patients onto beds now, quickly! And
has anyone located drugs and dressings?’
    ‘I have. They’re all in this case here, Doctor Edith. And may I say, listening to you on the drive here, I worried that you were as green as me. But, hey-ho, you’re top-hole!
What shall I do with this stuff? Oh, by the way, I’m Jennifer Roxley, of London. I think you guessed that I am with the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Pleased to meet you.’
    ‘I know of the Roxleys: you must be a younger sister of Allen, who is in my social set. I’m pleased to meet you, too. Locate either Nurse Connie or Nurse Nancy – they will know
where to put everything. Just follow their direction to the letter. You heard what they said about VADs: prove them wrong, for all the posh-girl brigade. And, Jennifer – thank you, and well
done.’
    Darkness had fallen before Edith’s lips touched a drop of liquid. Sipping on the delicious hot tea, which the strange feel of a tin mug didn’t diminish, she leant
back on the tent post. Thank goodness another team of doctors and nurses was expected soon, to work alongside her team, as she doubted any of them could keep up the pace that had been set
today.
    An eerie silence clothed the site and the surrounding area with an atmosphere of delicate peace. Some of the tension left her body, if not her mind, as she reflected on what this first day had
brought. Men with horrific wounds, some so badly hurt that it had been beyond her power to save them. She’d had to cut out bullets and shrapnel and stitching and . . . and saw off a leg of a
young man not much older than twenty! Then, amidst all this, there was the effect that Albert had had on her. Throughout all she’d done, his presence had lingered with her, and his wink and
his smile had revisited her mind at the most unexpected moments.
What is the matter with me? Have I fallen in love?
No, that couldn’t be right, for Albert was far below her in
standing. It was ridiculous – they would have nothing in common.
It must be the situation we are all in, playing with our emotions. I have to put him out of my mind!
Somehow, though,
she knew she couldn’t do that. With these thoughts confusing her, weariness crept into each limb, and tears plopped unbidden onto her cheeks.
    “Ere, love, you have a good cry – we all do it. Shows we’re ’uman. You did a fantastic job or, as you would probably say, “an absolutely spiffing
job”!’
    Edith had an urge to giggle at Connie’s mimicking of her but, instead, deep rasping sobs racked her body. Connie stood by, waiting, not speaking. At last the deluge calmed. As Edith wiped
her face on the apron she’d not yet discarded, the blood of a dozen men mingled with her tears, bringing home to her the pity of it all. Connie’s cheery cockney voice saved her from
descending once more into a pit of despair.
    ‘Now you’ve made a right mess of yerself Come on, there’s a shower tent with hot water. Gawd knows yer could do with one. Go and ’ave a quick swill. But hurry back, as
we’ll need yer in a mo.’
    As Edith washed the muck of the day from her face and arms and donned the clean overall that Connie had brought to