Birth and Fate "Everhing is normal’ the doctor was saying ‘ste back and ‘ela His voice was fa away inthe distance and he seemed 0 be Shouting at br You have a son” "wast? ‘You have 2 Soe son You understnd tat, don't you? A Sine son Did you hear him crying” ‘he a ight, Doctor” "Ofcourse hei al right! ‘Pane et me ein ‘Youll see him in 2 moment” "You ae cemtin Bei all igh” ‘Tam quite cerain’ ‘he sa crying? ‘Tey to rest There is nothing to worry about” ‘Why tas be stopped crying, Doctor? What las happened” ‘Don’ excite youself plas. Everything i nomal ‘Tran toss him Place let me ste in" "Dear lay! the doctor suid touching her hand. "You have 2 ‘in, suong. henliy child. Dont you believe me when Tt you ex ‘What isthe woman ovr there ing to bint” ‘Your baby is being made to look prety or you! the doctor said "We ae giving him a wash tht is al You must allow us 2 ‘moment fr it! "Yo swan eis al righ” ‘Leman it Now lie back and reba. Close your eyes. Go 08, ‘dose your eyes Thats right Tat’ emer. Good si." ‘Tiave prayed and payed tat he wil liv, Doctor” "Ofcouse he willie, What ae you tlking about” 7” "The otters aide? ‘wee ‘None ofmy other ones ived, Doctor” Tee doctor stood beside the bed loking down atthe pal, tied fice of he young woman. He had never seen her before today. She and her hasand were new people in the town. The ‘paman’s wife, who tad come t0 bel, nd told him hat the Imstand worked at the local customs-house on the border, and that the rwo of them had arsved quite suddenly ath small hotel shout tree monte tefore The fsband was alae drunk the Yarman’ wife bad sid. but the young woman was gentle and rligius, And she was vey sad She uever sued In the few ‘wees tat she ad been ther, the baman's wife had never once ‘een her sade Also twas sd that ths was the husbands third ‘mariage that one wife Had died and tat the other bad let him for rater unpleasant reasons. So it was said The doctor bent down and pulled th shet up a lite higher cover the paints chest. "You lave nothing fo womry about! be said get. This is perfec normal tab” “Thats exacty wat they told me about the others. But I lst ‘hem al Doctor. Inthe lat eighteen months T have lst hee ‘ofmy children, so you must blame me for being anxious" tes ‘This is my fourth .. in four years I dou think you koow ‘what it meas, Doctor. to lose them all all tre ofthem, sony. separ, one by one T can See Gasa’s fice now 25 cay 25 if ‘be were yng ther beside mein the bed Gas was lovely bey. ‘Doctor. But he was alays tis tebe when they are aleays ‘and theres nothing you can do to help them’ ‘Thnow ‘The woman opened her eyes, looked up atthe docer for 2 ‘em seconds, then Cased them again "My line gal was called 143. She ded 2 few dys before ”(Christmas Thatis only fou months ago. jst wish you could have sean Ida Deca” "You ba 2 new one new "But lan mas oo benuisc” "How ca you know? ste cried. ‘Tam sue that she was» Hovey child Bat hs new one i abo ‘We tha’ The doctor turned away Som the bed and walled over to the window and stood there looking eut It was a met ey ‘Apri afemoon and acs the street be could Se larze rans ‘ling on the red roots ofthe bases. "Tdawas neo yeas old Doctor. and ste mas so benifit ‘ms never le to tke my eps offer fom the tine T dressed erin the morning unl se ws safe in bed agin a night Fed to Ive in fr ofcometing happening to hat cid. Gasav bad gone and my lite Otto ha abo gone and she was aT Id leh. Someries sed to get up inthe night aud walk que over to ‘brand put my en close to her mouth jst fo make sie Sat she sm beste” "Try to mat the doctor ad going bac othe bed. Plase oy to ret Tae womal’s ce was white and Doodles, and tse Was a Sighs Uae grey colour amund the nose and the mouth, "When se ed. Tas already expecing another bab when ‘tat happened. Doctor. Ti new one was four months on its way ‘when [ip ded “T deat wont "I shouta afer the Sal "T ‘wont havea! Ihave Yared eoough cilia!" And my achand he was walking among the gests with a big ess ofveer in ‘is hand ..he turned aro quickly anda "T have news for you, Kan. Ihave good news" Can you imagine tht, Decor? We Je just ured our rd chil and he sons there with 2 gs: ofbeer in he Band and tle me that be fa good news. Today I dave been pena new postin Bruna” be "so you stat ‘packing immediately. This wil be anew sar for you, Kira" be ‘ays "wil be anew place and you cn ve anew docter." ‘Plas do tak any mare” ‘You arethe new decor sent you, Doctor” ‘Thats rgkt? "And her we ae in Broonne™ te! "Tm tightened, Doctor! ‘Try notto be Highest” ‘What chance cn he fur one have now” "You mut stop thinking ike that” "Teast lp it T am corm thatthe is someting in our ‘blood tht uses our chien to di inthe way. There mast ba! "That nonsense! "Do you know what my husand sito me when Oxo was born, Docur? He came into the room and loked into th bed ‘where Otte was Ing andbe sid "Why Goal my chien have fnsect and be ai “AIL Tin saying i wiy cant they te beter ccmplesofkuman beings Tha al Tamstyng" And tee ays fer tat, Oto was dead And then Gas died. And ten Tn ind AI fthem died Doctor. and suidely the whole bose was emp "Dont tik about tno! ‘Hes anormal cla” ‘Bat small” "He's alin smal petaps. But the small nes ae ofan 2 ot sronger th the big oes. Just imaging, Nrs Hil, hs tne nest ‘year hell be almost laning how to valk. It that 2 lovely thought” ‘he cdot anower ie,"Ando years fom 2ow be wil probbly be talking athe sine ant driving you crazy with is Guesion. Have rou std ops name Sr hin yet” ‘Anme” Ye! "Tost knew. Tm ot sre. thik my husband sa thar fit ‘ws 3 bey, we were going oil im Adan! "That meas that he would Ye ale Ace” “Yes My mstané ms Adotfbecase Anas 2 crm tmity to Alois My husbands lle Alois’ "Ob, nol se cra rasing her bad sudeny from the bed “Tas te sane question they asked me when Orto was tor! ‘ie needs» name inmediely. Tht means bes going de! "Now, now: the doctor sid king er getty the shoul. ‘You ae quite wrong T promis you that you xe wrong. Twas simply ang 2 quesion, at ial Tlovealkng about ames. I ar Ait Go poncaarh Sex mame Tie ce of ay ‘avout, An look — ba be comes now ‘The armas wit, cayng the Baby. ame acess the room, torads the bed. "Here isthe inde beau” she cet sang "Woald yea ie fo aold ts? all put hm bese you” "she well wrapped” ie doctor aed.‘ is extremely collin hee! "Comin be is well wrapped" The toby was sity wrapped ina white woollen cloth and ‘ny Belitepnk nd suck out The Daman’ wife cede ‘esty co the bed tarde the mother Thee yor a! she aid "tisk Youwil ke hin the deter sid smiling. "Hei a fine ace ta "He fs the most lovey han the barman’ wie ced ‘Sack long dteae fingers" ‘The mother det move. She dot oven tm tar bend to ok. "Go oa! iad te tomas wie ‘He wos' tit yea!” ‘Tam fptene t bok. I dont dare to bsieve tat I have other aby and sat hee a ight” "Dowt be so sapid” ‘Slow the sother rmed her hed sad locked a he mall pace ie hat ny beside 1 nis my tay ‘ofceune" ‘Ob. ob. butheie tema" ‘The doctrrurzedanay and went overto the tbl and began iting hs ‘ings into his tag. Tae mother lay ea the bed, ‘atchag the chil and soiag an touching him md making ile nies efplenare. ello Adal’ se whipered Hell. my “Sea ante armas we. Len! think your usband i comm" ‘The doctor waled over to the dor and opesed ian ake cat inw the pasa "Me ie” te ‘Come in plas! ‘A-Sual an ina dak gren uniform stepped softy io the "Tet me sake your hind fe doctor sid. "You have a sn ‘The man small steeply ofbos.'A sa” ve "His fie So s your wit’ is wile washing 'Well Kin! he nid smiling "How dit 207 He Dest down to ake aook at the baby. Then he bet lower anover until is face was very cose to the baby's head The wife lay ay laking up a hi with» fightnat look "He has the most wonderfl pir of igs’ the tarmans wife sunounced. You shud bave hex him screaming jot afer Be cme isto te orld” ‘Butmy Ged Kh! Whats dar” ‘This one even malar tas Onto mas! “The doctr stepped forward "There ss neting wrens with ‘hatch be said ‘Sry. the husband swaighrned wp and ture amay fom the ed and locked at the docer. He seemed conte! and ‘Fighened. is no goed ping. Doct” be said. T know what it ‘mas. Is gang tobe the same all over an ‘Yow you iste to me! the doctor sad “Bur do you Dw waa! happened foie ote, Doctor” "You mus forget abou the eters, Mr Hier. Give this one 2 "Pat so small snd wank ‘My dears, be fas only jus been ber” Ene “Thats encugh! the doctor aid apy. ‘The mother mas cving now Her body was shaking ‘The doctor walke over fo te fnshord and pat 2 Bandon bis shouder ‘De good t ber! be whispered Plast Fes tay ‘imperant’ Then he xessed te stands shoulder had and ‘been pushing him forward tothe edge of the bed. At Ist the ‘stand bent down aad Kesed is wife digily ou the chsh "allright Klara’ he sid "Now sop cving "Thave prayed So hard that be wl ive Als” te "Every cay for mons 1 nave gone we the chuch and begged (on my Knees hat this oe wl be allowed to Sve’ "Ye, Han. Tino? ‘hee den cildcen ial hat cm snd dott you rnion eax "OF core? "He mut ve. Alos He must he mz God protect him