Read Online The Ballymara Road by Nadine Dorries - Free Book Online
Authors: Nadine Dorries
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is not God’s doing, Agnes, but it is the work of the devil himself to leave a poor girl in this state. I will be no part of that,’ Rosie replied.
Pouring her antiseptic wash into the bowl of warm water, which Aideen had set on the trolley, she began to swab Kitty.
It took her almost an hour to rectify the damage. Kitty had torn down into her perineum and backwards deeply into her rectum. She bled profusely, as Rosie worked to ease away the huge clots and crusts of blood, which were by now over two days old. As they reliquefied, they filled the room with a sickening metallic smell. At times, both Aideen and Agnes looked pale and nauseous but, dutifully, they held Kitty’s hands and remained upright.
While Rosie worked, the girls whispered soft soothing sounds. Aideen had placed a folded rag between Kitty’s teeth, just as she did when she was in labour, in fear of her moans attracting the nuns. Like dancing moths drawn to a flame, the sisters always fluttered to the sound of pain.
As Rosie worked, Agnes prayed over Kitty, who had become quiet and drowsy. The pethidine was working at last. She had injected Kitty with one of only four doses of the emergency drug she had popped into her bag as she left the hospital. As the full effect of analgesia worked its magic, Rosie wondered, would Kitty feel safe enough to let go? To relax and sleep?
‘Will you girls land yourselves in trouble for being here?’ Rosie asked, gently stroking Kitty’s hair away from her damp and clammy brow.
Aideen replied with a hint of fear, ‘If we wasn’t with you, midwife, we would be fucking whipped for coming here, and kept without food for days, but the witches daren’t do that because we are with you. They are scared of you, I know that because I heard one of the postulants say so, I did.’
‘Yes, but I will be gone soon,’ said Rosie, her voice loaded with concern. And then she had an idea. ‘I will tell them, when I leave, that I am returning with the money and that when I bring it I have promised to look in on you both, to let you know how, er, Cissy is doing. That should buy you some safety.’
For a split second, Rosie had almost forgotten Kitty’s secret name.
Aideen and Agnes looked at each other and smiled. Then, together, they both reached down the front of their calico skirts into their knickers and handed Rosie two warm letters.
‘Would you post these for us, please, midwife?’ whispered Aideen. By far, the bolder of the two, she had made the decision that Rosie could be trusted. ‘You know, we aren’t allowed any post in or out and have no contact with the outside world. I need to know, is me mammy coming with the money to get me out of this hell-hole soon, or do I have to escape?’
‘Escape?’ said Rosie. ‘That sounds so desperate.’
‘It is fucking desperate. Poor Agnes, she was sent straight here from an orphanage, because the fucking authorities didn’t know what else to do with her. That’s not fucking right.’
Rosie nodded. She still wasn’t shocked. She had once overheard a politician’s wife say the word ‘fucking’ more than three times in thirty seconds when she gave birth, more noisily than at any time before or since.
As Rosie bandaged Kitty’s breasts, Agnes gently mopped Kitty’s face and washed her hands with a fresh bowl of warm water, drawn from the long shallow sink. Apart from the bed and the trolley, it was the only piece of furniture in the room.
Rosie packed her bag and stowed away the letters. Then she scribbled down her home address and the number of the hospital office on a piece of paper and handed it to Aideen.
‘Here,’ she whispered. ‘Keep this somewhere safe and away from prying eyes. If it reaches the point where you have to escape, contact me and I will help.’
Aideen grabbed hold of Rosie’s hand. ‘Thank you,’ she said, displaying the first sign of gentleness, and her eyes filled with tears.
Rosie watched as Aideen ripped away the surplus
Pouring her antiseptic wash into the bowl of warm water, which Aideen had set on the trolley, she began to swab Kitty.
It took her almost an hour to rectify the damage. Kitty had torn down into her perineum and backwards deeply into her rectum. She bled profusely, as Rosie worked to ease away the huge clots and crusts of blood, which were by now over two days old. As they reliquefied, they filled the room with a sickening metallic smell. At times, both Aideen and Agnes looked pale and nauseous but, dutifully, they held Kitty’s hands and remained upright.
While Rosie worked, the girls whispered soft soothing sounds. Aideen had placed a folded rag between Kitty’s teeth, just as she did when she was in labour, in fear of her moans attracting the nuns. Like dancing moths drawn to a flame, the sisters always fluttered to the sound of pain.
As Rosie worked, Agnes prayed over Kitty, who had become quiet and drowsy. The pethidine was working at last. She had injected Kitty with one of only four doses of the emergency drug she had popped into her bag as she left the hospital. As the full effect of analgesia worked its magic, Rosie wondered, would Kitty feel safe enough to let go? To relax and sleep?
‘Will you girls land yourselves in trouble for being here?’ Rosie asked, gently stroking Kitty’s hair away from her damp and clammy brow.
Aideen replied with a hint of fear, ‘If we wasn’t with you, midwife, we would be fucking whipped for coming here, and kept without food for days, but the witches daren’t do that because we are with you. They are scared of you, I know that because I heard one of the postulants say so, I did.’
‘Yes, but I will be gone soon,’ said Rosie, her voice loaded with concern. And then she had an idea. ‘I will tell them, when I leave, that I am returning with the money and that when I bring it I have promised to look in on you both, to let you know how, er, Cissy is doing. That should buy you some safety.’
For a split second, Rosie had almost forgotten Kitty’s secret name.
Aideen and Agnes looked at each other and smiled. Then, together, they both reached down the front of their calico skirts into their knickers and handed Rosie two warm letters.
‘Would you post these for us, please, midwife?’ whispered Aideen. By far, the bolder of the two, she had made the decision that Rosie could be trusted. ‘You know, we aren’t allowed any post in or out and have no contact with the outside world. I need to know, is me mammy coming with the money to get me out of this hell-hole soon, or do I have to escape?’
‘Escape?’ said Rosie. ‘That sounds so desperate.’
‘It is fucking desperate. Poor Agnes, she was sent straight here from an orphanage, because the fucking authorities didn’t know what else to do with her. That’s not fucking right.’
Rosie nodded. She still wasn’t shocked. She had once overheard a politician’s wife say the word ‘fucking’ more than three times in thirty seconds when she gave birth, more noisily than at any time before or since.
As Rosie bandaged Kitty’s breasts, Agnes gently mopped Kitty’s face and washed her hands with a fresh bowl of warm water, drawn from the long shallow sink. Apart from the bed and the trolley, it was the only piece of furniture in the room.
Rosie packed her bag and stowed away the letters. Then she scribbled down her home address and the number of the hospital office on a piece of paper and handed it to Aideen.
‘Here,’ she whispered. ‘Keep this somewhere safe and away from prying eyes. If it reaches the point where you have to escape, contact me and I will help.’
Aideen grabbed hold of Rosie’s hand. ‘Thank you,’ she said, displaying the first sign of gentleness, and her eyes filled with tears.
Rosie watched as Aideen ripped away the surplus
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