The Pull of the Stars

Dr. Lynn examines Delia and explains to her that she thinks that due to Delia’s influenza, the baby’s heart stopped hours ago. Julia thinks, “What the doctor meant was that the stillbirth wasn’t my doing” (96). Dr. Lynn gives Julia permission to administer chloroform to Delia to help her sleep. Once Delia is asleep, Dr. Lynn apologizes for not arriving sooner. She explains that she runs a free clinic as well as owning her own practice, and Julia thinks, “[S]he had to be coming into the hospital today out of civic duty rather than for a locum’s measly wages” (96-97). Julia remembers then that Dr. Lynn was “deported for taking part in a violent uprising, unlikely as that seemed,” and thinks, “I couldn’t make her out, this Dr. Lynn” (97). Dr. Lynn sees that Delia’s skin ripped during the birth and prepares to give Delia stitches. Julia asks if Dr. Lynn works in general practice, and Dr. Lynn responds, “Are you asking how qualified I am to repair a lacerated vulva, Nurse Power?” (97). Dr. Lynn explains that she has a lot of experience—not only is she interested in various medical fields, but she has worked in midwifery and in lying-in clinics. After tending to Delia, Dr. Lynn speaks with Mary. Julia wraps the stillborn baby in a box and asks Bridie to take it down to the mortuary. Dr. Lynn examines Ita. Julia asks if she can continue to give the patients whiskey for their pains and coughs, and Dr. Lynn replies, “With any of these patients, use your good judgement” (102), adding, “They have me running between half a dozen wards today, Nurse Power, and you seem awfully capable, so I authorise you to dose any of your patients with alcohol or, for bad pain, chloroform or morphine” (103). Julia thinks, “I was filled with gratitude; she’d untied my hands” (103).

After Dr. Lynn leaves, Julia sends Bridie on various errands and thinks, “An odd creature, this Bridie Sweeney, but such a natural at ward work” (105). Delia wakes up and begins to vomit. Julia tells Delia again that her daughter was stillborn and urges her to eat a biscuit and drink tea. Bridie returns with trays of food from the canteen. Eventually, Bridie notices that Ita’s fingernails are turning blue. Julia notes, “Ita Noonan’s nailbeds had indeed darkened, which could be advancing cyanosis, but her face was still red and clammy” (110).

They hear a knock at the door. A Catholic priest, Father Xavier, has arrived to speak with Delia. Julia tells the priest that Delia is a Protestant, but the priest explains, “There’s only me today, for right- and left-footers alike” (111). Father Xavier assures Delia that her baby is in heaven, but Delia is clearly upset by the priest’s presence, and Julia wishes that the priest would leave. Finally, Father Xavier leaves.

Ita has fallen off her bed and is thrashing around. Julia calls for Bridie to bring more pillows and tries to hold Ita down and lay her on her side. After a moment, Ita is still, and Julia realizes that she’s dead. Julia tells Bridie to go find a doctor. Julia is hoping that they can still surgically remove Ita’s baby but worries that the baby isn’t far enough along in the pregnancy to survive outside the womb. Bridie returns with Dr. Lynn. Dr. Lynn examines Ita and finds that indeed the baby isn’t far enough along to try surgery. Dr. Lynn reassures Julia for trying everything she could, saying, “Resuscitation’s always worth attempting […] It sets one’s mind at rest to have done all one can” (117). She continues, “[S]ome flu patients are dropping like flies while others sail through, and we can’t solve the puzzle or do a blasted thing about it” (117).