We resume our story of the woman in labor aboard an English Navy vessel. Stephen (Maturin) is the doctor aboard the
Sophie.
'I am afraid the poor woman is dying,' said James.
'Well, I don't know, I'm sure,' said Jack hesitantly; and now that he could put a meaning to the remote, dreadful noise he heard it far more clearly. 'Ask the Doctor to come,' he said to a marine.
Now that the excitement was over, Stephen was at his usual post... ; and when they told him there was a woman in the prize, having a baby, he said, 'Aye? I dare say. I thought I recognized the sound,' and showed every sign of returning to his place.
'Surely you can do something about it?' said Jack.
'I am certain the poor woman is dying,' said James.
Stephen looked at them with his odd expressionless gaze and said, 'I will go across.'
I think I have gathered so far that James is "afraid the poor woman is dying."
Gee, Patty, I don't know. That's a rather big assumption there...
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(Are you able to read this book without laughing?)
Not THIS part. :P The rest of it isn't quite as hilarious. Although now that I think about it, there are some fairly funny parts in that British, straight-faced-narrator-being-hilarious sort of way. Know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteThat is funny! I would love for a book to get childbirth right some time... I don't think that it is always a crazy woman screaming... at least it wasn't for me :)
ReplyDeleteSo what happens to the woman??
While delivering a 9 pound, 13 ounce, baby, I won't say I was crazy, but I guarantee you that there was a "harsh, hoarse, animal like quality" to my cries at the end! ;)
ReplyDelete:) yes, I can understand that! And I did yell out when the dr turned Spunky in the birth canal :)
ReplyDeleteOuch! I'm sure I was yelling the most while pushing out John's 14-inch head! :P
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