Gone the Tides of Earth

The lodging of our mandate was a basic troops’ tent, blue with a white cross ordaining one side, stripes horizontally the other. Three foldouts were inside equipped with twill blankets, one against the backwall, two the sides. Off a notch on the uppermost point of the ceiling hung an LED lantern, and on each cot a nylon pillow, file-folder brimming with contents. Both flaps, outwardly tied back made the interior visible as we came up; finer, bland assignment made better without bitterness of mountains.

At the front I had not been able to pick a bed, walking in first I placed my rucksack on the deeper cot. Behind me the others chose a bed, dropped their baggage, hunkered down on the bedding. Now that we were comfortably in the guide, who was a corporal, saluted, took off. I untied my boots and laid up more soundly, the other two undid theirs as well. Off the pillowcase, I procured the classics-stylized portfolio.

The introductory items were three cartons of cigarettes; Greek, Bulgar and Turkish, a sample packet of matches, also a steel lighter with the emblem of the army. Too a mini razor and bottle of shaving cream. There was a hefty document providing details, briefing of our role in the event. Paper-clipped to its front was a pamphlet for conscription into the First Army; graphic depicted was a few young men at-service gazing over an expanse of plain, alpines from a hilly road. A variety of papers gave mundane greetings from allied countries, most that simply granted well wishes, along with exposition of current events happening within each respective nation. Only one prospective article would have been of interest, it was not there. At the bottom of the jacket were a mickey of whiskey, a receipt explaining that to receive due payment these exact must be presented to a teller at the service station in town.

‘We’re finally getting paid,’ Cian glanced up from reading. ‘That’s nice of them.’

‘I wonder how much they owe us,’ Alci added. ‘What else is in it?’

‘Probably not as befits services rendered. Mostly garbage. Alright, Henry?’

‘The girls,’ I said, maybe had a glazed look in my eyes. ‘They’re supposed to be here, right?’

‘We can hope.’

‘Let us try and find out.’

‘Shall we go and look for them? The driver mentioned a hospital being set up out of a historic building in town.’

‘Sounds swell, lads. Let us make ready and prepare.’

‘I must don boots of Spanish leather and apply musk of patchouli.’

As later we set out into the open-air of the yard there was a great roar, far-off fields buzzing like a hornet nest, those not yet there headed toward the rabble. At every intersection in between rows of tents, roads running perpendicular unto different facets of camp, standby soldiers stood at checkpoints, full attire and armament. Any others of a military sort seemed to be dressed in complete fashion as well, civilians easily made out among them. A steady current of such townsfolk and drifters washed through, funneling past amidst personnel, many who were stumbling drunk, presumably pressed recently. All week seas of individuals would be subject to a shockwave of recruitment, some of whom stood no chance, would have no choice. As should be our luck before the town, not long left upon the mudded laneways we were accosted by a corporal. He explained that enrolled people needed to be wearing uniform at all times, went away afterward shaking his head, racked with responsibility. And so, chastened we continued onto the avenue, heckling our young friend for sake of suede and booties.

In town was a marketplace of carts, stands and medley of shops along both sides of the main street that, for the event, were mostly converted into inns, cafés. Swaths of people congested the avenues, little armies of corporals leading upper-class families for the tents with locals and vagabonds finding the way themselves. Past the swell, kilometres down the road crowds thinned and spaces between each property increased abundantly; it was greener, filled with trees, farmland, favoured a residential ambience. Occasionally the odd abnormality, an apothecary or vineyard showed up, sometimes people on the lawns and relaxing under roadside trees smoking tobacco, drinking wine. Beyond a sprawling winery, vast fields of grape were the same of lemon, lime and orange, and eventually a large estate fronted by a grand arch and courtyard some distance from the road, flying a banner marked with the Rod of Asclepius.

We left the road onto a cobblestone pathway headed for the towering granite archway and its concave-faced retaining walls. Texturally, the facia of the arch was inlaid with marble and formed into a sort of polytheistic design. At the outskirts of the hospital a broad dirt road gave way unto a limestone courtyard. Sets of tables and chair were dispersed and benches affront colourful gardens lined the ivy-crossed walls. The mansion hospital was old stone, panelled with wooden trellises and had many large antique windows, especially on the upper floors.

There was glare on the panes from clear cloudy light though, in one on the third floor, indubitably a pair of gowned figures. Appearing stark and featureless, necks craned and heads downturned, they disappeared soon as we noticed them. A moment later the vintage wooden door swung open, four bodies pressed forward excitedly, standing on the inside of a wrought iron gate.

Eleni opened it, and in behind her were Courtney, Alethea, a fourth nurse we’d never met. Once through Alethea rushed forwards in a vault; I believe Cian had tears in his eyes as he caught her in arms. Eleni found Alci directly, she hugged, scolded him in his pedestrian’s garb, introduced him to the newest member. In few words, Courtney came fore me, we stood with hands together out front, looking at each other; our eyes would say enough in the meantime until we could be alone.

Swiftly, an older charge who was both batty and weary emerged in the foyer, a grimace speaking ample. A barrage of words that came next I did not understand, only Alci, Alethea and Eleni would have completely. Alas upon this the reunion broke off, although the smile in the lips, gaze did not dull a bit after. Back to the colony were the workers as queen crow lingered, regard foul yet distaste easing - I felt we’d be allowed to wait within hole barring further disruption.

She had us at reception sitting in a makeshift waiting area. Details were passed that, like children on timeout, we were not permitted to explore; this instruction she had put off on Alci quite severely. The desk was in tall order, a square-shaped ordeal away from the walls, as a bar placed in the center of a pub. Opposite where we huddled on a divan, behind the desk was a Dutch-door for which graciously separated us from the charge nurse. Reception was neat and the entrance hall, back towards the gate had a clean, tidy flourish with Greek nudes and busts of important imaginary figures supported on plinths. Admiring these sculpted, sensual likenesses we sat in wait and were bored; Cian said so that he admired the Hellenic sensibility, Alci and I admitted very same. Every so often an orderly emerged from the dressing station farther along the hallway. It was the only clinical room on the first floor. When initially he spotted us, inquired where we were supposed to be, whether on an obscure duty, delivery of inventory or for injuries, we’d assured him none of these; yet rather on personal business, and ever since he’d resorted to analytical rubbernecking, stares on a territorial basis.

I saw on a longcase clock aside the divan that an hour had passed. Around this time the charge came out, leered at us, advanced up the stairs. The placement of the staircase was in front of the dressing-room door. She had been up for quite a while, when I wondered if we were to be seeing the girls down soon. Another half-hour and the orderly brought out a man on a stretcher. He ported him across the hall into the service elevator, wounds of the indisposed hidden beneath heavy bandaging. There were shallow groans like the whispers of a spook before the accordion gate was drawn and door shut.

‘Poor bloody chap,’ said Cian. ‘Wonder what did him in.’

The orderly told us this much once he had come down the stairs: a pyrotechnics accident. Alci rose to the occasion, flagging him to ascertain in Greek about the progress of the girls. Apparently, they were wrapping up a few tasks in short order. Other hand, the bandaged fellow had been burnt badly in a firework display mishap, and the women, they would be along shortly. Thank God for the prophetic orderly. He and Alci continued to converse in Greek, every once and a while chuckling, the tone quite genial and all well with our beloved nurses pronounced to be coming along soon.

A resonance of small voices and giggles heralded their descent on the staircase. From the elevator, emerging through the rusting gate’s metallic creaking was the charge. She walked past the reception desk, directly over to where we sat. In greeting we stood to meet her, Cian even removed his cap; he was the only one wearing it, though without a jacket. Face sallow, breathing shallow, she said something abrupt, both hands on her hips, scowl on the lips. Although I could tell she softened a bit, when the girls came round the bend at the last step. The cold mouth formed into foul curl as if it could not muster anything more than that, steeliness in the eyes ceasing to prod and prick.

The clock dinged, both hands striking one o’clock. Our lovely nurses were almost upon us. Miss Garswood and I radiated smiles for each other’s. Intuitively I felt everyone to have taken notice. Queen crow charge shooed the whole lot of them, espousing an abrupt flapping of the hands. She was grinning too, I think she liked us.

The orderly took the cigarette out of his mouth, pointed with the same index finger and, smirking, asked one word of Courtney: ‘Betrothed?’

‘This is him,’ she said.

On the way to the threshold I had her beside me, we were all basically striding outside in excitement. There was the seven of us and a fifth nurse, a second who we had not met. Court took my arm in hers tightly, looked up flashing a huge smile.

‘That damned charge nurse,’ I said to her.

‘How do you mean?’

‘For a simple smile - has her mouth forgotten the shape?’

‘Yes. Due to neglect her poor mouth cannot form that shape anymore. She really is the sweetest to us.’

‘That’s alright then. What do you do here, anyway?’

‘Mostly long-term care. There’re two-dozens of us that stay on the second floor.’

‘Why the hell wouldn’t she release you guys any sooner?’

‘Most of the gals are already at the festivities.’

Right then, Cian and Alethea wedged her and I from each other. In parting she pecked me on the cheek, fast as could be before we were cut in half. Alci fell in beside me, escaping earshot, proximity of the pseudo-surly Eleni.

‘What were you and that orderly talking about for so long?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Well what then?’

‘He said it will be a crazy show.’

‘What’d you say?’

‘I said I bet it’ll be a hell of one.’