Angel on earth

Father Vasily was dying.

This is something that everyone in the city knows.Arnold Edwards, Chalek's best physician, was summoned twice to the abbey, and also expressed his inability to do anything.Dr. Edwards has a recognized kindness and enthusiasm. He wrote a letter to a friend in the capital Cusco, a well-known doctor who graduated from the Royal Medical College of the capital, and asked the latter to take a car to Chalek to treat the priest at his own expense. .

In the words of Dr. Edwards, their doctors can save people's bodies, but the monastery has lost its priest. Where can everyone find the salvation of the soul?

So the five elders of the Chinnery Monastery, down to the nuns who did the sewing and laundry work, were all moved by the doctor's piety, and prayed for Father Vasily four times a day for a whole week.The Siegfried Commonwealth in the southeast was at war, and even this small neighboring country was at war, so it was several days before Dr. Edwards brought Dr. Teretkin's reply on Sunday.

During this week, Father Vasily barely hanged himself by eating the medicinal soup prescribed by the doctor.When the latter visited for the third time with a letter, he was in high spirits and called on everyone in the monastery to fast and pray to God the Father for the priest—the fastest carriage can carry Dr. Terekin to the town in half a month. above; but women and children need not, for there is weakness in them, and it would not be good if they were also given to the priest.

After Dr. Edwards gave his orders, he prayed again, and was invited to have lunch with Father Vasili, then he picked up his heavy wooden medicine chest wrapped in old cowhide and went back to the city.

After checking the time displayed on the brass pocket watch, the doctor was about to go to the city hall to see if the clerk's leg was okay.However, just as he came down from Grant's Holy Mountain, he met two people.

One was Mrs. Chicherin's personal maid, and the other was a little boy whom the doctor knew very well who used to pick up litter on the bank of the river outside his house. copper.A homeless man on the side of the street was staring at the little boy. Arnold walked between the two of them. The boy was still looking at him weakly with cloudy eyes.

The poor in Chalek are divided into two parts. The area at the foot of the monastery is called the upper area, and the river where Arnold lives is the lower area.He is a little strange—it’s not that he has no conscience, but Chalek’s main product is not rich enough. Several factories have been built in the lower district, and the mayor believes that it will become a big city like Dorota after two years of development. It is not impossible to catch up with the capital, Cusco, in ten or 20 years—and this little boy from the lower district, obviously malnourished and with no chance of getting enough to eat, actually chose not to wait at the clinic, but chose to come from The lower district ran down to the foot of the monastery and was not dead on the way.

The maid came forward and saluted: "Dr. Edwards, good afternoon. I'm very sorry that I don't have an appointment. I hope you still have time today."

The boy still raised his fist dumbly, without saying a word.

This is of course no good choice.The doctor pushed his glasses and said: "Ms. Anna, good afternoon. Ma'am has started to have a headache again, isn't it? This is my negligence. I have been in the monastery these days and almost forgot. Let's go now." Looking down at The kid said, "It will take two hours, maybe three. If you go to Katya, she probably hasn't left yet. Just tell me, take two pounds of bread, and she will give it to you."

The two adults walked to the carriage on the street, and the child followed silently.Anna took out an Aspen coin and threw it on the ground. The child rushed over to pick it up, hesitated for a moment, and put it in his arms.

What else did Anna want to say, the doctor who had already stepped into the carriage turned around impatiently: "Don't follow, I told you that you won't be able to go back until the evening. You can go to Katya, love can't wait!"

Anna tensed her face so as not to laugh out loud.Dr. Edwards is not a bad person. He has a kind heart, and he was resisted by the upper class because he often admitted the poor in the lower districts and even the prostitutes in the city. Although he looked stern, he always lost his temper. He had a cough and had to ask him to go. He just found some reason of "too hot weather" and stayed at home refusing to leave. The mayor thought this doctor was quite interesting.

The mayor is a middle-aged man with rather strange thoughts. During the election, he got lucky. One of the competitors fell off the horse and broke his leg and failed to attend. The other had a bad stomach and made a fool of himself during the speech; There were many men who murdered the two gentlemen, but neither the police nor the public had any evidence, so the mayor became the mayor, and he was re-elected last year to everyone's surprise because he did a good job.

Both his eldest daughter and eldest son have voluntarily entered the Nestling Convent, and the former will formally take his oath next year to become a pre-God nun.For many poor families, this is a way out; for those who are a little richer, it is an honor after all.The mayor didn't think so.Some people think that he came up with this strange idea out of jealousy for Dr. Arnold Edwards, and he complained to many people in private: no matter what profession, especially the profession of a doctor, there should be women like his daughter Join in; after all, no one wants their woman to be seen and touched by other men, not even doctors!

The mayor has three daughters and two sons.The youngest son is studying in Cusco, the capital, while the second and third daughters have no intention of studying medicine. Whenever they think of dealing with patients, they feel uncomfortable and feel bad.But the mayor's sister, Mrs. Chicherin, and her 12-year-old daughter, Catherine, have this ambition. She often invites Dr. Edwards to her home and asks him for advice on "how to do bloodletting" and "press on Dad's shoulders to see a doctor" in the name of seeing a doctor. What should I do if the pain is severe", "Is holy water a panacea?" and other questions.The doctor is also very patient and will lend her books.

It is true that Miss Catherine has a beautiful face, and although she is still young and her figure is not obvious, she can still be seen as a beauty.It's just that most people still think so: it's because the Chicherin family is rich.It costs a lot of money to have a family doctor come to your house, and there is nothing more beautiful than a doctor just sitting there talking and drinking tea.The other doctors only regret that they don't have the same good skin as this guy Arnold.

In any case, Arnold Edwards' medical skills are still excellent. Otherwise, no matter how good his skin is, this outsider would have been kicked out of the city by doctors long ago, and even jailed for fraud.He insisted on doing everything by himself, never asked the bathman or barber to do bloodletting for others, and even seldom used bloodletting therapy; his small clinic was filled with boxes and jars of strange instruments and herbs. A patient with the same disease would get a different prescription from him, with a drug they didn't understand written on it.In fact, many people privately agree that he is the best one. For this reason, many masters and wives are willing to turn a blind eye to the clinic he built in the lower district. The city government is also planning to give him an honorary title related to epidemic prevention. , just waiting for the election this fall.

It is true that Mrs. Chicherin got rid of her nightmares thanks to the superb skills of Dr. Edwards; before that, a quack doctor almost drained her blood, and another alchemist fed her blood for more than half a year. The medicine that makes people drowsy all day long doesn't even work for the church to exorcise evil spirits.

The carriage quickly drove into the courtyard beside Victory Park, and the doctor followed the maid striding up the stone steps in front of the door.A few lazy servants who were huddled in the corner of the garden hurried over to open the door. Before they could speak, the doctor had already put on a smile and greeted the brown-haired and green-eyed girl who was running down the stairs with the hem of her skirt:

"Good afternoon, Miss Chicherin."

Catherine Chicherin complained:

"What have you been up to lately, Arnold? Mom couldn't sleep for several nights, and she had a fight with dad yesterday. I said, you told her to drink holy water because you were afraid of the church, right? I drank it these days, nothing at all." See you better."

The doctor bent down slightly, although his smile was a bit stiff, but he was always like this:

"I'll talk about these questions later. Go and see your mother first."

"We are so familiar." Catherine followed behind, her thick brown curly hair swaying behind her back, "Don't keep saying 'you', just 'you'. You can also call me Catherine!"

The doctor raised his eyebrows: "This is not possible."

As he spoke, he took another step behind and made a gesture. Catherine jumped into the door, and the statue of the alcove facing the door came into view.

The weather was already hot in July. Mr. Chicherin had jury work and needed a clear head. He and his wife slept in separate rooms these days.At this moment, Mrs. Chicherin was lying ill in a rocking chair, her eldest daughter Olga was fanning her, and the room was lit with soothing incense.

The doctor first apologized, explained what happened to the Chinnery Monastery, and told them not to speak out with a wink, and then made a sedative pack on the coffee table.He didn't shy away from this, and the ladies were very kind. It took a long time after he made a name for himself in Chalek that the formula for this medicine bag spread to the local medical community: a piece of white clothing of the patient, preferably a scarf or turban, on which to put Four cloves, a pinch of basil, a pinch of sage powder (Mrs. Chicherin usually chooses lavender from the other side of the channel because it is more precious), a few drops of lavender or vanilla essential oil, then pick up the ends of the fabric and tie a knot , draw a cross through the sun to represent the protection of the sun god, and put it under the pillow before going to sleep.Of course, according to him, the most important thing is to drink a glass of holy water from the church before going to bed.

Now, many people in the city and even the surrounding areas know this formula. Most people will deal with it by themselves if they can’t sleep well, and they will go to the clinic by themselves if they can’t bear it.But Mrs. Chichering and her companions insisted that the job should be done by the doctor.Every industry has its own responsibilities. If everyone did other people's work, wouldn't society be in chaos?What's more, Arnold's charges are high, he doesn't do bloodletting and he doesn't exorcise demons, and besides the bitter medicine soup, he also has a variety of comfortable massages and essential oil treatments. No one minds spending more if he can suffer less.Therefore, Arnold was not free a few days ago, and Mrs. Chicherin couldn't sleep well, so she quarreled with her husband.

The matter of the chick monastery should be kept secret in terms of process.Arnold has a stomach full of bitterness to pour out, from a few deacons clamoring to serve Father Vasily to the fact that he is still alive. The other four elders are already looking for supporters to take the chief position. The three ladies listened So much relish, the doctor just shut up when the maid knocked on the door and came in to deliver the snacks.

Catherine was a little reconciled, but Mrs. Chicherin breathed a sigh of relief, took the potion in the glass test tube and drank it, and asked with a smile: "Speaking of which, Arnold, you are from the Siegfried Federation. Right?"

"Yes." Arnold was a little worried when he heard the words, "Madam, Mr. Chicherin, please help me! Didn't I investigate everything when I came here six years ago? I was born there, and then I offended someone...Leave At that time, the latest serf law had not yet come into effect, and no one would come to arrest me. I have said this kind of rhetoric ten thousand times, and the police have been coming to the clinic recently. ——There is no such reason!”

In all fairness, the doctor's appearance is quite handsome, with straight and clean eyebrows, and not too deep eye sockets; it's just that he has been pale all year round, and the lines of his mandible and cheekbones make him always look a little stern, and for some reason, he smiles rather stiffly, so Even sorrow makes man unsympathetic.Besides, doctors, who always deal with dead patients, are more or less eccentric, and the Chicherin family is used to it, so they don't care.

Only Catherine was filled with righteous indignation and waved her fist: "That's right, not to mention that we didn't go to war in Potosi, it was their federal civil war! In my opinion, someone is targeting Arnold!"

Her sister Olga didn't care about this, she put her hand on her cheek and narrowed her eyes:

"Doctors don't need to worry too much, the war will end soon. This time the church sent three saints to help the Lamb of the Federation, led by the 'Sun Knight'. He is only 16 years old this year, and the five-year-old He was able to wield a long spear when he was young, and when he was seven years old, there was no one in the Paladins who could teach him; on his 14th birthday, he defeated Lord Hill, the Lord of War, and became the chief saint..."

Catherine curled her lips: "You are Mikhail Kupala all the time, I can recite this passage backwards. The most beautiful and pure 'angel on earth' of the church—their knights are all the same! "

Olga retorted: "It's more reliable than a ranger! Catherine, you just read too many stories. Now that everyone is living such a good life, there are no rangers. They are just some rogues without jobs!"

"Isn't it true that no one has seen 'The Fornicated Witch' before? The church is eager to put a warrant on my uncle's forehead!"

"Okay, then I think Micah and her are also related to the arrest warrant posted on the same city wall. ——Ah, it seems that Micah is not as good as the Thorn Witch, and Potosi is too lazy to catch him."

Catherine blushed, snorted twice, and folded her arms: "Speaking of which, His Royal Highness Kupala is not from the Mithra dynasty. He said he led troops to fight, but the Siegfried Federation is his homeland Right? But many people are talking about—'Minsk Great Plague', 'Valley of Thousands of People', 'Mummy Forest', he didn't stop any of these tragedies!"

"If you have a federal name, you are a federal person? Besides, it's his fault for not being able to stop it in time? To be reasonable, sister, it's the fault of the bad guys. The low-level gossip workshops only arrange these all day long. Go to hell." Olga withdrew her fan and shook it at herself, "Besides, saints are canonized by the church after all, and it's not the church's team that does bad things, it's those heretics who are too insidious. This has already spread , I heard that in the Commonwealth, it is common for the nobles to beat people to death casually. They went to war with the church to defend this kind of devilish behavior. How can there be such a reason? We in Potosi changed this barbaric behavior very early. Everything has its own law. May Mithra, the sun god, burn everything of the wicked! It is your "Red Sea Holy Sword"-the ghost knows where the product of the common people's self-entertainment, maybe it is the ones in the lower district Made it up when a kid your age was playing chivalry."

Catherine couldn't say no to her, so she turned to the doctor for help: "Arnold! You told her that Micah is famous in the Federation and the Holy See, right?"

"Forget it. I'm sorry, doctor," said Olga mercilessly, "for always telling you to coddle her. Catherine is so naive."

Arnold was noncommittal, and Mrs. Chicherin came alive—as a well-educated lady from a neighboring country of the Federation, she had to show her kindness and virtues that were different from those of the Federation:

"Olya, don't talk like that, Catherine is still young.—But, Catherine, you should also listen to the priests and stop thinking about these strange things. Isn't the church doing the right thing this time? What’s the matter? Their emperor is simply the reincarnation of Rehoboam[1], and he deserved to be cut off by His Royal Highness Kupala all the way into the palace!”

Catherine said "Wow", and Arnold was a little surprised: "I haven't heard of that."

Mrs. Chicherin was quite sure: "Yes, doctor, you are too absorbed in your work, and the monastery didn't mention it to you, right? This is the news from yesterday. His Royal Highness Kupala originally wanted to save more people from dying. Tried to negotiate with the Federation, but someone beat a poor woman to death in front of him. Ugh."

Arnold glanced at the clock in the lounge, and suddenly changed his expression:

"Sorry, I almost forgot to pay Kajia today. I have to go back—otherwise, if His Royal Highness Kupala comes to Chalek and sees that I am from the Siegfried Federation and bullies the hired workers, I will be sent to you." The head was also cut off."

Olga rested her chin on her hands, looking forward to it: "If only he really came..."

"Okay, Arnold," Mrs. Chicherin smiled softly, "I will tell Lionia about you, and tell him to deal with those stupid policemen. —Olya, you send the doctor."

Olga responded and stood up.She had a crush on Arnold. This young doctor had short gray-black hair parted in threes and sevens, exposing his pale forehead. Because he didn't use much pomade, his hair didn't have the same greasy luster as other gentlemen, although it was easy to It got messy; green eyes behind square glasses instead of the popular round lenses, their luster was deeper and more beautiful than the mayor's wife's emerald necklace, only mostly hidden by the aging lenses.The handsome yet ruthless appearance of young people can always attract girls of her age, not to mention that the doctor is also a devout believer of the sun god!Not like her sister Catherine, who was always tempted to deny the gift of God in healing them poor wretches.

As the three of them went downstairs, Olga complained, "By the way, doctor, don't our snacks taste good? You have never tasted the snacks on the plate."

"I'm a doctor." The doctor took out a book from the box and smiled slightly, "I'm not a guest. And it's not good to eat too much sugar, it's more addictive than marijuana. The two ladies are still young, so it doesn't matter Madam, you should eat less, it's not good for your skin."

"But you never have time to be a guest!" Olga subconsciously touched her face, Catherine poked her head out from behind her sister, reached out to pick up the book, and shouted, "The day after tomorrow is my birthday, this time you must come!"

"...Okay." The doctor put on his hat, took a bouquet of flowers from the maid Anna, squinted his eyes at the sun, and nodded to Catherine, "Remember to write to invite me."

Catherine suddenly became happy, and waved her hand at his leaving figure for a long time, until the doctor's tall and straight figure disappeared at the corner of Victory Park, and then bounced back to the room to write the invitation letter.

Over there, Arnold Edwards hurriedly hailed a carriage at the corner of the street, hurried back to his cottage by the river—a two-story building with a garden and a medicine field, and threw two copper coins to the driver , rushed into the "Miracle Clinic" and went straight to the desk behind the screen, took out an envelope and handed it to the maid Katerina:

"Almost forgot."

A black cat sleeping in the shadow of the window sill flicked its tail lazily and jumped down.Katya froze for a moment, wiped her hands on the apron, and took the envelope with both hands: "You have never been in arrears, doctor. I am not worried. By the way, that child is still waiting for you in the yard."

Arnold straightened up, wiped his forehead, put the bouquet into the vase that had been replaced with clean water, and said, "It's okay. You can go home today and come back at noon tomorrow."

Katya sighed: "Okay, doctor. Dinner is on the dining table. If you figure it out in the future, if you want to hire a housemaid, you have to consider me."

"I'll talk about it later." Arnold loosened his neckline and waved his hands. "The cost of the ingredients is in the envelope. Go to bed early. Don't work too long in summer. If you need it, there are medicines in the No. [-] cabinet."

"The clinic is very cool, and it's not hot at noon." Kaka pinched the envelope, and knew that the doctor was paying more for food, and waved her hand with a smile, "I'll go back first! Remember to think about it!"

"Of course." Arnold said sincerely, "You have clean hands and feet, and you work very quickly. It is not easy to find a trustworthy helper in this world."

When Katya left the yard, Arnold, who was standing at the door with his arms folded, waved at the child: "What's your name?"

The child was startled, and quickly replied, "Ivan."

"Good name. Easy to remember." The doctor nodded, "Come in."

"No, it's not me." Ivan stammered, "It's my father..."

"I have to prepare some materials, right?" The doctor pointed at the dining table unceremoniously, "Eat something, I don't want people to die of starvation at the clinic door, asking those idiots to poke me in the back and call me a cheapskate!"

Ten minutes later, the doctor carried the suitcase, walked halfway, and went to the kitchen to cut a piece of white bread, wrapped it in a newspaper and threw it to Ivan: "I don't feel sorry for you, but I want you to inform Katya to prepare in advance! You need to use it for treatment." , take it."

Ivan quickly glanced at the leftovers he was carrying, and said timidly, "But this...it's more than two pounds..."

Arnold poured the leftovers into a deep plate and put it at the door, showing a sarcastic smile: "I'm a doctor, are you a doctor?"

Ivan took a look at the wild cats scurrying out from the fence and the violet bushes, and followed them obediently with the white bread in his arms.After walking two steps, the doctor called out impatiently: "Why are you following me?! I don't know where you live! Lead the way!"

That night, before Dr. Terekin came to the town, a flame ignited on the altar of the Hatchling Monastery, and an oracle was received.After listening to the deacon's report, Father Vasily got up from the sickbed, and with the help of the deacon nuns, panting, he put on his white clothes and festive purple and gold robes, put on heavy gold and silver ornaments, and summoned all the citizens of Chalek Go to the foot of the holy mountain to listen to the oracle from the holy city.

The oracle, omitting the cumbersome eulogy, reads as follows:

(Ode)

The head of the twelve saints of the Mithra dynasty, as the "Sun Knight", "Harvest Priest", (song text) His Highness Mikhail Ivanovich Kupala has become our Lord Sun God Mithra conquered the whole territory of the Siegfried Federation, (Ode), and will pass through the entire territory of Potosi in the northwest direction, pass through the Strait of Kassel, and return to the Mithra dynasty via the Kingdom of Iris, (Ode arts).The whole process is expected to last two years. His Royal Highness Kupala will hold a series of mass ceremonies on the return route. For the smooth travel of His Royal Highness, as well as the peace and victory of the whole continent and the sea, we offer prayers four times a day on July 49, that is, early morning, morning, afternoon, and evening, (ode text).

At the same time, Mithra, the omniscient sun god, conveyed an oracle through the mouth of Pope Gregory VI: In view of the piety of all the believers in the Nestling Monastery, His Royal Highness Kupala will visit after the 25th, and hope that the whole city of Chalek is ready to welcome .There is no need to be extravagant, everyone can contribute according to their own ability.

The author says:

At the beginning, the language setting of this small country of Potosi is divided into "you" and "you".Although Micah is also surnamed Mi (?), but the etymology is different, not Maozi. [1] Rehoboam: Bible·12 Kings 14:[-]: My father made you bear a heavy yoke, and I will make you bear an even heavier yoke!My father beats you with a whip, I will beat you with a scorpion whip! (Anyway, a crumb emperor