We Are The Cure : The Plague Doctor's Tale.

Chapter 12

As they were walking towards Mary's cottage, they were looking carefully at the little plant Doctor was holding.

"That is a surprise to me." He said after a few moments spent in silence. 

"I was surprised too. And it keeps nagging me. Why did he want to give her this plant?" She was wondering trying to keep up with Doctor's pace.

"There are numerous possibilities, however, there is one in particular which makes me think it might be Reverend's doing." They cut the talk as they were slowly reaching Mary's cottage. Doctor knocked on the door but there was no response.

"Maybe she left for water or something else?" Rosalynn guessed. Before leaving Doctor checked the backyard and looked through windows to make sure there is truly none. As he was sure, he nodded and leaving the flower in front of the door they headed back to the village. 

During they way back, few unusual things were taking place. The first one was the group of villagers standing in small circle in the centre of the village. When Doctor and Rosalynn were approaching them, they instantly came back to their duties. Rosalyn managed to ask one of the girls about the reason behind that gathering. She answered that some of their things have been disappearing in last few days. Most of the villagers were suspecting the Plague Doctors, as they were calling them like that, due to the fact that the objects were vanishing only in the houses affected with plague. Doctor quickly assured the girl that they didn't take any belongings nor possessions as they were only treating the sick. She made an undefined facial expression which might have meant "Probably you are right but who knows..." and left them alone. 

Then they noticed Mary as she was coming back from the woods. Her clothing was loose just like she was in a hurry and forgot to do up her black dress. Her ginger curls were messy as well. Also, she was holding a black book in her hands. When they reached her, her face turned red and quickly she tidied herself up.  Rosalynn informed her about the mysterious gift from Jack and Mary seemed like she knew what that gift meant. She smiled and told them that she needed that plant for a kind of ointment for Jack. Rosalynn and Doctor frowned protesting that it was a poisonous plant but Mary didn't seem to be bothered. Scratching her nose she explained that any boiled plant is no longer poisonous nor dangerous for humans*. Rosalynn wasn't that sure whether it was true but didn't dare to verify that information. Soon they waved a goodbye to her and where coming back home. 

Just right before they entered Jack's cottage, a middle-aged woman approached them and begged to visit her dying husband. Initially Doctor wanted to stall the woman but she insisted that he is dying of plague. Having no other arguments against, they followed the lady which right to her house. As she previously told them, her husband was lying in his bed slowly breathing. He was all covered with buboes and his hands almost black. It was a heartbreaking view to see a person in such condition. Doctor knew that sight too well which is why he gave the man the Last Rites. Rosalynn had the opportunity to see the other "face" of Plague Doctors which wasn't only treating the sick but also performing church services, especially the ones connected with anointing of the sick. Doctor looked so grave with his cross raised above the man's head and whispering some words in Latin. Rosalynn obviously didn't know what these meant but she knew that it wasn't important for her as she was only his assistant. When he was done he left the room and Rosalynn was alone with the sick man. She came closer to have a better look of the plague symptoms but the man suddenly started to cough with blood which eventually made him choke to death. 

That night Rosalynn was like in a state of torpor. She lost all her appetite, was quiet and absent-minded. She still had the view of the dying man in front of her eyes and his blood covering her white robe. 

She was sitting in the kitchen alone with a bowl of soup in front of her. Doctor decided to wash her robe for her as she had experienced too much for that day and didn't want her to faint. That situation made her think of the evanescence of life, how quick and sometimes meaningless people die. That made her wonder about her own death, how it will look like, what she will be wearing, at what age she will be? Her thoughts quickly disappeared interrupted by Doctor's presence in the room.

"There should be no dirt on you robe." He handed her the clothing. 

"Thank you, Sir." She took her robe sill absent. Then the silence ended their short conversation.

"I am aware of the fact that you might be still shocked, however, there is one particular thing I would like to share with you." He broke the silence and sat down on the chair next to her. She looked at him with an empty sight. 

"What is it, Doctor?"

"When I left the room of that sick man, his wife was talking to someone on the porch. I peeked outside and saw Jack conversing with her. From the scraps of words I've heard he wanted to find out how long will the man live..." Rosalynn seemed to be coming back to her senses as her eyes shined puzzled. 

"Well, taking into consideration his profession, it seems natural that he asks people that. At least he is a gravedigger." She said slowly.

"You are right but then suddenly he asked about something else. He wanted to know if he wants him to take care of the body so it would look appropriate while funeral-" Doctor barely finished when Rosalynn interrupted.

"I have no idea what you try to imply but it's completely normal, Doctor." She frowned crossing her arms. Doctor sighed slightly irritated.

"My dear, people who died of plague are usually closed tightly in the coffin or burned so the pestilence stays with the dead. There is no biding farewell with the dead. The closed coffin is put in the ground and that is it. Do you see it now?" Rosalynn's look changed into confused.

"So, there will be no funeral?" She guessed and Doctor nodded.

"No. In other words, Jack wants to take the dead man's possessions." Doctor said it finally looking right at Rosalynn...

...

After few days they knew that the villagers didn't want them to be here. Their hostile gaze was very visible especially while waling the village and visiting the last patients which were almost well. Having nothing else to do, they decided to stay at Jack's cottage and study the medical records together. 

Their peace didn't last long as some villager was shouting something in the distance. Other villagers were quickly moving from door to door announcing the news. They seemed bewildered. Finally, there appeared a person who decided to share the news with them and they were equally shocked and confused. 

Reverend Cryer was dying of plague.

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*Author's note: No kids, do not experiment with poisonous plants, even when they are boiled!!!