Miracle Milk
Page 2
Except Dr. Irving never knew if the sacrifice was responsible for the scientific discovery or whether it would have been discovered and corrected anyway. This question ate away at his internal organs, gnawed at his sanity. For Emily, her hoofed Gods had been merciful. Her faith was intact, strengthened even.
They would not remain together much longer. While he was elbow deep in deliveries, Emily roamed further from base-camp, in search of that alluring music once more until one day she did not return. He assumed she had died in the wilderness, and felt it was for the best, her death, and he put her and the child out of his mind.
Until last night’s dream.
Dr. Irving laid himself flat on the table. He did not stop to think if he was doing the right thing, if it would work or not. He removed the dagger from his pouch, that same knife as before. Then he said a prayer, but not the same one as before, but one from his heart.
“Oh heavenly fathers, Gods of men and moons, suns and stars, hear me now. I give this blood, my blood as only I can give, willingly and with a full heart for the realignment of the universe, the careful plotting of this planet. Bring back the sun and fill this small world with thy healing light. Save us from our errant path, align us with thy favor.”
These words filled his mouth with a honeyed wonder. When he was through speaking he was ready. With an efficient swipe of the blade against his aged throat, his blood flowed onto the table, cleansing him. He lay ignoring the pain in his neck.
Then Emily and the child were on either side of him holding his hands. Emily was young again, strong. At long last, his wife had returned to him from the wilderness. She nodded her head as his blood flowed onto the table, as if to reassure him all would be well.
Then he turned to the child and said gently, “I’m very sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
The child did not answer, but touched his cheek with her hand. Soft, salty tears slipped from his eyes, not from sadness or pain, but from the knowledge that sadness and pain would be his to bear no more.