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The Gardener's Son(3)

By:Cormac McCarthy


Mr McEvoy enters the room. He smiles somewhat nervously.

MR MCEVOY We sure do appreciate this, Mrs Gregg. That boy ... I dont know. He aint goin to be no easy patient.

MRS GREGG Its going to be very difficult for him.

Mrs McEvoy looks at her in alarm.

MRS GREGG Dr Perceval is an excellent man. We must put our confidence and trust in him.

Mr McEvoy is standing in the doorway. He crosses his hands, holding them in front of him, and bows his head. Mrs McEvoy looks down.

ROBERT MCEVOY (os) No, damn you! No!

Mrs McEvoy looks up in alarm. Mr McEvoy turns and looks back down the hall. Mrs Gregg rises. The doctor enters the kitchen. He is somewhat embarrassed, but determined. He smiles.

DR PERCEVAL I’m afraid he’s not taking it at all well. But there’s nothing for it. May I have a glass of water please.

MR MCEVOY Big sister, get the doctor a drink of water.

Martha crosses the kitchen to where the pail and dipper stand on the sideboard.

MR MCEVOY Might it not mend?

DR PERCEVAL I’m sorry, McEvoy.

MRS GREGG Is the operation unavoidable Doctor?

Dr Perceval takes the glass of water and drinks and lowers the glass and looks at Mrs Gregg.

DR PERCEVAL If he’s to live.

Mrs McEvoy begins to sob.

DR PERCEVAL Badly in sepsis, Madam. Badly.

MRS GREGG Yes.

MRS MCEVOY It might could mend.

DR PERCEVAL Mrs McEvoy, it could not mend. Not in this world. It is beset with rot. Who can say why? Germs have their flyways, like migratory fowl. Winging unseen through the night. The boy’s leg must come off if his life is to be saved. I’m sorry to be so blunt but you people will not seem to understand.

MRS GREGG And the boy? How will you . . .

DR PERCEVAL There’s nothing for it, I’m afraid. Once my man has administered the chloroform . . .

Mrs Gregg turns to Mr McEvoy.

MRS GREGG Where is he?

DR PERCEVAL Mrs Gregg, I dont think he’ll listen. He swore at me.

MRS GREGG He’ll not at me.

Mrs Gregg turns to Martha McEvoy.

MRS GREGG Take me to your brother’s room.

Martha leads Mrs Gregg along the hall. She opens the door. Mrs Gregg enters. The boy looks up at her from a small bed. He is pale and angry. She goes directly to the bed and sits down on it. She removes her hat, withdrawing the pins. She lays it by. She looks down at the boy.

MRS GREGG Robert.

She regards him. He does not answer.

MRS GREGG Robert, what Dr Perceval says is true. You must have the operation.

ROBERT I’d rather to be dead.

MRS GREGG Life is a precious gift from God. No one has the right. . .

ROBERT It's up to him.

She looks at him. She does not understand what he means.

ROBERT If God put the rot in it then let it rot off.

MRS GREGG You dont know what you say. Think of your parents. I lost a son in the war. I know what it is. I’d have wanted him back with no legs.

He does not answer.

MRS GREGG God does not ask that all the flowers in his garden be perfect. He has a special love for the ones . . .

She does not finish.

ROBERT Ones are crippled.

Mrs Gregg looks up at him. She looks down the bed to the shape of his legs under the covers.

MRS GREGG Have you looked at it?

ROBERT Looked at what?

MRS GREGG Your leg. Have you seen it?

ROBERT No. I aint seen it. What do I want to see it for?

His answer is touched with a rising fear and suspicion.

MRS GREGG Let me see it.

ROBERT No.

MRS GREGG Why not?

ROBERT You caint see it. It’s in a cast.

MRS GREGG No it’s not. That’s a lie. Let me see it.

Robert McEvoy is very much afraid. He shakes his head rapidly from side to side. She takes hold of the bedlinen on the far side of the bed and pulls it back. He half raises up in the bed to stop her.

ROBERT No.

She jerks away the covers. He struggles. Her hat is crushed. His legs lie revealed. The injured one is loosely swathed in bandage through which discolored stains have seeped and his whole lower leg and foot are perfectly black. She turns her head aside at the odor. He falls back sobbing. She recovers him and puts her hand to his face.

MRS GREGG I know it’s very hard. I know. I’ll stay with you.

The kitchen. The doctor and the family waiting. Mrs Gregg enters. The two men rise.

MRS GREGG Doctor Perceval, I think you may fetch in your assistant now.

DR PERCEVAL Thank you. Thank you very much. Did you want to be driven home?

MRS GREGG No. I’ll stay. I promised the boy.

The doctor starts for the door.

MRS GREGG Perhaps Martha would help you with your things. Would you like to help the doctor, Martha?

Martha shrinks. She shakes her head.

DR PERCEVAL Perfectly all right. Willis and I can manage.

MRS GREGG You dont anticipate any complications?

Dr Perceval pauses at the door and turns to look at her.

DR PERCEVAL We have every confidence of success, Mam. During the late war I removed over one thousand limbs. I was called in on the most difficult cases. . . .