Carlotta Brown (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fiery_ring) wrote2011-06-19 11:41 pm
fiery_ring) wrote2011-06-19 11:41 pm
(no subject)
She'd wished she could stay being pampered by Teja for longer, but she knew it would be impossible to explain. So as soon as the infection cleared, Carlotta headed back to her world.
The doctor declared she was stable, and got her loaded onto a ship with other injured parties from the armed forces. She'd started to get used to them in the hospital, but many of these were... broken. Men lying on stretchers, missing limbs. One man looked fine, until he turned and exposed the burn marks on his face.
She spent most of the journey being seasick; by the time the ship made it to England, she hobbled on the crutches up towards the waiting train, exhausted. People stopped and stared; a woman among the men. Nobody tried to help her.
She is almost asleep when they drop her off at the stables. The whole of Will's family are there, except for Will himself. Libby is holding a tiny baby in her arms, but hurries up to her.
"Oh Carlotta, your poor leg!" she cries. "You look worn out, come inside."
"I'll need to speak with you all." the officer with her adds, as they go into the house and sit down in the living room.
"It is likely that you will have some suspicions and hear some things from William, so I shall get to the point." he continues. "Carlotta was not injured in the balloon corps. She has been taking part in important military work in Spain, which is classified. Speaking of it to others could endanger her, your family, and the war effort. And, of course, may result in prosecution.
Therefore I will ask you to keep the details you give to anyone outside of this room vague, just that she had an accident in the balloon corps, and to sign a secrecy agreement here today. I will be contacting William to give him the same conditions."
Stunned, the family agree and sign the declarations, except for the baby. Then, the officer leaves, and Carlotta looks awkwardly around the room.
"I'm sorry." she says quietly. "I've caused you all such trouble."
"Nonsense love, we're proud of you!" Will and Libby's mother cries, coming over to give her a hug. "But I insist you go to bed right away!"
"Wait, Libby, tell me about your baby?" Carlotta says. "Boy or girl?"
"Girl, we're calling her Julie." Libby says, coming over and handing the baby gently into Carlotta's arms.
"Hallo Julie." Carlotta says softly, looking down. The little person sighs contentedly, oblivious to the horrors of the war she's been born into.
And for a moment, Carlotta feels a glimmer of hope, that they will all get through this, one way or another.
The parasite grows to the size of an apple pip.
The doctor declared she was stable, and got her loaded onto a ship with other injured parties from the armed forces. She'd started to get used to them in the hospital, but many of these were... broken. Men lying on stretchers, missing limbs. One man looked fine, until he turned and exposed the burn marks on his face.
She spent most of the journey being seasick; by the time the ship made it to England, she hobbled on the crutches up towards the waiting train, exhausted. People stopped and stared; a woman among the men. Nobody tried to help her.
She is almost asleep when they drop her off at the stables. The whole of Will's family are there, except for Will himself. Libby is holding a tiny baby in her arms, but hurries up to her.
"Oh Carlotta, your poor leg!" she cries. "You look worn out, come inside."
"I'll need to speak with you all." the officer with her adds, as they go into the house and sit down in the living room.
"It is likely that you will have some suspicions and hear some things from William, so I shall get to the point." he continues. "Carlotta was not injured in the balloon corps. She has been taking part in important military work in Spain, which is classified. Speaking of it to others could endanger her, your family, and the war effort. And, of course, may result in prosecution.
Therefore I will ask you to keep the details you give to anyone outside of this room vague, just that she had an accident in the balloon corps, and to sign a secrecy agreement here today. I will be contacting William to give him the same conditions."
Stunned, the family agree and sign the declarations, except for the baby. Then, the officer leaves, and Carlotta looks awkwardly around the room.
"I'm sorry." she says quietly. "I've caused you all such trouble."
"Nonsense love, we're proud of you!" Will and Libby's mother cries, coming over to give her a hug. "But I insist you go to bed right away!"
"Wait, Libby, tell me about your baby?" Carlotta says. "Boy or girl?"
"Girl, we're calling her Julie." Libby says, coming over and handing the baby gently into Carlotta's arms.
"Hallo Julie." Carlotta says softly, looking down. The little person sighs contentedly, oblivious to the horrors of the war she's been born into.
And for a moment, Carlotta feels a glimmer of hope, that they will all get through this, one way or another.
The parasite grows to the size of an apple pip.