One Big Mistake

It took two weeks for Jodi to be allowed to walk around the camp.
Although, despite that she had a serious case of cabin fever, not to mention boredom; it was when the news were finally passed to her did she treat it with a blasé attitude.

“When you are finished eating, the Madame would like to see you about the hospital hut.” Anna said, deeply engrossed with the task of scrubbing cloth over the wash basin. Jodi stood beside her, sipping her bowl full of broth, staring at the opposite wall of the kitchen. The place was filled with the old smell of blood.
“Remember when we used to have spaghetti?” Jodi asked, “I miss that.”
“I hope you didn't forget your table manners.” Anna growled. The cloth bandages were slapped on the basin's rim with a bit more force, Jodi's shoulders tensed. “When are you going to do Mme. Wimund a favour and at least eat with them? She couldn't go on telling people to accept you without you to help.”

Jodi quickly moved her hands, her fingers were actually in the middle of pulling out the bigger bits of meat out of the bowl. Chastised, she took a more delicate sip instead.
“You know why,” She said, turning to glance at her direction, “Those men hate my guts, I mean, how am I--”
“Yes, yes I know that.” Anna said impatiently, “But are you going to hide for the rest of your life, or what? Those men are here and are who the Madame has to see every day!”
Without waiting for another reply, the older woman let out an exasperated sigh, folding the now cleaner bandages and putting them aside on the table.

“There was a battle two nights ago, you know.” Anna exclaimed, “Where the fields of corn lie. The rebels had been lying in wait there for the soldiers and maimed them severely. Now they're in the hut and everyone else has their arms full.”
Jodi stared down at her bowl. Watching the fat-fringed beef and bacon float around in the trembling liquid. Anna was talking about the supplies ship that was coming late. Everyone spoke of it as if the worst have happened.
“Jo.” Anna said, her voice firm, but gentle. “Please do something. Everyone is talking about you and it is not going well. Do you know what that Bruna had called you? The base's little princess!”
Jodi's eyelids drooped in a dulled annoyance at the mention of the milkmaid. She didn't much like that woman, who really couldn't be any older than her. In truth, she was intimidated by her. A nice person would have described the short, loud-mouthed maiden as lively and outspoken. But to the always mild-mannered Jodi, she was just scary. She couldn't imagine ever feeling comfortable being around with her even as a mere acquaintance.
“You don't have to do that,” Jodi groaned with a mock exasperation. “I'm already feeling it—you know, the urgency for, um, cooperation.” She mumbled, “I'm just not sure about going to the hospital...hut.”
As if sensing what was really on her mind, Anna quickly replied, “Believe me, you're perfect for it. Everyone will pitch in to help if things get too difficult, and you'll learn. Pass me a knife please...”
Jodi opened one of the drawers and took out one of the least sharpest. Giving it to her she argued.
“I don't mean that.” Jodi said, “Well, I do mean that too but, I am kind of, you know, worried for myself too. I only knew about stuff like...like...tuberculosis from science books! I have no idea about disease only that's it's easy to catch in a closed-in area. I just know that place has got to be festering with every sickness known to man!”
She watched as Anna ripped open a a bandage that had been fused together, unveiling a pair of maggots writhing between the crunchy brown folds. Jodi shuddered.
“I—I mean, think about immunities for instance. I haven't had my shots since I was twelve, Anna, and I'm sure that any old disease will just--just--.”
Anna flicked the maggots aside, her face thoughtful. “I know.” She said.
Jodi nonetheless kept her hands busy, bending down to open a cupboard where the jars were stored. Opening it, she handed it to Anna, who picked the maggots with her calloused fingers into the jar.
“But you shouldn't forget,” Anna continued, “about the possibilities of infecting others yourself.”
Closing the jar lightly, she said, “Two hundred years can change a common cold, Johanna. I never told this to anyone, but there were many who died in my care. And I often suspect that it's simply due to something as insignificant as a sneeze. Or an intimate contact.”
Anna looked back down, staring at the bandage she now held in her hands. Jodi looked away; of course, such a thing could happen, she thought.
“Sickness is always a game of chance, Jo.” Anna said, “Much like facing an army unit of musketballs. You could only see it coming when it hits you.”
“Has she broken her fast yet?”
Mme. Wimund tilted her head to the side as she came in through the doorway, her eyes averted to the task of rolling her sleeves up and away from her elbows.
“I have to get to the Sick Bay sometime today, I was hoping she would be ready to come with me.” She said this as she walked over, nodding her head as she inspected Anna's work. Jodi took a quick sip from the now cold broth before putting it away.
“I'm ready.” She said, wiping her hands over her dress.
Mme. Wimund just looked at her and shrugged, “Well, and?” She asked, “Start walking.”
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It turned out that the hospital hut had been deservedly named. If one had to be specific, the hut also did not house all those who came, there wasn't simply any room at all. Looking at it, Jodi supposed it simply functioned as a place to cut open somebody where everything can be convenient, like an operating room. Following Mme. Wimund, Jodi stepped uncomfortably past the lines of soldiers watching them, feeling their eyes on her as she struggled with a wicker basket full of medicine, trying to keep it from banging against her shins and looking like an ass.
Because it was summer, most of everyone were all sitting around and enjoying the outdoors, although they probably made sure they looked busy as soon as they saw the large woman approached their direction. One man talked casually with another whose leg was a bloody stump, probably trying to distract him from the pain with a friendly chat while he sharpened his cutlass, his own face covered with pustules. Wounds were displayed casually, and all men shared the common aspect of being filthy. Jodi's chin was at her chest as she tried to breathe as little as possible through her nose, trying not to look at anyone despite of her curiosity.
“Uh, Madame?” Jodi asked, “Where are we going to start again?”
Mme. Wimund didn't look back, “Miss Johanna, do you see the hut in front of you?” She said, indicating the building ahead.
“Oh.” Jodi said, voicing it loud enough for Mme. Wimund to hear. It was a perfect timing for a sarcastic remark and she wasn't letting her have it. But Mme. Wimund did not seem to have the intention whatsoever. “What's that?” Jodi asked, realizing that the string of tents and makeshift dwellings of the soldiers has suddenly been broken by a line of tall wooden stakes planted firmly in the soil.
“Slaughter pen.” Mme. Wimund threw back, “Careful with the vials!”
“Sorry!” Jodi exclaimed, trying to stop the swinging of the basket. “What are you doing with a slaughter pen and a hospital together?” She wondered aloud.
“So we could earn our keep!” One of the soldiers cried out laughingly. Mme. Wimund cackled at the amusement as he waved his 'stump' in greeting, which was really an arm folded loosely inside one of his sleeves. Jodi grinned at the display. She realized all too clearly that it would have been funny, only if it hadn't been made in the current situation. Still, it lightened Mme. Wimund's mood, and that meant that Jodi's mood was lifted as well.

“Keep sharp, Miss Johanna.” Mme. Wimund warned her as they took the steps that were built with the hut, “I can't afford anyone who gets stupefied in a place like this.”
“I'll try.” Jodi said, trying to make her voice sound strong. Simply nodding wouldn't help. Mme. Wimund opened the door, and out belched the stink of sawdust and blood. Jodi immediately seared shut her breathing passages as the smell gave way, but Mme. Wimund didn't even recoil. Still staring at her, Mme. Wimund motioned her head.
“Let's go.”
She went in, Jodi took a deep breath first and followed in. She halted her steps to adjust her eyesight in the dark place, and wormed the toes of her shoes experimentally on the floor. Sawdust all right.
Mme. Wimund immediately went down to work, picking a small table and threw its contents out of the way. The basket she was carrying landed on top of it with a loud thump, startling a soldier from his daze. The entire hut was one room, log-structured and set up to hold rows of three of four bunk-beds. All of them, according to Jodi's gradually adjusting eyes, occupied.
“The Cannabis Indica PLEASE!” Someone shouted.
“It's in your basket, Johanna.” Mme. Wimund exclaimed, “The baby relief formula, get it!”
Jodi immediately scrambled through her basket, but not before flopping on someone's bed before she burrowed. Luckily the lettering on the label was large and printed and therefore easier to see in the dark. Extracting the long glass bottle, she offered it to Mme. Wimund, who promptly grabbed her arm, turned her around, and shoved her towards the space between the barracks.
Cursing, Jodi stumbled and wormed her way past the bunk beds and bodies amid cat-calls and groans. Despite of her present situation, she found herself dimly aware that in some perverse way, she was liking this. For once, she felt like she had some important job to do.
“Where are you?!” She called out.
“Over here!” Came the answer.
Jodi rolled her eyes and walked faster, and saw the blinding light of an open window towards the end. The man was just a silhoutte in front of the light, sharpening a massive saw in the way people do when preparing to cut a thanksgiving turkey.
“Here it is.” Jodi exclaimed breathlessly, the bottle was snatched out of her hands.
“Good!” Said the man, tearing off the string that held the seal, “I am Arthur, you must be the new lass the lady has been talking about.”
“Sure am.” Jodi smiled, nodding. Her smile faltered as she saw him bend over the table once more, covered with a body under a blanket. The body was violently shivering.
“Here, sonny.” Arthur spoke to the blanket, his other hand fingering a corner just above the person's head. “We've got the laudanum here, just as you requested. No need to be afraid now, it will all go nice and easy. Calm down, eh?”
Jodi's feet willed themselves to back away, realizing that she will now have to witness the most gruesome medical methods in history.
“No!” Cried the body, it curled tighter in its fetal position, “Not yet! Please, j-j-just—just—wait a moment!”
“Plenty of men had their legs off without this!” Chastised Arthur, “If you keep feeling afraid it will retard the flow of the blood once we get down to it, and then the bad blood will stay in! The whole thing would just have to go then!”
“Uh, hey...” Jodi said tentatively.
“Look, with this there won't be no pain at all!” Arthur continued on, “Let's solve the problem before it spreads. It will be done quicker than you think!”
Jodi was bumped aside as other men began to make their way towards the same table, their hands clearly ready to help. Finally the body underneath the blanket tensed, but the words were braver.
“Fine then.” He blurted, “Get it off already!”
“There we go...” Arthur crooned, “Just take one gulp, or two. Whatever you feel helps.”
Jodi began to make her way past the bodies of men, not wanting to see any of this, suddenly one of them stepped in front of her.
“Wait a minute, lass!” Arthur called, “Could you take the blanket and put it in the boy's cot? A shame to bloody the good wool.”
Smiling shyly at the man in front of her, she turned around and stepped back towards the table, taking a deep breath. She hoped she can scurry out of the scene in time.
“There's a brave man.” She murmured needlessly, taking hold of the faded knitted fabric. The man, who must have been a boy really, perked up at her young-sounding voice and rose, letting the blanket fall away.
“OH JESUS!”
Jodi didn't even know the shout was her own even when her back slammed against the bunks, feet kicking frantically to get away from the table. It was when panic gave way to stunned inaction, did the knowledge sink in.
“O-oh my god.” She gasped, “ I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!”
“What the devil has gotten in to you?” Arthur cried, his thick and curly eyebrows furrowed with shocked concern.
“I'm sorry...” Jodi whined; her attention was focused on the boy, who was not looking at her, but staring down at his hands, his face, thankfully, was turned in profile. The bunks were quiet now, shocked and stunned by Jodi's outburst. The men surrounding the table were staring at her with looks of indignation and confusion, watching her as if she'd gone insane.
“I never meant it, I didn't mean to...oh, man...”Jodi groaned, her rational mind sobering. Shutting her eyes, she rushed past the men, close to tears.
“What's going on?!” Mme. Wimund called, muscling her way towards her.
“Nothing.” Jodi croaked, shoving past her.
“Hold IT!” The lady exclaimed, grabbing the back of the dress, “Where do you think you're--”
“NO!” Jodi wrenched herself out of her grasp and ran. She shoved the door open forcefully, but all the strength went out of her knees as soon as she was out, making her flop awkwardly down on top of the stairs.

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WT: So what was it she had seen? The answer will come as soon as I finish this chapter. I know she looks like she has the 'Too Stupid to Live' syndrome, but I promise you, there's a good reason. At least a good and rational enough reason to me... O_o;;;