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‘I can translate anything you ask me to.’
‘I need to...rely on you.’ These were dangerous waters. The last time she’d relied on him, wanting to hear his every word, see his every reaction, it had led them into an intimacy that Megan couldn’t handle.
The look in his eyes told her that he didn’t want to go there either. Maybe he was thinking the same as she was, that the last time they’d acknowledged the special connection that buzzed between them they’d been in each other’s arms. But if they could just move on from that and find it in themselves to harness that connection, who knew what energy they could create? Who knew what they could do?
There was a long silence and then Jaye spoke. ‘Yes. You’re right. We’ll make a good team. Give me the bag.’
‘What?’
‘The bag. Working together, remember?’
‘Oh. Yes.’ She handed the heavy medical bag over, careful not to brush against him as she did so. It was actually quite a relief not to have to carry it any further.
‘Good.’ He smiled at her, and started walking again. Megan stumbled after him.
‘So... Our next patient? What’s the story?’
‘He’s a seven-year-old boy. He lost a hand and the lower part of his arm in another landmine explosion.’
‘Seven years old? I thought that all the landmines had been cleared in this area. Was this one that was left behind?’
‘Yes and no. They’ve all been cleared and this wasn’t one that was left behind. Chaminda was just a baby, in his mother’s arms. His mother stepped on the mine and her body shielded Chaminda from most of the blast. She was killed.’
‘So that means that the family’s not just coping with their son’s injury, they’re doing it without their mother.’
‘Yes. The father usually comes up with a load of questions about his other children as well. He’s naturally very protective, and he worries that he isn’t doing a good job of raising them.’ He grinned. ‘Although this is a village.’
‘And it takes a village to raise a child?’
‘Well, in this case, the village is doing a pretty good job of it. But the father still worries.’
‘I guess he’ll probably have a lot to say to me, then.’
Jaye nodded. ‘Almost certainly. I’ll translate as we go.’
‘What about Chaminda? Have we been doing anything about providing him with a prosthetic hand?’
‘That’s an issue too. We’ve offered one, but since he’s grown up with only one hand, he manages very well without a prosthetic. It’s a delicate balance. The family needs to make their own decisions about that, but we want to keep his options open for the future.’
‘What’s Chaminda been offered? And what are the pros and cons, as you see them?’
* * *
Megan had suggested an audacious solution to a problem that had become increasingly apparent during the course of the morning. A meeting of minds that had been born in the heat of an embrace. Working together, and not just side by side.
But it had worked. She’d examined Chaminda and talked at length with her young patient’s father, Jaye translating for her. They’d both made suggestions, and Jaye felt that they’d made some good progress in helping the family.
It was exhausting, though. Jaye was almost pleased to be able to get back into the truck so that they could both find some refuge in silence.
But the silence didn’t last long. As they rounded a corner, climbing the steep slope that led to the next village, he jammed on the brakes, managing to stop just inches away from the pile of mud and stones across the road.
&n
bsp; They both took a moment to catch their breath then Megan glanced towards him.
‘Landslip?’
‘Yes. It’s probably been dislodged by last night’s rain. But don’t worry, this area’s been combed for landmines and the road’s been safe for years.’
