All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred four)

 

 

 

 

 

All Bedlam Courses Past

 

 

Chapter Eight

Things Relative

 

(part two hundred four)

 

 

 

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And the doctor is housed?

The infirmary’s just below, down the stairs where she was laying.

But the doctor…hold, son…said to you to look at his watch while in the infirmary? Or after accompanying you to the scene, the place the body lay. But of course not known to be a body at that point in time.

The doctor, Mr. Toms, had felt for the pulse. This was when he asked Lubinski to confirm the time. Lubinski had not handled the body whatsoever. Except that maybe in moving the pitchers, but he didn’t think so. He was sorry, he could not recall.

You had not, with any intention to do so, disturbed the body?

No.

Nor any of the apparel attached to the body.

No.

Did you feel that the woman was alive or dead?

He had felt that he, Lubinski, was not equipped for this moment. And the urgency of bringing the doctor.

You did, however, give the doctor to understand that the damp condition of the apparel had been caused by your dropping of the pitchers?

Lubinski fell speechless; assurances that facts were being ascertained, merely, had needed repeating.

He remembered the doctor telling him to please go inform the captain, and not to speak to another soul on the way.

As to other souls, how many were met with along the way?

I don’t remember.

Don’t be quick. Take yourself through it. Where did you expect to find the captain?

In the saloon, the one they call the Longhouse Lounge.

The first-class gathering spot.

Well, but the Chief doesn’t do like an ocean steamer. There’s amenities on the different decks, cheaper below, but any passenger can come upstairs.

And along your way, you passed this person and that. Until you reached the saloon, which had a fair crowd, so you say.

Pinned down by his own testimony, Lubinski dug deeper. Yes, picturing it, he thought he had jogged past a man and woman leaning on the rail, because to run he came by the outside. It was possible to reach the saloon by the inside, going along the cabins. He had only seen their backs. Then the captain stood up and went to see him. Soon as he came through the entrance, the saloon.

With a February face.

A blank one, greeting this.

What color frock was the woman wearing?

 

 

216

 

 

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Bedlam

All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred five)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2025, Stephanie Foster)