Stalling raised his brows. “Patients are quite fond of you.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” she said. “But something tells me that I should be here.”
“You should know that I will not always be at the school,” Stalling said. “Fleck is in charge of daily operations, and he selects the staff. I have other commitments that will occupy my time, such as government funding and working with our board of directors to select veterans who will undergo training with a guide dog.” He gestured to the obstacle course. “I have ambitious plans for this school. Soon, we’ll be training hundreds of dogs per year.”
Anna’s eyes widened. She imagined the grounds filled with veterans and their dogs.
“If Fleck permits you to work here,” Stalling said, “it will not be easy for you. It will require extensive hours per week, perhaps even more time than the hospital. Also, you’d be making a bit less than your nursing salary.”
“May I ask how much?”
“Slightly under a mark per day. Employees are paid monthly.”
At least I’d be paid more frequently.“Okay.”
“Would you like me to speak to Fleck?”
“Please,” Anna said.
“All right.” Stalling put on his hat, walked onto the course, and approached Fleck.
Anna took a deep breath and exhaled. While Stalling was speaking with Fleck, her eyes gravitated to the lame dog, lying on its side.What happened to you?She approached the trainer, who was attaching harnesses to the other dogs.
“I’m a nurse,” Anna said. “May I examine your dog?”
He nodded. “Her name’s Nia.”
Anna kneeled. “Hallo, Nia.”
The dog’s eyes were red and filled with discharge. Malnourished, her caramel- and charcoal-colored coat clung to her ribs.
Anna extended her hand.
Nia sniffed and lethargically wagged her tail.
“Good girl, Nia,” Anna said, stroking the dog’s head. She removed a handkerchief from her purse and gently wiped away yellow matter from Nia’s eyes. Examining the paws, she discovered the pads to be hot and swollen. She looked at the trainer. “She’s come from the trenches, hasn’t she?”
He nodded. “I convinced a solider not to euthanize her. I hope she’ll live.”
“She will,” Anna said, attempting to hide the concern in her voice.
Anna had seen what muddy trenches can do to a soldier’s feet. The prolonged cold, wet conditions restricted blood flow and damaged skin tissue. In the worst cases, amputation of toes or the foot was required. She hoped that this would not be the case for Nia.
“Fräulein Zeller,” Stalling said, approaching with the supervisor. “This is Rolf Fleck.”
Anna stroked Nia and stood. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
Fleck, a stout, middle-aged man, folded his arms. His beard was meticulously groomed, and his polished jackboots shined like obsidian. “Normally, I would not permit a nurse to be hired,” he said, twisting the end of his mustache. “However, our veterinarian has been reassigned, and I don’t know when we’ll receive another one.”
Anna swallowed.
Fleck looked at Nia, her eyelids partly closed. “Can you make her well?”
“I will try,” Anna said. “I’ve cared for many trench injuries like this with soldiers.”
“She has,” Stalling said.
“You may work here,” Fleck said, “but I have a few conditions.”
