“And she probably needs you,” I said gently.
“Yeah,” he said and crushed his cigarette underneath the heel of his boot. “I just had a moment, is all.”
“We all have those moments.”
“Time for me to man up, I guess.”
“Men are allowed to be scared too,” I told him. It sounded like something Kitten would say.
“Lord knows I am, but I gotta keep that shit locked up tight. I don’t want to worry Salome. Anyway, thanks for the cigarette, Brother Cipher. Pray for us.”
I nodded. “Sure thing.”
Jason returned to the delivery room where the noises had shifted from loud, guttural groans to a quiet keening. I was both nauseousandanxious on their behalf, so I took to pacing the reception area, hoping that the young family would make it through. I heard Marion’s voice giving instructions and Kitten offering words of comfort to Salome.
If I was the one giving birth, I’d want those two helping me along. Thank God I’d never have to worry about that shit, though. Fuck that.
Then I started thinking about all the Rabids I’d killed, how every one of them had once been a human, a tiny baby in their mother’s arms. They’d been birthed and fed and nurtured only to have this despicable disease ravage their bodies and minds and someone like me to come along and violently end their lives.
Killing was easy when compared to the effort it took to create a life.
Resolved to wait this out, I plucked a book off the shelf, some anatomy textbook, and turned the pages, looking at the text and illustrations without really absorbing anything. A couple hours later, Kitten came out of the room and startled at seeing me. “You’re still here?” he said, looking pleased. His face was flush and there was a keenness to his eyes.
“Thought I might make a run to the cafeteria, grab some dinner for you all and bring it back here?”
“That’d be nice,” he said with a smile.
“How’s everything going in there?”
“The baby was breech, but Marion managed to turn it so it’s oriented in the right position now. We’re just waiting for Salome to finish dilating and then it’ll be time for her to push.”
I nodded, suddenly queasy and having only a rough idea of what he was talking about. “How are you doing?” I asked.
“Good,” he said brightly. “It may be a while longer if you want to bring back food and go home.”
“I might stay if that’s all right.”
Kitten nodded. “Okay.”
“You’re doing great, Kitten. I knew you would.”
He beamed at me, pride shining in his eyes. “Thanks. I just hope the baby is born healthy. This couple had a really traumatic experience in the past.”
I nodded, recalling Jason’s horrific story. Faith. Salome must have it, to try again, to risk her life and put her body on the line for the possibility of a child. There was no way in hell I could do it, but I admired her all the same.
“I’ll be praying for them,” I told Kitten, and in my own way, I meant it.
EIGHT
KITTEN
The last twohours of Salome’s labor were the hardest, with the contractions coming so fast that she hardly had time to recover before the next one was upon her. Then it was time to push. I monitored her vitals, and the baby’s as well, while Marion coached her through the final stages of delivery. Jason stood by, wringing his hands and offering words of encouragement to his wife. At one point the baby’s heart rate dipped and Marion said in an urgent but controlled manner, “We’ve got to get this baby out. I need you to push now, Salome. Give it everything you’ve got.”
The baby’s head started to crown soon after and with a few more pushes, it emerged fully from the birth canal. Marion hooked two fingers under where the cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck, and with another heaving push by Salome, the rest of the body slipped out into Marion’s waiting hands.
Marion nodded at me to deliver the news, and I said to the waiting couple, “It’s a beautiful baby girl.”
Cradling the infant in both hands, Marion showed me how to suction the remaining fluid from her nostrils. As if being shocked awake from a deep sleep, the baby’s eyes opened wide and she let out a thunderous cry. Red in the face and with both arms outstretched, she looked pissed as hell, and I suspected the transition from womb to world was a jarring one.
