XI

THE MEANS BY WHICH THE SICK OF HERTTACH ARE TENDED

We spy by chance a Solar Cart whose ringing hand-bell shewed it to be one employed to carry the sick with haste to hospital. Considering it appropriate, we follow, thence to view the means by which the afflicted of Herttach are tended.

THE TRAVELLER. Albert seeing a Physic Solar Cart, the assistant driver ringing loudly a hand bell to force a way through the traffic, considered this might be a goodly time for us to follow, speeding our own path and giving me opportunity to see at near hand the manner in which those in need of healing and succour were attended.

Even with the hand bell ringing loudly and incessantly the journey across the city took much of one hour to complete. The Hospital Saint Michael the Decliner, stood six floors high, occupying a gloomy situation, overshadowed on all sides by even taller gaunt buildings, these Albert informed, me housed the poorer classes of The Metropolis.

The Physic Solar Cart we were following came to a sudden halt adjacent to a side door, green in colour, with what paint it still retained peeling off in ragged strips. The injured person was bundled out of the cart and through the door with what appeared to me, looking on from some distance, less carefulness than I would have considered appropriate in such circumstances. I inquired of Albert as to whether the provision of healing and cure of the sick was available for the benefit of all classes of The Island of Herttach.

ALBERT. “Of this fact Sir you may be assured. Many years past a Member of the Ruling Council who was influential devised the means by which all could expect as their right, care in illness and physical adversity without payment. A system was funded by each person making a small contribution from his wages throughout the time of his useful working life. The argument in favour of this provision for all was one not made without some self interest of The State being considered. Indeed Sir the intending legislator forcefully argued that time a nation of healthy citizens will combine in unity and strength, to the general advantage of society, in times of peace, and more particularly during periods of war and conflict.

THE TRAVELLER. Considering the proper and unstinting care of the afflicted to be mark of a truly civilized state, I assured Albert of my approval of such a philosophy and further inquired if this system had been modified or changed since its inception.

ALBERT. Silent a moment longer before proffering an answer. “In spirit yes, though it would be less than the truth to say some now do pay coin for attention. Thought current at this time considers the philosophy of The Market Place needs must be applied to all matters where state expenditure requires control and reduction. Though be assured other than minor instances all expect and receive equal attention in due time.”

THE TRAVELLER. Albert instructed the driver of our Solar Cab to wait and getting down we both crossed the hospital yard and there were confronted by two doors. The first large and in fine order, painted white with a polished knocker and brass-hinges. The second adjacent door was less cared for, patches of a cheaper wood showing through where neglected paintwork had decayed. Above the first portal the letters HC were sculpted and embellished with gold leaf. Above the second was fixed a weathered board faintly shewing the ill inscribed legend NHC. The area in front of the first portal was free of any gathering of persons, a Physic Solar Cart of superior design and construction parked and waiting in readiness. Outside the second entrance a long line of people of all ages, some in obvious distress, lingered wearily in the biting wind that swept around the surrounding buildings and over the chill cobbles. Observing that The acronyms above the respective entrances, neither imparted any meaning to me, having never before observed anything similar, I requested an explanation. What did they mean. Albert, I swear on oath, took longer than was his usual custom, when answering any inquiry

ALBERT. “HC signifies HERTTACH CROWNS. NHC means NO HERTTACH CROWNS. One door is for those who have means to pay, the other for those without means of payment. Though it must be conveyed to you that the reception given to both classes of person is in no way different when presentation before the consulting cabinet of the doctor is reached.”

THE TRAVELLER. Stepping forward a few paces and pushing open the first door marked HC I looked in and saw before me a long passage with a bright clean tiled floor laid out and decorated in the Italian style. The desk for the reception of the sick, placed conveniently at the far end of the corridor, was manned by a kindly female dressed in the white garments customary within institutions that attend to sickness and injury. A small number of patients sat is comfort on cushioned chairs and settles awaiting attention. Flowers in glass pitchers and paintings hung on the walls, creating an atmosphere of reassurance and tranquillity. I was much impressed by what I saw and informed Albert of my approval. Joining me he closed the white door not wishing the interior to become chilled by the cold winds from outside making an unwelcome entrance.

Gently I asked the person at the head of the line of folk waiting outside the second entrance, a man whose bound leg and crutches seemed to indicate a broken limb, if he would stand aside for a moment, he did so with unspoken resignation. I pushed open the door marked NHC here too was a long passage, but here any resemblance with the one I had previously observed ended. It was dull, unkept, and gloomy, what little natural light there was filtering through a small window set high up on one wall. Cobwebs hung like shrouds from the ceiling. Decay and the unmistakable smell of neglect assailed my nose. But this was as nothing when compared with the other objects spread out before me. Between the entrance where we stood and the archway at the far end of the corridor, where a clean bright light penetrated from the room for the reception of the sick, which we had seen in full view through the first doorway, was erected a random obstructions of gates, bars, mounds of wet sand, nets made of ropes, all preventing progress unless climbed over, under, or across. Attempting to traverse these obstacles were no fewer than twenty persons, each one wearily attempting to reach refuge at the haven of light shining beyond the distant opening. Some used sticks to support themselves. Others could barely crawl. One fellow exhausted by the impossibility of the task, was slumped against the wall, with no sound issuing from his mouth, his face white and lips blued.

Speech or comment regarding what I saw dried in my gorge, absorbing in disbelief the implications of what was happening in this place, the awfulness of the scene rendering me incapable. My feet seemed rooted as if made of stone and I have no recollection of the period of time I stood there with my mouth open like some miserable fish, helpless and flapping on the rough wooden boards of a fisherman’s coracle.

I scarcely felt Albert take my elbow to guide me back to the Solar Cab. The poor fellow who’s place I had taken to look through that awful NHC portal limped back to reclaim his position, he being anxious to enter and attempt the course that impeded his way, the quicker to have the attention of those whose task it is to mend and heal sick unfortunates.