CHAPTER 6 - OLDENBURG, GERMANY—JULY 18, 1916 #2
“To the contrary, sir. I find it immensely rewarding to care for patients. But ever since that day in the hospital courtyard, when your dog guided the blind soldier around the garden, I can’t stop thinking about how grand it would be if every disabled veteran had a dog like yours.
” She glanced to a shepherd, steering a trainer away from a puddle.
“They’re like a prosthesis for their eyes and soul. ”
“Indeed,” Stalling said. He removed his hat and held it to his chest. “I never properly thanked you for what you did that day in the garden.”
“I was only there to witness the event,” she said. “I’m sure you would have gotten the school started, whether I was there that day or not.”
“True, Fr?ulein Zeller,” Stalling said. “But you inspired me to expedite my timeline.”
Anna smiled.
The sound of clopping hooves compelled them to turn.
Two horses, pulling a wagon that contained a driver and two shepherds, their snouts pointed skyward and sniffing the air, stopped at the building.
The dogs jumped down from the wagon and wagged their tails, while the driver lifted a third dog, which was lying in the back of the wagon, and placed it on the ground.
The dog hobbled, as if thorns were stuck in its paws, and then flopped onto its side.
You poor thing, Anna thought.
“Shepherds are in short supply,” Stalling said. “In addition to sourcing them from all over Germany, we’ll be attempting to retrain a few ambulance dogs, which are no longer able to perform their duties at the front.”
Anna nodded.
“You’re fortunate to find me here today,” he said. “I came to inform Fleck that the veterinarian, who was supposed to be assigned to the school, was sent to the army.”
Anna glanced at the trainer, frowning and scribbling on his clipboard. If he’s ill-tempered now, I wonder what he’ll be like when he learns that he’s lost a veterinarian.
“Are you certain you want to work here?” Stalling asked.
“Ja,” she said. “I haven’t trained dogs, but I think I could be helpful here.”
“You’re needed at the hospital,” Stalling said.
“I’m not as competent as the other nurses,” Anna said.
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.
“Fr?ulein 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.”
Anna clasped her hands.
“First,” Fleck said, “you need to be willing and capable of boarding a veteran who is selected to undergo training. There are limited government housing options and, if needed, my workers need to be prepared to provide board.”
Anna’s mind raced. Certainly, Norbie would be willing to take in a veteran. Would Bruno have any concerns? “Of course,” she said, burying her thoughts.
“Second,” Fleck said, “I would like for you to recruit another person to join you. I, of course, will need to approve the worker you recommend. Operating this school will soon be far more than my current staff can handle.”
“I will,” Anna said, even though she was uncertain she could convince another person to join her.
“Be here at seven a.m. tomorrow,” Fleck said. “And before you leave, tend to the dog. There are medical supplies inside.” He turned and walked onto the obstacle course.
“Good luck, Fr?ulein Zeller,” Dr. Stalling said. “I’ll inform the hospital and will make arrangements for your transfer of employment.”
A mixture of excitement and trepidation swelled inside her. “Danke, Dr. Stalling.”
He nodded and left.
Anna carefully placed her arms under Nia’s belly.
She lifted the shepherd, frail and light for a dog that should have weighed at least twenty kilograms, and carried her inside the building.
A faint scent of straw and old manure filled Anna’s nose.
She placed Nia in a stall that had once been used for a horse, and then located a medical bag that contained antiseptic and soap.
She filled a chipped, enamel bowl with water, which she pumped from a well, and then washed Nia’s paws.
The dog whimpered but made no effort to move.
Anna carefully cleaned between the dog’s nails, the webbing raw and red, and then applied antiseptic.
Nia flinched.
“I’m sorry.” Anna stroked Nia’s head. “It burns, but it will help fight the infection.”
The cadence of Nia’s breath slowed, and her muscles relaxed.
Anna finished rinsing Nia’s paws with antiseptic. With no bandages or rags, she used her skirt to dry the pads. She cupped a handful of water to her mouth. But Nia, lacking the strength to raise her head, produced a feeble lick and closed her eyes.
“The war is over for you,” Anna whispered. “I’m going to make you well, and someday you’ll be a guide dog.”
Anna stroked Nia’s protruding ribs, which felt like a washboard covered with fur.
She removed Norbie’s lunch of potato and bread from her purse, and then stashed the food under a bit of straw near Nia’s nose.
I don’t know what they’ll feed you, but you need all the nourishment you can get.
She left for home, eager to tell Norbie the news of her new job, as well as to find a way to recruit another employee, but all she could think about was saving Nia.