Historical Setting, 629 C.E. The monastery, Luxeuil
Ana finds us in the garden. She gives Brother Gabe her mother’s hug. He receives it as the strength he was praying for.
Her telling us of her visit with the nuns is washed in tears. She said they’ve seen this thing before and it might simply be something that can be gone with a touch of Hannah’s blade.
I’ll not say my thoughts of this. Ana didn’t say her thoughts of this either. But surely, if a touch of Hannah’s blade were the cure and right now Hannah is away, why did they not offer Ana their own medical assistance with this? Colleen and some others of them are experienced surgeons. Wouldn’t it be better for them to do this, than to ask it of a daughter? I know Ana finds waiting for this frustrating and she was, I think, secretly hoping they would fix it.
I suggest, “If they could fix it here and now, we could wait here so that you could have plenty of time to recover in their care after the surgery. Even if they are very busy now, we can wait for this.”
“They didn’t offer, Laz, but surely Colleen knows you would wait.”
“Colleen said the hour for women to use the healing pools is while the monks are chanting the psalms in the afternoon. Colleen will meet me at the waters for the blessing.”
So we sit here in the garden and talk about flowers ready to bloom, and butterflies flitting with fuzzy yellow pollen on their feet and feelers. Then Colleen comes for Ana to take her to the healing pool. Gabe joins the procession of monks chanting their way into the oratorio. I follow after with the other monastery visitors today, who are also Greg and Gaillard, staying here in the guest quarters these days, and here is Brandell, too. I was surprised for a moment to see him so soon after the wedding — here. And he was more surprised to see me here, too. He reminded me, he is here working, when he can, on the mural by the healing pools. He says he can’t work in there when the women are using the pools so he came in for afternoon prayers.
“So, what is Momma doing today while you are off to see her sons at work without her?”
There would be a better time to talk about this.
Gabe intervenes.
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 