The Parables

Medea - Precinct Eleven

Medea - Precinct Eleven

"I need a poultice of yarrow leaves and lavender oil now."

"On it, Mother." I rush off to the medical room. Mother follows me slowly, aiding a woman who's struggling to walk with a lacerated leg.

In the medical room, I head to a cupboard labelled HERBS and fling open its door. Jars of herbs line the shelves, labelled with their contents. I search the cupboard and draw out a jar of yarrow leaves. I put it down on a small table and close the cupboard.

Opening another cupboard, this time labelled OILS AND ESSENCES, I grab a bottle of lavender oil. Putting that down on the table, I shut the cupboard and grab a clean mug from the adjacent cupboard. I flip the lid off the jar of yarrow leaves and put a handful in the mug. Screwing the lid back on, I flick the switch on the kettle and it comes to life.

Whilst the water boils, I tear a big sheet of paper off its roll and cover a larger table with it. I then seize a pillow and put it on top of the paper at the head of the table. Just then, Mother enters the room with the woman, who grimaces in agony at every step.

"Kettle's boiling for the yarrow leaf tonic and the lavender oil is ready to reduce the nausea," I inform Mother, helping her lift the woman onto the bed. The woman screeches in pain but is silenced when she lies down comfortably on the table.

"Th-thank you," she mumbles, a small smile escaping onto her lips. Mother squeezes her hand. Suddenly, the kettle beeps. Instantly, I head over to it and pour the boiling water into a mug. I fetch a spoon and stir around the liquid in the mug, watching it as it slowly turns a pale green colour.

"How hot is the water, Medea?" Mother asks me, holding the bottle of lavender oil to the woman's nose as she sniffs it. I put my thumb in the mug. As soon as the tiniest drop of water touches my skin, a burning sensation hits me. I draw it back in surprise.

"Too hot. I'll add half an ice cube." Mother nods approvingly, as I open a miniature fridge and take out an ice cube tray.

I bash one of the ice cubes out of the tray and put the tray back in the fridge. Pulling open a drawer, I take out a knife. I cut the ice cube in half and drop one half into the hot water. It immediately melts and I stir the water around. Testing the water again, I nod in approval. Just the right temperature. I toss the other half of the ice cube into the bin and take hold of the mug.

"Are you pouring it on?" Mother asks me. I pause, unsure of what to say.

"Erm...Sure. Why not?" Mother smiles at me, so I know I made the right decision.

"I'll just go fetch the anaesthetic." She gives the bottle of lavender oil to the woman to hold, then hurries over to a cupboard. Rummaging through it, she draws out a needle filled with a clear liquid.

Mother stands up and positions the needle over the women's arm. In a flash, she jabs it into her skin, injecting the anaesthetic into her bloodstream. The woman lets out a little yelp, then sighs with relief, her limbs loosening as the pain starts to numb. After a few seconds, Mother removes the needle and throws it into the bin, then takes the cotton wool puffs. She nods at me. I nod back.

"This may sting a little," I warn the woman, holding the mug over her laceration. "The anaesthetic isn't the best. Home remedies never are." A faint smile appears on the woman's face, then she takes a deep breath and grits her teeth.

"Three...two...one." I tip the mug upside down. The yarrow liquid trickles onto the woman's laceration.

Her body stiffens as I steadily spill the yarrow liquid over the wound, the seeping blood slowing down to a small trickle. When all the liquid has been drained from the mug, Mother presses down the cotton wool puffs over the laceration, stopping the flow of blood instantly.