The Nightingale of St. Petersburg

Chapters 5-6

Chapter 5

I slept poorly that night, everything that had just happened during the past few days weighed down on my mind. My wife noticed my pensiveness, but I couldn't quite explain what was the matter with me. Early the next morning when I had only just gotten up and dressed Sonya softly came in and said in a rather embarrassed voice that Marina was begging to see me.

"Godfather, I wish to see Sasha again today, but only, only I wish to go alone this time." She softly stated when I entered the room,. "Alone as in without you."

I looked at her a smiled, "you may go alone, do you want me to send for the doctor?"

"You can if you want too, though I don't know if a doctor will help. I'll only take some broth with me and the medicine that I took when I came down with a cough. It will give him a little relief, ease the pain for a little, give him strength for a little. It will be the least I will be able to do. Oh, and one more thing. Godfather, I have written to father Alexis and asked him to come and take Sasha's last communion. You will send the letter, won't you?"

"Can't you have another priest..."

"Father Alexis is the only priest knows all about me and he is the only priest I feel comfortable being around."

"Do you think he will have the time to drop everything and come here?"

"I don't know, but I hope he will. Please, you will send the letter, wont you?" Her eyes filled with tears and her face looked at mine so pleadingly that I didn't have the heart to say no. I sent the letter. I sent it in great haste. And, what is more, Father Alexis reacted in great haste. I was expecting a reply that he would make it when he could find the time, only two days later, he showed up at our front door.

"Godfather," Marina softly spoke to me the morning after Father Alexis' had arrived, "He's asked to see you today, would you find the time to drop by some time?"

"I'll try my best!" I comforted her.

It was only closer to the evening that I came to the little building where Alexander's room was located. There were more people this time. Some of them noticed me and stared wide eyed, not understand what a man such as myself could want in this poor, miserable place. I walked up the stairs and knocked softly on the door. It was opened by the old woman whom they called Martha Ivanovna. She looked grave and sad. I wondered if I had come too late. She silently let me in and led me to the bed. I heard a deep cough and felt a little better, at least he was still alive. I could see Marina and Father Alexis sitting by him. They both looked up when I approached.

"My godfather is here," Marina spoke to the sick boy as she rose to greet me. "He wishes to talk to you." she told me as she rose and limped off to the far off corner of the room. She was followed by Father Alexis. I walked over and stood right in front of the blind boy. I had never seen such a pathetic human being in all my life. My mother had also been very ill, but her last days had been pleasant and comfortable with her every need attended too, while this poor suffering boy was wasting away in such meager living conditions. He held out his hand, trying to find mine, I took it and held it a little awkwardly.

"You have a strong hand," he spoke in a voice so weak I could barely hear it. I leaned closer, he must have felt it, for with his other hand he reached out as though trying to find my face. "I should very much like to know what you look like," he said and I leaned over even more and allowed the thin hands to feel my face, my beard, my hair. "You are strong man, a good man," he whispered, "I could tell that from the moment I first heard your voice. How long ago that seems." He broke off coughing again. I sat at the edge of his bed and lifted him, to help him get the cough out. He sank back again when the fit had finished, his hands stained with blood, which he wiped on the corner of his blanket.