Elixir of Life, Page 3

leave the room now.’ I turn to her mother. ‘You must get her out of her wet clothes and then get all the warm blankets you can find and wrap her up tightly. I’ll go and get my medical supplies and be back within an hour.’

  I run to my treatment centre. My young firm body carries me with great speed. I bless the strength of my youthful legs. Within an hour I am back at the child’s house administering the drugs she needs.

  The hours race past and soon it is night.

  I and Ollie mount a night time vigil, watching over the sickly child.

  Ollie looks at me with mournful eyes. ‘Don’t worry boy. I have lived a long time and have learnt many things in my life. She will survive. At least I can do one decent thing.’

  The dog looks at me as though he understands me perfectly.

  For the next weeks I nurse the child day and night. Initially the mother watches me like a hawk, as do her neighbours, my reputation as a debauched rogue is known throughout the neighbourhood. But as the days turned to weeks they learn to trust me. In all this time I don’t once think of my own lusts, I only care for the child.

  Rose’s mother is constantly visited by friends asking after the child and offering help. Some of them take turns to work her shift at the wash house, so she can remain with the Rose. Would anyone help me in such a way?

  Rose’s mother feeds me bread and cheese. I accept even though it is poor working class fodder and I have to force it down. Rose’s mother always says she’ll eat in the kitchen. One evening I peek in on her and see she isn’t eating. She’s given me the few scraps of food in the house, so that I have the strength to look after her child. I feel numb.

  The next day I slip out and buy enough bread and cheese for both of us. I think of buying the best, but don’t want to give any cause for gossip. We enjoy a simple meal together and talk.

  ‘How old is Rose?’

  ‘She’ll be ten in the autumn.’

  ‘What happened to her father?’

  ‘He went to Wales to work in a mine and was killed in an accident.'

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

  ‘It is just the way of the world. He was a good man, but when he died we were left with nothing. It is only me and Rose.’

  I look around the small two room dwelling they call home. She obviously tries to keep it as clean as possible, but it is a slum dwelling.

  ‘Was there no compensation?’

  Rose’s mother laughs, ’You have the funniest ideas!’

  ‘How do you manage for money?’

  ‘I have my wash house work. It pays five shillings a day, so if I work six and a half days I can pay the rent and have a little left over for food.’

  I am puzzled. ‘How much is the rent?’

  ‘It’s twenty-five shillings a week.’

  ‘That’s criminal!’

  ‘Your friends Spike and Gripper are the landlord’s rent collectors.’

  I feel ashamed. Rose’s mother is heroic, while I’m just a selfish good-for-nothing. I help her clear away the plates and return to my vigil.

  Later, as I sit with Ollie on my lap, I hear a soft voice.

  ‘Ollie.’

  The dog jumps off my lap, shoots across to the bed and is soon wrapped in the arms of the child, his tail frantically wagging.

  The child’s mother rushes in and I am confronted with a scene of total happiness. Something twinges in my heart. I suddenly understand that I can be good. Should I have settled down and lived an ordinary life? Could this have been my family? My eyes feel damp.

  I leave the happy scene and walk out into the street. There, waiting across the road, is the hulking figure of the Gripper. He lumbers towards me.

  ‘Doc. I’ve been waiting for you. Spike has work for you.’

  I think of protesting, but know Gripper, even though he has aged, is still too much of a match for me.

  ‘Lead the way and I’ll follow you.’

  Gripper leads the way. The crowds part in front of him, some people dart across the road as he comes into view. Gripper turns to me and looks me up and down. Then for the first time in all the years I’ve known him, he actually asks a question. ‘How come you still look exactly the same as the first day I saw you? It must be at least twenty years, if not thirty years and you haven’t changed a bit.’

  As I look at Gripper I can see he is still a formidable brute of a man, but the years have taken their toll on him. I think for a moment, then lie, ‘It is all the alcohol. It has preserved my body.’

  Gripper smiles slightly and continues to lead the way.

  Before I know it I’m back to my old ways. Fixing up any criminal that wants my services and getting my fix of organs whenever I need another sample of the potion. But I have changed slightly, I ask Spike to find a better home for Rose and her mother, for the same rent, which he reluctantly does.

  Occasionally, I look in on Rose as she grows into a beautiful young woman. I am always careful not to be seen. Every time I watch her strange paternal feelings stir in my heart.

  One day as I look in on her, I see her and her mother with the limp lifeless body of Ollie. They are both crying. I need to comfort them. I can’t stop myself. I walk up to them. The mother recognises me.

  ‘Rose. This is the man that saved you and Ollie all those years ago.’ The mother looks me up and down and adds, ‘You’ve kept well sir; you don’t seem to have aged a day!’

  ‘It’s just healthy living.’ I turn to Rose. ‘Do you want some help to bury Ollie?’

  ‘Yes please,’ implores a tearful Rose.

  We walk to the common land. I take the shovel and dig a small grave, place Ollie in it and then gently fill the hole.

  Rose clings to her mother and cries. Her mother asks, ‘Sir. Will you say a few words?’

  ‘Ollie was a fine dog and a true companion. I am sure Ollie has gone to a better place and God will look after him.’

  Rose says, ‘Thank you, Sir.’

  After the small ceremony I make my excuses and return to the treatment centre. The signs I know so well are creeping over me, the potions desired effects are wearing off.

  A message is sent to Spike and I wait for the fresh organs to be supplied.

  For some reason Ollie comes into my thoughts. I remember saving him and seeing him play with Rose then I see the ceremony we have just completed, where the circle of his life was completed. Am I destroying the natural order of life? Am I cheating death through my potion and at what cost? I try hard not to think of where the organs come from, but in my heart I know there are no convenient accidents.

  A loud banging at the door interrupts my thoughts. My heart races. Is it the police?

  ‘Doctor, Doctor.’ There is more thumping at the door. ‘Doctor, Doctor, help me!’

  The voice is familiar. It’s Rose’s mother.

  As I open the door, she forces her way in.

  ‘What is the matter?’

  ‘It’s Rose they’ve taken her!’

  ‘Who has taken her? What do you mean? Explain yourself?’

  ‘She was upset about Ollie. She went to a bar for a drink. She left to come home and they went out of the pub moments after her. Then people heard shouting and screaming. When they went out to investigate she was gone. I went to the police, but they don’t want to know about poor people.’

  ‘Who are they?’

  ‘Spike and Gripper.’

  I feel my body convulse and my mouth is filled with the taste of bile. Rose is to be my next set of organs.

  ‘Don’t worry I will save her.’

  I dash back to my treatment room. I fling open the trunk where I keep a trio of pistols and ammunition. I’ve only practiced with them once, now I will see how good I am at dealing with living targets. I load the pistols, grab a jacket, hide the pistols in the pockets and set out on my mission.

  I run as though chased by the devil to Spike’s and Gripper’s hide-out. I pray it is where they have taken Rose. My heart is thumping. I reach the door and begin to
pound on it. There is no reply. I draw a pistol, fire at the lock and it explodes.

  I throw my body against the door. It’s rotten, and gives way under my weight. I see Spike running down the stairs. I raise a pistol and fire. He throws himself at me and I collapse under his weight. I push him away and see his dead eyes. His lifeless face looks at me as though he has a question on his mind. The only question in my mind is am I too late to save Rose?

  I look around, the corridor is dark. I try to find my pistols, but they are lost. How can I fight Gripper without weapons?

  A woman is screaming, ‘Help me!’ It’s Rose!

  I scramble up the stairs and burst into a room. There, tied to a table is Rose, she is clearly terrified. I rush forward to untie her, but am instantly caught in a vice like grip. I struggle with every ounce of strength in my body, but it is pointless, I cannot break the hold.

  ‘Gripper. Let go of me!’

  ‘Doc? What are you doing here? We are just getting you some more organs. What was the noise downstairs?’

  Quickly I think of a lie, ‘The noise was Spike. He has had some sort of fit. I need some medical equipment to look after him.’

  ‘We thought we heard a gunshot and someone smashing in the door?’

  ‘Gripper let go of me. Spike needs help.’ I feel Gripper relax his iron like grip. I fall to the ground. I know that I must act quickly to save Rose. I look around and see a set of blood stained knifes on the table.

  ‘Gripper, go and help Spike!’

  Gripper hesitates.

  ‘Go and help Spike. I‘ll get some medicine.’

  Gripper lumbers out of the room. I rush over to Rose, grab a carving knife and begin to cut her bonds. As I free her, she looks at me as though I am the devil