The Baby Experiment by Anne Dublin Read Free Book Online

led to an unknown future. She felt paralyzed with uncertainty.
    Then she remembered the babies who had died, their stiff grey corpses wrapped in coarse linen, carted away to unmarked graves. She shuddered and began to walk towards the nursery.
    â€œJohanna,” someone whispered.
    â€œWho is it?” Johanna asked, her heart pounding. She turned towards the voice. A dark shape was standing in the shadow of a doorway.
    â€œIt’s me.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œMe! Cecile.” She wore her cloak and hat, and clutched a bag in her hands.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Johanna asked.
    â€œI know what you’re planning.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œYou’ve been planning to run away for days now. I saw you,” Cecile said. “I saw you take some food from the kitchen. And you were asking about Altona —”
    Johanna shook her head. “I have to go. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
    Cecile took a step towards Johanna. “Not likely. You’ll be gone by tomorrow.”
    â€œBut —”
    â€œYou’re running away.” Cecile took another step towards her and grabbed her arm. “And I want to go with you.”
    Johanna shrugged off Cecile’s hand. “So, I’m leaving,” she said. “That doesn’t mean you can come with me.” More gently, she added, “Besides, we can’t both leave at the same time!”
    Cecile pursed her lips as she peered along the corridor. “I don’t care. All I know is that I must leave this horrid place. And I must leave today!”
    â€œCecile, you don’t understand,” said Johanna. She turned to face Cecile and put her hands on her friend’s shoulders. “I’m not going alone. I’m taking one of my babies with me.”
    â€œAre you crazy?”
    â€œI can’t … I won’t watch another baby die.”
    â€œDo you know what will happen if they catch you? They’ll throw you in jail! Or worse!” Cecile paused. “Which one?”
    â€œWhich what?”
    â€œWhich baby ? I’m not talking about apples!”
    Johanna pushed past Cecile. Time was growing short. She was afraid Daniel would leave without her. “I have to go!”
    â€œPlease, Johanna!” Cecile cried after her. “Please let me come with you!” Johanna looked back at Cecile. “You’re willing to give up this job?”
    â€œI don’t care,” Cecile said. “I haven’t heard from my family for weeks. I’m afraid to go alone. I won’t be in your way and … maybe I can help.”
    What if I don’t let her come? Johanna thought. Will she betray me? “All right. You may come with me as far as Altona.”
    â€œGreat!” She grabbed Johanna by the arm. “Let’s go!”
    â€œBe quiet! They’ll hear you.”
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œMeet me outside, behind the hedge near the road,” said Johanna. “I’ll go get Rebecca.”
    â€œWait,” Cecile said. “Give me your bag. You’ll have to carry the baby.” She grinned. “See? I’m already a help!”
    In the nursery, one girl was dozing in a chair; two others were playing a game of checkers, out of sight of the babies. The babies were sleeping, or lying listlessly in their beds.
    Johanna tiptoed over to Rebecca’s bed. Rebecca was deep in dreams, her tiny mouth twitching slightly. Johanna picked her up. She felt her warmth against her chest. Just then, one of the girls said, “Johanna, where are you taking that baby?”
    Johanna froze in her tracks. She felt her heart racing and could scarcely speak. “Keller … Doctor Keller asked me to bring her to him.”
    â€œOh? I didn’t know he was here.”
    â€œHe … came by hired carriage.” Rebecca was reaching towards Johanna’s face and playing with her hair. “I must go. The doctor