The Indian Bride by Karin Fossum Read Free Book Online Page B

heavily against a wall.
    "We've put her on a respirator. One lung is perforated. We're hoping she'll regain consciousness in the course of the evening and then we'll know a bit more. In addition she has several fractures—"
    "Several fractures?" Gunder felt dizzy. At the same time he looked at his watch.
    "What can I do?" he said desperately.
    The doctor had no means of knowing Gunder's dilemma. He shook his head slowly. "It would be best for your sister if you could sit by her bed. And talk to her. Even though she may not hear you. We will of course provide you with a bed for the night, should you wish it."
    Gunder thought, I can't stay here. Poona is going to be waiting. He felt torn. But there was only one of him and he couldn't divide himself in two. He stopped because the doctor had stopped.
    "Her chest has been crushed. All of her ribs are broken. One knee is badly damaged, too. If we get her back on her feet again, I'm afraid that that knee will not work perfectly again."
    If we get her back on her feet?
I feel sick, Gunder thought. His breakfast churned in his stomach. A wide door opened into a small room. He saw something dark against the white pillow, but couldn't see how that could really be his sister, Marie. He stood in front of the bed, shaking.
    "We have to find Karsten," he stuttered. "Her husband. He's in Hamburg."
    "I'm glad we were able to get hold of you," the doctor said. He helped Gunder into a chair. Marie was white, almost blue below the eyes. A tube was taped in place across her mouth. He heard a slow, hissing sound from the respirator. It sounded like a giant heavily asleep.
    "What we are most concerned about," the doctor said, clearing his throat, "is the trauma to her head. We won't know the extent of it until she regains consciousness."
    What did he mean? Was she no longer herself? Would she wake up and have forgotten who he was? Forgotten how to talk, or laugh, or that two and two made four? Might she open her eyes and look at him not knowing who she even was herself? Gunder felt himself tumbling into a deep pit. But he clung to the thought of Poona. Her face appeared at the edge of this cavernous darkness, smiling.
    He kept looking at his watch. Marie was tiny in the bed and her round face had lost all its contours. He had to let someone in on his secret about Poona. Someone he trusted, who would not laugh or make him doubt. Someone who was willing to do him a favor.
    "Marie!" he whispered.
    No response. Did she hear him?
    "It's me. Gunder. I'm sitting by your bed."
    He looked at the doctor despondently, his eyes brimming with tears.
    "Everything is going to be fine," he said. "Poona and I are going to take care of you."
    It helped to say her name out loud. He wasn't, after all, alone.
    The clock was ticking. He could not leave Marie—what would she think? What would the doctors think if he popped his head around the ward sister's door and said, "I'll be off now. I have to pick someone up at the airport." He tried to organize his thoughts, but they refused to let themselves be organized.
Would he at last have found a wife, but at the same time lose a sister? He buried his face in his hands in despair. The doctor came over and stood close to him.
    "I'm going now. Call ... if there's anything."
    Gunder rubbed his eyes hard. Who could he depend upon? He did not have close friends. Had never wanted any. Or had not managed to make any—he was no longer sure which. Time passed. The respirator tormented him with its hissing sound; he was almost tempted to switch it off to avoid having to listen to it. It interfered with his own breathing and made him breathless. Eventually he let go of Marie's hand and got up abruptly. Went into the corridor and found a pay phone.
    Gunder never took minicabs himself, but he knew the number by heart. It was on Kalle's Mercedes in black numbers. He answered at the second ring.
    "Kalle. It's Gunder Jomann. I'm at the Central Hospital. My sister has been in a car