The Nun's Story Page #6

I'm going to tell you

something about yourself, Sister.

I've never worked with any other kind

of nurse except nuns since I began.

And you're not in the mold, Sister.

You never will be.

You're what's called a worldly nun.

ldeal for the public, ideal for the patients.

But you see things your own way.

You stick to your own ideas.

You'll never be the kind of nun

that your convent expects you to be.

That's your illness.

The TB is a byproduct.

I can cure the byproduct,

if you want me to.

I want to stay.

All right, leave it to me.

I'll tell the Mother Superior in such a way

that she can't send you home.

We'll put you up in the little pavilion...

where you'll be sleeping

practically in the treetops.

-How long?

-Five, six months, perhaps.

But remember,

I'm only working on the byproduct.

The main illness is for you to cure.

I'll try.

Anything you knew before I did,

keep under your bonnet if you can.

That is, unless your pride...

as a genius of the microscope

doesn't get the better of you.

I'll take an x-ray in the morning.

Come in.

His name is Felix and Mother Mathilde

said you might have him.

Really?

Ilunga gave him to me.

I'd rather he'd given me that fetish

from around his neck.

This reminds me of a tree house

that I had when I....

Anything you want, you ask for it.

Because Dr. Fortunati says

you're to be pampered.

Isn't it wonderful?

Thanks for Felix.

Refuse nothing. Ask for nothing.

It's a prairie oyster. Swallow it quickly.

Each night at 10:00 you'll be awakened

with sandwiches and two glasses of wine.

I see.

The drums have already started

passing the word...

so by tomorrow we'll be swamped

with food and drink for Sister Luke.

Don't cry.

Don't think too much. Relax.

Live life as it comes. From day to day.

I want you to drink

as much of this Belgian beer as you can.

Unless you want to come out

of this gold dust cure with ruined kidneys.

How can I drink so much--

It's all right, there's nobody

to see you here except him.

And you know about monkeys.

That's right. It's good to see you laugh.

You keep laughing, Sister.

I will.

I said rest. Absolute rest.

Thank you, Mother.

I don't know if I'm well yet,

but I feel so well.

So completely well.

It's strange that I had to fall ill to learn

to take each day and each night...

as a gift from God. Without struggle.

It seems impossible,

but when I say my culpa to you next...

I don't think I'll have any imperfections

against the Rule to proclaim.

Except that tonight

you talked during the Grand Silence.

That's a whole week of normal.

You're allowed to have pride, Doctor.

Take pride in your cure.

Are you cured?

The slides and the temperature seem to....

-It'll be good to have you back in surgery.

-It'll be good to be useful again.

Don't rush it, Sister.

It's not going to be easy

to return to the community.

Even to this select little gathering

here in the Congo.

I'm going to miss this.

Well.

At least he's curious.

If I could only get him

into the chapel Christmas Eve.

Well, what do you think of it, Ilunga?

It's for the chapel.

Christmas Eve.

Come in. Come in and have a look at it.

I'm afraid not this year.

I would give anything

if I could convert him.

You spoil them, Sister.

It's one of our building boys

who's come for first aid.

You think if you bandage their fingers,

you'll get their souls.

Well, maybe you're right.

No, inside. Dispensary.

No, inside.

Ilunga, help me lift her.

Ilunga.

She is dead, Reverend Mother.

Ilunga.

If you're on your way to contagion,

please take these to Sister Raphael.

-I don't understand.

-What?

You're not angry with us?

-There's no place in our hearts for anger.

-But this killing, Mama Luke.

Not even then.

Why did he do it, Ilunga?

A witch doctor told him

that if he killed a white woman...

he'd be rid of the ghost of his dead wife.

I feel sorry for him.

If such a death happened with us...

we'd tie the murderer to a stake

and cut his body for fish bait.

But we would not.

We've been taught to forgive.

That's what you must try

and make the other boys understand.

Tell the boys we hope they'll all come

to chapel Christmas Eve.

Maybe even you, Ilunga.

Sometime this afternoon

we'll discus the Englebert case.

I want to give you instructions for the trip.

-The trip?

-Yes. Hasn't Mother Mathilde told you?

What?

I have to send you back to Belgium.

With the Englebert case.

You are the only one qualified.

The only one we can possibly send.

He is important to the colony.

And we can only avoid

a complete mental breakdown...

if we get him to a sanitarium

with proper facilities.

Of course, Mother.

I hope the Mother House

will return you to us as soon as possible.

In the meantime, at long last...

they are sending me another sister

with qualifications similar to yours.

Dr. Fortunati will give you instructions

about the case.

We shall all miss you.

You'll have native guards to help you

on the train as far as the coast.

After that, the ship's doctor

will share the responsibility.

I'll give you a supply of sedatives

in case he needs them.

Do you think they'll send you back here?

I don't know.

-There's going to be a war in Europe.

-I know.

They tell me somebody else is coming out

to fill in for you or take your place.

-Yes.

-Somebody else will have to train her.

I'm taking a long vacation

when you leave here.

I couldn't help it.

Englebert's an important man.

There was nobody else, I had to send you.

I understand.

I wish I could keep you here.

As much for your sake as for mine.

Supposing they keep you

indefinitely in Belgium?

You seem so sure

of your religious strength, but I'm not.

Once you set foot in the Mother House,

the walls, the discipline, the silence--

Will you indicate the dosage

for the sedatives?

But if they keep you indefinitely,

will the strength be enough?

Yes.

You're sure it's not

that ferocious will of yours?

I'm sure.

But when you get there,

you're going to wish that you--

Doctor, a nun is not a person

who wishes or desires.

But you're going to feel that you can't....

When you're ready to discuss the case,

please ring for me.

I'm coming back, you beautiful thing.

Do you hear me? I'm coming back.

Come in, Mama Luke.

This is for you.

Tell them thank you.

-How is your health, my child?

-Very good, thank you, Reverend Mother.

So many fine letters

from colonial families...

and missionary fathers

about your good work.

You were liked and respected

by everyone out there...

including your native boys, I see.

Do you wish me to give it to your father?

I would rather it be kept in

the congregation to which it belongs.

When I return to....

When I leave here, it will be good to know

it is in the Mother House.

That is very generous of you.

You will be a splendid example

for our postulants and novices here.

And I think they will be good for you, too.

The more we are looked to for example,

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