The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka Page #4

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Do you think you'll die if you take my medicines? I'm not making something that will kill people!

I'm sorry.

If you're so confident why are you hesitating? Use me!

OK. I will use you both. I need several human subjects.

You say both of us but I spoke first, Start with me.

OK I will. But say nothing to my apprentices.

How long will the effects last?

Less than 4 hours.

It's not as bitter as I expected.

It's strong so please lie down.

There's something I have to say first ...

What is it?

When Ryouhei comes back from Kyoto I want you to adopt him (as the heir)

My younger brother?

That there's been no heir is troubling me.

Very well. He's studying medicine and he'll make a good heir.

That's a relief.

It's your mother ...

Are you in pain?

Mother? Mother!

Unpei?

Does it hurt?

I feel so hot!

That's normal so don't worry.

I'm fine.

It was Kae who decided to call you.

I'll come back later. There are loads of patients today.

Unpei?

Yes?

Unpei, you're my son.

I am.

Unpei. I ...

It looks as if she's started to sleep.

What are you doing?

This is where the body feels most pain. If I pinch it slightly and she groans like that the dose is obviously too weak.

It's too weak.

Is she really OK? She thrashed around so much ...

I just gave her a little juice in alcohol so it's like she's slightly drunk and fallen asleep.

I see.

Keep it secret though!

How long did I sleep?

Only 4 hours.

I didn't know at all.

It's very effective.

Do you have any pain in your head or in your joints?

No, none at all.

Is your vision OK?

I can see. There's nothing wrong with me.

The experiment was a great success.

Thanks to you. Here are some smelling salts.

Kae, you must be relieved to see my condition.

There's absolutely nothing to fear.

But surely you don't need to take the drug now ...

I'm very relieved that you're OK.

Mistress Otsugi is amazing. I take my hat off to her. Being a mother made her able to take the drug.

Good morning.

Otsugi has broken her promise and is telling everyone the experiment has been successful.

This will make things difficult for you.

What will you do if a patient asks you for anaesthesia when you operate?

You're right. It will need 8 times as much as I gave her to be effective.

You can try it on me.

No matter how strong the drug is I 'm not scared to take it if it helps you.

Kae, you'll really do this for me?

Yes

You hair is so long. When will mine get like that?

Why are you crying?

I got dirty water in my eyes.

Take a deep breath and drink it. It makes it easy to swallow in one go.

Do you want some water?

Give her some water please.

Are you in pain?

Are you hot?

Koben ...

Look after Koben.

It's OK. You're not going to die.

But make Koben (the heir) ...

I will.

She's your daughter ...

I promise.

I pinched her inside thigh as hard as I can but there's no reaction.

The anaesthetic effect is excellent.

You've not slept for three days.

You'll get ill.

I'm OK. You go to bed.

The young mistress has not woken for 3 days ...

If she doesn't wake up there'll be scandal.

Kae seems to want to die but it's me who'll be in trouble if she does.

I hope more than anyone that she will be OK.

If something happens to the bride I brought here ...

I ... I could never live with it.

Kae, are you awake?

She'll be OK now.

She'll be able to talk in another couple of hours.

Make her some really delicious rice porridge and give her three raw egg yolks.

She's not had anything to eat or drink for 3 days.

You haven't had anything either.

Really? OK, I will eat the same then.

Why are you making rice porridge?

Kae is awake.

Unpei is delighted.

He wants to eat with Kae.

He wants to eat with her ...

The young mistress has woken up.

The experiment seems to have been successful.

Mistress Otsugi is preparing rice and crying with happiness.

That's great news.

Mistress Otsugi and the young mistress are wonderful examples of womanhood for a doctor's house.

They risk their lives for the master's success.

That deserves respect.

Did you have dreams?

So no dreams.

Headache?

OK:

How do you feel generally?

Heaviness in the legs? You can't move them, can you?

No, you mustn't lift them.

Any pain in the joints?

Nothing?

Good! That's good!

By the way, who taught you to tie these knots?

My grandmother. She said it was an important accomplishment for a Samurai daughter.

She said the more you move the tighter they get and they will not come undone.

I see.

Like this?

I see.

It may look like nothing much but it's a very clever way of tying the knots.

It's great for stopping bleeding quickly.

As you'd expect of a samurai daughter. She thought about it carefully.

Yes, she did.

Unpei, Kae has been conscious for two weeks and she's still in bed.

And she's so weakened we can't say that the experiment was a success.

A patient who took that and underwent an operation would probably die.

Is it that she has a particular weakness to datura?

I'm sorry to have caused you such worry.

I'm tougher - I've have had children and never got ill. Do the experiment again on me.

You're my child and so I really want to be of use to you.

OK. Let's do it.

Kae?

She's coming around.

I've slept for 3 days.

is it really 3 days? I've been awake all the time and I'm so tired that I can't remember.

But don't worry about that. I'll get the smelling salts.

Where's Unpei?

He's just stepped out to an emergency patient.

This time it was a great success, wasn't it?

Unlike you I have no exhaustion...

... I feel absolutely fine.

For Unpei's sake you should be pleased too.

Yes, he will be delighted.

Koriku, can you give Mistress Otsugi rice porridge and egg yolks.

She'll be really pleased that it's you.

I need to finish the floors before it gets dark.

Before it gets dark???

Kae?

I thought the weather was good but it's getting slightly dark ...

It would be a shame if the rain spoiled the starch.

Koben? What's the matter?

Is something wrong with you?

Just two days ill with a cold ...

.. and then to die.

She was lucky not to suffer.

Cry. Cry your heart out.

If you can still cry then you're still happy ...

It's when your tears dry up that it gets really lonely.

When Okatsu died I ...

... I wanted to die myself and go to her.

What is it?

You're taking Datura yourself every night, aren't you?

You noticed?

I'm experimenting on myself to try to get the amount reduced to the right level.

What if something happens to you?

Why won't you let me be the subject of the experiment?

If I give you too strong medication ... you couldn't cope.

No. Please try it on me.

I'm frightened that people are going to die.

I suppose it was just Koben's fate ...

... but Okatsu could have been saved if anaesthetic was available.

I want to be used so you can perfect it.

Kae?

Yes?

This last experiment ...

Will you do it for me?

I will.

This is a whole bundle of leaves which I have toasted, crushed and dried.

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