6:33 p.m., Theater an der Wien, Patient Lounge

Nora was lying on a wooden hospital bed in the lounge, with Marcus and two midwives beside her.

Marcus knew in his heart that since he agreed to the operation, he, as an obstetrician, was of little use. The only thing he could do was to try his best to save Nora and the child before the operation.

He kept careful records of the labor process, while the midwives were in charge of the mother and child. One took Nora's pulse, and the other used the most fashionable fetal heart rate stethoscope [1] to keep an eye on the child in the belly.

"What's your heart rate now?"

"It's about the same as usual, between 85 and 90."

"Where's the child's?"

The receiver has been placed at the midline of Nora's abdomen above the navel: "It was down to 120 before, but now it is 140-150 times/min." [2]

"It's okay, okay, you continue to listen, listen carefully! If there are any changes, tell me immediately!" Marcus sighed, like a nagging middle-aged woman, and looked at Nora anxiously, "Child

How are you? Do you feel any movement?"

"I moved twice just now, and I felt quite strong."

Nora looked relaxed, not feeling nervous about going to the operating table at all.

The annoying husband was away, and the nurse helped change the clothes soaked in amniotic fluid. The only place she felt uncomfortable now was her stomach. The cramps caused by uterine contractions became rhythmic, and as time went by, the pain increased.

The duration is slowly lengthening and the intervals are shortening.

But Nora didn't take the pain seriously, all she thought about was the child: "Doctor Marcus, can I give the child a good name now?"

"Choosing a name is a big deal. After the birth, you and your wife will have to make the decision together..."

Marcus didn't react at first, but suddenly he saw her eye circles were slightly red, and then he realized how much pressure this 19-year-old girl was under.

Referring to the cesarean sections in the past many years, very few women can survive. Fulfilling may be her last wish in life, Marcus said without hesitation: "What name do you want? I will talk to that guy then.

!”

"The boy will be named Silvio after his grandfather, and the girl will be named Renice after her grandmother." Nora had already thought of the answer, and was waiting for Marcus to agree, "When the time comes, you will definitely

You have to convince him."

"Well, they are all good names. I have written them down. Don't worry..."

...

6:35

The door to the lounge was pushed open, and Herman came in a hurry: "Teacher Marcus, I'm here!"

Marcus looked up at the clock and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Herman was in place together with Kavi, which at least showed that the Department of Surgery did not choose to escape when Ignatz was not around. But he still had to lose his temper, and he was afraid.

After two hours of work, Marcus needed to vent: "Why are you so hard to find a surgeon? Where's Hills?"

"He left earlier than me, and his home is further away than mine. Judging from the time, it should be almost here."

They are also unlucky.

Due to the lack of communication equipment such as telephones and telegraphs, the two of them had just left the theater around five o'clock. They only met the postman who Kawei paid to send him all the way home, and then rushed back. Once they came and went, just on the road alone

It took 1 hour.【3】

"Who would have thought that Miss Nora's water would suddenly break, and all the original plans would be ruined."

"Don't talk nonsense. What plans do you have?" Marcus let out all his anger. "It was originally agreed that the due date of birth would be in March, and you had the surgery at the end of February. But this guy Ignatz delayed it.

If you keep putting it off, you’ll have to wait until now when your water breaks. Are you willing to do so?”

"The surgery is too difficult. The teacher also wants to prepare more." Herman could only help calm his mood.

Marcus knows that the surgeon is a solid chief surgeon and a smooth assistant. Herman is just a second assistant. As long as the real chief surgeon does not come, even if Hills is in place, it will be in vain: "Where is Ignatz? Why hasn't he come yet?

"

Hermann usually doesn't dare to ask about Ignatz's private life: "I don't know."

"Why can't you find anyone in the surgery department? Kawei is the only one you can see in the ward a few times."

"I usually do surgeries..."

"What about after the operation? You won't go back to the ward to see?" Marcus was a little angry. "If you guys were willing to go back to the hospital after the operation, you would definitely be able to catch Nora's water breaking, and you wouldn't be here.

Just wait."

Herman could only stand by the door and smile.

This is what Ignatz usually does. He throws away the scalpel, takes off his robe, leaves the theater, and goes to do his own thing. He and Hills have already started to perform some minor operations on their own. They must be imitating others. If they really want to

After investigation, it was not taught by Ignatz.

“I’m not here already, just let Nora endure it a little longer, and she’ll be on stage soon.”

"The key is Ignatz. How can we perform a cesarean section if he's not here?" Marcus stamped his feet anxiously, but Nora was in the room, so he had to lower his voice and whisper to Herman, "Nora's palace

The contractions have been going on for a long time. A strongly contracting uterus will increase the difficulty of the operation. Does he understand?” [4]

"I see......"

...

6:38

The host in a bright dress ran in through the long aisle. He didn't look at anyone when he entered the door. He just asked: "How are you? Can you go on stage?"

"Get on stage? No one is here, how can we get on?" Marcus pointed at Herman and said, "I don't necessarily want him to get on."

The host glanced at Herman: "Ignatz is not here yet?"

“I can’t find anyone.” Marcus looked at Nora who was enduring the pain of contractions and was really anxious. “When I asked him to drive early, he said he wanted to practice again. Now he has been practicing for so long.

, he is skilled enough, who knows he is gone."

The host works for the theater, and what he has to do is to coordinate the operation time and supervise the operation to be carried out on time. It is impossible to consider the relationship between the doctors.

For them, postponement and cancellation of surgeries are common and not uncommon. They just need to make a good division of responsibilities and interests: "All the tickets are sold short. If you can't do it, your brand will be ruined."

, in terms of money..."

When Herman heard that something was wrong, he immediately interrupted: "We didn't give you permission to sell surgery tickets."

"Huh?" The host pointed in the direction of the gate, "The newsboy and the ticket booth said it was Mr. Carvey's idea."

"Kavi asked the newsboy to instruct you to sell tickets?"

The host was a little confused. This sounded very unreliable. How could it be that a newsboy could decide whether to undergo surgery or not?

Hermann often went to the theater and knew the transaction process inside very well: "Kavi is just an assistant. At most, he is conveying the message to you to set aside an operating theater so that the cesarean section operation can be carried out in a timely and effective manner. He has no chance.

I am instructing you to sell tickets, let alone have the qualifications to instruct you. After all, the chief surgeon of the operation is Teacher Ignatz, do you understand?"

Just when the two were in a stalemate, Hills also arrived: "Has the operation started?"

"No." Herman passed the door of the preparation room, "Nora's water broke and she needs immediate surgery. Now she has to wait for Teacher Ignatz."

When the host saw that it was Ichisuke, he couldn't help but repeat the previous question and ask it again. Unfortunately, neither Hills nor Herman knew Ignatz's whereabouts, and no one could decide when the operation would be performed.

"Listen to the voice next door. There are 118 seats and more than 20,000 crowns are charged. If the operation goes wrong, you will be fully responsible!"

"I told you just now that this was caused by you selling tickets privately. What does it have to do with us?"

"I can't control this. You can go talk to the boss yourself when the time comes..."

The two of them were going back and forth, causing Hills to look solemn: "If you want to argue, go out and close the door. The mother needs absolute rest before the operation."

Everyone knows what it means to give up surgery now.

Nora died in childbirth, the theater's reputation collapsed, and the hospital had to pay a large sum of compensation, which was of no benefit to anyone. But these things were all tied to the surgeon Ignatz, and no one thought about how to remedy the situation if the surgeon was absent.

Forced termination of pregnancy?

Putting aside Fuleni's attitude, the cross on the chest alone made it difficult for Marcus and the other midwives. Moreover, Nora herself did not agree. Now with the pressure from the theater, the operation must be carried out.

"Hiles, if Ignatz doesn't show up again, I think it's better for you to do it." Marcus suddenly made a suggestion, "You have worked under him for so many years and practiced with him repeatedly.

After having a cesarean section, I should be able to do this."

"this......"

"Ignatz has always valued you very much. This time he specially raised your salary to keep you. You should show your performance." Marcus said sincerely, hoping that his motivation could give the pending surgeon a decision.

Substitute for, "What do you think?"

Hills certainly wanted to seize the opportunity.

He only returned to Isuke's position by relying on the threat of leaving his job, which was like a trump card. He got back what should have been his own, but the distrust caused by the threat was difficult to eliminate. He urgently needed the opportunity to prove himself.

It's a pity that this opportunity came a little early.

"No, I am not qualified to perform cesarean section yet. I have always been doing the work of an assistant." Hills refused, "The operation is too difficult. I will definitely fail if I take it on."

Marcus cursed inwardly, and then looked back at Herman. Unexpectedly, Herman ran away faster, opened the door and ran out: "I'd better go outside and take a look, maybe Mr. Ignatz

Already here."

...
To be continued...