Garden of May

“I’m fine. Good heavens, Miss, your nose is bleeding… Here, use this.”

“What happened?”

“Some madman jumped out in front of us. I’ll go see. You stay here.”

“No… I need to see for myself.” Vanessa wiped the blood with a handkerchief and quickly got out of the car. If she wasn’t mistaken, he had deliberately blocked their path. He had at least recognized the car.

Mary shouted something behind her, but Vanessa didn’t hear. Was it a delusion, or a premonition? Vanessa was certain the vagrant had been trying to tell her something. As she approached him, Alman, who had finally emerged from the driver’s seat, rushed forward, blocking her path.

“Miss, please stay back. It’s dangerous.”

“The accident’s already happened. What’s the danger now?”

“I don’t think he’s in his right mind. If you stay inside…”

“Good heavens, Alman. He’s injured!”

The vagrant was still sprawled on the ground. People milled around, staring, but no one offered to help. Vagrants often died fighting amongst themselves or, like now, caused trouble, so it was best for everyone to stay clear.

Vanessa pushed past the chauffeur and approached the vagrant. The man, dressed in ragged military attire, was moaning, conscious but clearly in pain. Blood flowed from a wound on his forehead, but thankfully, Alman’s quick swerve had prevented more serious injury.

Unconcerned about the blood staining her clothes, Vanessa helped him up. “Are you alright? Can you move?”

“Ah, ugh…” The man clutched his injured leg and groaned like a wounded animal. His dark eyes, vacant and unfocused, suggested he was in shock.

“Alman, we need a doctor. He’s hurt worse than he looks.”

“A doctor? But…”

“What if something happens to him? There’s no time. Hurry. Give him this if he asks for money.” Vanessa removed one of her diamond earrings and pressed it into Alman’s hand.

“Miss, this is…”

“It belonged to my mother.”

“Good heavens.”

“It’s from the Count of Somerset. Tell him it’s just collateral, that it absolutely cannot be sold. Tell him I’ll return with the money in a few days.”

Even she knew it was madness, but there was no other way. In these backwater towns, doctors were notoriously slow to act, and the name of Somerset carried far more weight.

“I’ll stay with him until the doctor arrives.”

“Very well. Keep talking to him so he doesn’t lose consciousness.”

“Mary, get some hot water from that shop over there. And a clean towel if they have one… Hurry!” Mary, who had been standing in a daze, snapped to attention at Vanessa’s sharp command. She hurried across the street and disappeared into the shop. Meanwhile, the vagrant clung to Vanessa’s skirt as if it were a lifeline.

The sight of the vagrant’s bloodied face made her feel faint, but Vanessa steeled herself and took his hand. “Don’t lose consciousness. Just wait a little while. Someone will be here soon.”

“…E…na…Tha…”

“It’s going to be alright. You’re bleeding a bit, but…”

“…No…Tha…No…”

“What?”

She leaned closer, trying to make out his mumbled words. Suddenly, the vagrant gripped her wrist painfully tight, with a strength she wouldn’t have expected from someone so recently incapacitated.

Vanessa flinched as his face, grimy and with yellowed, crooked teeth, came close. A foul odor emanated from his unwashed body.

“I…know…” His voice, faint at first, grew steadily stronger. “The moment…I heard it…I ran…The sound of your car’s engine…”

“You know it?”

“Yes…That’s the one…from seven years ago…I…have good ears…I can identify sounds…I even got a medal for it…Like your master…I caught…a cowardly Tran spy…”

The vagrant gasped for breath and continued in a rush. “If…you want me…to keep quiet…give me…more money…My child…is sick…Then I’ll…go away…as you wish…”