Chapter 16: My Special Case With Our Teacher - Lenya Vernushina

I was still connected to Ananda by the bond of marriage. It was damn hard for me to break this bond after the wonderful time with the lovely Indian woman, just to say to her: “Ananda, thank you for the time. That’s it.” But that was the agreement, that’s how it had happened to all young women up to that point, just without being married beforehand. Somehow, I had qualms about explaining it to Ananda or in front of the group.

Our doctor, my Bruno’s dear mother, came to my aid. After the meal, she shared with us the results of Ananda’s examination that morning. Everything was perfect. My estranged wife was in the best of health. “So, Ananda, as sad as it may be for you, but as agreed, your husband has commissioned me to end your partnership.”

Ananda nodded in agreement but, contrary to her manner, stood up. “Guys, thank you. Without you I would never have experienced the miracle of love. I am so happy and my Desna will always remind me of these wonderful days.” She stroked her fertilized womb with pleasure.

The ball was passed to me, I had to answer. “Ananda, you are a great darling, a young woman with incredible body control. Thank you for the spectacular time. Good luck to you and your baby.” Cheers, applause, and then a hard rap on the table. As so often, Sula intoned a call. “A-nan-da, A-nan-da...” boomed through the hall.

My words “So, now I’m single again, I can rest a bit.” was followed by a confusion of screams and whistles, until it ended in a chorus. “Lenya’s turn, Lenya’s turn.”

Reassuringly, my hands asked everyone to be seated again. “The next few days are planned. I have to maintain the wind turbine and the solar power plants. But on Saturday... - Lenya, how are you? Do you still want to?” I asked the dear Russian. She looked at me with big eyes. “Yes, I would like to. Does that mean...?”

“Yes, that’s what it means. We could be partners before long.” Lenya put her arms around my neck and kissed me enthusiastically like a woman her boyfriend after the announcement of her engagement. “Yes, I would like to have a son whom I would like to name Vadim after my father.”

Ramona and Esther clapped first, then everyone. A new partnership was as good as established. As we hugged, I realized I was holding a young woman who, if I could remember the last time I hugged her, had overtaken my mother in height. It was strange how my home came to mind at that moment, but Lenya must have been thinking about her childhood home as well.

Our generator sets were in remarkably good condition. The solar collectors glistened in the sun. Fahsai and Ananda had kept their promise and cleaned the solar panels every two weeks. The recorded performance of the last few weeks was higher than specified in the project. The weather in the valley was ideal in September, cloudless skies every day, and only in the evening a few clouds brought us some rain.

On the other hand, the electricity generated by our wind turbine was at the lower limit, the wind blew steadily but gently. Due to the lower consumption in early spring, there were no problems with the power supply. I hated to think back to the arguments with the villagers. Hopefully, this was over once and for all.

On the way back I took a break between laurel trees and unfamiliar bushes. Here the villagers had built a bench and a table. Surely, they took some rest while picking the Coca leaves at this special place. It didn’t smell as unpleasant here as it did near the Coca trees, which gave off a putrid smell, somehow musty odour.

Smoking a cigarette, I enjoyed the heavenly peace in the valley. My thoughts revolved around our future. From next week I should focus my energy on the progress of the work on the road. Without contact with the outside world, a more complicated life threatened in the long term, although food, drink, housing, and electricity were secured. Medicines and vaccines in particular were missing, but so were everyday items. However, day-by-day it became more arduous to cover the increasing distance to clear the wild trees on the steep mountain road.

In the middle of my thoughts, two parrots suddenly landed on the table. They chattered at me as if they were demanding something. Luckily, I still had flatbread with me. First, they picked the crumbs off the table, then they tried to steal the whole piece of bread with their beaks. But I wanted to keep watching the strange animals and kept crumbing bread on the table.

The birds were quite large, perhaps more than a foot from head to toe, with dense plumage of varying shades of green. Red fluff shone only around the anus. When they spread their wings, they lifted their heads imperiously. Then their chatter was almost unbearable.

Soon I had the birds so far that they took the crumbs right out of my hand quite carefully. Like a child, I rejoiced at this extraordinary encounter. Surely some villagers here had already attracted the animals with food.

Then I had to flee. A whole flock of these parrots landed on the table, on the back of a chair, even on my shoulder. The noise was deafening. My bike quickly brought me past the village to the guesthouse. There was great unrest there. From a distance I had seen Olivia run out of the house towards the village, a buggy with Esther, Priya, and Babette came roaring, although it was actually class time. I pedalled with concern. What happened?

Alejandra informed me with “Florence - Baby.” The heavily pregnant woman was supposed to move to the Casa today because of the forthcoming birth, but it seemed too late. I hurried to the village. Esther had already decided, Florence could and should be transferred to the Casa immediately. Due to her age, a difficult birth was imminent, especially since twins were to be expected.

Leonie and Babette carried the stretcher in front; I grabbed the stretcher from behind. After heavy labour, Florence just got up and walked to the guesthouse. Esther and Priya hurried ahead. Our doctor had also arrived. We had planned that Carmen would move permanently to the next room and clear the so-called birth room for Florence. Babette and Priya cleaned the room thoroughly. Luckily, it was a bit preheated by Carmen. Then I put things in order. Everyone had to leave the Casa or go to her rooms. Our doctor and her three helpers were responsible for the birth. I allowed Leonie to stand at the head of the bed and assist Florence. She certainly wanted to experience live, how a birth went, in order to prepare for it.

When the next surge of contractions had subsided, I hugged Florence again, kissing her forehead. Olivia translated my words, “Florence. Stay calm. You can do it. I am really looking forward to your children.”

The woman still did not believe that she would give birth to two babies. Leonie helped her to tie a braided rope thickened with knots around her head in such a way that several knots protruded into her open mouth to bite on. Olivia told me that would be the custom among the Indios to quell or endure the pain.

Finally, everything was prepared. Esther prevailed by cleaning and shaving the woman giving birth. Although Florence kept having contractions, the birth process did not progress, even the amniotic fluid had not yet passed. Ramona left it to Esther to open the amniotic sac. Esther carefully touched the bulging body. In her opinion, neither of the two babies had yet lowered. This was dangerous when both babies blocked each other’s way. Everyone had to leave the room. Babette held Florence standing. Ramona and Esther used all their powers and womanly skills to change the position of the babies. Florence screamed wildly as her body suddenly changed completely. A child had apparently found the right path through the women, lowered itself towards the birth canal. The mucus plug had also come loose and a mighty contraction shook the brave parturient. Now the contractions started. Even on the terrace I could hear Florence screaming. Alejandra didn’t know if Florence had received the magic Inca-potion. No, Leonie had forgotten about it in all the excitement. I had my little box in the palazzo. Florence had been fighting for her first baby for more than eight hours when she finally received tea with the powder from Olivia. After about thirty minutes, Florence’s pain had subsided. She still had to fight a little longer, but then the first girl was born in the valley. Everyone was very happy, especially me, but Florence had another fight ahead of her. It was almost a full hour before their son was born. Florence sank into a twilight state. Ramona brought her back with an olfactory tincture. Our doctor examined the two new-borns and handed them over to their assistants for further cleaning and dressing.

Everyone was still very busy, only Ramona was no longer needed immediately. Her helpers were already birth professionals. She came to me smiling. “Didn’t we both do well? Both ovum used were fertile. Congratulations on your first girl, my dear sperm donor.” Again and again, she understood how to speak in a mixture of recognition with a slightly negative additional note. Of course, I congratulated our doctor on her first artificial pregnancy of an ‘elderly woman’, as I emphasized. A kiss completed our joy about the wonderful event.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to go to the mother of my twins, at least that’s what Babette said. Of course, I didn’t feel as close to Florence as I did to all the other women and girls, but I wanted to congratulate her and express my happiness. Priya reported to me that Florence was very weak but the first follow-up was finally done. “Please take a shower, Priya. You also have to wash your hair. Did you catch the second child when Florence squatted down?”

“Yes, that was a very nice feeling despite everything. Something like that makes me proud.”

“You can be that too, you dear and wonderful midwife. You four nurses were all great again.”

Priya stroked her body. “When I have my child next year, I know exactly how much I can count on Esther, Olivia, and Babette. Of course, our great doctor will be there again. I’m just optimistic.”

“Are you worried, Priya?”

“Honestly, Michael, apart from Esther, we’re all worried about our child and about ourselves. We had no idea. But every birth has been a wonderful event so far. All the mothers and all the children did an outstanding job, so I can do it too.”

She lay in my arms and we gave each other warmth and strength. Esther and Babette joined them. All four of us cuddled. The three young women knew how grateful I was to them. Despite the nearly ten-hour effort, they were happy and proud. They liked to shower and bathe in my bathroom. For the first time I handed over my master key because I had locked my bathroom.

Olivia and Leonie were with Florence. She was very tired. I carefully kissed the brave woman’s forehead. She smiled wryly. Olivia translated her soft words for me. “You were right. There were two children. Luckily, we have you smart people with us in the valley.” Then I assigned Alejandra to the night watch. Leonie was supposed to sleep in a guest room but wanted to stay with her friend. Olivia could take care of her Michael. Peace had moved into the Casa.

The next day everything was fine. Florence had regained her strength, her children vigorously searched for food from her, although unfortunately still without success. Leonie and Olivia beamed at me with joy. “The girl’s name is Laia and the boy’s name is Josè. Florence is doing beautifully,” Olivia blurted out. Her kiss today expressed more satisfaction than desire. The two new children had wonderfully given us inner peace.

Leonie received a kiss on the forehead. I asked her to give her ‘magic powder’ to Olivia so that she too could be helped with the birth as the next woman to give birth. This medicine should only be used for one summer, Leonie had explained to me, translated by Olivia. The following week, the two Peruvians wanted to make new powder together.

“Olivia, this is an important work. Please, write everything down, maybe take photos with your tablet too. Perhaps this remedy from your ancestors can one day help all women in the world give easier birth.”

Sunday afternoon offered bright sunshine for our valley. The only table on the palazzo terrace that the sun reached was occupied by the beautiful village workers’ club. “May I sit down with you, ladies?” Kira gladly pulled up a chair. Two girls crocheted, Mayari tried to learn to knit and Isabella told stories. “Would you mind if I would take Lenya to the table? I would invite you and all the ladies available to a glass of champagne, except for Maya and Isa.”

Kira corrected me precociously, “Mayari isn’t called Maya, it’s Mayh to us. Why don’t they have champagne?”

“It wouldn’t harm her child, but I think alcohol should be taboo for pregnant women from the start. But they get a very special fruit juice.”

Cara had been busy with her tablet, learning English, as she emphasized, but immediately rushed to help me. “Would you like some mango juice here in the glorious sun?” My lips received a brief visit as an affirmative. Esther went looking for Lenya. Both then came to the table.

While I fetched two bottles of mango nectar from the cellar, the girls had pushed two tables together in the warming sun. Except for Babette and Sula, all the girls were now sitting with me. Fahsai finally shared with me, “Sula and Babette want to shine again. They work up the road even on Sundays.”

Her tone annoyed me. “Should I blame them for that? They always do their extra work with pleasure and without ulterior motives. I often only find out about it days later or when I notice it by accident. Better praise her, Fahsai. They do it for all of us.”

At first, she wanted to contradict me, but Zarina looked at her intently. Now she lowered her eyes bashfully and finally smiled a little uncertainly.

“You know, if we don’t get in touch with the outside world, we’ll soon have even more problems. Babette sacrifices herself so that we can get medicines, especially vaccines for our little ones. And you know how badly her hands were injured. Vaccination would also be urgently needed for all of you, at least a booster against tetanus and polio.”

The girls, better the young women, looked at me in surprise. “So, it’s not just about clothes and toilet paper?” Isabella asked in astonishment. “Then we should help more, at least the non-pregnant ones, right?” Daja and Kira agreed immediately. “The next working day, Tuesday, we’ll go up there with you. Are all four BMX bikes still working?” After the confirmation, everyone quickly agreed. On Tuesday Daja and Kira wanted to help working on the road, on Thursday Fahsai and I wanted to help my assistants.

First, I poured juice for all pregnant women. Then I popped the cork of the champagne bottle and filled the glasses. We toasted our future. “Stay safe everyone, especially you six,” I called across the table, pointing to the pregnant young women. I was immediately told to take better care of myself and stay healthy.

“Didn’t you notice how much less I smoke? In the beginning it was more than twenty cigarettes a day, today it’s usually only three or four, well, sometimes five, whenever you annoyed me.” I smiled at my ‘kids’.

We were in a good mood and little jokes were told. It was a kind of small children jokes like from the first school classes. Vulgar jokes might have been made by a few, but they held back in my presence.

Ananda had also changed since our partnership; I would say she was more confident now. She took part in the conversations and joked with her friends. I smiled at her and nodded. Her dark eyes shone like sparkling pearls, maybe like so called tiger-eyes. She lowered her eyes for a moment but was visibly happy when she noticed how intensely and lovingly, I looked at her.