CHAPTER 28: AT DAWN 2

Hassana thought to investigate the case first and went straight to the man. He was lying flat on a cane mat. She first looked at his fingers and they are alright. Then she opened one of his eyes and saw it was good too. She checked his head for any wound caused by concussion but nothing.

Then she squatted and went into a deep thought. There are no symptom of any disease on the man. Soldiers when at war get a lot of concussion due to hard blows on the head but this man was intact.

If it is a disease, which kind of disease is it? Malaria can make one lose consciousness but only in extreme cases. She remembered something and quickly went back to the table. On the table she remembered seeing a snake skin.

It was there on the table. Clue! Great! A brown snake skin, other misleading herbs and an antidote! Oh, so that's how it is but just to confirm. Hassana went over to the other tables and saw what was on them. Each table have various herbs for treating sickness but one has to get the right herb.

She saw a herb that will cure the brown skin snake bite. So the antidote kept on her table was the wrong one and now she have to trade for it. She look hard at the general. He did that deliberately, just to make the examination so challenging.

It even began to feel like a competition and hassana was not going to lose. In order to trade for the herbs she needed, she looked at the patient her colleague was checking. His patient have a running stomach but he didn't have the herb to cure him on his table.

Carrying the stomach herb from her table, she approached the colleague, talk and showed him what he needed. His eyes sparkle with appreciation and he gave her what she needed. She quickly rushed back to her patient and administer the medicine.

The patient sat up and look at the imperial physician, rising his thumb up. She has won!

See that general, that's how good I am!

*

Now this examination is getting too hard and almost impossible. Hassana was joined with four other doctors to retrieve a soldier that has a broken leg from up a hill. A broken leg will be very painful and they had to secure it with the little available first aid items they have picked from the beginning of the examination.

Thankfully, hassana's instinct urged her to pick up a rope since they were told where they are going. By the foot of a tall hill, their instructor told them that they are to climb the hill and retrieve a patient. They all thought it was an easy task until most of them realize that they didn't pick up any rope.

Hassana's team was up the hill in no time since it wasn't too steep. The challenge was that the patient has a broken leg and they weren't told. They had to make a splint and secure the leg first before two male doctors helped him to leap-walk.

Then the climbing down was extremely challenging because a slight movement will send the man screaming with pain one will think it wasn't an act. Soon it become so impossible to even lift the guy. Hassana who was ahead of them had enough of his scream and went to him. Really, the man was even sitting down.

"What's your name?"

"Soldier 09."

"Soldier 09, the enemy is coming, we have to get you down the hill or your leg will be much worse up here."

"I can't...I can't move it." He said panting.

"Yes you can. Get up now soldier! This is no time to lag behind!!"

When the soldier saw that she really meant business, he quickly got up, hanging his arms on the shoulders of the two doctors and they manage to start descending.

"Ahhhhh....." screamed the soldier.

"Quiet!" said hassana in a sharp hushed tone. "You don't want them to know our location and come for us!"

The hill was so uncomfortable when descending, a female doctor slipped and nearly fell off but hassana was near her and quickly grabbed her arm. It was quite scary then one of the doctors holding soldier 09 slipped. Hassana's heart cut, everyone have already pictured the soldier tumbling down but somehow he held a branch which stopped the fall.

"I am so sorry. So sorry…..are you okay?" said the concerned doctor.

Phew! Thank Allah he didn't slipped and fall. The general will enjoy disqualifying her and her team from the army doctor's team. She urged everyone to take it easy and slowly when the hill is too slippery and to boost up when it is not.

"Isn't that your fiancee's team?" said the instructor, an elder, looking into the distance as six people approach.

Shamsuddeen who was standing together with sergeant haidar looked at the instructor. How did he know about that? It only happened yesterday in the city hospital, how then did this man know?

Haidar was shocked. So the field marshal have a fiancée and she's a doctor?! That's new. The man was never seen toasting any babe. Even haulat, his cousin that works at the octagon, couldn't get him to look her side. No wonder he rejected her because he already have a babe and he is even getting married. Damn! Haulat will not like that.

"Who told you she is my fiancée?"

The instructor looked at shamsuddeen in surprise. "Don't you know? It was all over the news!"

All over the news how? Unbelievable! How did it get over the ne…..haidar showed him his iPad which was displaying the eight p.m news, talking about the field marshal's fiancée.

"...…field marshal's fiancée who is called doctor hassana Idris, a well known doctor at the city hospital who was recently chosen as one of the army doctors..."

Shit! Now everybody knows, which means his grandfather also. How did the news forum got this?! Were they stalking him or what? They are good at that but he is the best, he could've noticed. Looking at hassana as she is getting closer, she can't be the one that spread this rumors. She only said that to chase away that man. Then who did?

"Bravo B team! You are the first to return safe and sound. Report to the operation room, the examination is over."

They were all pleased to hear that. However, hassana realized she was the only person who knew nothing about the examination taking place today. All her colleagues seems to be aware of it. Why wasn't she informed earlier. Thank Allah she did good anyway.

"Come over." Shamsuddeen said to hassana as he walked by.

Hm, going to praise his beloved in a special way, thought haidar as he return with the other doctors to the operation room.

The field marshal looked displeased, hassana noticed. What now? As they reached a shed, he tossed the iPad he have been holding at her. Looking at it she saw the news and was totally surprised.

Kambu!!! What? How? How did this thing got exposed? Where did the news station got it from? She quickly stared at shamsuddeen. Could he be the one that...no way! He too looked enraged. Then who?

"This got leaked from your side. Who do you know will do that?"

"I have no idea...wait but bala would never...oh wait. Bala can talk."

"Who's bala?"

"The security guard at the city hospital. He might have blabbered and some reporter got a hint on it. That man, you don't even need to ask, he will tell you everything out of his own accord."

"Fix it!" he turned to leave.

"Wait, sir….."

"Or you will fall deep into it!!" he stomped away.

Oh, what is she to do now?