The short story takes place in an indian camp. A young indian woman is giving birth to a child.
At the beginning of the story Nick, his father and and his uncle George are being transported to the indian camp by two indians. Nick´s father is a doctor and his supposed to help the indian woman.
The woman lies with pain in a bunk in a shanty. Her husband is hurt and lies in the upper bunk. She screems, but the doctor ignores her pain.*
It turns out that the birth is very complicated, so the doctor has to make a Caesarian cut. The operation takes place in a primitive way without any anaesthetic and by means of a jackknife and tapered gut leaders. The woman and her child survive. After the succesful operation Nick´s father is very proud and exalted, but the atmosphere changes, when it turns out that her husband has committed suicide by cutting his throat during the birth of his child.
The experience brings up many severe questions in Nick´s mind about the conditions of life.
At daybreak, a life has been taken, and a new life has begun.
* Har valgt at beholde det, kan ikke omformulere det.
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