Looking down at the ring on her finger later that day, Julie remembered the hasty ceremony. She tried to imagine how surprised her father and brother would be when they received the short letter she’d sent. With the quarantine in place and no telephone at the Eriksson household, it was difficult to get information to them.
Her father would be pleased; August, too. Of that, Julie was certain. How she wished they could have given her away to Sam. For a fleeting moment, Julie thought of her mother. Agneta would have approved of the hurried wedding.
Julie’s reflections were pushed aside, however, in the face of Nome’s crisis. Once again she’d been called to the house of yet another victim of diphtheria, and as she felt the forehead of a small Eskimo girl, Julie’s happy memories blurred. The child was burning with fever and most likely would die sometime soon. It seemed strange that something as wonderful as her wedding day would also be the day this child’s parents would bury their only daughter.
Julie moved from one house to another. Always, she found various stages of diphtheria. Many were frightened at the news that they were showing the early signs of the disease. Julie worked to calm their nerves, reminding each one that the serum was due into Nome any day. Others were too sick to worry, and Julie prayed aloud for them as she nursed their weakened bodies.
As Julie stood beside the cradle of an eight-month-old baby, she thought how unjust it all was. There was help for this disease. She had training and skills that should save lives, but it still wasn’t enough.
“God,” she whispered, “why must it be this way?” She thought of the verses in Job and of her mother’s dying. Surely her father had voiced that question enough times while sitting beside his dying wife. Hadn’t Julie herself asked it of God? She remembered how her mother had correlated verses in Job with everyday life.
“Julie, we don’t always know why God allows certain things to happen. We can’t have all the answers just yet, because God knows they would be too much for our human minds to comprehend,” her mother had told her. “God, in His sovereign wisdom, made all things for a purpose, and how each of those things comes into this world or goes out is entirely up to Him.”
“‘Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?’” Julie’s mother had shared from Job 28:20. Julie remembered the moment with fondness. Her mother’s greatest desire had been for her family to understand that her illness was neither just nor unjust. It was part of God’s overall picture for their lives. That same chapter had answered its questions: “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
Julie lifted the dying infant into her arms. The baby’s lifeless eyes stared up at her as his tiny lungs drew a final breath. She felt the child’s body shudder and knew that he was gone. Gone from this earth but at peace in heaven with his Creator. Julie noted the time, returned the infant to his cradle, and recorded facts about the death before breaking the news to the parents.
Several hours later, Dr. Welch found Julie in a near stupor as she sat beside a child while its mother napped.
“You need to get some rest,” Dr. Welch said as he checked the child over. “You’ve been on duty for over twelve hours by my calculations, and that’s too much. Go home, Julie. Go home and get some rest.”
“I’m fine,” Julie said as she stood on the opposite side of the child’s bed. “This is Joey. He’s only been showing signs of diphtheria for the last eight hours. Temperature is 101 degrees, and his throat is sore but not overwhelmingly so.”
“Good,” Dr. Welch said as he finished listening to the boy’s chest. “The serum should arrive in time to fix you right up, son.” The boy smiled weakly but didn’t say anything. He’d already told Julie it hurt to talk, and she had encouraged him to remain silent.
Dr. Welch packed his bag and headed for the open bedroom door. “Don’t tarry any longer than you have to, Julie. Go home and sleep.”
Julie nodded, even though she had no intention of obeying.
When Dr. Welch returned to his office, he picked up the telephone and put a call through to Sam.
“Sam?” he said as a voice sounded through the line.
“Yes, this is Sam Curtiss.”
“Sam, this is Dr. Welch. Look, I need you to come get your wife.”
“Is she sick?” Panic filled Sam’s heart.
“No, but she will be if she doesn’t get some rest. She’s ready to collapse, and I’ve tried to send her home to sleep, but she won’t go. I was hoping you could come force the issue.”
“No problem. I’ll be right there,” Sam answered. “By the way, where should I look for her?”
“I left her at the Davises’ house. I imagine she’ll be there for a while.”
“I’m on my way,” Sam said and hung up the phone. Stubborn woman, he thought as he pulled on his coat and hiked out into the darkened streets.
At the Davises’ house, Sam knocked, then opened the door and walked in. Mrs. Davis appeared in the hallway just as Sam stepped inside. “Sam Curtiss,” she said in a surprised tone. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to get my wife,” Sam said firmly. “I’m sorry to bother you, but Doc says she needs to rest and won’t go home.”
The woman nodded and led Sam to her son’s bedroom. “She’s in there,” Mrs. Davis said as she opened the door. “I tried to get her to take a break, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”
Sam looked in to find Julie’s dozing form as she sat beside the sleeping boy. Gently, Sam helped her to her feet and led her from the room.
“Sam,” Julie protested. “What are you doing here?”
“Doc sent me,” Sam said as he took Julie’s parka from Mrs. Davis. “He said you were to go home and sleep and that he didn’t want to see you back until you were rested.”
“But—”
“No but’s,” Sam said, helping her into her coat. “You’re going home if I have to carry you—and you know that’s no idle threat—so just be cooperative and we won’t cause a scene.”
“These people need me,” Julie said as the parka fell into place. “I can’t leave them.”
“You aren’t any good to them if you’re dead on your feet.”
“You don’t understand the importance of what I do,” Julie said as Sam led her out into the street.
“You’re in our prayers, Mrs. Davis,” Sam said as he pulled Julie along. The woman waved from her door. “Now listen to me,” he continued with Julie, “no job is worth killing yourself over. You have an important duty to these people, but it’s certainly not one that anyone expects you to die doing.”
Julie tried to jerk away from Sam’s grip. Maybe marrying Sam had been a mistake. Maybe he was going to expect her to give up her nursing career. Her mind reeled as Sam forced her along. They hadn’t consummated their marriage, Julie reasoned. Perhaps she could dissolve it. But that wasn’t what she wanted either. Besides, she loved Sam, and she had made a promise to God to continue loving and obeying him. If Sam told her to quit nursing, she would have to go along.
Just then, George Maynard came rushing down the street.
“It’s the serum,” he yelled. “The governor’s relayed for us to halt the run because of the weather. Gunnar Kaasen will have to lay over in Solomon until the storm clears.”
“He can’t,” Julie said as she felt her strength give way. “He can’t!”
“Hush, Julie,” Sam said as he pulled her close. “George, are you sure there’s no way to get the drivers through?”
“The wind is blowing up to forty knots, and that coupled with the snow is making it impossible for anyone to get through.”
“But people are dying,” Julie said, nearing hysteria. “They have to get the serum through. They have to.”
Sam steadied Julie’s trembling body. “Look, keep us posted. I need to get my wife home for some rest.”
“Your wife?” George questioned in surprise.
Sam grinned. “
Yeah, we were married in between jobs.”
“Well congratulations! It’s nice that something decent can take place in the middle of this tragedy.” George went hurrying off, and Sam helped Julie make it to their house.
By the time they’d reached the house, Julie was sobbing. She’d tried so hard to hold everything inside, but with the fear that the serum wouldn’t arrive in time, Julie could no longer control her emotions.
Sam guided her into the house and helped her out of the parka. He could hardly bear the sounds of her sobs, and after pulling his own coat off, he took her into his arms and held her.
“They’re going to die without the serum,” Julie cried. “I can’t bear to watch any more of them die.”
“I know. I know,” Sam said as he reached up and pulled the pins out of Julie’s hair. The ebony mane fell soft across her shoulders, and Sam relished the feel of it.
“I can’t help them, Sam,” she said looking up with dark, wet eyes. “I’m useless to them.”
“Nonsense,” Sam said. “Come on. I’m going to take you upstairs and put you to bed. You’re tired and distraught with what you’ve had to deal with today. I wish I could have given you a better wedding day.”
Julie allowed Sam to lead her to what was to become their bedroom. Neither she nor Sam were thinking about the romance of their wedding night, however. His only concern was to calm her down and see to it that she got some much-needed sleep.
Julie steadied her nerves and dried her eyes. She was too tired to expend more energy on useless tears. Sam helped her to the edge of the bed, where he knelt down and unlaced her mukluks.
“Now,” Sam said as he threw the boots to one side. “You rest, and I’ll go get a wet cloth for you to wipe your face with.”
“No!” Julie exclaimed. “Please don’t leave me, Sam. I can’t be alone right now.”
Sam smiled and unlaced his own boots. “I’ll hold you until you’re asleep, and even after that, if you like.”
“I like,” Julie said and moved over to make room for her husband.
Sam eased his weight onto the bed and pulled Julie into his arms. Neither one of them had ever experienced a closeness like this. It was so intimate, so pure.
“Sam,” Julie murmured as she put her head upon his chest. “The serum has to get through. We should pray for a miracle.”
“You’re right of course. Why didn’t we think of that earlier?”
“I don’t know. I guess we were just too busy trying to take care of everything ourselves. At least I know I was. I hate myself for always resorting to prayer as a final option,” Julie replied.
“Don’t hate yourself,” Sam stated firmly. “You are a creation of God, and He loves you. I forget the importance of prayer, myself. We’ll just pray for a miracle and ask God to deliver the serum into Dr. Welch’s hands in record time.”
“But if the governor has ordered the race stopped,” Julie began, “it would be against the law to continue. Wouldn’t it?”
“I suppose it might be perceived that way,” Sam said with a nod. “However, a guy has to get the message in order to heed it, right? Maybe Gunnar won’t get the message.”
“I suppose that’s always possible,” Julie said with renewed hope. “Thank you for being such an encouragement, Sam.”
They prayed together, and Julie fell asleep to the comfort of Sam’s powerful, heartfelt words. For the first time in many days, she slept soundly with the assurance that God and Sam were at her side to protect her from the pain of the world.
Sam awoke with a start and, forgetting his wife was nestled in his arms, he woke Julie without meaning to.
“What is it, Sam?” Julie asked as she registered the sound of barking dogs.
“I don’t know, but the dogs are going crazy. What time is it, anyway?”
Julie glanced at her watch. “Five-thirty,” she replied and got to her feet. “Maybe Dr. Welch has come to find me. Maybe things are worse, and he needs my help.”
“You aren’t going anywhere,” Sam said firmly. “You’ve only had a little over five hours of sleep, and that simply isn’t enough. Get back into bed.”
Julie felt as though she’d had a week’s worth of sleep and stood with her hands planted firmly on her hips. “I will not be treated like a child, Sam Curtiss. I’m your wife, not one of your dogs.”
Sam broke into a hearty laugh. “Well, Julie Curtiss,” he said trying the name on for size, “my dogs have better sense than you when it comes to taking care of themselves. However, you are right. I’m used to telling, not asking. I’m sorry. Now, would you please get back into bed?”
The dogs had worked themselves into a feverish pitch, and Julie could stand it no longer. “Sam, please find out what’s going on. Please.”
Sam lost his resolve as he stared into the pleading eyes of his wife. “Oh, all right. But afterwards, you must get some rest.”
“Whatever you say, husband.”
Sam was gone only a few minutes. When he returned, he tossed Julie her mukluks. “You’d better get these on.”
“What is it, Sam?” Julie asked as she hastened to tie her laces.
“Just come with me,” Sam said and hurried down the stairs with Julie close behind him. He brought her parka and waited while Julie pulled it over her head.
“Something’s very wrong, isn’t it?” Julie asked fearfully.
“On the contrary, Julie. On the contrary,” Sam said as he opened the front door. “Hurry.”
Sam and Julie raced through the darkened streets and Julie knew instinctively that Sam was leading her to the hospital. They rounded the corner. A dog team stood at the front stairs. Julie’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized Balto, a big black-and-white husky who was a favorite of Gunnar’s.
“Oh Sam,” she breathed against the subzero air. “It’s Gunnar’s sled! The serum is here!”
“Looks like we got that miracle,” Sam said with a grin that spread from ear to ear. “Come on. Let’s go see if we can help.” Julie nodded and followed her husband up the steps. God was so good!
Chapter 16
Gunnar’s arrival had attracted very little attention. It was too early in the morning for most people, and no one thought the serum would come through because of the governor’s mandate.
Julie stood by crying tears of joy as Dr. Welch received the cylindrical package and hurried inside to reveal its contents. Sam and Julie joined the party, but their hearts stopped when Dr. Welch announced that the serum was frozen. Everyone waited in pained anticipation, wondering if the trip had been for nothing. Finally word came from Seattle that the serum would be unharmed from the freezing and simply required a slow warming to bring it back to its original state.
Gunnar Kaasen and his huskies had covered the last fifty-three miles in less than seven-and-a-half hours. The entire serum run had covered more than 674 miles in a record 127.5 hours, bringing with it the renewed hope of life.
By February 21, Nome’s quarantine was lifted. It had been exactly one month since the outbreak of the epidemic.
With every passing day, life seemed to take on a more normal routine. Schools reopened, much to the disappointment of the children and the relief of the parents. Store owners were happy to have full shops again, and everywhere people were glad to have lived through the crisis. George Nakoota even showed up to reveal a perfectly healed arm to Dr. Welch.
It was no different at the Curtiss house. Julie and Sam had settled into a comfortable life at the edge of town, and although Julie had been extremely busy nursing the sick and helping Dr. Welch, Sam had been patient with her absences. Julie wondered, however, how long it would be before Sam’s patience wore thin and he would demand that she stay home more.
Several days after the quarantine had been lifted, Julie contemplated the situation as she prepared breakfast. Her heart belonged to Sam, yet part of her belonged to nursing as well.
“You’re mighty deep in thought,” Sam said as he came into the room and took a seat
at the table. He threw the Nome Nugget on the chair beside him and smiled. “I suppose you’re thinking about the serum run again.”
“Well, as a matter of fact, I heard something quite fascinating yesterday,” Julie said as she offered Sam a plate of fried eggs and bacon. She returned to the counter, where she retrieved a stack of freshly baked biscuits. Their tantalizing aroma filled the air, and as soon as Julie placed them on the table, Sam reached for one.
“No doubt another miracle,” Sam teased. Julie had been enthralled by the stories of miraculous blessings that enabled the drivers to deliver the diphtheria antitoxin to Nome in only five-and-a-half days.
Julie put her own plate of food on the table and joined Sam. “You know how I love the way God moved in this crisis,” she smiled. “I just can’t help being fascinated with it.”
“I know, Julie, and I feel the same way. Let’s have a prayer.” Sam took her hands. “Father, we thank You for the bounty of our table and for the healing of our community. We praise You that the deaths were few and that the medicine was provided in a much quicker time than any of us dreamed possible. Amen.”
Sam started eating as Julie began to tell what she’d heard. “Leonhard Seppala cut out a lot of distance by taking a shortcut across Norton Sound. The water was frozen solid, but it was difficult for him to see his way so he had to rely upon the dogs.”
“I’d heard that,” Sam answered. “It takes a brave man to venture out across an open bay like that. Even if it is frozen solid at the shores, you can’t know how it will be once you get out in the middle of the inlet.”
“Well, as wondrous as that was, what happened after Leonhard crossed the sound gives even more cause for praise,” Julie said, leaning forward. “Not more than three-and-a-half hours after Leonhard crossed Norton Sound, the entire thing broke up, and the ice moved out into the Bering Sea. The crossing would have taken Leonhard’s life, no doubt, had he attempted it at a later time. Talk about the hand of God!”
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