Cutting for Stone

Hema is happy to return to Ethiopia, which feels like home. On the plane, she realizes she knows the Somali man sitting across from her; she delivered children from two of his wives on the same night. He thanks her and offers her khat, which she never normally chews. In this instance, however, she likes it.

Hema is glad to return to Missing, even though she is two days late. In the taxi, she passes the location of a hanging she witnessed when she first arrived in Addis. When she gets to Missing Hospital, all the gates and windows are open, which surprises her. Gebrew, the gatekeeper, tells her that Sister Mary is in labor, but the baby will not come out. He has opened the windows and doors to try to help.

Hema appears in the operating room, smells death, and sees Sister on the table. Suddenly Thomas, Matron, and the probationer view the scene from an outside perspective and can see all that appears wrong. Matron hears Sister reciting her prayers and realizes that she is dying. Hema chastises Thomas for not telling her that Sister was pregnant, and he responds that he did not know.