Plague Book: One Final Gasp

by Druga, Jacqueline

  He pulled down his mask to take a breath.

  Please, he thought, one breath, one deep breath without the smell.

  Matt opened his mouth and breathed in deeply. It didn’t matter how hard he tried not to breathe through his nose, a scent still carried to him. Only it didn’t make him want to gag.

  It wasn’t the sour smell of death.

  It was the sweet scent of cinnamon.

  Someone else was alive and they were … baking?

  31 – LOOK CLOSELY

  Franklin, PA

  The clunk of a pan hitting the floor accompanied the shocked, ‘oh my God’ that Hervé uttered the moment Matt stepped into the door way of his shop and called out his name.

  Then nervously, Hervé, inching away, reached behind his back and with trembling hands pulled out a pistol. He shook out of control as he aimed it at Matt. “God forgive me.”

  “Whoa!! Wait! Stop!” Matt held up his hands.

  Hervé screamed.

  “It’s me, Matt,” Matt said.

  “I know who you are. Oh my God.” He put down the gun, then hand on the counter, Hervé bent over some, grabbing his own chest as he caught his breath. “Oh, shit. I thought you were dead.”

  “You thought I was dead?”

  “I saw you on the floor of your house. I looked in the window. You were dead.”

  “Obviously not,” Matt replied. “Why in the hell did you try to shoot me?”

  “Dude, I thought you were a zombie. Have you seen your face?"

  “Yeah, I have.” Matt walked closer. “I’m not. Why would you think I was ....you I know what? Never mind.” He pulled out a chair from the counter and sat down.

  “You okay?” Hervé asked,

  “Yeah, just tired. Still not a hundred percent. What about you?”

  Hervé shrugged. “I never got sick. I’m sorry about your family, man.”

  “Thank you. What about yours?”

  “My parents left to find my Aunt Bea, he said don’t expect him back for a while. I hung back to help, then ... then there was just nothing left to do. Hey, at least Emma got out and is safe.”

  Matt’s eyes lit up. “She did get out? You saw her?”

  “Luke Bridges had her. Told Nash ... who by the way is dead...”

  “I know.”

  “He told Nash he was taking her to Stew’s mountain house and that he’d be back. He came back the next day, did some work, but hasn’t been back since. He told me he was going to stay up there a while. Wait it out there and help Stew.”

  Matt exhaled in relief. “That is so good to hear.”

  “Yep, I ...” Hervé jumped and jolted. “My rolls. Shit.” He spun around to the wood burning oven and pulled out a huge pan of rolls.

  “Why are you baking?”

  “I didn’t want to waste the ingredients.” He spoke as he pulled the cinnamon rolls out of the pan. “Plus, it smells better than what’s out there. I plan on cleaning up so when my parents get back they don’t come back to a cemetery, but haven’t gotten around to it. I am really glad you beat this. I am.” He placed a roll in front of Matt. “You hungry?”

  “I am, thanks.”

  “I have coffee on the wood stove. I’ll get you a cup.”

  “Thanks.” He listened to Hervé in the other room.

  “You remember you made fun of me about the wood burning stove?” Hervé spoke loudly. “Now who’s laughing?” He brought the coffee cup to Matt.

  “You said Luke left and came back the next day. That he was gonna wait it out with Stew?”

  Hervé nodded. “Yep. I think he meant the quarantine.”

  “When was that?” Matt asked. “I mean what day is it?”

  “The sixth, he came back and did a few house sweeps with me and left. That’s when I saw you by the way. Laying there, so pathetic.”

  “Why didn’t you come in my house and cover me?” Matt asked.

  “I didn’t want to get sick.”

  “What day is it now?”

  “The tenth.”

  “Of August?”

  “Yep.”

  “Holy shit I was sleeping for five days? Matt asked shocked.

  “Technically, it was probably a coma. Not sure ... whoa.” Hervé stopped Matt when Matt abruptly stood. “What are you doing?”

  “I need to find my daughter. I need to find that lake house. I have no idea where it is, but I need ...”

  “To recoup,” Hervé said. “And what do you mean you don’t know where it is?’

  “I gave Luke the address Stew left it on the table.”

  “But it’s his lake house, you never went there?” Hervé asked.

  Matt shook his head. “No. I just know it’s in Dubois...”

  “Wow. Okay, how hard is it to find a lake house in Dubois? I mean, it’s Dubois, not like it’s Erie or something.”

  “True, But I feel horrible. My child probably thinks I’m dead.”

  “I doubt they even told her yet,” Hervé said. “I wouldn’t. I would hold off and let her just think you were sick. Trust me, if you really saw yourself you’d know going anywhere isn’t a good idea. You need to get better. Look better. Honestly, if I thought you were a zombie, how many others might too?”

  “No one really. Probably just you”

  “I doubt that. Many would,” Hervé said. “Luke said they were waiting it out. Which means they are staying away from people. So, hang tight, get well, get your strength and then we’ll go looking. Trust me. They aren’t going anywhere. Not yet.”

  Matt conveyed his agreement and took a drink of the coffee. Hervé brought up a good point. And for as much as Matt wanted to find Emma, right then and there, he wasn’t in any condition. He beat the virus and was alive. For his daughter, Matt needed to make sure he stayed that way

  PART FOUR – SURVIVING

  32 – DOCK

  August 14

  Dubois, PA

  It had been a while and there really wasn’t a reason to in the days before, but Luke laughed. On this side of the lake as he snagged back his rod and then reeled in the huge fish.

  “This is unbelievable,” Luke said.

  “Careful now,” Stew told him. He took it easy, being an armchair teacher. “Don’t lose it.”

  “Oh, I won’t. Third one this hour.” Luke smiled.

  “That’s because it’s still early. The later the day, the less the fish.”

  “Will I have to cook it? I really don’t cook well ...”

  “No, no, the rule is always, the person who catches doesn’t cook.”

  “I like that rule.” Luke took the fish off the line and placed it in the cooler.

  “One more if you can,” Stew said. “Fresh fish will be good for supper. Kids may not like it, but they can eat that case of spaghetti-o’s you got them, you know ...” He stood. “Before all this ...”

  “Marcy said to stay seated.’

  “I can stand for a second.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Still sore,” Stew told him. “Healing though. As I was saying ... before all this, we’d just throw them back.”

  “Really?’

  “Really” Stew nodded. “And you are doing really well with it.”

  “Thanks. I never fished before today. Maybe we can teach the kids.”

  “Yeah, when I’m better and can be more of a help,” Stew replied. “Molly said the boys don’t swim and neither does Emma. So I want to be in tip top shape with them around the water.”

  “Makes sense.” Luke cast his line. “Thanks for teaching me, Mr. Bindy.”

  “Stew. Call me Stew,” he replied. “And you’re welcome. I tried to get Hailey to learn, but she ...” Stew paused when Luke lowered his head. “Hey.” He moved closer to Luke. “That was in no way meant to make you feel bad you know.”

  “I know. I just can’t help but feel bad, horrible actually, when I hear her name.”

  Stew placed his hands in his pockets. “Well I’m not gonna stop mentioning
her, so you better get used to it.”

  “It’s not that long. I’m sorry.”

  “What the hell are you apologizing for and what are you talking about?” Stew asked. “Not that long? Things kind of went to shit out here, you going somewhere else?”

  “Back to Franklin for starters. I have a lot of stuff at my house I want to get. Things that will remind me of my mom.”

  Stew nodded. “That’s a great idea. Memories. We need them. I’ll head back, too.”

  “Then?” Luke asked.

  Stew shrugged. “I don’t know. I was thinking that fall and winter aren’t that far off. But anyone that survived is probably going to head south, so is that a good idea? I also thought about staying in Franklin. My house there has many fireplaces, and I would guess others would, too. We could prep it for winter.”

  “Stockpile food and stuff, harvest what we can from Jenson farms.”

  “That’s good thinking.” Stew gave him a pat on the back. “Really good thinking.”

  “We’d have to clean up the town first,” Luke said. “The kids can’t see that.”

  “True.”

  “I can start early and ...” Luke paused. “We're making plans like you want me around?”

  “I do. Why wouldn’t I?”

  Luke looked at Stew through the tops of his eyes. “Come on.”

  “I told you once, I’ll tell you now and I won’t tell you again. I never once blamed you. Ever.”

  “But Mr. Hader did and Emma is his daughter.”

  “Yeah, Matt did.” Stew squeezed his shoulder. “Matt was hurting. He was. We all grieve differently. But to tell you the truth. I think he did forgive you. And if he hadn’t, he did the day he died because he gave you his daughter to save. Remember that.”

  “I will.”

  “Good boy,” Stew gave another pat to Luke, stepped back and took his seat. “Now get back to fishing while it’s still early and don’t make me school you again.” He paused. “How about that pun? Get it? School?”

  “No.”

  Stew waved out his hand.

  “How long have you been fishing?” Luke asked.

  “Wow. Let’s see. As long as I can remember. It was ...” he paused in the conversation to give instructions. “Reel in and cast again, keep teasing, they’re in it for the chase.”

  “Got it.”

  “As I was saying. I've been doing it my whole life. Hell, it was back in the days when it was fish and hunt or starve. I wasn’t always a rich man. I grew up in a very poor family in the hills of West Virginia. But you know what? I never really knew what poor was or thought of ourselves as poor. Just the way things were.”

  Luke nodded. ‘Yeah, I know that. I watched my mom struggle my entire life. Unfortunately, I’ll never know that rich person feeling.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Stew asked. “Son, you’ll never be poor again. You are one of the few that inherited the earth. Now it’s up to you what you do with it.”

  “That’s a lot to take in. I’ll give that some thought,” Luke replied. “For now though. I just like this fishing stuff.” He cast out his line.

  ◆◆◆

  Magnificent Jewel – Cruise Ship

  Fear and doubt were the main factors in keeping Eve inside the luxury suite on the cruise ship with Silas. They were gung-ho a week earlier to leave and venture out, until the announcement came from the quartermaster that in a few days’ time they would head back to dock.

  A few days came and went.

  They were still in the middle of the ocean. Eve didn’t know where or how far from shore they were.

  Lane, the quartermaster, gave daily messages. He just wanted to wait. He wanted to wait until he knew no one new was sick.

  Apparently, the trickledown effect began. Those who waited in their rooms ventured out, were exposed and became sick, starting the clock all over again.

  The general guideline given to the public back in the states was four weeks, and Eve was beginning to see why.

  It didn’t matter that the surface contamination was only twenty-four hours, all it took was one person to catch the germ.

  Self-quarantine was preached.

  How many people actually listened?

  Eve and Silas did.

  They went from head strong to defeated and uninspired.

  Sleep was easy.

  It fell on the list of one of the few things they had to do in the room. The power had been cut off for the last few days. Other than building an extensive wall of art made from empty water bottles, Silas played his guitar, Eve wrote in a journal about her experience and they slept.

  It was fortunate for them that Ramen noodles didn’t need to cook. All they had to do was place it in water, put it in the patio under the sun, and an hour later it was edible and warm.

  They sustained themselves on noodles, water, cranberry juice, peanut butter cups and other items that Silas salvaged when he ventured out.

  He did not go out often, and when he did, he wore his protective suit and didn’t go too far. He never mentioned anything of what he saw, Eve didn’t want to know. She began to fade into the aspect of never leaving that room. Once all contact was cut off from the world, she felt isolated.

  Eve could honestly say she had not slept that much or for that long stretch of time since her teenage years.

  She was in a deep slumber, and never heard the start of the engines nor felt the movement of the boat, she did however hear the blast of the foghorn. She jumped awake from her laying position on the couch and looked to the other sofa. Silas was awake, barely, and was sitting up.

  “What’s happening?” Eve asked.

  “I don’t know. I thought … I felt the boat moving and that’s what woke me and then I heard … that.”

  The foghorn blared again.

  With excitement she jumped up at the same time as Silas and they raced to each other and embraced.

  “We’re getting out of here!” Eve said, ecstatic. “We’re leaving. We’re headed home.”

  “We have to make it up to the bridge. Remember? That’s what the quartermaster said. We have to make it to the bridge,” Silas said.

  “Let’s go” Eve rush to the door.

  “Wait.” Silas stopped her.

  “What’s wrong? The quartermaster guy said he would signal when it was safe to come to the bridge. That has to be the signal. It has to be safe, right?”

  “It possibly is. But do you want to take that chance?” Silas asked. “We stayed alive and well. Let’s not change that”

  “You’re right.”

  “Besides, I really would like to change my clothes, have a little bit of that cold instant coffee and get my wits about me before we head up there. This may be the last time we see this room.”

  “We’ll come back,” Eve said. “Your guitar is here and all your stuff.”

  “Still.”

  “Okay,” Eve agreed.

  They took a few minutes to freshen up, then after Silas retrieved a mask and gloves for Eve, they left the room.

  It was surreal to her. Walking out the door into the hall was like part of a dream. She even felt a little dizzy as if she were suffering from algophobia. There was nothing in the hallway, no people, and no sounds.

  There were a couple open doors and Silas explained that was where he got the water and other food items.

  After looking at the emergency exit map and locating the bridge, the found the exit that led to the deck. That was the best and fastest way to get to the quartermaster.

  And while he didn’t make any announcements, he steadily rang the fog horn every ten seconds. A wake up call perhaps or even a guide. Either way, Eve and Silas believed it was the signal to leave the rooms.

  Eve hoped she was right.

  It wasn’t the first time she felt the warm air of the ocean, but it had been a while since she was on a moving ship. Going from the natural moving waves of the oceans to full engines ahead started to wreak havoc on her stomach.

&nbs
p; Eve wished she would have come to grips with that before stepping on the deck.

  It wasn’t the smell. Eve was used to the gag reflex that caused. It was the sights as they made it across the deck. What did she expect? She knew well they had been floating on nothing but a tin can full of deadly germs.

  It was breezier than when they were anchored, the wind cut the smell some, but it couldn’t take away from the reality of the virus that plagued the ship.

  At first it was one body, then as they moved farther, more and more. The lounge chairs, benches all contained someone. A poor soul who made their way to the deck to take their last dying breath under the warmth of the sun.

  Had she gotten ill, Eve would have done the same thing.

  It was like walking through one of those haunted houses at an amusement park, each step grew worse, building to the ultimate scare. A fright that was preceded by the unbearable smell of rotting corpses.

  It was by far the strongest Eve had experienced. The wave of stench blasted her, stumbling her back and causing her to cover her mouth,

  “You alright?” Silas asked.

  “Oh God.” Eve fought back her twisting stomach.

  She knew immediately why the smell was so strong when she reached the area surrounding the stairs to the control room.

  The end of the deck, the end of the line for so many people.

  There were so many bodies it was impossible to count.

  Bodies that remained that didn’t get tossed over the side.

  They overlapped, some looked as if they were tossed down from an upper deck. Bodies coffered in sheeted, blankets, table cloths and garbage bags. But they weren’t sealed tight.

  Limbs extended out from some, occasionally a face.

  The first three steps on the staircase were buried with bodies.

  “We can’t go this way,” Silas said. “We have to go back and find another route.”

  Eve backed up when he did, but she couldn’t help but look at the bodies.

  She thought of Glen, her camera man. Was he there? Was he one of them? She hadn’t heard from him at all. Perhaps he did make it and like them, was making his way to the control room.