by Bobby Akart
“Fine, just lead the way, man. We don’t want to cause any trouble. But Sheila’s not sick. She just ate some of these red berries.” The man held out a handful of red berries and Derek illuminated his hand with his flashlight.
“Man, are you some kind of stupid,” said Derek sarcastically. “That’s baneberry. They’re toxic as all get out. Are your mouth and throat burning?”
“Yes,” said the girl. “And I’m throwing up. I’m having trouble breathing too.”
“Hunter,” said Derek as he joined Tommy, who never took his weapon off the couple, “if they’re telling the truth, this girl could be in serious trouble. Depending how many she ate, she could go into convulsions and become paralyzed. I’m not kidding. She needs to see my Pop. He usually gives them a shot of some kind.”
“Antihistamines and steroids,” interrupted Janie. “I have Benadryl, but it’s slow acting. Does your dad have a supply of injectable medications?”
“Janie, he’s got everything except a cure for the plague,” said Derek.
“Okay, escort them down the road and I’ll raise your dad on the radio,” said Hunter.
“Got it,” said Derek. “Tell him to bring the John Deere six-wheeler in case we have to carry her up to the house for treatment.”
“Derek, no. Don’t get close. We can’t be too careful,” said Hunter. He turned to Janie. “Make sure Doc Cooley is well protected. We can’t be too sure, okay?”
“Got it,” confirmed Janie. “Let’s go, you two. We’ll find you some help.”
Janie and Derek escorted the two hikers down the hill from a safe distance. Hunter raised the men at Doc’s place and they promised to send him down the mountain. Hunter began to take Tommy down the driveway when he stopped.
“The kid said there was madness in town, his words.”
“What kind of madness?” asked Hunter.
Tommy shrugged. “Maybe you should raise Terry on the radio and see what’s up?”
“Let’s get back down to the house and make the call.”
Chapter 38
Day Sixty-Six
Sheriff’s Office
Breckenridge
Hunter and Tommy drove into town for a meeting with Doc, Sheriff Andrews, and two of Doc’s friends who lived on the east side of town. Several other members of the community were in attendance. Following their encounter the night before with the wayward hikers, the young man’s reference to madness in town had piqued their interest, but also raised alarm bells.
It’s human nature to be curious. Under normal circumstances, one might turn on the television or radio to stay abreast of breaking news that could affect you. But in a world in which the power grid is failing and communications are virtually nonexistent, sometimes it’s necessary to venture off your property to learn if a new threat had emerged.
The sheriff’s wife had created a bulletin board that included information on the missing persons reported in Breckenridge. Excluded from the display were tourists visiting on a temporary basis. None of the locals knew enough about these missing persons to establish a pattern on their activity.
The wall contained thirty-seven residents who’d gone missing since the checkpoints were established. On another wall, the sheriff marked a map with Post-it flags indicating the individual’s residence. A defined pattern had emerged and the sheriff was prepared to launch search parties if he could muster up enough volunteers to create one.
Sheriff Andrews began. “Thank you all for comin’. Couple of things first before we get started. Standing over there by Doc are Tommy Hagan and his friend Mr. Hunter. They’re not permanent residents, but the Hagans visit their place twice a year and I consider them good friends. Mr. Hunter has some experience in dealing with the issues our town faces. I’ve asked them to attend and, fellas, feel free to provide your input.”
Several of the attendees greeted Tommy and Hunter. A couple of them knew Tommy from last year’s Christmas festivities.
Sheriff Andrews continued. “First and foremost. The good Lord’s blessed the Breck by keeping the plague away from our town. I’m pleased to report we haven’t had a single case of the plague within our community, and with the success of our roadblocks, I believe we can keep it that way.”
The room erupted into applause. Tommy and Hunter joined in although they weren’t quite as enthusiastic. “It’s been over two weeks since we established checkpoints at every road leading into town. Being in the Rockies, we have an advantage because we can isolate our community from outsiders by limiting access over the few roads that enter through the valleys. I believe Breckenridge can be declared plague-free!”
Again, the dozen or so people attending the meeting applauded happily. Hunter hesitated, but then, out of respect, he joined in. He’d seen how this disease eviscerated the population of the planet in just a short time. All it took was one mistake and this happy community could disappear in a matter of weeks.
“Now, that said, there are still homes outside our perimeter that may be at risk. There are many ways for folks to hike into Breckenridge, so we must always stay vigilant. Spread the word to your neighbors. If you see any strangers in town, don’t approach them. Keep them at a distance, especially if they look sick. Come here and notify us. We’ll deal with the situation. Okay?”
Everyone agreed. A woman at the rear of the conference room asked, “Sheriff, what about all of those homes behind where I live? You know, up along Bald Mountain, down Boreas Pass toward the south. They’re outside the perimeter and I’ve been told several of those residents have been to Denver and back, looking for family members.”
“Good question and that will transition us into the purpose of today’s get-together,” replied the sheriff. “A lot of folks here in town have friends or family that live along Boreas Pass Road and around Bald Mountain. We have checkpoints established very close to town on those points of ingress because we don’t have the manpower to stretch the perimeter for miles into the mountains.”
“Is it true your men have been turning away those residents when they try to enter town?” asked the same woman.
“Yes, it is. I know this has been a point of contention with their families within our defined perimeter,” replied the sheriff. He walked to the large wall map and showed a red line drawn with a Sharpie around the town. “Two weeks ago we had to make a decision. We couldn’t protect everyone, and the boundaries of the Breck had to be redefined based upon the sheriff’s department’s capabilities. Let me add, since then, I’ve lost half my deputies because they’ve left to be with their families in Dillon and Frisco.”
“We understand, Sheriff,” interjected Doc. “Tell us about the missing persons.”
“Sure. On the outskirts of our perimeter around Boreas Pass Road, people have been disappearing. The map speaks for itself. Now, it’s possible these folks needed food or elected to move on by traveling into Denver and Colorado Springs. I’ve heard reports that the military has established safe zones in Colorado Springs around the Air Force Academy and near Peterson. The families may have given up and headed for safety.”
“Sheriff, that may be true, but why are cars still in their garages?” said a man who pushed his way toward the front. “Me and the boys think there’s foul play involved. We think there might be a killer on the loose in Breckenridge. Maybe a tourist? Or could be someone who’s new to town.” The man gave Hunter a look, which lingered longer than Hunter appreciated.
Sheriff Andrews moved directly toward the man. “You and the boys,” he started sarcastically, “have a wild imagination. There is no mass murderer runnin’ around Breckenridge.”
Hunter wasn’t too sure.
“Yeah? Then who kilt them folks down by Doc’s place?” Again, the man glanced in Hunter’s direction. Hunter forced himself to keep his head cool. He repeated his own words. Don’t make an enemy by accident.
“You know we don’t have the answer to that,” replied the sheriff. “But these disappearances are different, and what I’m loo
king for are volunteers to scour the woods and road along Boreas Pass down towards Red Mountain. What you and the boys need to stop doing is these door-to-door searches here in town. You’re doing nothing but harass your neighbors and instill fear in the Breck.”
“Sheriff, we felt like—”
Sheriff Andrews raised his hands. “Nope, I don’t wanna hear it. Mind my words or know this, I’ve got an empty jail right now. I have no problem fillin’ it up again, startin’ with you. Are we clear?”
“Now, c’mon, Terry. There’s no need for that kinda talk,” said the man with a completely changed attitude. “Me and the boys will help ya. I’ve got kinfolk up on Bald Mountain I’d like to check on.”
The sheriff continued with his presentation by discussing the plans for the search parties. Hunter was glad to hear they planned on taking precautions by wearing masks, gloves, and goggles together with a strict ten-to-fifteen-foot perimeter from anyone they encounter. The town had done a great job distancing itself from the plague. It would be a travesty to bring it into town as a result of a humanitarian mission searching for missing persons.
While the sheriff finished up, Hunter studied the map with the Post-it flags. Each flag had a last seen date marked with a Sharpie. Although the dates themselves didn’t indicate a pattern, the progression from oldest to newest did. The oldest disappearances were farthest away from town. The more recent reports of missing persons were closer to town.
Hunter double-checked his observation with the reports posted on the bulletin board. If these people were the victims of foul play, the first instance occurred farthest away from town and the pattern was clear—the disappearances were creeping closer, a couple of days at a time.
Chapter 39
Day Sixty-Seven
Fort Bliss
El Paso, Texas
Fort Bliss was the United States Army’s second largest installation, covering seventeen hundred square miles and extending between two states—New Mexico and Texas. Together with the adjacent White Sands Missile Range, the massive facility became the new home to a quarter million or more of the American military personnel recalled from stations abroad by President Garcia.
Originally designated the Post Opposite El Paso del Norte in 1849, Fort Bliss grew to include the 1st Armored Division and the 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense command. Its strategic importance to the United States military could not be overstated.
The newly redesigned and updated William Beaumont Army Medical Center was hailed as a state-of-the-art military treatment facility designed to focus on patient care for veterans. Following a variety of scandals involving VA hospitals, the Fort Bliss medical facilities took action to ensure the highest possible patient care.
The challenges facing the medical personnel at Fort Bliss were enormous. Overseas military personnel were initially housed in massive tents located at White Sands. They were quarantined there for fourteen days before being allowed into the main cantonment located within the city limits of El Paso.
After the quarantine period, the military personnel and their families were still required to submit to noninvasive screening measures to determine if they were stricken with the plague. Once cleared, they were assimilated into the larger community and given a sense of security. It was not the perfect life, but it was safe from infectious diseases.
Because of its proximity to the Mexican border and the heavily populated city of El Paso, Fort Bliss deployed enhanced perimeter security measures to prevent a breach of their enormous footprint on the community. The 93D Military Police Battalion was tripled in its manpower thanks to the influx of personnel from abroad.
Strike hard, strike fast was their motto and they were always at the ready to respond at a moment’s notice because, when charged with protecting their own families within Fort Bliss, the reaction time was more crucial in their minds. Many of the military personnel had seen death at the hands of the plague. They were committed to protecting their fellow soldiers and families against the pandemic threat.
Ramping up the facility with the additional two hundred fifty thousand residents was a logistical nightmare. Each military installation had its own critical infrastructure and Fort Bliss was no different. Just like the United States as a whole, the base required certain assets that were essential for the functioning of Fort Bliss. Electricity, water, transportation, security, and health care facilities all needed to be expanded to accommodate the influx of people.
Like most major cities around America, the critical infrastructure of El Paso ceased to function after the death toll mounted and society collapsed. Law enforcement tried to maintain calm, but it was impossible under the circumstances. Some officers left their posts to protect their families; others died in the line of duty at the hands of criminals or from the disease.
Hospitals could no longer function. They’d been protected for a while by the local police, and later with an assist from the Army. As the Department of Defense ordered its personnel to return to the confines of Fort Bliss, the hospitals were being overrun with patients.
The medical facilities at Fort Bliss were understaffed. Under normal circumstances, they could handle the on-base residents and local, off-base veterans. Now, their population had more than tripled. Base command asked the Department of Homeland Security for permission to bring medical personnel and equipment from two local hospitals into the base to assist with the shortage. The hospitals were going to be abandoned due to lack of security anyway and the commanders at Fort Bliss hated to waste the resources.
DHS and the DOD both signed off on the proposal. In the middle of the night, hospital personnel were brought into quarantine for the obligatory two-week stay, just like the returning military families. The equipment within the hospital was quickly boxed up and brought into Fort Bliss via heavily guarded transport trucks. The mission was pulled off with speed and precision before disaffected residents of El Paso knew what had happened.
For several days, protests were staged outside the gates of Fort Bliss, demanding access to the base’s health care facilities. Over several more days, the protests died down, literally.
Volunteers at the hospital immediately unloaded the extra equipment and disbursed it throughout the Beaumont Medical Center at Fort Bliss, including its satellite locations within the confines of the base. The temporary medical clearing center at White Sands received the bulk of the medical devices in order to hasten the approval process for the transition from quarantine to the main base housing.
By that evening after the additional equipment arrived, spirits lifted within the quarantined area as hundreds of people were examined and cleared every few hours. Working throughout the night to relieve the overcrowded conditions at White Sands, the existing medical personnel, coupled with the medical equipment obtained from the hospitals, made a difference.
During the process of incorporating the new health care providers and equipment, the base command focused their efforts on medically clearing the personnel from the area hospitals. They did not, however, establish protocols for cleaning and sterilizing the equipment that was introduced into the base medical operations. The essential tools used during the chaos by the local hospitals for physical health examinations like stethoscopes, aural thermometers, and ophthalmoscopes had not been properly cleaned and sterilized. Many of them still contained the plague bacteria on their surfaces.
During the first twenty-four hours of increased personnel screenings, over a thousand people were exposed to the plague bacteria via the tainted medical tools. By day four, those one thousand people had infected ten thousand more within the secured confines of Fort Bliss. By day eight when the original infected began to show symptoms of the disease, an additional one hundred thousand people had become carriers.
Panicked, the base command attempted to implement the Level 6 eradication order against their own. As a result, Fort Bliss imploded. A three-day battle raged for control of the enormous facility. Innocents were killed, but eventually, after more than a
hundred thousand people were killed or fled, order was restored.
The enormous western harvest mouse population of Fort Bliss didn’t participate in the battle, except for feeding on the dead. As a result, the plague was alive and well within the Fort Bliss safe zone.
Chapter 40
Day Sixty-Eight
Blue Lakes Road Checkpoint
Quandary Peak
Janie and Derek handled more shifts at the newly formed checkpoint than anyone else. Barb and Tommy readily gave up their shifts to Janie in exchange for keeping the checkpoint guards well fed. Everyone agreed the checkpoint was a necessity, but maintaining a watch for hours on end with no contact tested everyone’s patience who took a turn.
When Janie asked Tommy about taking his shifts, he’d responded, “I’m bored of being bored because being bored is so darn boring.” Janie took that as a yes and was inwardly thrilled. She was enjoying her time with Derek, who got his father’s permission to work the checkpoint instead of guarding the house.
Janie and Derek had fought the boredom by getting to know one another. Relationships are an important part of anyone’s life. Whether you’re interacting with friends, co-workers, or possible love interests, the process of opening up and exploring a relationship can be complicated.
The post-apocalyptic world in which Janie and Derek had been thrust made it possible for two people of completely opposite backgrounds and interests to become friends, and perhaps more. Initially, they started conversations about typical topics—music, sports, hobbies, and current events. The latter they tried to avoid as much as they could.
Janie would spend an hour describing life in Atlanta and the myriad of things to do when you live in the city. Derek would describe the peace and serenity of life in the Rockies. He’d question why Janie would subject herself to the constant noise. She’d ask him if he felt cheated by not having dining, entertainment, and shopping—essential services, as she called them—right at his fingertips.
