Runaways

by Lily Harlem

  “It is.”

  “Hey, you two.” Mason stuck his head through a gap in their compartment door. “Get your lazy arses into gear. Raul has coffee and tea on the go, and we’re meeting up with Yamba in ten to decide where to put the hospital.”

  “Guess that’s us told.” Evan released her and stood, giving her a full frontal view of his cock. He grabbed his boxers and tugged them on, allowing her an equally nice eyeful of his butt when he bent over.

  “Come on.” He laughed as he straightened and saw where her gaze was. “You’ve got things to do.”

  Mmm, I could do you again.

  “Olivia.” His grin broadened as if he knew just what she was thinking.

  “You’re right. I have got things to do.” She flung back the covers. “I said I’d help Paul with the vaccinations.”

  “And he’s relying on you,” Mason said from the other side of the canvas. “With just over two thousand jabs to do, it’s going to be a long day.”

  An hour later and Olivia stood in the tent—their home—beside a table stacked high with small pre-loaded injections. There were more crates full of vaccinations on the floor, and Anya was watching over them as if they were gold bars.

  “So you understand what you’re doing?” Paul directed at Anya.

  “Yes. I will write down the name of everyone who has a vaccine so no one has it twice.”

  “Yes, some people think that two doses will give them double the protection,” he said, “but it doesn’t work that way. All it does is deny someone else the vaccination.”

  Anya nodded. “I understand, Doctor Paul.”

  “So keep an accurate record.”

  “I will.” She nodded seriously.

  Olivia peeked out of the door. A long winding queue of villagers stretched around the trucks.

  Beyond them Evan was instructing, Harry, Raul, Mason, and Lucas as they laid out the beams. They were moving fast and efficiently despite the heat. She knew Evan was keen to get the main frame built and the side panels on. That way Mason and Lucas could start on their jobs. She’d be able to help, too, when the heavy lifting work was done, but for today, her place was at Paul’s side.

  She just hoped he wouldn’t be as cantankerous as Raul had been when she’d worked with him in a kitchen.

  “Olivia, is that okay?” Paul said.

  “Mmm, what? Sorry.” She turned from where she’d been watching Raul strip off his t-shirt and wipe his brow with it.

  “This.” Paul nodded at the table. “Global Medics have advised that each person, man, woman and child, gets a jab and a drip on their tongue. The jab is tetanus and diphtheria, the drip is polio.”

  “Got you.”

  “I’ll do the first one, show you how, and you can do the second person through the door.”

  “What? No, surely I should watch you for a while.”

  “In medicine the rule of thumb is you watch one, do one, then teach one. And believe me, even though you’re not medical, by the time you’ve done five you’d be able to teach how to give a subcutaneous injection, it’s really not hard.”

  She swallowed. “Okay. Er…what does subcutaneous mean?”

  “It means just under the skin. It’s the easiest sort of injection to give, providing there’s some fatty tissue or muscle to grab. Anyone very malnourished, I’ll do.”

  “Yes, okay. Good plan.”

  “And I may have to leave you and Anya to it if someone comes in who needs urgent medical attention.” He indicated several instruments and a case of medicines that sat beside their makeshift kitchen area. “Occasionally vaccination tents are seen as emergency rooms. But hopefully that won’t be the case.”

  She nodded, though the thought of being left to a task that was already making her nervous wasn’t appealing. But she wasn’t one to back down from something just because it was out of her comfort zone, so after cleaning her hands with antiseptic gel, she stood next to Paul as he gestured for the first local to come forward.

  It was a young woman with shiny dark hair and a small child on her hip.

  “Hello,” Paul said, smiling.

  “Hello, Doctor.” She glanced at Anya.

  “Mina Allahra and her baby Drake.” Anya bent her head to write the first patients’ names down.

  “Watch, Olivia.” Paul nipped the woman’s arm, then slid the tiny needle into the flesh. As soon as he’d done it, the needle was out.

  “That was quick,” Olivia said.

  “That’s all it takes, no messing, pop it in, inject, withdraw.” He wiped over the entry point with a small white alcohol swab. “Now you.”

  “The baby?”

  “Mmm, perhaps that’s a baptism of fire.” He dropped the needle into a yellow, plastic container. “I’ll do it, you can do the next one…no matter who it is.” He reached for another injection. “Hey, mister.” He smiled at the baby, who looked up at him with wide eyes. “This is going to protect you from some real nasty diseases.” He injected the child, whose bottom lip quivered as he stared at Paul’s face, but he didn’t cry out.

  “There, all done.” Paul disposed of the sharp then picked up a polio dropper. “Into the mouth, tongue out.”

  The mother did as asked, and Paul delivered the vaccine. He then gently stroked the baby’s chin, who then opened its mouth. “Oh, you’re so good,” he said, again administering the drip of vaccine.

  “Thank you,” the mother said.

  The expression on her face was one of gratitude. Olivia guessed she didn’t have a great understanding of vaccination programs, much as she herself didn’t, but knew it would be good for her family.

  “You’re up,” Paul said. “And we’re going to have to be quicker than this otherwise we’ll be here well past midnight.”

  “Yes,” Anya said, “word has spread. I am sure you will have takers for all of your vaccinations and need more.”

  “We’ll get more.” Paul nodded. “Next.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  A teenage boy, wearing scruffy shorts and tattered sandals came in.

  Olivia willed her heart to calm as she took a syringe and removed the safety cover.

  Paul smiled at the boy then stood close to Olivia.

  She nipped a small amount of flesh in the teenager’s upper arm then slid the tiny needle in. She was surprised how easily it penetrated and how little fluid there seemed to be when she pressed down on the plunger. Quickly she withdrew, then wiped the pinprick mark with a clean swab.

  “Perfect, you’re a natural,” Paul said. He nodded at the sharps bin. “Now drop it in there, and don’t even think about putting that safety cover back on the needle. That’s how most sharp injuries occur, staff re-sheathing used needles. And trust me, the last thing you want around here is a sharp injury.”

  “Okay.” She dropped the syringe into the sharps bin. She’d done it. Given her first injection. Protected someone from contracting life-altering diseases. A sense of triumph swelled inside her and she went on to administered the polio drip.

  “Time to speed things up,” Paul said. “We’ll get two in at a time.”

  “We will?”

  “I’m here if you need me, but just keep doing it like that. Stay focused, stay organized, and stay safe.”

  “Right you are, Doctor.” She did a mock salute.

  His gaze landed on her; his serious expression lifted, and a smile tugged his mouth. In that moment he looked so like his brothers, just a little older and with slightly different coloring. And there was a new depth to his eyes. She wasn’t sure what was lurking there, but it wasn’t his usual displeasure or judgment of her.

  She turned to the tent’s entrance feeling a little flustered. “Next.”

  A family appeared, parents and five children.

  Anya ducked her head, listing them all carefully, and by the time she’d written out everyone’s name, between Olivia and Paul, they’d administered all the vaccines and were ready for more.

  For two hours she worked side by s
ide with Paul. The sharps box began to fill, and the vaccines went down.

  Pausing for a drink from her water bottle, she glanced outside.

  In the distance, heat shimmered on the plains, and she could make out several groups of people heading their way. To the right, her men were still working hard.

  The main frame of the hospital was taking shape, with the four large beams, which would make up the corners of the building, rising up from the base.

  Lucas and Mason were carrying a huge rafter between them, balancing it on their shoulders and walking with purpose. They made it look like it weighed nothing, but Olivia knew she wouldn’t be able to even move it.

  “Back to work, Olivia, chop-chop,” Paul said, tossing his empty water bottle to one side.

  “Yep, I’m here.”

  Ten minutes later a woman with a small child appeared before Olivia. The child had a terrible spotty rash around his mouth and nose. He appeared to be very miserable and had watery eyes as if he’d just been crying.

  “Paul,” she said.

  He finished applying drops into a child’s mouth then turned to her.

  “This little soul doesn’t seem very well,” she said.

  “Oh, no, he doesn’t.” Paul’s expression turned serious. “Well done, Olivia, it’s not wise to vaccinate someone who is suffering from impetigo.”

  “Impetigo? What’s that?”

  “This rash.” He looked at the mother. “How long has your child been like this?”

  “Only a few days, Doctor, a week at the most.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “Not in our village,” Anya chipped in. “In the valley, her husband is a shepherd, they live alone.”

  “Ah, well that’s good, this is highly contagious.” Paul turned and reached into one of his many boxes. “Here, apply this cream every day until the tube is empty, that should stop it coming back.” He handed a small white box to the mother. “And be sure to wash your hands afterwards, really well, and change the bedding often to keep it clean and stop reinfection.”

  “Yes, Doctor.” The mother stood still as Paul then put a jab into her arm.

  “We can’t vaccinate your son today.” Paul shook his head.

  “But I have walked miles.” The mother frowned. “And everyone else gets it.”

  “I’m sorry.” Paul rested his hand on her shoulder. “But while his immune system is compromised, it could make him sicker.”

  She appeared as if she were about to cry and blinked rapidly several times.

  “It’s okay.” Paul ducked to look her in the face as he was so much taller than she was. “I’ll put a vaccine to one side, with his name on, and next week, when he’s better, come back, I will do it then.”

  She pulled in a deep breath, her nostrils flaring, and stared at Paul.

  “You come back here, next Wednesday,” Paul went on patiently, “and I will make sure his skin is all better, and if it is, I will give the vaccine.”

  “You’ll still be here?”

  “Yes, I’ll still be here.” He nodded. “I promise.”

  “Okay, thank you.” She smiled a little and clutched the cream. “Thank you.” She nodded at Anya, then after Olivia had given her the polio drop, went from sight.

  “It’s a six-hour walk,” Anya said, “each way.”

  Olivia picked up the next syringe. “Perhaps if I get the Jeep working, we can go to her.”

  “The Jeep,” Paul said. “Have you seen it?”

  “Yes.” She nodded and carried on giving vaccines. “I have.”

  “It’s a wreck.”

  “That is true.” Anya clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth.

  “But it’s all there. What’s broken I can fix, especially now I have a welder. I’m planning on stripping it down then putting it back together.”

  “If you can do that, I’ll be bloody amazed.” Paul dropped a needle into the sharps bin.

  “Then prepare to be amazed.” She grinned at him. His lack of belief in her abilities made her all the more determined to get the old Jeep up and running. It would be as much of a lifeline to the villagers as the hospital.

  “You could always use one of the other vehicles you brought to go to the valley,” Anya said. “Like the van.”

  Olivia looked at Paul.

  He looked at her.

  She burst out laughing. “Oh yes, I’d forgotten about that.”

  He grinned. “And you can come with me, Olivia. If we break down, you’re the gal I want at my side.”

  “She is very good gal to have at your side,” Anya said seriously. “Very good.”

  They worked through lunch, eating biscuits as they administered vaccines to keep themselves going.

  Paul had paused to weigh several small children he’d been concerned about, each he’d sent away with protein supplements and worming tablets for the entire family.

  An elderly man had a sore on his foot, which Paul had dressed and then told him to come back the next day. He’d had to deny a heavily pregnant woman the vaccinations, but again told her to return when she’d had the baby and he’d vaccinate both of them.

  “How long are you planning on staying in Kaskum, Doctor Paul?” Anya asked.

  “Several months at least,” he said. “Now I’m here, and there’s going to be a medical facility, it makes sense.”

  “That’s a long time to be in Africa,” Olivia said.

  “It takes time to make a difference.”

  “I guess.”

  “And Olivia will stay and be your nurse?” Anya asked.

  “Oh, I’m not a nurse.” Olivia shook her head.

  “No, you’re not,” Paul agreed. “But you’ve proved today you’re not squeamish, you work well under pressure, and most importantly you can follow instructions.” He pushed his hand over his short hair and studied her. “And I could really do with someone like that to help out until trained staff arrive. Global Medics are on the case. I’m hoping it will be weeks not months before I have medical support here.”

  “I’ll help out all I can. Of course I will.” Olivia had a strange sense of accomplishment, not because of what she was achieving already, but that Paul thought she had so much more to offer.

  Twenty minutes later, Olivia had to slip out of the tent to use the portable toilet set by the truck.

  On the way back she paused. Evan and Harry were standing by the truck, which was now half unloaded. They both wore dull brown shorts teamed with nothing other than sturdy boots. Evan had his back to Harry, standing unusually still and holding his longish hair away from his nape.

  Harry put a dollop of cream from what she recognized as the sun screen bottle onto his hand, then began to smooth it over Evan’s shoulders.

  Tucked slightly out of sight, in the shade, Harry seemed in no rush as he rubbed the cream into Evan’s golden skin.

  There was something so intimate about their moment together. A strange sensation went through her. It was almost as if she were spying on them, intruding.

  Which was ridiculous.

  She glanced at the tent, and the long queue of people still waiting to be vaccinated, then turned her attention back to Harry and Evan.

  Harry was massaging the cream into Evan’s lower back, into the two dips on either side of his lower spine. His eyebrows were drawn together and his lips pressed into a tight straight line as he concentrated on his task.

  Olivia felt her arms tingle; the heat of the sun, in just a few minutes, was stroking over her flesh, even though she already had a decent base tan.

  She guessed Harry was being sensible to be so thorough. They couldn’t underestimate the desert sun; it was relentless and powerful. Turning, though a little reluctantly, she headed back to the tent.

  She nodded at the next person to come in, sanitized her hands, then set to her tasks again.

  But the image of Harry and Evan alone together, Harry touching Evan, stayed with her. It was all perfectly innocent, but it sparked something in her p
syche. Seeing them, completely unguarded, had shown her how relaxed they could be in each other’s company. So often she had to stop them taking chunks out of each other, verbally at least, what she’d seen proved they could be gentle, too.

  Finally, well after darkness had fallen, their long queue of people came to an end. There was still a crate of vaccines, and Paul was confident he’d have more delivered within a week or two. Vaccination programmes were one of Global Medics top priorities.

  “I will bid you goodnight.” Anya stood and pressed her hand over her mouth to hide a yawn.

  “Thank you, Anya,” Paul said. “Your help today has meant we’ve worked at twice the usual pace.”

  “I am here to serve my people,” she said. “And now I hope my mother has saved me some soup.”

  “Would you like to join us?” Olivia asked. “Whatever Raul is cooking around the camp fire smells amazing.”

  “It does,” Anya said. “But I will leave you now. It has been so long since I was with my family that it feels new again to be with them.”

  Olivia smiled. “I understand.”

  Anya nodded and slipped from the tent.

  The weak overhead light glowed down on the boxes of medical supplies, and the small generator chugged quietly outside.

  “These full sharps boxes need incinerating,” Paul said. “They’ll likely have to go to Springbok for that.”

  “Yes, I suppose so.”

  She watched him for a moment as he stooped and closed up boxes. His movements were slow, and she guessed he was as weary as she was.

  When he straightened, he caught her staring at him. He rubbed his hand around the nape of his neck. “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing.” She continued to study him.

  “Have you decided you don’t hate me as much as you thought you did?” He raised his eyebrows.

  “I’ve never hated you, Paul.”

  He said nothing.

  “Did you hate me?” she asked, unsure if she wanted the answer.

  “No.” He shook his head and lowered his hand. “Not hate.”

  “So what then?”

  “Mistrust, I guess.”

  “And have you decided you don’t mistrust me as much as you thought you did?” She bit down on her bottom lip, wondering if his opinion had changed.