Meltdown (Extinction #1)

by Paul Bryce

Extinction Series

  Meltdown

  Paul Bryce

  Published By

  Copyright © 2012

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.

  his is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.

  ____________________________________________

  Chapter 1

  Terry hacked through the last few feet of mangrove trees onto the beach. The sun slammed into his eyes making him squint, and hold up his hand to block it out.

  John was standing on the rocks, about 50 yards away, dangling a line into the sea. “John! You’ve got to come now! “ he shouted, “Jane is … “He took a big wheezy breath in. Getting to the beach had been a nightmare. The jungle was so dense on the island he'd had to to use his machete most of the way, which was no joke, especially when you were pushing 20 stone. John looked up and then ran over to meet him. He’d been trying to catch a fish for dinner for the last couple of hours with no luck, and was grateful for the distraction.

  “Hey Terry, take it easy” he said “just take your time.”

  Terry took a few more deep breaths. Fat beads of sweat had broken out all over his forehead, and his shirt was soaked. “Jane is in trouble” he said.

  “Terry calm down” said John “tell me what’s happened to her?”

  Terry looked at John “She can’t breathe John! I think she’s been bitten by something. Her leg’s swollen up like a balloon. Look you’ve got to come now – I think she’s dying!”

  “Shit! Let’s go” said John. They turned from the beach back into the jungle, pushing their way past a wall of branches and leaves.

  Damn thought John. This was what worried him most about this trip. He hated being the doctor. He wasn’t even officially the expedition medic. Actually they didn’t have a medic. The tour company said one would arrive days ago, but he never did. Serves me right for being a cheapskate thought John. Should have gone with a proper company instead of these cowboys from Bali.

  And now I’m stuck with it thought John. He could have kept quiet about his occupation (past occupation really), but he always felt he shouldn't have to lie. So usually he didn’t.

  On the other hand he loved outdoor stuff, that’s why he’d signed up for this trip.

  Survive for Three Weeks on an Uninhabited Tropical Island the ad had said. Build your own shelter, make fire from scratch and catch your own food – if you can.

  He couldn’t resist the challenge.

  But it was tougher than he’d expected. The island was mostly mangrove swamp, so getting anywhere was a nightmare. It left you sweating like crazy, covered in tiny scratches, and exhausted. And the scratches would sting like buggery when your sweat dripped over them, which it always did.

  They’d also struggled to get water. So far they’d only found one stagnant rock pool, and had to boil the water to make it drinkable. Even then Terry said it looked and tasted like piss.

  It wasn’t how most people imagined a tropical island. But John still loved it, especially when he was out on the beach, fishing, or at night sitting with the others by the camp fire. He was exhausted but he felt good.

  Terry updated him as they went. Jane was at camp about half a mile inland from the beach. He'd been boiling up water in a Billy can, to sterilize it, when Jane screamed. He'd dropped the can, and turned to see her holding her foot, which was red and swollen from her toes to her ankle.

  “She was crying with pain,” said Terry, “she said something had bitten her. I went over to have a look. She was wheezing like crazy John,” he said, “and her lips had swollen up like bananas. I didn’t know what to do, so I just came to get you, but it took me nearly half an hour. Jesus John will she be OK?” said Terry.

  “You did the right thing getting me” said John not answering her question “Let's just get there.”

  Jesus thought John sounds like anaphylactic shock. She's probably allergic to whatever bit her. Damn that could be bad. If her airway closes up she’ll die for sure... hopefully there’s some adrenalin in the med kit otherwise we're screwed.

  John wiped the sweat from his eyes. It was only 9am and already stupidly hot.

  Maybe Terry’s just panicking he thought, God knows patients do everyday. But John knew Terry wasn’t panicking. He was an IT whiz, who didn’t miss much. He wouldn't make a mistake about something like this.

  They kept on pushing through the undergrowth. Nearly there now thought John.

  John was pissed that he was stuck in this situation. This was supposed to be a holiday. Now he had to try a save a woman’s life. Shit shit shit! he thought.

  ***

  After 20 minutes they broke through into the clearing where they’d set up camp. Jane was lying next to the remains of last night’s fire. She was breathing fast and shallow. John could hear her wheezing.

  Her airways closing. He had to do something now or she’d die.

  John's mouth was dry. His heart was thumping not just from the run. He was scared. He thought he'd given all this up, left medicine, but this woman was dying and there was no-one else.

  What if I make a mistake and kill her?

  He hadn't come here for this but he was here, and he couldn't change it now. He had to make a choice, but there was really no choice. He couldn’t stand by and do nothing.

  You know how to do this, he said to himself, you've worked in ER. You've done this before.

  “I've got to give it a go” he said. He turned to Terry “OK let’s do it. Pass me the med kit”.

  John raced over to Jane and crouched down beside her. He felt for a carotid pulse with his left hand and took the med kit from Terry with his right.

  I really hope there’s some adrenalin in there he thought.

  Her pulse was fast and thready. She was still wheezing like crazy, but getting tired. She wouldn’t be able to keep it up much longer. Her whole left leg was swollen up now. John fished through the bag and found an adrenalin auto-injector.

  “Jane you’re in anaphylactic shock he said I’m going to have to inject this” he said holding up the adrenalin.

  “No” she said between wheezes, “do you know what your doing?”

  “Jane you need it” said John “without the adrenalin you’ll die”.

  Jesus I thought the only problem would be remembering what to do, not having Jane refuse he thought.

  “No!” said Jane. God knows how she could still speak. The swelling in her throat was horrendous now. John had never seen anything like it.

  He thought she's going to die. Shit! I can't inject her against her will.

  John remembered an orthopaedic surgeon had been sued for draining some guy’s chest on a plane - and he had been willing.

  Shit what if I'm wrong?

  Then he decided. He looked over at Terry, they made eye contact and Terry nodded. Then he came over and held Jane down, while John injected her in the thigh.

  Jane screamed “No” with what little strength she had left. It came out like a whisper, then her breathing settled as the adrenalin did its work.

  John turned to Terry “Quick get the company on the radio. We need to get her out of here ASAP.”

  Terry picked up a bulky radio, one of the two they had, and turned the dial to switch it on. There was just static. He twiddled with knob trying a few other frequencies but got nothing. “Its just static” he said “same on every frequency”

  “Shit! “said John “She
's stable for now but she really needs to be in hospital”.

  Robbie, the youngest member of the group, ran into the clearing “I heard shouting “he said “what’s happening?”. Then he caught sight of Jane lying on the floor, her leg swollen horrendously. “Oh my God”” he said. Robbie was only 19. It was his first time on a survival trip like this. Actually it was his first time away from home, where he lived with his mother. He just stood and stared at her.

  “We think Jane’s been bitten by something poisonous” said John “probably a spider, these islands are well know for them. She’s had an allergic reaction to the venom, and I’ve had to inject her with Adrenalin to stabilize her.” Robbie still hadn’t moved or spoken. He was still staring at Jane.

  Terry went over to him and grabbed him by the shoulders, trying to get through to him. “Robbie, Robbie” he said” It’s ok we’ve got it under control. John is an experienced doctor. He knows what to do.”

  Great thought John that’s the responsibility for her life firmly on my shoulders. He supposed the others might think he was selfish, if they knew what he was thinking, but he’d spent 20 years in the National Health Service giving, and he thought it was time to look after himself now.

  “We’ve been trying to get hold of the tour company on the radio” said Terry but were just getting static. John says Jane needs to be in hospital.”

  I’ve got a mobile” said Robbie. John and Terry looked at him. They weren’t supposed to have any contact with the outside world. That was one of the rules. They had the radios for emergencies only, but mobile phones were definitely not allowed. It looked like Robbie had ignored that rule. But they were glad he had.

  Robbie looked sheepish. “I had a signal this morning” he said. “when I texted my girlfriend.” John didn’t think Robbie looked he had a girlfriend but let it pass.

  “Have you got a signal now Robbie” he said. Robbie pulled out his phone and checked,”Nothing, “that’s funny I’ve had 3 bars ever since we got here. What are we going to do?” No-one said anything for a long moment.

  “Wait” Terry was on radio again trying different frequencies, “I’m getting something, but it’s not very clear.” He was fiddling with the dial trying to get a better signal. Then it came through loud and clear.

  This is a message from the Government. Please stay inside you homes - it is not safe on the streets - a curfew is now in operation … try to stop the spread of infection. ...anyone found outside will be shot. I repeat anyone found outside will be shot. For your own safety please stay at home until you are informed otherwise.

  “What does that mean?” said Robbie. He was looked scared. “God are we going to die?” He was shaking and there was a tremor in his voice.

  “Take it easy;” Terry had gone over to him again “No-one’s going to die Robbie. We’ll get this sorted don’t worry.”

  But they were all shocked. No-one wanted to end up in the middle of a civil war, if that’s what it was. John had some family Indonesia, and knew it had a history of civil unrest, but the trouble was usually between the local Indonesians and the Chinese. There had been some bloody fighting a few years back. But this was different. They'd said infection.

  Terry looked over at John “What do you think’s going on Doc?” he said.

  “God knows.” said John. “They mentioned an infection didn’t they. But I don’t know what kind of infection triggers a military curfew and a shoot on sight policy.”

  Maybe some kind of tropical disease? he thought, but it would have to be highly infectious and lethal. The only thing he could think of was Ebola. But that was just found in Africa wasn’t it? Anyway surely you’d just quarantine people not bloody shoot them.

  Karly and Bill burst into the camp. Karly had been collecting water from the rock pool about half a mile away, and Bill had been out hunting in the mangroves. Both were covered in sweat from the effort of trying to get back to camp as fast as they could. They must have heard the shouting as well thought John.

  Karly could manage the exercise easily enough though. She was an athletic 29 years.

  Bill was the oldest of the group at 51. He was a life-long survivalist. He’d spent a few years in Vietnam, and fancied himself as the group leader, and chief hunter, although he hadn’t brought much in the way of food back yet. That was another of their problems, they were starving.

  Terry filled them in on what had happened to Jane and the radio broadcast.

  “Are you saying there’s a military curfew on the mainland” said Bill. He looked angry but also as if he was enjoying the possibility of trouble.

  He probably fantasizes about Armageddon thought John.

  “You know as much as we do” said Terry “We’re just going on what we heard in the message.”

  John was worrying about Jane. He’d saved her for now, but she had to get to hospital or she’d die. He’d checked the med kit. There was no more Adrenalin, so if she went into shock again he wouldn’t be able to treat her.

  He looked at her lying on the floor. She was unconscious, but her breathing had settled – for now. But she needs to get to a hospital, he thought, the poison is probably still inside her she could go back into shock at any minute.

  He felt sick to the stomach. He looked down trying to control the panic. How much worse can this get. She is going to die if we don't get help soon. And what the hell is going on the mainland. People being shot - an infection?

  Karly saw John looking at Jane “Will she be OK John?” she said.

  “I don't know Karly, “he said “she's alive for now but we don't have any more Adrenalin, and I think the poison is still inside her. When the Adrenalin wears of she’ll go into shock again. She needs to be in a hospital.

  Bill looked impatient “What's happening with the radio Terry?” he said trying to take control of the situation.

  Terry was still fiddling with the dial. “I'm just getting the recorded message. There’s nothing on any other frequency.”

  “That doesn’t make sense” said Bill”you should be able to pick up a shed load of radio traffic from here.”

  “I’m telling you it’s just static” Terry was losing his temper. He got the message back again. Then it was gone.

  “Get it back” said Karly panicking.

  Terry was turning the dial trying to get the message back, “I can't” he said.

  Bill grabbed it, and tried as well. There was just static. “We're only a few miles from the mainland. We should be picking up lots of traffic,” he said almost to himself.

  “Damn” said Karly, “What are we going to do? Jane is dying, and we can't get in touch with the tour company, or anyone else. And the military are shooting people on the mainland, because they have an infection? “John looked at her. She was scared, they all were.

  John crouched down next to Jane and felt her forehead. Shit. Her temperature was up again. They had to do something now.

  No-one said anything for a thirty long seconds. You could hear the sea crashing against the rocks in the distance and Jane breathing.

  Then John made a decision. “We've got to get off the island” he said. “How about taking the boat?” The tour company had left a boat for emergencies. It had an outboard motor and could probably carry 4 people. Terry had ignored the for emergencies only advice. He’d been out in it yesterday trying to collect shellfish from some inaccessible part of the beach, so he knew he could handle it.

  “It could work,” he said,” there's a map and compass in the survival kit. We can just take a bearing and head for the mainland.”

  “Maybe we could” said John.

  “Yeah” said Terry “It’s only about a mile to Bali. You can just about see it from the beach, should be no problem.”

  Bill took in a big breath. He was going to take charge of the situation “Hang on” he said. “How long do you think your little boat would last in the open ocean? Especially if the weather turns,” he looked up past the canopy of
trees at the darkening sky, “which it’s about to. You’ll be swamped by 30m waves.”

  “But …” said Terry.

  “You’ll be swallowed up like a piece of gristle, and you'll have thrown your lives away for nothing.” said Bill. He looked pleased to have won his point so easily.

  Robbie was scared, “I think he's right. I didn't sign up for this. I just work in a call-centre. This is my first time out of Surbiton, and it wasn't supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be an adventure on a tropical island. It was supposed to be fun.”

  “It’s the way it is Robbie” said Karly. “We're here and we can't just hide under a rock. Jane needs our help. Anyway I'm not sure we could survive here for long. We've been struggling for food the last few days.” She looked over at Bill.

  “It’s not easy” he said defensively “The island’s all mangrove swamp, which is near impossible to hunt in. Anyway we might not have to survive for long. All we have to do is contact the outside world and get airlifted out. We’ve all got insurance right?”

  “Bill we can't afford to wait” said John “or rather Jane can’t await. She’ll die if we don't get her out of here very soon.”

  But aren’t we forgetting about what’s going on on the mainland said Robbie.

  He’s right, said Bill surprised to find himself agreeing with Robbie, “We don't know what you're going to find on the mainland. It sounds like the military are in control. I don't suppose you've seen war either have you Terry? I have in South East Asia. The soldiers will kill us if they've been ordered to.”

  ***

  They’d been arguing for 30 minutes, and hadn’t gotten anywhere. They weren’t going to agree that much was obvious.

  “I think we should take a vote” said John, “if we can all agree to stick with the decision”.

  10 minutes later they’d decided to take Jane to the mainland in the boat: by 3 to 2 votes. Bill and Robbie voted against but had stuck to their word to go along with the majority.

  “Ok Doc what do we do?” said Terry. They looked at John for instructions.

  Shit they want me to tell them what to do he thought.

  “Ok” he said “Bill and I will carry Jane. Karly you get the survival kit. Check it’s got the map and compass. Robbie you carry the medical kit. Terry can you go ahead and make sure the boat is ready to go. “