Heron Fleet

by Paul Beatty

  ‘Mainly morphine and tetanus injections,’ replied Miriam. ‘We’ll need the operating theatres or ICU for the morphine, and Outpatients for the tetanus.’

  ICU was a shambles with desiccated bodies in the beds. Some seemed to have torn at their own flesh before dying. Some were still connected to machines by tubes and masks. There was a temporary dormitory in one area where the doctors and nurses had slept. They had died in the same way as their patients. ‘Whatever this disease was, it took all these people very quickly,’ said Miriam.

  We searched the place and found enough morphine for our needs. ‘I’m not going to risk taking equipment that’s not in intact sterile packs. So a table’s out,’ said Miriam.

  ‘What about the fridge?’ said Bill.

  ‘I’d love one but the risk is too high.’

  The final stop was Outpatients where the chaos of death was complete. It had been wrecked by panicking people and though there were fewer bodies, one or two had gunshot wounds. ‘Looks to me that someone forced their way in here.’ said Bill. We found a large supply of tetanus vaccine and left by the front door.

  Rather than go back through the buildings we went round the outside and came across a garden. It was a warm spot and plants were still growing. In the middle there was a half-dug grave next to three others. Bill went on guard, his rifle ready as his eyes searched the lines of the buildings. Out of the corner of my eye I caught the movement of a figure. I swung round. Realising he had been seen, the man, who had been running away, stopped and turned towards me. ‘Go away. Go away. Haven’t you done enough!’ he screamed and then he disappeared.

  ‘How come he’s still alive?’ said Bill.

  ‘Who knows?’ said Miriam.

  I’m writing this in a bivouac about three miles from the hospital. At first light we’ll get back to the fort and I’ll be glad of its protection.

  Day 99

  I have avoided Bill while Miriam and I put the infirmary together. Even when he came in carrying the boxes and equipment from the pickup we avoided each other’s glances. But it is only a matter of time before we have to talk and I fear that discussion because I do not know what I meant by the kiss. Was it a symbol of affection or an act of a momentary solidarity? I like Bill and it would be comforting, as the spectre of the plague grows in my mind and my sleep is haunted by images of the bodies in the hospital, to retreat into a comfortable relationship with him. To accept what the fort offers by way of safety and security; to no longer have any need to live for a wild, dangerous trek.

  Then there are the children. Bill is brave, kind and vulnerable. The children need a father and they like Bill. Charlie spends as much time with him as me since he’s become the unofficial message boy for the guards. I suspect that was Bill’s idea, but a kind one since it keeps the lad occupied as he grows. It would be logical for the children and good for them. And underneath there is the thing I won’t admit even to myself: that I need love and companionship.

  But in accepting the fort would I be giving up hope? Not just the hope of recreating Winter’s Hill but something more elusive. I would be giving up the dream that people can be more than what they were. That people, me included, need not live in a way that leads to destruction and the death of nature. That we can live in a way that does not lead to plague, for where did that disease come from except from ourselves?

  Day 101

  It has finally happened. On the narrow path between two of the buildings I ran into Bill. Even then I tried to pass him by with a polite remark but we knew it was the moment and he stood his ground. ‘Did you mean it?’ he said.

  ‘Mean what?’

  ‘The kiss?’ I didn’t know what to say. ‘Did it mean something to you?’ he repeated.

  I paused and stuttered, ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then why not come and join me?’ I shook my head and ran past him into the infirmary.

  Miriam was there and got me to sit down and brought me a drink as I sniffled away. She asked what was wrong and I told her about the kiss and Bill’s offer and how I didn’t know what to do about the children. I even told her about my own needs and how alone I felt. She did her best to comfort me and I was grateful but I was surprised by one remark. ‘I thought you didn’t like soldiers?’ she said.

  ‘You said Bill was a good man?’ I countered.

  ‘Not good enough,’ she said.

  Day 104

  The infirmary was finished today and we are up and running, starting on the tetanus jabs. Our first patient was the Commander followed by all the soldiers. Bill was tenth in line. Miriam was doing the injecting at that stage and so I was saved the embarrassment of what he might have said. I shall have to give him a proper answer soon. Tomorrow we’ll start on the foragers, including the Winter’s Hill group.

  While I have been concerned about the infirmary I have heard little about how our plans for escape are going. It seems debate about transport continues but the stores are growing. I went to see James and he thinks we will be ready to go in a month’s time if we decide to go in the winter. He wants me to start thinking about what medicines I will want to bring with us.

  Day 105

  The second day of the inoculations went well. Seeing all the foragers together emphasises that the Winter’s Hill community still look in much better shape than the rest. But it’s not all good news since our children are showing more signs of ill health than they did. They have nearly as many colds as the other children and some are listless and run down. But the civilian foragers are the worst off. In fact one woman collapsed after her injection and Miriam and I are taking it in turns overnight to keep an eye on her.

  Day 106

  Miriam and I are puzzled. Even after a day in the infirmary the forager, whose name is Joan, seems no better, in fact we think she is slightly worse. She had a reasonably good night and was bright enough this morning, even eating a bit of breakfast. We thought she would be up by midday but about mid-morning she dropped off into a restless doze in which she rambled and tossed about. Her temperature is up and after listening to her chest with a stethoscope Miriam says there is a wheezing deep in her lungs.

  Day 107

  Joan has a very high fever. She is still and not delirious anymore but you can now hear the wheezing clearly. Miriam has closed the infirmary and we have isolated ourselves inside it in case it is infectious.

  Bill has volunteered to get our food in to us by poking it to us across a no-man’s-land at our door on a makeshift trolley. He pulls the empty dishes back using a rope. It’s comical but effective and we’re glad of his cheerful encouragement.

  We hold our breath that this is something ordinary; just a bad case of early winter flu.

  Day 108

  The horror has come. Joan woke up this morning. Her temperature fell rapidly towards the end of the night and then suddenly she was awake and lucid. She still wheezed but nowhere as badly as before. She said she felt fine and asked when we would let her out. We said we’d wait until the evening to be sure.

  She got up for a midday meal and looked on the mend until she had a coughing fit. The coughing completely exhausted her and blood started to drool from the corner of her moputh. We got her back to bed and Miriam asked me to pull up her blouse at the back so that she could sound her chest from the back.

  Running up her spine was a black line, like the bruise left by a blow from a stick. At the base of her spine there were the beginnings of swellings and the skin either side looked grey and brittle.

  It took only four hours to kill her. Black tracks of swellings appeared in a sort of network across her body. They seemed to be following the lines of the major nerves and where they went the skin turned grey, dried up and died. We tried antibiotics and some of the phagacitics but nothing did any good. Eventually all her skin was dry and lifeless and it stayed that way even where the swellings went down. The last place to be affected was her head where the skin drew back from the lips exactly as we’d seen before in the city.

  In the fina
l phase the delirium returned and she clawed at her own skin ripping deep gashes in herself. I held her in my arms and tried to restrain her hands but she threw herself around, bucking and groaning with incredible strength. Then suddenly it was over. She relaxed and struggled to breathe. Then she sighed and rattled in her throat.

  Day 109

  Miriam and I were locked in with Joan’s body overnight. We told Bill what had happened when he brought us breakfast this morning and he called the Commander and we talked through the open door.

  We told the Commander that we must have brought the plague into the fort from the dead victims in the hospital. So we reckoned the incubation time must be roughly ten days. We said we would isolate ourselves to see if we developed symptoms and suggested Bill join us since he was likely to be a carrier. Before he joined us he should burn his own clothes, our clothes and Joan’s body. Then he should put on clean clothes and bring us clean clothes as well.

  They have just locked the door and the three of us are alone.

  Day 112

  The last two days have dragged past. We watched for every twinge or cough which might indicate the onset of the plague. We have been driven apart, each into our own corner of watching and waiting.

  Food has been coming in as before but with the evening meal tonight came a bottle of whisky with a note from James. He’d said he’d found it earlier in the day and everyone had thought it should be used to cheer us up. It was a familiar bottle to me.

  We drank a little of it with the food, still subdued but at least together. Bill finally put words to what we were all thinking, ‘What do you think our chances are?’

  ‘Hard to say,’ said Miriam. ‘We know from Joan what the stages are but that’s all we know.’

  Day 113

  They let us out this morning. Three of the civilian foragers have what looks like the first signs of the plague. We have made them as comfortable as we can.

  Chapter 12

  ‘Where have they been taken, Caleb?’

  ‘To the Gathering Hall. Two of the Gatekeepers came to the roundhouse and said that the Head of the Council needed Anya to go with them right away. Anya was willing to go without a fuss but Jerry and I thought they ought to explain to us why before they just carted her off. So we asked why she was wanted and finally they told us. At which point Jerry said very firmly that if they didn’t have any objection he was going to go with Anya to help her if he could. So I came straight away to tell you.’

  ‘Any sign they’ve called on Jonathan?’

  ‘Yes, I met Mary trying to gather up the members of their roundhouse. Hamied has gone with him. She thought Hamied would be able to ask questions on Jonathan’s behalf since he’s still his partner. But as well as being Anya’s partner, you’re a Gatherer. I think they can’t refuse to answer any questions you ask.’

  ‘Well let’s hope so.’

  She was trying to stay calm, to find in herself the centre of confidence and balance that had got her through giving Timothy’s eulogy. But as they got nearer and nearer to the Gathering Hall she felt that confidence leaking away. How would she deal with making a case in front of the whole council? She feared failing to stand up for Anya. So it was a great relief to find that all she faced was an informal group of three Council members, sitting around one of the larger tables, in a quiet corner.

  Hamied sat across from Anya and Jonathan. With Peter were Sylvia and Thomas, a Gatherer from the kitchens who she did not know well. The Red Book was open on the table. Ruth sat at the far end facing Peter, with a very determined expression. Caleb, Jeremy, Mary and a couple of other Apprentices who were friends of Anya and Jonathan, watched from an adjacent table.

  ‘Good, we can start these proceedings,’ said Peter, beckoning Francesca to sit next to Hamied.

  ‘Proceedings?’ Anya burst out, getting up from her seat. ‘Are we on trial?’

  ‘This is an initial informal meeting, Anya, but in a sense it is a trial,’ said Peter. ‘It will be best for you if you try to stay calm. The Red Book lays down very clear instructions on how accusations of breaking the Rule are tested and they protect the rights of those accused.’

  Jonathan took Anya’s hand and gently pulled her back to her seat.

  Peter continued. ‘Let me explain. Anyone accused of a breach of the Rule has a right to hear that accusation from their accuser. If they admit the accusation is true then the Council meets in private and hands down an appropriate punishment.’

  Anya, was immediately on her feet again. ‘So punish us. It’s true. We admit it.’ Again Jonathan got her to sit.

  ‘Anya, it is not as simple as that for Apprentices. The Founders did not consider children, and therefore Apprentices, old enough to plead for themselves. However we may feel about that, they were trying to be as fair as possible. Even if Apprentices agree with an accusation the Red Book makes it clear that any accused Apprentices must have their case put to the Council by a Gatherer before any punishment is given.’

  ‘Waste of time is you ask me,’ Anya interjected.

  ‘It is to protect you,’ said Peter. ‘The Gatherer who argues the case for an Apprentice is there to make sure that inexperience or the misjudgements of youth don’t lead to unfair punishments. Do you understand, Anya?’ She nodded reluctantly.

  ‘The purpose of this meeting is to hear the formal accusation and hear what you and Jonathan have to say in response.’

  Francesca took a deep breath and interrupted Peter before he could continue. ‘Excuse me, Peter, there is one thing I want to ask before we go any further.’

  ‘Of course, Francesca.’

  ‘What range of punishments can be set by the Council?’

  ‘Compulsory separation of the couple or at worst banishment.’

  ‘Tell her the whole truth, Peter, she deserves to know. People have been killed in this community for breaking the Rule.’ It was Tobias. He had come in quietly and joined Caleb and the others watching the proceedings.

  ‘As you well know that is not true. No member of the community can be lawfully killed by another.’ There was relieved sigh from the watching Apprentices, but Peter had not finished. ‘However, it is true that, very rarely, in the long past, being found responsible for a breach of the Rule has led to the deaths of the accused.’

  ‘What!’ It was Anya again. ‘So we could be on trial for our lives.’

  ‘It could work out that way,’ said Tobias.

  Peter was exasperated. ‘Look, these are hypothetical issues. For the sake of everyone we need to proceed. Ruth, would you repeat your accusation, please?’

  Ruth stood up. Her cheeks were white. ‘I accuse Anya and Jonathan of having a relationship outside the provisions of the Rule. I have seen them three times near the river in recent weeks. Twice they were kissing and fondling each other. On the third occasion I believe they were having sex.’ She sat down as if there was nothing else that could possibly be said.

  ‘Are you willing, if necessary, to repeat that accusation in front of the whole community?’

  ‘I am.’

  ‘Anya and Jonathan. Do you agree or disagree with the accusation?’ Jonathan began to speak but Anya cut him off.

  ‘I’ve already said. We agree with the accusation. We have had a sexual relationship.’

  ‘In that case, I only have to name a Gatherer to speak for both of you. I took the precaution of finding a volunteer before this meeting. Thomas is willing to stand in this capacity, though any Gatherer may volunteer for the job or be suggested by another Gatherer.’

  ‘In which case I volunteer,’ said Tobias. ‘I believe I am still a Gatherer.’

  ‘I think your status as a Gatherer would be a matter of intense debate,’ replied Peter. ‘Since you left the community under the shadow of the same accusation I hardly think you’d be a fit spokesperson or could pretend to be a Gatherer any longer.’

  ‘But you’ve got to admit, Peter, looked at in one way there is hardly anyone more qualified to speak for Anya and
Jonathan than Tobias,’ interjected Sylvia. ‘Let’s assume that Tobias is still a Gatherer. What happens if there are two volunteers?’

  Peter sighed. ‘In the event of one of the accused having a partner who is a Gatherer, that Gatherer chooses.’

  ‘So in this case, Francesca has the right to choose. Well girl?’

  Francesca paused. Thomas might be a prudent choice but Anya needed an eloquent defence.

  ‘I thank Thomas for his offer but I choose Tobias.’

  While Peter might have been caught off balance with Tobias’s offer to act as Speaker for Anya and Jonathan, he quickly dealt with some of the other housekeeping issues needed to prepare for their Testing. Jonathan was placed under Thomas’s care and went off to temporary quarters to Thomas’s longhouse. Francesca was released from the Infirmary and given formal responsibility for Anya’s conduct.

  But Peter didn’t get everything his own way. By one vote the Council endorsed Tobias’s claim to be a Gatherer, so that he was recognised as Speaker.

  While Francesca found all these things to her liking, she was still worried about what impact the news of Anya’s pregnancy might have. She turned the problem over in her mind for a few days; Tobias had to know as soon as possible but it had to come from Anya. She concluded that all she could do was engineer the opportunity for disclosure and see what happened.

  At the end of the next evening meal she got Anya and Tobias together on the excuse that she wanted to talk to them about things that were worrying her about her role in the Testing. After a few questions about what it would be like giving evidence and how things would be organised, she turned to the issue of punishment.

  ‘There are still things I don’t understand about punishments that might result from the Testing,’ said Francesca.

  ‘Peter was right; it’s separation if you remain in the community, banishment for one or both of you if you don’t,’ replied Tobias.