Defending Against Affliction

by Connor Mccoy

  Lauren paused her tirade enough to take a breath. Ian might have been able to cut in, but the angry doctor still had plenty of fire to launch another salvo. “So I know, Mister Ian Andrew. Death is burned into my soul.” Tears started streaming down her cheeks.

  “I’m sorry that you lost your daughter, damn sorry. But don’t you dare tell me I’m not familiar with death. And who the hell are you to tell me anything after you helped steal our truck, which we were using to help save lives! You hypocrite!”

  Tran stepped up behind her. “Lauren,” he said softly. “Please. That’s enough.”

  Lauren turned away. She let Tran help her away, with Bridget joining them. Ian let out a pained breath and walked off in the other direction. An uneasy silence hung over the crowd until Lee spoke up.

  “Doctor Whittaker has seen our anguish first hand,” Lee said, clearly attempting to be diplomatic. “She’s a true hero. Let’s always remember that. Now, let’s start planning how to carry out the evacuation.”

  Now that the Lauren-Ian furor had died down, Tom felt he could at least speak up. “Lee, I know feelings are running high, but I think Lauren made a good point. We can’t throw out the sick who can’t move well. There should be some exceptions. If they’re in isolation…”

  “No, Tom,” Lee said gently, “We don’t know how the virus gets spread. We can’t trust quarantine, not anything.”

  “But if some people are isolated, away from everyone…”

  “Tom, there can be no exceptions.”

  Tom now voiced his deepest, darkest fear out of this whole discussion. “But you can’t expect me to throw Cheryl out of town!”

  Lee winced. “You know, if I could, I never would ask this, but there’s no way the people will accept it.”

  “Why not?” Tom turned to the audience. He had started to garner their attention.

  “Is it too much to ask for a simple favor? Do I have to remind you what she did for this town, that Cheryl led the whole effort to free us from Volhein? She should have a goddamn statue in the center of town, plated in bronze! She’s no threat to anybody! She even taught you all how to cover yourselves, to make quarantine rooms! I’m not out of line in saying you owe her!”

  He curled his fingers into a fist. “Both of us gave our blood for this town. At least give us this much back. I give you my word, we’ll stay on our own land until Cheryl gets better. She’s even getting better already, so why even exile her?”

  People in the crowd looked at each other. Was Tom getting through to them?

  Finally, Lee walked up to him. “I’m sorry, Tom. Please believe me, but it’s all or nothing.”

  Tom’s breathing quickened. “Lee, that’s my wife you’re talking about. The woman I’d die for.”

  But Lee didn’t budge, and it was clear no one else in the crowd wanted to speak up for Tom. Finally, Tom shuffled away. He passed by Catherine, who wept silently. She followed him away from the crowd.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “I tried,” Tom said in a shallow whisper. “Dammit, Cheryl! They’re hellbent on throwing all the sick out of town.”

  “Hey, I’m sure you gave them hell,” Cheryl said. She was lying down, her figure hidden in the dark shadow of the tent and the darkness of the night.

  “I did. Lauren sure did. I didn’t even know she had lost so much family after the EMP hit. You should have seen the raw passion that came out of her. Didn’t do a damn bit of good.”

  Tom bowed his head. “You know, I’m starting to wonder if I have the right to judge anybody now. I tried to pull rank. I just rubbed it in how much you and I gave for this town. I felt they owed us.” Then he raised his head.

  “Doesn’t that make me just like everyone else? I see an advantage, I take it, just like…” He looked away. “Just like anyone else with a big advantage in life. Politicians, big rich types, anyone who could throw their weight around and get what they want, even over ordinary Joes. I always thought I was an ordinary Joe. Not anymore. I’m just like all those people I hated.”

  “Tom, you’re just looking out for me and the kids,” Cheryl said, her voice growing more tired. “Don’t beat yourself up. Those idiots don’t know what they’re doing. They do owe you. You fought and bled for this town.”

  “So did Ian. Did that mean he wasn’t entitled to the truck if it could save his daughter?”

  “That’s different. He tried to steal it.”

  “I know. But I’m not sure if there’s any real right and wrong when we have this gun to our heads.”

  “Look…” Cheryl finally sat up. “I’m not putting you through this Hell anymore. I’ll go.”

  “What? Cheryl, you can barely sit up.”

  “It’s the end of the day. I have more strength in the morning. I can walk.”

  “For what, more than a few paces? You remember what it was like out there on the road. Can you set up a tent? Prepare a campfire? What about if a big animal shows up like a bear?”

  “I’ll offer him a picnic basket and he’ll take it back to his little friend in Jellystone Park.”

  “Dammit, Cheryl! I’m not joking!”

  “I’m not either. If I want out, I’m getting out.”

  “God, don’t do this to me. Look, don’t do anything. I will work out something.” Tom stood up, his face nearly to the plastic. “I promise that whatever will happen, we’ll both do it.”

  Cheryl approached the plastic. Her hair was a mess, her skin sweaty and pale, but that old military march returned to her steps. “I promise.”

  Tom stepped back. He may have bought himself some time. The problem was that it was time to make an impossible decision.

  Fresh sweat glistened on Cooper’s face and chest. Twitches rocked his body. Every now and then his head would turn to one side and he would mumble something.

  A chill ran down Karen’s spine. He seemed to have been doing fine, even better the past day and night, but then he fell asleep and had stayed unconscious for the entire morning and now into the afternoon. Plus, Cooper never had sounded this scared, this frantic before.

  Karen fled to the plastic sheet. “Help! Help! Something’s wrong with Jamie!”

  Someone in the hall heard and passed the message along. In minutes, Lauren showed up in her protective gear. “What’s happening?” she asked as she pulled the plastic aside to enter the tent.

  “He’s been like this, mumbling in his sleep.” Karen quickly stepped aside as Lauren looked him over. “And he’s sweating like crazy. I know he’s got a fever, but it’s been worse for the past hour.”

  “It looks like he’s having a fever dream,” she said.

  “Should I try waking him up?”

  “No. No. Be gentle with him. Keep him cool. Let him come out of it.” Lauren headed for the door. “I put some washcloths in a fridge to cool them down. I’ll bring some up here.”

  Soon Cooper’s face was draped with cold washcloths. His breathing slowed, and his convulsions began to stop. “Thank God,” Karen whispered.

  “He’s probably going to come out of it,” Lauren said.

  Karen turned to Lauren. The doctor had sounded flat ever since she had arrived, plus her friend’s facial features were tight, her expression dour, and she barely made eye contact with Karen.

  “What’s wrong?” Karen asked.

  “You haven’t heard about what’s been going on outside?”

  “No. Only what you or anyone else here tells me. Why? What happened?”

  Lauren folded her arms. “It’s, uh, well…” She bit her lip. “I don’t know how to tell you this.”

  “What? Please, Lauren, what’s wrong? Is Jamie going to be okay?”

  “It’s not the virus.”

  “Then what is it?”

  Lauren shut her eyes. “Oh God, I’m sorry.”

  Karen got in front of the doctor. “Lauren!”

  “I’m sorry.” Lauren sank to her knees. “I’m so sorry.” She started weeping.

  Tom knocked on Nadia�
�s front door. “Nadia!” he called, “It’s me, Tom! I’m alone!”

  Nothing. He then turned the knob. To his surprise, it was unlocked.

  Damn, did someone break in? Did someone find out about Nadia’s condition and go after her? Fears flooded his mind as he stepped into the still living room.

  Since it was such a small house, it was easy to move around. “Nadia!” Tom found a candle and a nearby match. After lighting the candle, he could explore the room more easily.

  Before long he reached the end table by the chair, which had a folded-up piece of paper on it. Tom took it, then walked to the front door where the light let him read it.

  Dear Tom,

  I told you I’d deal with this myself. I won’t make you keep my secret anymore. I’m leaving town. I’m going out there and I’m going to beat this thing, and then I’m coming back.

  But if, for some reason, I don’t make it back, I want you to know I’ve treasured my time with you and your family. I lost my parents, siblings, even someone I loved when the world went dark. Being with you, Cheryl, your kids, it made me feel like I had a family again. Give them all my love.

  Love,

  Nadia.

  Tom sank against the house, the strength sapped from his body, as if he was reading about the death of a family member.

  Obadiah Stone drank deeply from the water cup as Tom sat in the chair near the kitchen’s dining room table. “Damn,” Stone said after drinking. “I’m sorry about Nadia.”

  “I don’t know what to tell Cheryl.” Tom looked ashen.

  “Nadia’s a tough lady, as tough as Cheryl. I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of her.” Stone pulled up a nearby chair.

  “She saw what’s headed our way. They’re going to push the sick out one way or the other.” Tom shook his head. “She’s just like Cheryl. She didn’t want to put me through anything more for her.”

  “Speaking of your lady, we still need to figure out what to do with her. I’ve heard talk that they’re organizing a list of the sick. They could show up here in maybe two days, could be less.”

  Tom turned to Stone. “We could pile everyone into the car and leave, all of us, just long enough for Cheryl to get better.”

  “Remember, Squirrel, you can’t just run up to a hotel and check in for a vacation. Those kids will need food and water for an extended time, and that car barely can fit them all as it is. There’s no way you can pack up all the food you need.”

  “Right. And I don’t know what’s out there. All these stories from people from the outside, they all don’t fit together. For all I know this is the last safe place on this planet for them.” He tapped the table with his knuckle.

  “And I hate the idea of tearing them out of this home to put them back on the road. Their lives are normal again. They deserve a roof over their heads, family, and security.”

  Finally, he turned and asked, “Obie, if something was to happen to both me and Cheryl, who do you think could take care of them?” His eyes fixed on the old man’s.

  Stone exhaled loudly. “Good Lord.” He straightened up. “If you had asked me, you know I’d give my all for those kids, but you also know that it was very much a two-person operation when you and Cheryl were out.”

  “Right. Nadia did a lot of the heavy lifting.”

  Stone grinned. “I’m not as young as I used to be.”

  “You’re right. I couldn’t ask you to take them all. I’d probably put you into an early grave.”

  Stone then leaned down and picked up a small black toy car. “Looks like I found something that belongs to one of your boys.”

  “Actually, I think that’s Randy’s. I saw him playing with it when he came over two nights ago.” Tom took it and held it.

  “He’s Catherine’s…” His eyes turned to the ceiling. “Right. Catherine took him in along with his brother. Catherine and the girls also have been getting along well.”

  “I see the gears turning in your head, Squirrel. You thinking Cathy could handle all thirteen of them?”

  “Maybe not all of them…” Tom lowered his head. “But it’s a start. What do you think about Ricardo?”

  “Good man.”

  “And loyal.” Tom still couldn’t stifle his anger over the secret meetings. Ricardo was the only one who had filled him in on them. “I could trust him, and I think Terry and Dominick took a shine to his boys. They’d like it there.”

  “If you’re looking for more options, Inga and Edgar at the diner could handle your boys, too. And I understand Michael and Irvin have been getting along well with the Lyons’ kids.”

  Tom smiled. “And Edgar would love the free labor, right?”

  Stone laughed. “Hey you said it. He didn’t hear it from me!”

  Tom pulled out his chair. “So, if worst came to worst, my kids would be taken care of.” He rose from his seat. “Cheryl can beat this thing, but she needs time. The outside world may not give it to her. God knows what it’s like out there.”

  He turned and faced Stone with fire in his eyes. “Obie, take care of the homestead. I’ve got to go out and I may not be back until early in the morning.”

  The chapel of St. George’s Church was quiet. Tom sneezed. This place had accumulated quite a bit of dust. Like much of the town, it had been a place of refuge, but since had been cleared out as the refugees found permanent living arrangements. But with the virus panic, the place had not been attended well, if at all.

  Doctor Tran was also there, sitting in a back pew. Tom headed over to him. The man wasn’t praying. He seemed to be in deep thought. When Tom’s shadow nearly crossed the doctor’s, Tran smiled.

  “Thomas! I was beginning to feel a little lonely in here.”

  “I’m surprised this place isn’t packed.” Tom sat down next to the doctor. “You’d think a lot of people would want to talk to God lately.”

  “Well, you don’t have to talk to God inside of a church,” Tran said, “God can hear you from anywhere.”

  “I guess pretty soon you won’t be needed here. They’re going to throw out all your patients,” Tom said grimly.

  “Yes.” Tran swallowed. “That appears to be so.”

  “So, what are you going to do?”

  Tran sat back in the pew. “Part of me wants to return home, but I fear I may have contracted it. I don’t know. I’ll have to wait for a while to make sure I don’t show any symptoms.” He looked to the ceiling.

  “But I detest the idea of giving up on those people. I haven’t made my choice yet, but one way or the other, I may be leaving here anyway. I don’t think I’m looked upon quite favorably.”

  “You did what you could. No one should blame you if you thought some people were immune.”

  “What about you? They didn’t spare Cheryl. What will you do?”

  “I don’t know what to do. Actually, I know what she’ll probably have to do, and I don’t have any way to stop it. I’d like an answer. I want to know how I can save my family.”

  Tran nodded. “Do you know about the evacuation of Dunkirk?”

  “I think I read about it in a history book, but it’s been ages,” Tom replied.

  “My grandfather was a big history buff, especially war history. Dunkirk was a harbor in France during World War II. The Allied army had been routed by the Germans. It seemed they had no hope to beat the Germans back, so Churchill arranged for the Allied soldiers to be evacuated out of the country across the English Channel to Britain. More than 330,000 soldiers made it out of France.”

  Tran scooted a little closer. “The Germans believed they had driven the Allies out of France and hailed the evacuation as a massive defeat. But by preserving the lives of so many soldiers, the Allies now had a chance to come back and fight another day.”

  Tom nodded. “It’s a great story.”

  “We think we have to stand our ground and fight, and that to leave is defeat or cowardice. But sometimes it’s better to leave when the odds are against you, and then return another time w
hen you’re stronger.”

  Tom sighed. “I’m not going to win. Not like this.”

  Tran stood up. “There are other ways to fight, ones that don’t involve using a fist.” He started walking away, but then stopped. “Although that can be effective when called for.”

  Tom chuckled. “Thanks, Doc.” He now knew what he had to do.

  Catherine hurried down the center aisle of the library in response to the knocking, barely managing not to trip over her robe. When she saw it was Tom at the glass door, she quickened her pace to get to the lock. After a short fumble with her key, she got the door open.

  “Tom? What’s wrong?” she asked.

  Tom wiped his forehead. Sweat covered his face. “Sorry…I’m so sorry to get you awake this late, but this can’t wait.” He steadied himself in the library’s doorframe. “I have to ask you a favor, and God knows this is the toughest thing I’ll ever have to ask.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Karen…”

  The faint voice stirred Karen from her seat. Even if it was faint, she was conditioned to hear anything coherent from her patient.

  “Karen…”

  She jumped up. “Jamie!” Cooper was turning his head from side to side. His breathing sounded deeper, less labored. Her heart leaped inside her chest. Was he actually better?

  “I’m here!” Karen rushed up to his face. “Oh God, are you feeling better?”

  “Still hot, but not as much,” he whispered.

  “I’ll get you a fresh towel!”

  Karen rushed to one of her dried-off towels and used it to wipe Cooper’s head and then his chest. “You were having a horrible dream. You were screaming.”

  Cooper coughed. “It was back when I was in Middleton. It was during the flood.”

  “You were calling out a woman’s name. Rachel,” Karen said.

  Cooper’s jaw stiffened. “She was there, too.”

  Karen hesitated before asking her next question. “Was she someone you were close to?”

  Cooper’s head tilted to the side, away from her. “Yes.”