“But—”
“Please. Just remain calm, and prevent the patients from panicking,” Sandi said, weaving her way through the crowd. As far as she went, she spoke to nurses, orderlies, and patients alike, reminding them to stay put and remain calm. “Everything’s okay, folks. No need to worry. Stay put.”
She reached the end of the hallway and cut across a couple of wards. Along the way, she repeated her instructions to the matrons in charge. “I’ll find out what’s happening outside.”
“Let’s hope it’s good news,” the matron said.
“Agreed,” Sandi said. “If it’s a supply plane, I’ll bring help.”
“What we need is a miracle,” one matron said with a snort. “We can’t do this alone.”
“No, we can’t,” Sandi replied, in full agreement. Both Prime and the Exiles were young settlements eking out a living in a nightmarish world. Hopefully, that would change soon. It all depended on Seth, Rogue, and the rest of the Vancouver group.
“Off with you, miss,” the matron said, waving her away. “We’ll hold the fort, never fear.”
“Thank you,” Sandi said, and she meant it.
Ever since she’d taken over Kat’s duties, the staff had gone along with it mostly. They helped her where they could, working long hours with barely any rest of all. The same applied to the doctors, though a few were skeptical of her young age. It probably helped that Kat and Callum had publicly acknowledged her as one of their own, and that she’d proven herself as a capable administrator.
Now that fellowship was paying off. Except for one or two rotten apples, the rest followed her instructions and restored order throughout the hospital. The overwrought patients were taken care of, the staff returned to their posts, and a semblance of calm descended. But underneath it was a sense of excitement. A promise of change to come.
The atmosphere was infectious, and it was with a lighter step that Sandi made her way through the infirmary. By the time she reached the front entrance, she could hardly wait and burst out into the open. The scene outside was one of turmoil.
The city was in disarray, and people milled about in confusion. One man stood upon a step, bellowing about the end being near while an old woman huddled on a corner with her bag clutched to her chest. Babies bawled and mothers screamed at their children to stay by their sides.
“Sandi, over here,” a voice cried.
Sandi craned her neck and spotted Paul across the road. He cupped both hands around his mouth and yelled. “Don’t move. Wait for me.”
“Okay, but hurry,” she yelled back, glad he’d found her. The chaos was unnerving, and she didn’t think she’d be able to brave it alone.
Within seconds, he reached her side and gripped her elbow. His warm touch was reassuring, and he provided a safe bastion against the ebb and flow of the crowd. An island of calm during a storm.
“Is it a plane?” Sandi asked, gazing up at him.
“Yes, I saw it fly overhead while I was out clearing the gutters,” Paul said. “It went past, then circled back around.”
“Where is it now?” she asked.
“It landed somewhere in the fields,” he said, waving his hand in that direction.
“We need to go look,” Sandi said.
“Let’s go,” Paul said, nodding in agreement.
At first, the going was rough. They had to fight the crowd to gain even the smallest of headway. But before long, the Watch came out in force and directed people to their homes and places of work. They arrested any criminals opportunistic enough to take advantage of the situation and questioned those who seemed suspicious.
One of the Watch pulled them aside for the same reason, his expression stern. “Where are you two young ones going in such a hurry?”
“We’re going to the fields to investigate the plane landing,” Paul said, not beating around the bush.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t allow that,” the guard said, waving back the way they came. “I suggest you go home before you get into trouble.”
“But we’re on the city council,” Sandi protested.
“Do you have proof of that?”
“Proof? Like what?” Sandi said. “It’s not like we carry badges or something.”
“I’ll need more than just your word for it,” the guard said.
“Well, Moran and Patti Fry can vouch for us,” Sandi said, raising her chin.
“Who?”
“They’re the leaders of the city council,” Sandi said, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, whoever they are, they’re not here right now,” the guard said with a shake of his head.
“Moran…” Sandi prompted. “She used to be the leader of the Rebel Faction. Does any of that ring a bell?”
“Not really.”
“This is impossible. I can’t believe we’re talking to the one guy in Prime who doesn’t know his city leaders,” Sandi said, throwing her hands in the air.
“I guess I don’t get out much,” the guard said with a negligent drawl.
“Look,” Sandi said, crossing her arms. “I’m the acting administrator of the hospital and personal assistant to Kat Mewes.”
“You’re a bit young for that, aren’t you?” the guard said with an amused smile. “Besides, I don’t know who Kat Mewes is either.”
“Argh!” Sandi cried. “Do you live under a rock?”
“What about Bruce Copeland?” Paul asked, stepping forward. “He’s in charge of the Watch. At least, he is while Callum MacNamara is gone.”
“Bruce? You know Bruce?” the guard asked.
“I do,” Paul said. “I worked with him for a while before Sandi stole me away. Now I help out at the infirmary.”
“Good for you,” the guard said in a dry tone of voice. “Anyway, you’re in luck.”
“How so?”
“I’m on my way to the main gate, and you two are welcome to tag along,” the guard said. “But, if you aren’t who you say you are, you’ll both be in big trouble. Got it?”
Paul nodded. “Understood, Sir.”
“Excellent. It’s good to see that some youngsters still have respect for their elders,” the guard said before setting off down the street.
“Respect?” Sandi said with a withering look at the guard. For some reason, he rubbed her up the wrong way. “Respect is earned.”
“That’s correct, Missy, and you have yet to earn mine,” the guard replied, seemingly undisturbed by her ill humor.
He continued on his way, his lean body moving with deceptive grace. Through narrowed eyes, Sandi studied him. It sounded like he knew Bruce well, and they seemed to be around the same age. He carried a sword across his back, and judging by the old scars that marred his arms and face, he’d seen his fair share of fighting.
Whatever her feelings about him, Sandi allowed him to lead the way to the main gates of Prime. Having an escort smoothed the way, and no one tried to detain them again. It wasn’t long before they reached their destination.
There, they encountered a small knot of humanity arguing among themselves. It wasn’t hard to pick out Bruce’s tall silhouette from the bunch. Moran was standing next to him, and Sandi ran toward them. “Bruce! Moran! How are you?”
“Sandi? Paul?” Bruce asked, turning toward them with a smile. “Where did you two come from?”
“We heard the airplane and wanted to investigate,” Sandi said with a broad smile. “The infirmary urgently needs medicine, and I thought this could be a supply plane from Vancouver.”
“We don’t know yet,” Moran said. “We’re on our way there now.”
“I hope Rogue is on that plane,” Sandi said. “Her and Seth.”
“Me too,” Moran agreed with a quick nod. “I miss her so much.”
“I’ve sent someone to fetch Lee, and Casey,” Bruce said, referring to the two Vancouver residents staying at Prime.
“Good idea,” Sandi said. It would probably be better for someone from Vancouver to greet the new party, but she didn’t want to wait. “Are they
on their way?”
“They should be here soon,” Bruce said. At that point, he spotted the guard with them and grinned. “Terry, it’s good to see you again, man.”
“Same here, Bruce,” Terry said, clapping Bruce on the shoulder. “I found these two wandering around the streets.”
“They’re with me,” Bruce said, nodding at Sandi and Paul. “We’re good friends.”
“Seems you’re off the hook, kids,” Terry said. “Your story checks out.”
“I told you so,” Sandi said with more than just a hint of smugness.
That faded when Terri openly laughed at her. “Touché, miss. Touché.”
“What happens now? Do we wait for Lee and Casey?” Paul asked.
“I’m not waiting one more second,” Moran declared. Without another word, she marched toward the gate. Throwing a look over her shoulder, she cried, “Are you guys coming or not?”
Bruce sighed. “We’d better go, or I’m sleeping on the couch tonight.”
“Is that the infamous Moran?” Terri asked.
“The one and only,” Bruce said. He signaled to a few members of the Watch. “Let’s look lively, folks. The people on the airplane might be friendly, or they might not.”
In a tight group, everyone set out across the open field with Moran in the lead. She looked much the same as she always had. Her hair was still cut into her signature mohawk, and her lean body spoke of an active lifestyle. Service on the city council had not softened her demeanor.
“Is she your new missus? I heard the two of you hooked up,” Terri said.
“That’s right, and I couldn’t be happier,” Bruce said.
“Uh-huh, it sure looks like it,” Terri teased.
Sandi flashed him a mean look. “I thought you didn’t know who she was?”
“Everybody knows who Moran is. I’m not stupid,” Terri said.
“You’re a real ass,” Sandi said, exasperated beyond belief.
“Yeah, I know that too. In fact, there’s not a lot I don’t know,” Terri said with a cheeky grin.
“There’s my man! The Terri we all love to hate. Good to have you back,” Bruce said. “Where have you been, by the way?”
“I’ve been around. I spent a few months at the Shanghai tunnels,” Terri said.
“Let me guess. It was a she that lured you there,” Bruce bantered.
“You nailed it, but it didn’t work out.”
“It never does,” Bruce said.
The two men continued to joke and laugh as they walked toward the plane’s landing site. Sandi and Paul brought up the rear, and she rolled her eyes at their talk. But soon she forgot all about them as her focus shifted to the aircraft.
It sat on the horizon, gleaming in the sunlight. Two or three figures scurried around the craft, and she hoped her friends were among them. But as they drew nearer, she realized the crew were strangers. Not one of them looked familiar.
Her disappointment didn’t last, however. Not when she saw what they were busy doing. The strange crew members were piling crates onto the ground, emptying the cargo hold. Each crate sported a red cross, and her heart filled with a mixture of relief and joy. Medicine!
Sandi sent up a silent prayer of thanks to Seth, Rogue, and every single member of their group. Because of their bravery, she could save countless lives from the Red Flux. Including Kat and her unborn child.
Chapter 12
The moment her eyes opened, Rogue bounced out of bed with a glad cry. She grabbed her towel and hopped, skipped, and jumped on her way to the bathroom. “This is the day. In a couple of hours, I am officially out of here.”
“Whoa, slow down, or you’ll fall, and end up right back where you started,” a nurse called from behind the counter as she ran past.
“I can’t. No time to waste,” Rogue said, flashing a grin at the woman over her shoulder. “Vancouver waits for no man. Or woman.”
“Okay, whatever that’s supposed to mean,” the nurse replied with a shake of her head.
“Don’t say we didn’t warn you,” another nurse called from the end of the corridor.
“Got it,” Rogue replied, sliding around the corner on her socked feet.
After a quick shower, she rushed through her morning routine and finished in record time. Her long hair hung down her back in a thick braid, her nails were clipped, her teeth brushed, and her skin scrubbed until it glowed.
She pulled on a tight pair of jeans, her favorites. Washed and mended by Mrs. Potts, they were soft and comfortable. A pair of hiking boots that laced up to the knee, a faded blue t-shirt, and a short jacket finished the ensemble.
“Looking good today, miss,” an orderly called as she made her way back to her room.
“Thanks,” Rogue answered with a wink. “It sure beats hospital gowns!”
A jaunty smile played on her lips as she walked. Not only was she happy to leave the hospital that day, but she also looked forward to exploring Vancouver and seeing the sites. After more than a week cooped up within the sterile confines of the infirmary, she couldn’t wait to get out.
Her good mood soared even higher when she entered her room and found a cloth-covered tray on the side table. Her stomach rumbled, a reminder that she hadn’t eaten yet, and she lifted the cloth with eager anticipation.
The smell of bacon, eggs, and sausages hit her nostrils, and she closed her eyes as she savored the scent. It was a change from the usual fare, and she wondered what the occasion was. Then she spotted a note that read: Enjoy your freedom. Cook.
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Rogue said, sniffing back a tear.
It was a kind gesture. The sort that touched her heart and made her day even more special. Though it probably helped that she’d showered the cook with compliments ever since they put her on solid food. How could she not?
She was willing to bet she’d put on at least five pounds over the past three days. “Another week and they’d have to push me out of here in a wheelbarrow.”
That thought did not stop her from enjoying the meal, however, and she mopped up the last of her egg yolk with a piece of toast. A cup of coffee and a green apple rounded out the meal, and she sat back with a groan of satisfaction. When an orderly fetched the empty plates, she said, “My compliments to the chef. That was the best breakfast I’ve ever had.”
“I’ll tell the cook,” the orderly replied with a broad smile. “It’s not often she gets someone as appreciative as you.”
“It was my pleasure. Trust me,” Rogue said, rubbing one hand across her belly.
With breakfast behind her, she turned her attention to the next task at hand: Packing. Eager to get going, she stuffed the rest of her belongings into a bag. There wasn’t much. A few toiletries, a set of pajamas, extra undies, socks, and her damp towel.
Afterward, Rogue hesitated, suddenly at a loss. Seth wasn’t due for another half-hour, and she had no idea what to do with herself. With a shrug, she set about tidying the room and making the bed. Anything to keep busy.
As she smoothed out the covers on the bed, a shadow loomed in the doorway. She looked up into the stern gaze of Dr. Matthews. “Good morning, miss.”
“Err, good morning,” she replied.
“And where are you off to in such a hurry?” he asked.
“Um… I’m leaving today. At least, I think I am?” Rogue said, suddenly uncertain. The doctor had that effect on her. On just about everyone, she’d noticed. No matter how sure a person was, he had them questioning themselves within seconds.
“You can go if I discharge you, and only if,” Dr. Matthews said, raising one finger in front of her disbelieving gaze.
“What? But I’m fine, aren’t I?” she asked, suddenly uncertain of that too. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?” the doctor asked with a quizzical frown.
“Five minutes ago, I was a hundred percent certain that I’m in perfect health, and now I’m not so sure,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.
“Well, we’l
l see about that,” Dr. Matthews said, pointing to the bed. “Sit down, please.”
Rogue flopped down on the edge of the bed and sighed. “Fine.”
With exaggerated care, Matthews performed a full examination. He took her blood pressure, monitored her heart rate, listened to her lungs, checked her leg, and even made her walk around, jump in the air, and balance on one leg at a time.
“Say ah,” he said, looking down her throat.
“Ah,” Rogue said, trying not to roll her eyes.
Matthews pressed his fingers to the sides of her throat, shone a light into her eyes, ears, and nostrils. Finally, he stood back and cleared his throat. “You are free to go, Miss Reid. Nurse Alcott here will fill in the paperwork, and you can sign out at the front desk. I wish you well in your future endeavors.”
Without another word, he wheeled around and left the room. Rogue stared after him, blinking. His sudden departure left her without words, her thoughts a jumbled mess. Then one thought emerged from all the rest. “I can leave!”
“Indeed, you can, miss,” Nurse Alcott said with a gentle smile. “It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“It is, but…” Rogue bit her bottom lip.
“Is something wrong?”
“Not really, but… I will miss all of you. You’ve been kind to me. Kinder than I deserve,” Rogue said.
“Wait right here,” Nurse Alcott said.
She left only to return seconds later with the other nurses and orderlies in tow. Everyone who’d looked after her while she’d been ill. These were the people who washed her fevered skin, sponged her brow, changed her sheets, gave her all her medication, bathed her, combed her hair, and kept her company throughout the long days of her recovery. “What are you all doing here?”
“We came to say goodbye, and to give you this,” Nurse Alcott said, handing over a square package wrapped in cloth.
“What is it?” Rogue asked, taking the parcel. It was heavy, and she placed it on the table, one hand hovering above it.
“Books. We held a collection, and several people were kind enough to donate a few titles,” Nurse Alcott said.
“You did that for me?” Rogue said, a lump forming in her throat.
The Extinction Series | Book 7 | Primordial Earth 7 Page 8
