M Banner - Silo - Hope's Return

Krista shrugged, her face looking more dead than alive.

Liz said nothing, returning her focus to the loaded syringe on the table, picking it up with the tips of three fingers. She brought her eyes up, leaning toward Krista.

Zimmer closed the gap as well, wanting to hear their conversation. It was possible the doc just needed time to consider his concern and would now back his request to stop treating the dog.

Liz lowered her voice as she spoke to Krista. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I was up top when you returned today.”

“Yes, actually. I was going to ask about it, but then the whole thing with Edison’s body came up.”

Liz glanced at Zimmer, then back at Krista. “There’s something you both need to know.”

Krista shot Zimmer a look before returning her eyes to Liz.

Liz continued, “It’s Morse.”

“Rod told me. He’s sick, right?”

“It’s worse than that, I’m afraid.”

“Then why isn’t he here, instead of in his quarters?” Zimmer said, interrupting. “Don’t tell me we’re already out of medical supplies.”

“Well, yes and no,” Liz said. “We still have plenty of supplies, just not the ones he needs.”

“What does that mean?” Krista asked.

“It means there’s nothing I can do for him. Not anymore. I’ve done all I can.”

Krista flared her eyes. “Come on, Liz. You need to quit beating around the bush and just tell us. What the hell is going on?”

“He didn’t want anyone to know. Not even Stuart.”

“Morse is dying, isn’t he?” Zimmer added in a whisper. He shot a glance at Summer, who was still tending to the dog and Edison. Everyone knew the girl was very fond of Morse, which was why he figured Liz was keeping the volume low. “And you haven’t told Summer yet.”

Liz nodded. “Right on both counts.”

“What is it?” Krista asked.

Liz exhaled, taking a moment before she spoke. “His pancreas.”

“Cancer?”

“Yes, very aggressive.”

Krista looked up at the ceiling for a beat, then brought her eyes back down. “I knew something was wrong the past couple of months.”

Zimmer smirked. “What was your first clue? The walker? Of course, he was sick.”

Krista’s voice dropped an octave. “Could have been anything, Rod. Bad back or whatever.”

Zimmer rolled his eyes. “Sometimes I think you live in a fantasy world, Krista. It was pretty obvious to anyone paying attention.”

“Yeah, maybe. But everyone has to find a way to cope.”

“With blinders on?”

“Why dwell on something you can’t control? Besides, I really didn’t think it was anything serious, other than old age. People use walkers for all kinds of reasons.”

Liz cleared her throat, then touched both of their arms. “Look, this isn’t about you two. This is about Alex.”

Krista nodded. “Agreed, but I still can’t believe you kept all this secret. Even from Stuart.”

“Alex is a proud man who’s endured more than most. This is how he wanted it.”

“He’s not alone in his quarters, is he?” Zimmer asked.

“A younger couple volunteered to sit with him. She used to be a school nurse.”

“Better than dying alone, I guess,” Zimmer said, shaking his head.

“It’s been getting progressively worse the past few months,” Liz said, “but he asked me to keep it confidential. He didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him. But now that he’s near the end and Stuart’s no longer with us, it’s time for you to know. And Summer. We have to tell her. Together. I can’t do it alone. It’s going to crush her.”

Krista shook her head. “I don’t know, Doc. She’s been through hell today.”

“Which is why I haven’t said anything. Yet. But we need to. Soon.”

Krista hesitated before she responded. “You’re right. Word’s going to get out. It always does. Summer needs to get in front of it and make a public address.”

Zimmer agreed. “About everything, not just Morse.”

“Hey! What’s all that whispering over there?” Summer asked from her chair.

“Nothing,” Liz shot back, “just filling them in on the treatment for your dog.”

When Liz turned toward Summer, Krista grabbed her arm, then shook her head with only a slight wobble.

Liz paused for a beat and nodded, not looking happy about the subtle gesture, then carried the needle to the mutt.

Krista and Zimmer followed, taking positions next to Liz as she held the tip of the syringe an inch from the underside of the dog’s hind leg.

Summer let go of the professor’s hand and stood up from the chair. She leaned in and kissed the dog on the forehead, then used a gentle voice when she said, “It’ll only hurt for a moment, boy. I promise. Then you’ll start to feel better.”

Zimmer watched Liz stick the needle into the mutt’s leg and engage the plunger to deliver the medicine into the animal’s bloodstream, doing God knew what.

He still couldn’t believe what he was seeing—for a dog. A feral dog that looked like it was about to die anyway, before the injury to its hindquarters.

He turned to Krista, his previous concern about supplies roaring back into his brain. “What about the prisoners? Are we going to waste even more on them? Or are you going to help me stop this insanity? Our supplies need to be for our people. Nobody else. And certainly not for some mangy animal.”

Krista answered without missing a beat. “That’s up to Summer. She’s in charge now.”

“Actually, it’s up to me,” Liz said, “as chief medical officer. When I’m done here, I plan to go to the brig and treat both of them, and I don’t want to hear another word about it. We help all of those in need, just as June Edison would have done. Is that clear?”

Krista nodded, then her eyes flared an instant later. “Wait a minute! You said both? Only two prisoners?”

Liz nodded. “In the brig. I’m heading there next.”

Krista yanked on Zimmer’s shirt sleeve, pulling him toward the door. “There were three, Rod. Three!”

Krista broke through the door to the brig with Zimmer right behind her. When her eyes landed on the holding cell ten feet away, she couldn’t believe what she saw: only Horton and Lipton sitting on the cement floor. Both men stood an instant later, looking apprehensive.

Krista turned her focus to the guard on duty, Nathan Wicks—the same guard who had just been cleared for active duty after his short suspension for manhandling Summer. “Where’s the girl?”

“Sorry, Chief. Who?” the 6’6” mountain of man asked, the massive scar across his forehead pinching along its seam.

“She was in the truck. Where the hell is she?”

Wicks didn’t hesitate, glancing at the cell then back at Krista. “I can’t say, boss. Security only delivered these two. I’ve had eyes on them the entire time.”

“Must have taken her somewhere else,” Zimmer said, breaking his silence.

“Damn it,” Krista said in a terse tone, the beat in her chest thumping hard. “I gave them explicit orders to bring everyone here.”

Zimmer’s tone turned sarcastic when he said, “Obviously that didn’t happen.”

Krista took a moment to search her memories, drifting into the scene where a whirl of activity happened all at once.

First there was Summer and her injured dog walking past her in the barn. Then the strain of Liz arriving unexpectedly and having to explain to her what happened to Edison.

A moment later, the scene changed again, this time with a focus on Liz’s emotional reaction and her flying past Krista on her way to Edison’s body. Then it showed the lab geeks showing up and her tasking them to help the security team escort the prisoners to the brig.