Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“Wait, Scott!” said Connor urgently.

“Colonel, I promise you’ll see Mark after we fix you up, okay?”

“No! I hafta see him now. Please! Just… in case,” said Connor. He faded into unconsciousness. A nurse was on the verge of administering the anesthetic, but Scott waved his hand, stopping her. Dr. Cooper glared.

“He needs to be down right now, medic ,” said Dr. Cooper.

“I know, Coop, I agree. But he wants to talk to Harmon before he goes under. I want to honor that request.”

Scott slapped Connor’s face to rouse him and his eyes flared open. The brief savagery in his look surprised Scott and gave him pause. There was ferocity beneath his weakened state. “You asked for Mark Harmon. You have maybe a minute before Dr. Cooper bites my head off. Understand, colonel?”

“Yeah. Where’s Mark?”

“Just hold on for a sec.”

Scott left the room and returned in less than ten seconds with Harmon. A nurse held a surgical mask out to him and he held it over his mouth and nose with his hand.

“Don’t you touch a thing, Mark. You hear me?” asked Dr. Cooper.

“Yeah, Coop, I know.” He approached Connor, looming above his friend. One of the nurses loaded a fresh pint of blood onto the IV tree. The other nurse stood ready to administer the anesthetic at Dr. Cooper’s command. The doctor shook his head, making it clear she should wait for the moment.

Mark Harmon grinned at Connor. “Hey.”

“Mark.”

“It took ya long enough.”

“Some traveling…”

“Yeah, yeah, likely excuse.”

“’Stralia’s lot further than you think.”

“I shoulda known the bird flu couldn’t kill you.”

Connor smiled and ignored the tears streaming down his friend’s face. “Are they—can you tell me?”

“They’re alive, Mac. Terry’s alive and so are Liam and Shannon. They’re by the doors over there. Can barely keep everybody out.”

Connor closed his eyes under the weight of his fatigue and blood loss. Perhaps he was holding together only to hear those words. He was that bad off. “My brothers? Sisters?”

“Terry, Ryan, Andy, and the kids have done a great job at your place. They’re thriving. But, Melissa and Megan didn’t make it, Mac.”

Connor closed his eyes, feeling the loss permeate his weakened body. The pain in his leg hurt like hell, but was manageable. The wound in his arm was more of a problem. The pulse of pain was maddening. He was close to unconsciousness, but he pulled himself from those depths to focus on Mark.

“Mac, there’s some other folks demanding to see you before you go under.”

Ryan, a mask across his mouth, appeared in Connor’s view.

“Hey, Ry.”

“Mac.”

There was a commotion at the door. With immense effort, Connor, tired beyond belief, turned his head to see Andy.

“Hey, Mac.”

“Andy.”

More commotion at the door. He saw her, a beautiful aura of bright light surrounding her. Her hands were to her mouth and she was crying. It was his Terry, alive, and beside her was Liam, tall beyond expectations. A redheaded Shannon clung to Liam’s hand, her bright eyes crying. Connor wanted to say so much to them, but he was too weak. He smiled thinly and closed his eyes. It had been incredibly hard work, but he had made it home. He forced his voice to speak.

“Terry,” he said softly.

“This man needs to be under now for surgery or I wash my hands of this horseshit!” Dr. Cooper’s command of the room was apparent.

“Do it, Coop,” said Mark.

The nurse prepared to administer the anesthetic and Dr. Cooper selected a scalpel.

“You’re going under for surgery, colonel. Just relax and stay calm.”

“I’m calm, doc, just cold. So very cold.”

Liam stood behind the adults who were deferring to the commanding presence of Dr. Cooper. Impulsively, he pushed his way through and dropped his plastic bag on the floor next to the surgery table. He removed the bear coat. Before the adults could act, the young man draped it over his father’s legs and waist, deftly missing his IV lines.

“What the hell?” yelled Dr. Cooper.

Terry had stepped forward and Andy followed in Liam’s wake. They saw Liam’s intent and they slowed the movements of those trying to intervene. Scott was in a position to stop the boy, but recognized the pleading look of his mother. He hesitated and Liam slid beside him.

“Dad, it’s me. Liam.”

Connor’s eyes snapped open and he stared at his son. He smiled faintly. “Hey, Liam.”

“I made this bear coat to keep you warm, dad.”

“Sounds like a good plan, son.”

“Get him the fuck outta here,” said Dr. Cooper.

Connor faded into darkness.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this novel. As always, I would welcome any comments or feedback. Plus, I would love to know in which direction to take the next novel, if warranted. I could go forward from the surgery or retro to depict the four years that transpired prior to Connor Mac landing in San Fran. I could do either. I’ll let you decide. Until then, I’ll prep my novel Pizza Bones . I can be reached at: paulkirk0510@gmail.com

Paul R. Kirk, MA, CRC, CCM, LPC, CEAS, makes his living as an occupational and rehabilitation consultant who assists seriously ill or injured professionals in their efforts to return to a productive and fulfilling lifestyle. Master’s trained in existential phenomological psychology and licensed as a professional counselor, Paul Kirk has spent over 28 years assessing the residual life potentials of individuals after a personal devastation, whether mental or physical. In-depth vocational research and isolating residual transferable skills for use in future life activity comes natural and is easily extrapolated into assessing a post apocalyptic world. Already published within his specialty, this is his first work of fiction in a new series of post-apocalyptic books. He lives with his lovely wife and three wonderful children in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has a cat, Dexter, who really loves everyone in the family but him.

Connect Online: Web Site: http://www.devastationpoint.com

Smashwords Profile: Website: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/PaulRKirk

Discover other titles by Paul R. Kirk at www.devastationpoint.com

Devastation Point is a fictional work. While some of the locations reflected in the book describe actual locations, this is intended only to lend an authentic theme. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright 2014 Paul R. Kirk

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in review, without permission in writing from the author.

Edited by Daryl V. Del Re

Cover Art Design by Damonza.com