Jacqueline Druga - Healing

In the morning, after Tom sent out the trucks, Rose got on her motorcycle and decided to do what no one had in a week. She went out to check the perimeter of the town.

The ‘iron wall’ of strength that Mick had erected to protect the main entrances to Lodi was gone. The trucks were moved, and the motorcycle brigade gone. Most of the bikers had packed up and left after they helped bury bodies. They went out to find their families. The few remaining soldiers had left as well.

Then, so did Mick.

Rose didn’t see anything, of course; it was flat. But it was when she was visiting the new cemetery outside of Lodi, that she smelled it.

Smoke.

Something about it made her hair stand on edge. She focused her view to the trees in the distance and couldn’t see anything. It could have been someone starting a fireplace. After all, the air did have a chill. Maybe she was being neurotic and looking for something, and maybe it was coming from within Lodi. She just thought it was odd that she had to go outside of her community to grab the scent.

From the cemetery she couldn’t tell, couldn’t get a good direction or lock on it. There was only one way to find out, so Rose hopped back on her bike, and headed back into town.

Doe’s lips moved, and they closed some against the cloth. Mick smiled in relief. “He’s responding.”

“Finally,” Ethan stated. “Let’s see if he’ll take the bottle yet.”

Mick removed the soaking cloth and tried enticing the toddler with the bottle. He didn’t seem ready to take it. “Not yet. But he looks better, doesn’t he?”

Ethan tilted his head. “A little, not much. We’re getting there.”

They had driven back into town. The man who was packing was long gone. The gas station didn’t have the electrolyte drink and they used up more time looking for it. Finally they located a child’s version of it and were getting some results.

It helped Doe but it wasn’t what he really needed. At the fire station and EMT garage there were no IVs, and nothing else that would help.

Ethan scratched his head. “This little one has to be seen by a medical professional. Unfortunately, I haven’t a clue where we’d find one.”

“I actually do,” Mick said. “Lodi. Lars Rayburn is there.”

“Lodi isn’t that far, a couple hours’ drive. This child, if you keep trying to hydrate him, could survive that and stand a fighting chance.”

“I know. I guess, I’ll have to cut the trip with the boys short. I’m certain they’ll understand.”

“You carry that cell phone. Does it work? Maybe you can call that doctor.”

Mick shook his head. “Cell phones went down a few days ago. Actually, one of the last calls received by Lodi was from the president.”

“Of?”

“The United States.”

“Wow, I thought he was dead. What did he want?”

“Since two of his government guys were in Lodi, he was letting them know he was trying to… restructure… or whatever.”

“That’s good to hear,” Ethan said. “Will it work?”

“Can’t think about that right now,” Mick said. “Let’s get this baby some help.”

Ethan gave a nod, handed the rest of the infant electrolyte water to Mick and both men got in the truck.

Mick continued to try; intently focusing on the baby, and suddenly, saving the child was most important to him in the world.

“What are you writing?” Tigger asked, peering over Chris’ shoulder.

Chris repositioned himself at the tiny kitchen table in the camper. “Stuff.”

“A story?”

“No. Well, sort of.” Chris shrugged. “Just stuff that happened, my thoughts.”

“Can you read them to me?”

“I can tell them to you.”

“Yeah, but I miss stories. No one reads me stories anymore.”

Chris closed the cover to the notebook. “I’ll read you a story tonight before bed, okay?”

Tigger nodded then climbed up to sit across from Chris. It was a task for him, being so small. He exhaled, a breath too big to come from him, as he perched his chin against the palms of his hands and peered with a sideways glance out the window.

“What’s up little man? You bored? Wanna play a game?”

“Would you be mad if I said I wanted to play with the kids?”

“Now why would I be mad about that?” Chris asked. “You’re a kid, of course, you wanna play. Can you wait for Mick to get back?”

“I guess. But what if they stop playing by then? They look like they’re having fun.”

Chris peered out the window. ‘Yeah they do.”

“Don’t you wanna go play? You’re still a kid, too.”

Chris stared at his little brother. He reached across the table and rubbed his hand over Tigger’s wiry hair. “Yeah, I am, dude. Grab your coat and hat. Let’s go out.”

Tigger grinned, widely. He jumped from the table and raced for his things.

Chris swept up the notebook, deciding he’d take it with him in case he got bored. He doubted it though. Maybe what he needed was to get out and be a kid again.

Lodi, Ohio

Tom had barely returned to the store when Henry Davis popped in. Director of the CDC, Henry had run most of the country when the president went into lockdown. He kept statistics along with Dr. Kurt Wilson of the World Health Organization. The two men, stuck in a room, lone survivors, were some of the few who hadn’t fled their post, the two man epicenter that ran America. Henry and Kurt had instituted the Lars Rayburn Therapy against the flu. It was a long shot, but one that had to take. Henry was the one responsible for the organization of the plan. He had sent supplies to Lodi to help the residents fight off the flu, to help it be the one town that successfully safeguarded itself. And then Henry, and Kurt, with nowhere else to go, no family, had come to Lodi as well.

They arrived right when the town, who all believed had escaped the devastation of the flu, was hit.

“Renting a movie?” Tom asked.

“No, no,” Henry said. “Need you to call an immediate meeting of that council you put together.”

“Mick ain’t here,” Tom said. “He’s a big part of that.”

“Well, this will have to go forward without Mick,” Henry told him. “I heard from the president again. I was finally able to make radio contact.”

Tom whistled. “Been over a week. Didn’t think we’d hear anything from the outside after the cell phones went down.”

“Fortunately,” Henry said, “it looks like they may be able to connect again. They’re hoping in a few days the phones will work.”

“Hot dog, that’s a good thing. Mick has that cell phone for pictures. Won’t he be surprised when I call him?” Tom said. “Is that what the meeting’s about?”

“No.” Henry shook his head. “At last contact they were thinking about making Lodi a central station since we held on to civilization the most. But the president said they’re gonna try to establish from where they are. At least until they can pull more reserve troops in. They locked in contact with some. Apparently, it’s not safe out there. When they sent out scouts, they were ambushed.”

“By whom?” Tom asked with shock. “Who the hell wants to ambush anyone? Is there even anyone left?”

“Tom, you aren’t that naive.”

Tom gave a half shrug. “I guess after nothing happened, after the flu finished, I kind of gave props to humanity in good faith.”

“We all did. But that’s not the case,” Henry said. “People are trying to reestablish their own lives now. They are emerging. Survivors. People are hungry, they’re desperate.”

“You been talking to Rose?” Tom asked. “’Cause she says the same thing.”