Biowar

61

It took two hours to walk the two miles to the village but seemed considerably longer to Karr. The pain in his body surged and then dropped off, only to surge again. His fever likewise seemed to wax and wane, occasionally replaced by violent chills. He started shaking uncontrollably as they reached the edge of the field.

“Gotta rest,” he told Gidrey. He went to sit and sprawled on the ground.

“You okay?”

“I’m real thirsty.”

“I’ll be back,” said the Marine. “Give me your gun.”

“Uh-huh.”

Karr closed his eyes, resting his head in the thick weeds. Warmth seemed to wrap itself over his face, a blanket covering his body.

His mind drifted; he thought he heard Lia calling to him.

“Hey, princess, what the hell are you doing?”

“Looking for you, asshole.”

“That’s sweet.”

“You’re dying, Tommy Karr.”

“Screw that,” said Karr, the wave of heat once more rushing up from his chest. “Just taking a nap.”