Deluge: The Conqueror Worms II

CHAPTER 73

“R-rescue…?” Sarah’s voice had a disbelieving, dreamlike tone.

“Sure,” Novak said, “unless you’d rather hang out here. Your call. But you should know we risked our asses coming here like we did, so the very least you could do is let us haul you out of here.”

“Yeah!” Henry nodded, tears running down his face. “Hell, yeah! Take us with you. But how did you get here? How did you—?”

“We’ve got a ship anchored out there. We were able to spy you with our binoculars. These observatory windows don’t give you much privacy. Anyway, we saw that there were two of you, and that you had lots of supplies. We could use them.”

“What if we’d been infected?” Henry asked.

Gail shrugged. “Then we would have killed you the same way we killed those things outside, and then taken the supplies.”

“Fair enough,” Henry muttered. “I reckon I’d do the same.”

“Look,” Novak said, “we don’t have time to stand around talking. I’m sure you two have been through a lot. We have, too. Why don’t we start by lowering that pistol?”

Nodding, Henry lay the weapon on the radio console.

“Good,” Novak said. “Now the two of you strip out of those forest ranger uniforms and let us check you out.”

Sarah made a squawking noise.

“It’s okay,” Gail soothed. “We just need to make sure you aren’t infected with the fungus before we take you back to the ship. We won’t touch you.”

“Come on, Sarah,” Henry said. “It’ll be okay.”

Slowly, he and Sarah stripped. Henry felt his ears turned red as he exposed himself to the two strangers. They stepped forward, had the two of them raise their arms and stand with their legs apart. Then they did a quick but thorough examination. When they were done, Novak stepped back and removed his mask.

“Good. You’re both clear. Go ahead and get dressed. Then you can help us load this stuff into the lifeboat and we’ll get you back to the ship.”

Henry and Sarah got back into their uniforms. Excited, Henry was full of questions, but he decided they could wait. It occurred to him as he buttoned his shirt that perhaps he was trusting the new arrivals a little too quickly. But then he decided that he didn’t care. He had no choice. He could go with them, and hope their intentions were true, or he could stay here and die.

The station shook again. All four of them grabbed on to supports until the trembling stopped. Then Henry and Sarah finished getting dressed.

“Is there anybody else here?” Novak asked.

“Nope,” Henry said. “Just us. There was a little mouse running around, but we haven’t seen it in a few days.”

“Okay. Gail will stand guard in case any more of your friends show up.”

Sarah moaned, and then collapsed. Her head struck the floor with a loud whack. Henry rushed to her side.

“Is she okay?” Gail asked.

“I reckon. Her head’s not bleeding or anything. I think she just passed out.”

“Is she sick?”

“No… at least, not physically. She’s had a rough patch. Couple of weeks ago, she had to kill her best friend. He was turning into one of them things. It’s been eating at her ever since.”

Novak stepped forward and put his hand on Henry’s shoulder. “What’s your name, kid?”

“Henry, sir.”

“Well, Henry. Help us get this stuff loaded up, and then we’ll introduce you and her to a bunch of new friends.”

Henry swallowed. “That would be nice.”