Plague

CHAPTER 29

Samantha arrived at the hospital a few hours later. It had taken the MPs nearly two and a half hours to arrive and verify her identity before they allowed her into the Jeep and drove her back to the hospital in silence.

She walked down the main corridor and saw Jerry Amoy sitting in the waiting area. There was an empty plate on the seat next to him and he was sipping a Diet Coke as he watched a DVD of Friends on the television that was hooked to the wall. Samantha came and sat down next to him.

“I haven’t seen you in a few days,” Amoy said.

“I’ve been setting up the aid stations.”

Amoy nodded. “I’ve heard they’ve been running out of food.”

“I just heard that myself. I don’t know how that’s possible. They’re supposed to be resupplied every night and we have shipments scheduled to come in every week.”

“Don’t rely too much on the government, Dr. Bower. The government’s just people, and unless people have a strong interest, they do just enough to get by.”

She nodded, though she didn’t agree with him, and they watched television a couple of minutes.

“How are things here?” she asked.

“Same as always. Patients show up at our doors for help and we have no help to offer them. This isn’t why I became a doctor: to choose who gets a bed and who doesn’t.”

“Sometimes we don’t get to choose our circumstances. We just have to deal with them the best we can.”

“I’m leaving the island.”

“When?”

“Day after tomorrow. I can’t…it infected a day care for young…” She saw tears well in his eyes and he wiped them with the back of his hand. “It’s amazing how evil nature can be. Man’s got nothing on it.”

“It’s not evil, Jerry. It just is.” She watched the screen a few moments and then said, “Where are you gonna go?”

“California. I have relatives there. I’ll take the licensing exams. This island was a paradise for me, but even when this is all over, it’ll be ruined for me. There’s nothing left for me here but memories of people dying.”

Samantha rose. “You’ve done good work, Jerry. I wouldn’t give up just yet.”

As she walked down the corridor, she glanced back to see his face buried in his hands.

Ralph was sitting at his desk when she walked into the administrative offices of the hospital. Other than a few military personnel and the handful of staff volunteers that had stayed to care for the sick, the hospital was empty.

It reminded her of some of the old hospitals from the fifties she’d been given tours of as a medical student. They still had equipment, and many of the rooms were unbearably creepy, as they still had clothing from old patients that had long since passed away. At least here there isn’t a thick coating of dust on everything, she thought.

She waited by the door until Ralph looked up from what he was doing and motioned for her to sit down.

“I’m sorry about what happened today. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. A little shaken up, but I’m grateful someone was in that mall.”

He tapped his pen against the desk. “You’re going home. Tonight. I’ve booked a flight for you on a military charter that’s dropping off another shipment of vaccines.”

“What? Ralph, you need everyone you can get out here.”

“I’m leaving too.”

“What’s going on?”

“Martial law is being declared. The military is fully taking over operations and the World Health Organization is sending infectious disease bio teams to handle the patients. Our work is through.”

“What are you talking about? Hundreds of people a day are getting infected. How is our work through?”

“We’re containment people, Sam. We deal with the initial stages of a crisis and make sure it doesn’t spread. Once it’s contained, our job is done and we bring in the disaster handlers. That’s the military. It’s their show now. Anyway, your flight’s at one in the morning. Enjoy your last day in paradise.”

“I don’t think I should leave.”

“Sam, I know we’re friends, but I’m also your boss and you need to treat me as such. You’re leaving, end of story. There’ll be other epidemics and other curious agents. Don’t get too hung up on any one.”