“The transfusions seem to not only relieve their suffering to a degree, but also affects them mentally by giving them hope, however miniscule” said Charles. “I think Henny went too long between transfusions. She was deteriorating mentally as well as physically.”
“There was only so much blood available Charles” Suri injected, feeling as though she was responsible to a degree.
“At least if someone is inoculated, there is no immediate danger to those around them if they were scratched or cut. Maybe we can confine the people who have been infected to one end of town. At least those who were not inoculated would be safer” offered Leo but everyone knew the elephant in the room was the smell and the disturbing sight of the decaying people.
Dale had already decided the action they would take.
“I don’t like the idea of making the situation worse than it is for the infected but without precedence, we have to do what’s best for the rest of the population to keep them safe and offer some quality of life such as it is.
If everyone is in agreement here, tomorrow we’ll designate the north end of town as the quarantine area for the twilight residents, as hard as that will be.” He thought the term ‘twilight’ sounded so much nicer than ‘infected’ and had made up his mind to start using that term.
“We will institute martial law and acquire the apartment complex there and turn it into the new living quarters for the infected and any family member who wishes to stay with them. I doubt the apartment owners will return anytime soon, if they’re even still alive. We’ll settle with them when and if the time ever arrives. There are enough empty homes now that the displaced persons will, in most cases, be improving their lot.”
“There’s another issue” said Suri. “Our blood supply is almost depleted. The epidemic is national and the blood banks are all pretty much drained so there is no help coming from them. How will we obtain enough blood to relieve our infected?”
Knowing their resources would come to this, Dale had been mulling the problem over in his mind for some time.
“I have an idea. First, we continue to require Walters residents to donate regularly if they live here. I think most will be willing because they realize they may need it at some point. Also, most of them have infected family members.
Second, and this may sound harsh, we restrain passersby and require donations before allowing them to leave. Giving blood properly won’t hurt them but it would help our supplies.”
Everyone was quiet. No one wanted to go to that extreme but desperate times often require desperate measures.
Carson spoke up first. “We could start by drawing blood only from people who’ve been arrested” he offered.
“That’s a good idea” jumped in Leo.
“If we are all in agreement,” Dale ended, “We will deputize some of the residents and impose martial law, then begin implementing resident relocation and involuntary blood draws from those who break the laws.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The word was spread the next morning that an emergency, mandatory resident meeting would be held at 6:00 that evening.
The town was abuzz as to what it could be about. Most hoped it was because a cure had been found. The news of Henny reanimating had spread quickly in the small town and fear of twilight residents was growing steadily.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mayor Patel took his official position at the podium. Looking out over the audience he recognized every face if not actually remembering names. Suri was so much better at that than he was. She was blessed with so many gifts and remembering faces and names had endeared her to everyone. It always made them feel special to think she could recall them from a first time meeting.
Seeing the mottled faces in the crowd of those that were infected, reminded him this was for them. “Good evening” he greeted as everyone settled down. “Thank you for coming.”
Suri gave him an encouraging look from the front row.
“First, I want to say how proud I am of all the Walters residents for stepping up as you have to help each other.
This meeting we’ve called tonight was not an easy one. With that said, I’ll get right to the point.”
‘Better to just get this over with and let the cards fall as they will’ Leo thought.
“Walters has a situation like no other place as far as we know. We were the only ones dusted with the antidote, AT48. Although we all had high hopes that we had participated in what would become the miracle cure, it was not to be.”
Nods and murmurs passed from one attendee to the other.
“However, we have discovered that regular blood transfusions for the infected not only greatly ease their discomfort but it allows them to live and function alongside others.”
‘Ok’ thought Leo. Now comes the hard part.’
“But two things are happening that will affect all of you. The first is, Walters’s blood supply has been depleted and we are unable to get any more from the National Blood Exchange.”
This was the first time most of the residents were aware of how dire things were and the comments going back and forth became very animated.
Mayor Patel gave them a minute to digest the news then pounded the gavel for silence.
“We have been stretching our supplies by adding a saline solution. The relief isn’t the same but at least we can treat more people. The second thing,” Leo said, bracing for the back lash that was sure to come.
“The second thing” he said again, gathering courage, “is that the infected persons are becoming more difficult to be around,” There, the elephant in the room was acknowledged, Leo thought as the residents’ voices grew louder. “I will let that stink in a moment, I mean sink in a moment”. Suri glared at him for that Freudian slip. And then she wanted to laugh! It was so true but no one wanted to say it. ‘Oh well,’ she thought. ’Maybe that slip was a good thing.’
A few minutes later, the mayor’s gavel pounded for silence. The red had left his face and he could talk again.
“This is not an easy thing to bring up but everyone has ignored the issue long enough. Visually, the decay is difficult to look at but it would be tolerable if it were not for the accompanying nauseating smell.”
Leo pounded his gavel again for quiet. He had grown tired of tiptoeing around sensitive issues. Things were what they were and trying to be delicate in the way he addressed them was not helping at all!
“You are also aware that though victims with the AT48 in them who only partially turn, do so completely on their death which presents a serious risk to those around them. You are all aware of Henny’s transformation.”
“So.” Leo paused for everyone’s attention. “This office and the sheriff’s office have come up with a plan to tackle both issues.”
Silence. He had their attention.
“Regarding our diminished blood supply, we are immediately instituting martial law. Anyone breaking a law, whether resident or traveler, will be required to donate as much blood as possible without putting themselves at risk in order to build the supply up. Law abiding citizens will all be put on a regular donation schedule. Adults will be required to donate one pint of whole blood every four weeks. Teens will be case by case. The body can replenish the volume in 24 hours and red blood cells are replaced approximately four weeks after donating.
All passersby will be required to make a donation to pass through town. Every pint we collect means that much less suffering.”
“We’re already donating” called out someone in the crowd.
“That’s not enough now that we have no other resources. We are isolated for better and for worse. We have only ourselves to rely on and everyone must step up.”
Leo was encouraged that there was only a small ripple of comments that traveled through the crowd.
“This brings me to the second decision that has been made.”
“Just get it over with” another person in the crowd yelled out.
Choosing to ignore the heckle, Leo went on.
>
“Just as the healthy are trying to make life easier for the infected, our twilight residents can make life easier for the healthy.” Leo had instantly liked Dale’s term for the infected and started using it.
Leo took a big breath. ‘Here goes’ he thought. ‘Now to drop the real bombshell.’
“Beginning tomorrow we will be relocating all those who are infected to the north end of town.”
In an uproar, everyone jumped in with pros and cons.
Leo pounded the gavel for order and, then when the talking settled down, he continued. “Those with infected family members are free to move with them. We will convert the apartments and homes on the north side to new living quarters for the infected. Those who live there now will be given a vacated home at the south end.”
Leo was grateful the corporation that owned the complex was located in New York City and most of the other homes were vacation rentals. He didn’t anticipate any visits because travel was getting more and more difficult as the plague progressed. Hopefully it will have run its course by the time any one came to check on the property, if there were even any survivors.
25 A Gruesome Catch
Old Joe wanted fresh fish for dinner, so he packed his pole and tackle box in the back of his pickup and headed to the lake. It was a warm day with a light breeze, just right for relaxing on the bank and napping between bites. His faithful companion, Jones, would bark if anything or anyone approached so he wasn’t concerned about a surprise encounter. If there was one, his other faithful companion, Browning, would take care of it.
Arriving at his favorite spot, he went to work setting up his chair and pole and settling himself in. It wasn’t long before the warm sun lulled him to sleep.
It was only a short while before he heard his pole fall to the ground, pulled from the snug spot where he had anchored it. Opening his eyes, he was surprised to see his pole slowly sliding into the water.
He jumped up and grabbed it, hoping his dinner was on the other end.
He started reeling in his line.
“Durn tree limb” he muttered to himself when there was no reaction to him pulling in his line. “I’m gonna lose my hook.” This hook was a triple barb, one of his favorites that he had had to order online back when it was an option. He wasn’t going to let it go easily.
Straining to pull in the tree branch so he could untangle his hook, he could see the ripple the branch was creating as it moved under the water.
With the hope that he was going to save his hook, he walked into the water.
“Funny looking limb” he thought, then in the next breath, “Oh no!”
He could now tell it was a body he had been pulling on. Shocked and sickened at the same time, he pulled the body to the waters’ edge. Turning it over, he instantly recognized it even in the bloated condition it was in. It was the McCullen boy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Dale and Howie, the coroner arrived, Dale’s heart sank. Leandra had no one left but her Aunt Milly now.
“What on earth could’ve happened?” asked Joe.
Dale looked at the old man, sorry that he had been the one to find Tim’s corpse. Joe lost his wife years before but had stayed in Walters to run the tackle shop. He knew everyone and he and Tim had often fished together.
“There are no suspicious marks on his body. My guess is he decided to put an end to things. He took off after his folks and brother turned. When he didn’t come back, I assumed he just needed to be alone and would return when he was ready.”
Shaking his head, Joe asked Dale, “What’s that young girl going to do now?” referring to Leandra.
“She’s with Shar and I right now but Milly is her kin so I guess she’ll move in with her.”
“Well, I’m not much in a fishing mood now so I guess I’ll get home if there’s nothing else you need me for.”
Dale patted the old man’s back as Joe turned toward his truck with Jones at his heels.
Turning to Howie, Dale said “Let’s get this wrapped up so I can get home and let Leandra know what has happened.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leandra and Shar were sitting in the living room, each quietly absorbed in their current book. They both looked up and smiled when Dale walked in.
Dale had been thinking of how to break the news to Leandra and was unable to come up with a way or even words that would ease the shock and grief that would follow his announcement.
He walked over to Leandra and sat down.
“Leandra” he began softly.
By the tone of his voice and the look on his face, Leandra knew whatever he was going to say was not going to be good.
“We found Tim’s body today in the lake. It looks like he committed suicide. Old Joe found him.” He didn’t want to give details and put an image of her brother’s final condition in her mind.
Dale gave Leandra a few moments for the news to sink in. Then tears began to run down her face but she made no sound which made it even more heart wrenching. Shar got up and went over to Leandra and put an arm around the orphaned girl as Shar’s heart broke for her again.
Trying to be helpful, Dale said “You can stay here for as long as you want to. When you’re ready, I know your Aunt Milly would want you with her.” Shar gave Dale a sharp look when he mentioned Leandra moving in with her aunt. In Dale’s mind times were changing so quickly, things needed to be settled just as fast.
“It’s ok” Leandra managed to finally get out. Her throat and chest were tight with grief.
“I didn’t think Tim would be able to handle losing our parents. I’ll go see Aunt Milly tomorrow and see what arrangements can be made.”
“You don’t have to do anything right away” Shar jumped in quickly. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need to.”
Shar had so much compassion in her eyes, it gave Leandra strength just to know she cared so much.
“It’s really ok Mrs. Heathers. Aunt Milly is alone so it makes perfect sense for us to stay together. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me though.”
Dale had watched Leandra grow up and he knew she was strong so her reaction didn’t surprise him.
“I think I’ll take a nap before dinner if you don’t mind” Leandra said, suddenly feeling very tired. Shar stood up with Leandra and gave her a hug.
“I’ll wake you when dinner is ready.”
When Leandra left the room, Dale said to Shar “I have to go to the station. I may not be home in time for supper, so don’t wait for me.” Cupping Shar’s face in his hands, he gently kissed her. “I love you” he said and left.
26 Chunk’s Attack
Absolutely broken and suddenly very exhausted, Leandra laid down on her bed. She wanted to pity herself but knew it would only bring her down more. Instead, she forced her mind to focus on the great memories she had.
Suddenly, her mental escape was interrupted by a scraping sound under her bed. It was an odd sound and Leandra thought it was Chunks working on something.
She ignored it until it became so persistent that she decided to find out what he was doing under there. Getting off her bed, she laid belly down, on the floor and lifted the edge of the bed-skirt.
It was too dark to see so she reached out, feeling for fur. A moment later, she screamed as Chunks bit solidly down on her hand. Pulling away, she was horrified to see him still attached to her hand. She tried throwing him off but he held on with a vice like grip. After what seemed like an eternity, her screams finally brought Shar into the room. Jumping into action, Shar grabbed Chunks which made him let go of Leandra and turn his attention to Shar. Digging his claws deep into Shar’s arm, Chunks didn’t waste a moment as he went for her throat. While Shar was focused on getting Chunks off of her, Leandra suddenly wanted to finish the job Chunks had started.
“Leandra!” Shar yelled. “NO, NO!”
Her screams were useless. Her attacker was no longer the young girl she had been so fond of.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Leandra woke up, she was on the floor, soaked with sweat. A gentle knock on her door drew her attention. Shar opened the door and walked in with a light snack. Seeing the condition Leandra was in, she sat the tray down and was at her side, soothing her.
“You poor girl”, she cooed. “Everything is all right. You’re safe.”
Leandra could only cry at the thought of turning into one of those things as her family had.
27 Moving Day
Dale was surprised at the willingness of the twilight people to voluntarily relocate to the north edge of town. But then, for the most part, they were good people and realized sacrifices had to be made on both sides. Even though their olfactory senses were affected by the virus, they knew the rot happening to them had to smell putrid. To Dale, the worst part of the ‘cure’ was being aware of everything happening to them once they were compromised.
To know there was no escape except a bullet in the head, was harrowing.
The next few weeks were busy relocating the infected. Where children were involved, the parents went to live with them at the apartments. Because Walters had a lot of non-resident home owners, it was easy to find accommodations for those giving up their apartments. For many it was definitely a step up in their housing situation. The move also provided a much needed distraction for everyone.
The blood donation schedule was tentatively set up for each person every four weeks. Since everyone was either close friends with or related to one of the infected, the proposed schedule was not challenged. Everyone would do what they could and all but a few of the residents rose to the occasion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As towns and cities were ravaged, people spread out trying to find a safe haven. Entering Walters, many had thought of staying until they discovered its secret. Being so close to semi-turned people was more than they could cope with and the mandatory donations didn’t help either.
Dale and Carson regularly pulled over anyone believing the speed limits didn’t matter anymore and were promptly compelled to pay the fine. Those who didn’t speed donated as a toll and also to get their vehicle back! It was a win-win situation for Walters. But even with communication being archaic at best, word still got around and Walters was seeing fewer and fewer cars as people began to avoid the area.
Turners | Book 2 | 90 Degrees Page 7