Plague Book: One Final Gasp

by Druga, Jacqueline

  Lance hurried and sought out paper and a pen, and began to write down the names and places that were delivered on the radio.

  ◆◆◆

  Pennsylvania Highway

  “Things would probably be a whole lot different,” Luke said as he drove. “I mean, had he not been shot, Stew would have come right back for Emma.”

  “What?” Matt asked in shock. “Stew was shot? How did that happen?”

  “More so,” Hervé added. “How did he get shot at a remote house in Dubious?”

  “It was someone he knew,” Luke replied. “Guy from the office or area, I don’t know, came to take Stew’s stuff. Stew busted him. Was like this big shoot out. Stew won. Obviously, but he took a couple hits. He’s still recovering, but he’s fine. Happened before I got there so I don’t know the details.”

  “Any trouble since?” Matt asked.

  Luke shook his head. “None. It’s been really quiet. We fished today, and I decided to come back to Franklin. Like I said, I want to get things cleaned up. Stew has some ideas about long term survival.”

  “I bet he does.”

  “He’s a good guy, you know,” Luke said. “I’m glad he’s alive. He knows his stuff.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.” Matt cleared his throat. “So anything concrete about his plan?”

  Luke shrugged. “I know he wants to get back to the house, stay there until we get the town ready.”

  “With two thousand residential places,” Hervé said. “We’ll be doing it a while. But Stew does have that big house on Evergreen.”

  “Huge house on Evergreen,” Matt added.

  “I never seen it,” said Luke.

  “It’s big.” Hervé leaned between the front seats from the back. “So did you try the radio?”

  “Yep.” Luke turned it on. “Nothing. See?”

  Hervé chuckled. “The setting is on Satellite radio, of course you won’t get anything official on that.” He leaned forward even more, extended his hand and making an adjustment.

  The digital numbers on the dial moved as it scanned.

  “See.” Luke pointed. ‘Still nothing. No one …”

  “Hawthorn Farms, Salt Lake City Utah,” The male voice said. “This message will repeat every thirty minutes until further updates.”

  The radio went silent.

  “Oh my God,” Luke gasped. “There was a message.”

  Matt looked at him. ‘Someone in Utah is reaching out?”

  “No man,” Hervé said. “They wouldn’t be able to broadcast to us without power. Bet this is FEMA or an Emergency Alert.”

  “Now? After all this time?” Matt asked.

  “Why not? At least we know someone is out there aside from us.”

  “I wonder what the message was,” Luke said.

  “In a half hour,” Matt replied. “We’ll find out.”

  ◆◆◆

  Boston, MA

  It was almost as if he were waiting for a long lost friend at the airport. Elias was pumped with anticipation and excitement over the arriving ship. A million things ran through his mind about it, in his fantasy the ship was full and avoided coming to shore because of the outbreak. Thousands of people … alive would disembark. A little confused and probably sad.

  Stranding there at port, Elias went through his mind how he would tell them about what happened to the world.

  It seemed like it took forever for the boat to make it to the dock. It moved slowly, the foghorn continuously blowing. Usually, a cruise ship would have assistance, but there were no tug boats to pull in and the Captain had to figure a way to bring the ship to shore.

  More than likely, because there were so many people on board, only a few would step off. It probably was for the best they all stayed on the boat.

  He could see people at the railing waiting to get off. Those were the ones Elias guessed that would scout the city.

  He’d be there to greet them and let them know what was going on.

  The boat anchored and lowered the emergency ramp. It was steep, and he watched the dozen or so people carefully make their way down.

  One woman though moved faster. She saw him, and her eyes stayed transfixed on him.

  Did she know him? Did she recognize him?

  Suddenly a twinge of fear hit him, especially when the woman neared the end of the ramp, broke through the group and ran to him.

  Before he knew it, she had her arms around him embracing him tightly as if she were a long lost friend.

  “Oh my God, a person. Someone alive,” she said. “I was so worried there wouldn’t be anyone left.”

  Softly, Elias said. “There isn’t. At least not around here.”

  She released her embrace slowly. “I’m so sorry. You’ve been in this city alone?”

  “Pretty much. I was excited to see you.”

  “I’m Eve. Eve Montgomery.”

  “The news lady? The voice of the outbreak. This is the ship on the news?” he asked.

  Eve nodded and reached out, pulling Silas forward. “This Silas.”

  “You know each other?” Silas asked.

  “No.” Eve shook her head. “I was just happy to see someone. This is …”

  Elias paused. She didn’t recognize his face, but as the voice of the outbreak, Eve would have recognized his name. As wrong as it was he lied, spewing forth the first name that came to his mind. “Steve. Steve Rogers.”

  Silas cracked a partial smile. “Like Captain America Steve Rogers?”

  Really? He picked that name of all names?

  “Yeah,” Elias said. “But not a superhero. Not even close.” His eyes shifted about as those who had stepped from the boat gathered around.

  “My name is Lane,” The quartermaster said. “I brought in the ship.”

  “This is Steve Rogers,” Eve introduced.

  “Like Captain America?” Lane asked.

  Elias tilted his head, instantly frustrated with the name he randomly chose. “Are there more on the boat?” Elias asked.

  “This is it,” Lane answered. “Out of eight thousand guests and crew, this is it. How about here in Boston?”

  “Sadly, out of a half a million people …” Elias replied. “For all I know, I am it.”

  ◆◆◆

  Dubois, PA

  The small walkway and portion of the driveway outside of the lake house was stained with blood. Some spots more than others. Molly took the kids to the side of the house to play so they didn’t see or question what it was.

  She picked at the weeds while the three of them ran and played. Molly had just turned her head to look at what she would grab when she heard the scream from Emma. She didn’t know if it was a scream of fun or fear, and she quickly jumped and spun around.

  Elvin her oldest was holding Emma, her back to his chest, his arms around her front as he turned and spun. Emma wasn’t scared. She had a smile while she screamed.

  “Elvin.” Molly snapped her finger and pointed. “Down. Put her down.”

  “But I do this with Tibby.”

  “I don’t care. She’s smaller.”

  He put her down. “Sorry, Mama, I forgot she was a girl.”

  “Being a girl has nothing to do with it, being small does. You were just playing. It’s fine.”

  Thinking that maybe weeding wasn’t a great idea, she removed her gloves and saw Stew hobbling over. “Hey, Stew,” she said. “You have a good nap?”

  “I did. Thank you for watching Emma.”

  “It’s not really watching her, now is it?” Molly asked with a smile. “We’re all in this together now. I am going to help in any way I can. I mean if you’ll let me.”

  “Absolutely. Takes a village right?” Stew asked. “We’re the new village.”

  “I always wanted a girl,” Molly said. “Not that boys are bad, I just wanted a girl. I guess I love being a mom.”

  “You’re a very good mother,” Stew told her.

  “Thank you, Stew. That really means a lot to me. I try. After
my husband died, it wasn’t easy. And then this … I’ll tell you, I was so scared. I had fits of panic over thinking they’d get sick or I’d get sick and they’d be alone.”

  “I know that panic. When I heard about the virus, I panicked for my granddaughters. They were all I had. Then when Hannah got it, as much as it saddened me, as much as my heart broke, I focused on Emma and how I had to keep her alive. At all costs and …” Stew turned his head. “That a car?”

  “Sounds like it.” Molly stepped more toward the front. “It’s your car.” She said, watching as the SUV pulled around to the house.

  “How long ago did Luke leave?”

  “Pretty much to go, turn around and come back. I hope nothing is wrong.” She saw Luke step out. And before she could say anything, when she saw Matt, Emma did.

  “Daddy!”

  Daddy? Molly thought. Matt Hader?

  She was confused, the last she had heard Matt had the virus.

  Emma ran to Matt and he swept her up into his arms.

  Stew limped over toward Matt, seemingly waiting his turn to talk to him.

  Elvin and Tibby ran to Luke as if he had been gone a long time.

  “What’s going on?” Molly asked Luke. “I thought Matt was sick?”

  “He was,” Luke replied. “He beat it.”

  Stew asked. “He beat it? Matt, you beat it?”

  Through his embrace with Emma, Matt nodded. “I did.”

  “Thank God.” Stew reached out and placed his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “I am so happy you are alive. So happy.”

  Matt adjusted Emma to be on his arm, then reached out touching Stew’s arm. “Me, too. Thank you. Thank you for everything you did for Emma.”

  Stew gave a closed mouth smile then shifted his eyes. “Someone in the back of the car? I think he’s knocking.”

  “Yeah,” Luke replied. “I don’t know why he’s doing that.”

  “He’s stuck,” Stew said. “The child locks are on.”

  With a snickering, ‘shit’, Luke ran back to the SUV and opened the back door.

  When Hervé emerged, Molly gasped. It was overwhelming.

  Two more people from Franklin were alive.

  If they survived it, others did too. It was a great sign and only a matter of time before those who didn’t succumb, emerged.

  34 – CHOICES

  Dubois, PA

  “And Marcy, here, saved me,” Stew held out his hand motioning to Marcy as they sat on the back deck eating dinner.

  “Oh, stop.” Marcy dismissed him with a shake of her head. “You were fine. Probably would have stopped bleeding on your own.”

  “I’m sure,” Stew said facetiously.

  “Everything has been okay up here?” Matt asked.

  Stew nodded. “Fine. Supplies are holding up, we have a lake of fish. There won’t be any hunting laws. So fresh meat will be an option.”

  “What about the farms out there?” Luke asked. “There has to be a lot of farms. I mean there are two I can think of near Franklin. Dairy and eggs will be a big thing for trade if we can secure the animals, we need to figure out a way to get them. The chickens will be easy, a cow not so much.”

  “The government will seize that shit,” Hervé added.

  “Not if we get it first,” Luke said.

  “Will that be necessary?” Matt asked. “You heard the radio announcement. They’re starting those communities. If they have a plan to distribute people into towns, they have to have a plan to distribute commerce.”

  Luke looked around the table almost apprehensive about saying anything. “I don’t want to take that chance. We’re not going to the camps, right? We’re building Franklin back up.”

  “Not a single one of us know about cows and chickens,” Matt said. “I’m not knocking your plan.”

  “Yes, you are,” Molly snapped. “He’s thinking ahead.”

  “I get it,” Matt said. “I’m just saying it’s a crazy amount of work for six adults and three kids.”

  “Who says that’s all there is in Franklin,” Molly added.

  “Me.” Hervé raised his hand.

  “Me, too,” added Matt.

  “A lot could have left town,” Molly said. “I mean, they can be coming back like Doc Christoph. Some people actually may be hiding and staying put in their homes for the four weeks like suggested. I know if it wasn’t for Luke, that’s what me and the boys would be doing. So you don’t know.”

  “We do know. We were clearing the church camp,” Matt said. “They would have heard us or seen us. They would have come out.”

  Molly shook her head. “I wouldn’t.”

  “You wouldn’t?” Matt asked. “If you saw me and Hervé on the street, you wouldn’t come out.”

  “No,” she answered without hesitation. “They said four weeks and to me you would have been spreading germs. I’d be scared to let you know I was alive. Franklin is a small town. It’s not that small that some of the thousands of people can’t go undetected.”

  “Okay,” Matt said calm. “Can we agree to disagree?”

  “Yep.” Molly nodded. “Until the people emerge.”

  “Or don’t.”

  “Okay. Stew sung out the word. “Can we all agree on this? It doesn’t matter how many people remain. We’re here. We made it through this virus. We’re alive. And cows, chickens or not, we’re gonna do whatever it takes to keep making it through.”

  Agreed

  Stew made his point, just a small one, and he was certain the slight disagreement at the dinner table wasn’t going to be the last. That was fine with him, any fight was better than not having any fight at all.

  They all needed the fire of a fight to face what was ahead for them.

  ◆◆◆

  Boston, MA

  Flames shot high and crackled loudly in the two large cans that set just on the dock where the cruise survivors made their camp for the night. The fires weren’t needed for heat, it was for light in a city that was incredibly dark. It was humid and occasionally a breeze came from the harbor to give some relief.

  Eve was enjoying being on solid ground. She made instant friends with the Boston man named Steve, it was nice to talk to him. She supposed Silas needed a break from her as well. He sat alone, near the end of the peer, beyond the fires, just staring out.

  Eve was nervous and paced a lot, Lane and a few others had left hours before heading out to scout how they’d get out of the city.

  “Tired of me?” she asked, walking up to him.

  “No. Not at all.” Silas reached out and grabbed her hand. “You have become a great friend. I was just thinking about my family.”

  “Hopefully, Lane will have some news about getting out of the city and we can go look for them.”

  “Eve … listen, I don’t think you should come with me.”

  “What?” she asked shocked. “Silas, we talked about this.”

  “I know. I know we did.”

  “Have I done something?”

  “In a way, yes,” Silas said. “Nothing bad. But when we stepped off the boat and Steve Rogers recognized you, it made me think. Those camps they are setting up need you more than I do.”

  “What are you talking about?’

  “You’re the face people know. I think you should go to the camps and help. You should volunteer. People know you from this virus. They’ll trust you and right now that is so important.”

  “The camps aren’t opening for weeks,” Eve said.

  “And it will take that long to get across this country,” Silas replied.

  “You can’t go out there alone.”

  “I won’t be. I was thinking of talking to that one guy, Bill. He has family in Nevada. He was talking about heading out.”

  “Oh, I see.” Eve lowered her head.

  “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings and you have been an amazing companion. Honestly, I would feel a hell of a lot better knowing you were at the camps working. I will trust going there knowing you are there.�
�

  “So you’ll come back?” she asked.

  “The world isn’t dead and it isn’t done yet,” Silas said. “After I find my family, after I know they are fine, I will find you.”

  Eve squeezed his hand and looked behind her when she heard an eruption of voices. “They’re back. Lane and the others are back.”

  “We went out in as many directions as we could,” Lane told the others as they gathered around. “A lot of the city is destroyed. Looks like riots and just madness happened here.” He looked to his right. “Steve, how bad was it?”

  “Bad. You didn’t dare leave.”

  Lane nodded. “That’s what I thought. But apparently people tried to leave. It looks like something out of a movie. Traffic is gridlocked. Some cars abandoned, a lot of cars have bodies in there. People died trying to get out of the city.”

  “What do we do?” Eve asked.

  “We can’t stay here. We all have family that we’re looking for and some of us are gonna head in the direction of the camps. I suggest we pair off. No one goes alone anywhere. That’s my suggestion. We can get out of the city, but will have to do so on foot. I say tomorrow we head out. Steve, if you can, maybe help us gather supplies.”

  “Absolutely,” he answered.

  “Alright.” Lane clapped his hands together once. “Let’s try to get some rest and tomorrow at first light, we head out.”

  Everyone meandered back to what they were doing. Silas returned to his chair on the pier and Eve watched as Steve walked back to where he had been sitting with his bottle. She made her way to him.

  “Are you going to head out with us? Please tell me you are.”

  “I think so. I think I’ll find a camp and volunteer. Maybe I can be of use there.”

  “Good. I guess none of that information Lane just gave was a news flash to you,” she said.

  “I uh never really ventured too far from this area.” He offered her the bottle.

  She sat next to him, accepting the drink. “Can I ask why?”