by DB Daglish
“Atmosphere!” Ryan said.
“Yeah that was it. But other than those two incidents my days were like any other. This trip was the most exciting thing in my life so far.”
“And now you can’t go back!” Forty said knowing how that felt.
“True, but this experience has been awesome. I can die having seen and visited places I would never have otherwise seen. I may have lived a fuller life than those who reach old age on the island!”
This comment startled them all. While many had rued their impending doom, it was true that they had done many things outside of the mundane experience of post-event life. To sail the distances they had, see new people (even if they were mostly all dead now), and see parts of the world no one where they came from would ever see - well that was a gifted opportunity. Now, suddenly, the reality of their adventure and experiences gave them some solace within the unfolding tragedy that they were firmly a part of.
The memories of what they had been through together gave them a brief respite, and over breakfast on the beach around the fire, the discussion continued as to the next step.
“We should stay here and just live out the rest of our time,” said Rita. “We should just accept our fate!” Rosa agreed with her for she was still angry at herself for leaving the island.
“Just add to the dead here?” Karen asked. “Why not shift to another suburb so we don’t add to the smell for Gail and Forty and the other three?”
“Great Karen. Remind us about our rotting corpses!” Nim complained with a slight sneer.
“Hey,” Ricki defended. “Don’t dis her mate. We are all going through this in different ways.”
“Well so am I Ricki, but I don’t like being reminded of what will become of me. It’s not a nice thought and you and Karen are dissing me if my feelings don’t count!” he said in a raised voice.
Ricki stood up in defense of Karen but Ryan cut in quickly.
“Hey!” he yelled loudly, standing up himself. “Calm down both of you. We are family and don’t forget it. We are all reacting to this in different ways and we haven’t got over losing three of us just a few days ago yet!”
That comment hit home. In the resultant silence the fire crackled loudly until a softer voice was heard.
“We should sail!”
All looked at Tia who stood up and began to walk around the fire.
“We should sail,” she repeated.
“Where?” asked someone from behind the fire.
“Anywhere! We can’t go to the island and we can’t go home. Let’s just sail somewhere, anywhere!” she emphasized once more. “Let’s do it because we came for the adventure. Let’s do it for Fin and Dee and Angel!” she declared as her voice got slowly louder and impassioned.
They were all a little stunned. It was only recently she had intensely rejected taking the helm of the Gloria down from Newcastle after the sinking.
“Let’s just sail until we can sail no more and we can finally rest at sea. If we are about to die, then why don’t we do it far from land? Why not end the way we started…” and she paused as many thoughts flooded her mind. “And I’ll skipper the Gloria!” she added.
Don smiled. She was about to jump back on the horse.
“That’s the one girl,” Ho piped up. “You lead us back out there!” Ho had been quiet since Tia’s outburst after the accident. Although they were a young couple, they understood each other well, and he knew to let her sort out things herself. He knew she wouldn’t just sulk – she was stronger than that.
“Look,” Tia added in explanation. “Life for us all has been pleasant. I never knew the old world because I wasn’t born then. But from what I’ve been told, I prefer this life that we have. Death brings peace as well, as far as I have been taught by my parents. It’s the knowing that you are going to die that is difficult. But now I know when I will die, I may as well embrace it. But why should I sit and wait for it when I we can still have some fun and be with one another while doing it!”
Ryan came to her and gave her a hug and she responded, crushing herself into his chest.
“You know what people…?” he said as he looked around. “One of our youngest has actually given us the wisest words of all. What do you say? Shall we set sail and see where it leads us?”
Then an unusual thing happened unlike anything they had ever done. One by one each came and stood near and laid a hand on Tia or those around her until all from New Haven, and even the three from the island, were in a tight huddle in unified and emotional agreement.
At that precise moment the five remaining Manly survivors came down the road and stood under the trees, watching what was taking place. They were deeply moved by what they saw. As Don looked up from the huddle he saw them and motioned them over. They approached, but out of respect said nothing until the huddle broke up. Most were surprised to see others had been watching them.
“I am pleased to see such great love among you all,” she said.
“We have decided to sail away!” Rita announced. “If we have no hope, we may as well finish the way we started; on the ocean!”
“Because you are all expecting to die?”
“Yes,” Rita confirmed and at that moment she too personally accepted it.
“And what if I said we may yet be able to save some of you?” Gail remarked as she received some bewildered looks.
Chapter 10
“Last night we took some lamps and candles and went to the library. We have been up all night. But I think we can do this?”
“Do what exactly?” Karen asked.
“The blood thing. It might work on some of you, yet it might kill others of you. But if one or two of you can survive…?”
“We are probably all dead without it, so explain some more,” Karen suggested.
“We need to know each person’s blood type and Charlottes. We do not know Charlottes so we are stuck. However, if we take some of Charlotte’s blood and mix with a tiny sample from each of you we can find out whose blood will, or will not, react with her blood. We can provide each of those with a transfusion of sorts. The trouble is there are three blood types. If it’s the common O then only those with type O can all be safely treated and as that will be the majority of you, we may not have time to give new blood to you all. If she had A or B then only a few of you can have it, and if she has the rarer AB maybe only probably only one of you at best can receive her blood. My problem is I don’t know how to determine what her type is; only whose blood will not react against it. This will take time and we only have time to take 500ml of her blood and if we take more than that we put her at risk. If I take 600ml I can only treat two of you, so I will need to test small amounts and see who is compatible.”
“Are you sure you can do this?” Mik asked.
“No? But I have to try don’t I? Charlotte is willing to help now, and if I keep an eye on her and give her plenty of water she should be fine. Maybe she’ll be weak for a few weeks or so, but she will be fine.”
“What if you get it wrong?” Ryan asked. “That would be dangerous wouldn’t it?”
“Take a look at Lenny’s neck,” she said. “Are the spots greater in number?”
“Yes,”
“Then you are all going to die anyway unless by some fluke one or two of you actually survive. What if doing this saves one and kills one of the two we try to save. Is that better than two out of two dying?”
“Of course! But you can only do two people?”
“Charlotte cannot give more than enough for two people!”
“But I thought the body replaced the blood cells?” Ryan asked.
“It does, but it actually takes several weeks to replace the red cells; so the books say. You do not have that long!”
So there was a slight hope for some. Even then, no guarantees could be made and they were damn sure they would not allow Charlotte to be put under any unnecessary risk. Her life was the most precious on earth at that time - for this girl was the only one they kne
w to be immune to the two most deadly diseases to ever hit planet earth.
Later that day the testing was done. It seemed that the only ones Charlotte was compatible with were Ho and Tia. These two had blood that did not cause Charlottes to coagulate. Gail was hoping that what she saw under the microscope was accurate, but there was neither time nor a precise way to test further. So at least two actually had a chance; if it worked!
“Well,” she said returning to the building they were all waiting in. “There are two that might, and I stress might be compatible. Ho and Tia, you are those two. I’m ninety percent sure, but if I’m wrong…”
“Do it,” she said, “It’s worth a try. What do you think Ho?”
He nodded, still surprised that his girl had the same rare blood type he had. They knew it was rare because none of the others tested correctly. “So that makes us what A, B or AB?” he asked.
“Oh, you were listening were you? Not bad for someone who has grown up never knowing anything about blood, let alone blood types? Yes, possibly AB and more like B, but it does not matter. All that matters is that you two match Charlotte. So are you ready to do this too Ho?”
He nodded again and they were taken into another room where Charlotte was already lying down in a state of rest.
“Now,” Gail began. “You will see me take 600ml of her blood and put it in these collection bags. Hopefully there are no bad effects with them being so old. I’ll have to fill two bags and then I have to transfer one each to you guys.”
As Charlotte was made comfortable, a sterilized needle was inserted in her vein. This syringe was new but everything was placed in boiling water and then an alcohol solution Gail had found in the local drug store and doctors surgery. She had also trekked further into the city and found a blood transfer station, taking a lot of equipment she thought would be useful.
“Why not have someone else taking each bag from Charlotte while you give ours to us,” Ho suggested. “And by the way, how will you give it to us?”
“Just leave it to me Ho. Now each of you will have one of these inserted,” she said holding up what appeared to be an open-ended syringe. “This stays in your vein and I’ll have to squeeze each bag to get it into you. It is an awkward and messy way to do it, but that’s all we’ve got I’m afraid. They say I should mix it with a saline solution. I don’t have any!”
“Do it anyway,” Tia advised.
Gail pulled on some latex gloves as they lay down on tables, already covered with a thin foam mattress and a thick layer of towels. Karen assisted her in finding a vein that was assessable and cleaning the area inserting a source needle for Tia and Ho. Knowing blood could clot and the result of that being a possible heart attack or stroke the process of transfer was done as quickly as possible. Each bag could hold 500ml and that was on the threshold of safety for Charlotte. Regardless, Gail allowed the first bag to be reach two thirds full as it sat on a towel on the floor, before clamping the tube and disconnecting the insert. Quickly she took the bag to the other side of the room for transfer while Faith and Mik stayed with Charlotte.
She chose Ho as the first recipient. Inside she secretly hoped that if a problem occurred it would not be Tia to suffer; for she really admired this young woman. Cleaning the tube end in alcohol again, and drying it by waving it in the air, she joined it to the makeshift connection in Ho’s arm. Releasing the clamp she held it high and watched the blood slowly be drawn into his body.
“Nah, too slow,” she said. “Jake, bring that table over here and place that chair on it will you.”
He began to do as she asked but she thought him too slow. “Quickly Jake,” she called, “This is life and death stuff, we’re not setting up for dinner!” He apologized and had what she wanted done within a few seconds.
“Ok. Now if I place this on here,” she said to herself as she put the blood bag on the chair, “I can force it out quicker.” This she did, even using an old book to squeeze the blood out slowly, before rolling it from the far end like a tube of toothpaste until as much was transferred as possible. This was all done within about five minutes.
“You all good Ho?”
“Yeah, I feel fine,” and he looked toward Charlotte. “You ok?” he asked her. She nodded and he gave her the thumbs up.
Now Gail returned to the young girl and began to take a second quantity from her veins with a new bag. When it was half full she clamped the intake.
“Now Charlotte…the amount I have taken from you so far is about all that should be taken from an adult. You are only twelve and I should be taking less - but I need a little more. How are you feeling?”
“Ok, I guess?”
“Dizzy?”
“No, not really? Take what you need!”
“Well, you will be weak for a week or two if I do this, but…” and she released the clamp, filling the second bag before clamping and disconnecting it once more.
“Right. You’re all done. Jake, cover her in more blankets, get her something to eat and something to drink. Do we have any old soda bottles anywhere?”
“I think I can find some!”
“Then do it, sugar will be good for her,” Gail said, now at Tia’s side. Jake complied with Gail’s request and took off outside to complete his task as Mik and Karen stayed with the young girl to watch over her.
“Charlotte!” Tia called and waited until her blonde head turned. “Thank you,” she said smiling.
Now Gail repeated the procedure. But this time she took things slightly slower while she watched Ho. “You ok there?” she asked to ensure he was fine.
“Yes, I feel a little funny but that could just be from lying down?”
Gail nodded. At least she hoped that was all it was.
“And you?” she asked Tia as she stroked the hair back from her forehead.
“I’m fine Gail. Thank you for trying this.”
“Shhh now. Just shut your eyes and rest.”
It wasn’t long before the procedure was completed. Whether it was safe or not, she wasn’t sure. The books had said a reaction would be rather quick and she asked for the piece of paper she had written on. Reading it, she turned towards Ho.
“Ok young man, I’m going to ask some questions. I want an immediate answer yes or no ok?”
He nodded and waited.
“Do you feel cold, do you ache anywhere, dizzy, have trouble breathing or have any ‘feelings’ of impending doom?”
“Nope!”
“Nope to which ones?”
“All of them. What’s with the impending doom one?”
“I have no idea Ho. It’s what the medical book said to watch for. What about you Tia? It’s still early - but anything?”
“I’m a bit cold,” she said, “but that’s all.”
Gail took another blanket and covered her with it as Jake returned with some old bottles of soda. He gave one to Charlotte and one to Ho on Gail’s instruction.
“What about me?” Tia asked.
“Not if you’re feeling cold. Just wait a bit.”
But Tia did warm up and it seemed as if the blood was compatible as the early test had shown. Charlotte was now very weak. Although everyone stayed there that night, they were transferred to comfortable couches or beds. They were not allowed to wander except to go to the toilet. The morning had Both Ho and Tia feeling quite well, but Charlotte struggled to even sit up and she cried because she felt so bad.
Tia came to her and hugged her, then getting under the covers of the bed with her, cuddled Charlotte, and spoke to her softly until she fell asleep. They stayed that way for a full day until she woke to have more food and fluids. Someone remained at her bedside for three days, until she showed slight signs of improving.
For two weeks they waited and worked, that is, everyone except Tia and Ho who relaxed on the beach, or went for short walks until fully fit again. They even went snorkeling in the bay until facing a great white shark that was more curious than hungry. They were visibly shaken from that experience.
>
Finally Charlotte was able leave the house and one day walked all the way to the inner harbor wharf and back without feeling tired. Now things were back to normal, except for Lenny. His spots had not increased, but neither had they retreated. Although this created doubt none were confident enough to voice it.
Finally the time had come to sail away as they had planned, and the last preparations to the yachts were made. It was odd that in two weeks none had shown further signs of infection except Ryan with some very slight spotting. But they were in no doubt that incubation was about to end and they were keen to get away and have the adventure they planned, ‘in honor of Dee and Angel’ as Tia had suggested.
As departure day arrived, they were loitering, both keen to leave and yet sad to do so, and all at the same time. The transfusion had only delayed the inevitable. Willo had been hanging around them more the last few days. It was as if he was the most reluctant to have them leave.
“So all is done?” he asked.
“So now it’s done!” Chris agreed. “All we have to do is sail and wait.”
“And do you intend to visit Melbourne now?” Willo asked.
“May as well.”
“Then I want to come with you!”
Chapter 11
Gail was sad to see Willo leave, but she had no hold upon him and within the hour he was aboard the schooner and on his way to the city he had lived in previously. None were sure whether he came for curiosity, or for unfinished business.
Tia was now back to her old self. Whether the passion for sailing had returned, or it was a way of overcoming her grief, no one was quite sure; but she pushed the Gloria to the limit even being aware of potential damage from the heavy swells. For the weather had deteriorated and they were solidly battered for nearly all of the fourth day. A few were badly bruised from being thrown around regardless of which vessel they were on. Don spent most of the time in a fixed chair to protect himself.